When considering returning to school, most people are concerned with the overall time commitment, and this is a very valid fear with a lot of unknowns: “How will I be able to work and take class?” “What if classes aren’t at a convenient time for me?” “Who will watch my children while I’m in class?”
All of these questions are struggles that people face every day when considering whether or not to return to college and are often times the issues that force people to decide that they can’t. In today’s society, earning a college degree is rising in importance and a lot of careers are beginning to require at least an associate’s level degree. This is the constant struggle, how do I obtain the degree I need to further my career when I can’t juggle the classes and my life?
Luckily, there is a new breed of college that is taking higher education by storm. Online colleges are becoming much more prevalent than they used to be, and almost every college out there has some sort of online division. Why is this important? Because this is the answer to all of the fears and hesitation you have about going back to school. Online colleges give you the flexibility and convenience you need to succeed in earning your degree.
Students who earn degrees online have the most flexibility when it comes to classes. Students are able to log in and participate in class whenever they have the time. Whether it is 5 p.m. or 5 a.m., you have all the resources you need to enter your virtual classroom and attend a class. This is perfect for those students who have families or who work all day. Once the children have gone to sleep, or work is over, then you can sit down for a few hours, log in, and attend a class and do your assignments.
Online college is also extremely convenient in that you can log in to your classes anywhere. If you need to login at work, at a coffee shop, a park, anywhere you can take your computer and access the internet, you can attend class. This works very nicely for students who are busy and always on the go. They can easily take their laptops with them, and set up wherever they are when they have a free minute.
Some people worry about the lack of support and cultural structure students might be missing with online colleges. However, there is no need to worry. Online colleges function the same way normal colleges do, just online. Students have personal academic advisors, just like traditional campus students do. Instructors have office hours which students can attend as a sort of chat room to ask questions and they can also email them at any time. Most online schools have online library resources with a librarian. There is also a lot of interaction between students themselves, and some even become lifelong friends.
Whatever your reasons are for not being able to go back to school, make sure that you first consider online learning before giving up on your dream. It’s flexible for almost any schedule, it’s convenient and allows you to work from almost anywhere and your support system is with you every step of your journey to help you succeed.
