Is an Online Degree Right for You?

Education is fully entering into the 21st century by expanding the use of technology every single day. How long will it be before we have Terminator robots teaching our classes? Or gigabytes planted into our head to increase and better our memory? Who knows what the future holds for technology in education.

Back in the day, pretty much the only chance one had to receive a college degree was to show up physically for every class and listen as the teacher either lectures or has a discussion with the rest of the students. Times have changed and more doors are being opened for virtual learners.

Now more colleges are offering online programs than ever before. When I was deciding on a college for my Masters program, one of the key requirements was for all courses to be available online. There were not many choices ten years ago because the number of colleges that offered the whole program online was very small. I was able to find one, though, and it was a good school, so everything worked out well.

With that said, if you are considering online courses or taking the whole degree program online, there are ways to tell if you will enjoy the experience. Below are some key traits for people who might be thinking an online degree is a possibility for them.

Are You a Self-Starter?

Online classes are not exactly like taking the class in person. When attending a class the old-fashioned way in college, you must go to the classroom, take a seat, maybe in the back row, and write down notes about whatever it is the teacher is talking about. There is a syllabus and you are probably supposed to be doing some reading from the textbook out of class, but many times just by listening to the instructor, you can gain the knowledge needed to pass the class.

An online course is not like this at all. There will be a textbook and a syllabus, and it will be up to you entirely to get your work done. There usually won’t be a specific time for you to go online in the same way you need to show up in a classroom. You must make the time and be consistent every week in getting your work done without anyone else prodding you. There is no coasting in online courses where there are new assignments every week. In fact, you will probably do more work in an online course. 

Improved Ability to Focus

I’m not sure if you are like me, but whenever I would take a college course in person, there were times when I completely zoned out in class. Maybe the teacher was just rambling on or perhaps it was because I had the attention span of a gnat. With online courses, you won’t have those problems. When there is an instructor to listen to, there will be video or audio clips in the courseware, and you can always fast forward to the important topics and repeat as often as you need. Many people find it much easier to focus on things when they are by themselves rather than in a crowd.

It’s Up to You!

In the film Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon’s character is a janitor at MIT, but he is also basically the smartest person in the school. There is a very memorable quote that his character, Will, says to a few of the snooty college kids. “You wasted $150,000 on an education you coulda got for $1.50 in late fees at the public library.” I bring up that quote now because this is much of what online learning is like.

In online courses, you are given the syllabus and your reading material for the class. The rest is up to you. The instructor is just there to lead the way and supervise the forums basically. You’ll be gaining knowledge through your own research. Also as an instructor of online courses, I can tell you that some students excel when the learning is left in their hands alone. I can also tell you that a few have a very difficult time taking it upon themselves to be in charge of their learning.

If you are getting ready to take a course online or a whole degree program and you are unsure if you have what it takes to complete it successfully, iAchieve may be able to help. We offer Academic Coaching that will focus on time management skills, organization tips, and goal setting. These are all things that a person will need when taking classes online. If you are on the fence about doing a degree online, don’t doubt yourself and reach out to us for assistance.

Written by Ryan Crawley

Interested in working with a private tutor?  Contact us today to learn how our tutors can help you prepare for essential college tests such as the ACT or SAT.

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