Choosing to go back to (or continue through) school is never an easy choice to make. When deciding to progress through another tier of education, you must commit a considerable amount of money, time, and focus. This, unfortunately, takes away your free time and can add constraints on different aspects of your life. However, if you can make it through the struggle, you can reap the rewards for years to come.
Once you’ve made the conscious decision to continue your education, you must consider which channel you’d like to take – online or in-person? This is never an easy question to answer as there are so many variables to this equation. Here we’ll be breaking down some of these variables in the hopes of helping you determine which path is best for you.
Why Are Online Degrees Becoming the Norm?
Thanks to rapid technological advances, students are no longer required to sit in a classroom and listen to a professor lecture multiple times a week just to learn. Instead, students can learn and participate in their college classes from the convenience of their personal computers, tablets, and even cell phones. Additionally, students actively enrolled in online bachelors degrees often have the flexibility to choose when to focus on school.
While an online degree sounds like all rainbows and butterflies, there are some restrictions to keep in mind. Some degrees require students to be more hands-on and thus aren’t a good idea to complete online coursework.
Things to Consider
#1: Price
One of the seemingly important factors for those entering college deals with the financial side of the equation. While online classes traditionally tended to cost students more, colleges and universities are starting to offer online classes at a reduced cost. It’s recommended that you take some time to compare the price of a traditional brick-and-mortar bachelor’s degree to an online bachelor’s degree.
Furthermore, it’s recommended that you take a closer look at what financial options are available to you as a proposed student including (but not limited to) financial aid, scholarships, or even grants.
#2: Flexibility of Time
How much free time do you have to dedicate on classwork, studying, and travel? If you’re someone who has a fulltime job and/or has a family to provide for, you’re likely strapped for time. In this given scenario an online degree is more desirable as you can study, watch lectures, and complete classwork on your own time and don’t have to stick to a relatively-strict routine. However, for those who have more free time on their hands, a traditional degree might be a more favorable route.
If you’re pursuing a degree that isn’t strictly hands-on and requires your presence in a classroom, an online degree might be the right option for you. Of course, there is no cookie cutter recipe you can follow to help you decide whether a traditional degree or an online degree is best for you but thinking about the above-mentioned factors can help point you in the right direction.