While visions of "Animal House" do come to mind when thinking of college, it's more often the individuals who made up that group - the kids in their late teens and the twenty-something adults running between brick buildings covered in sprawling ivy; as much concerned about the latest fashions or an up-coming frat party, as the upcoming midterm or final. They'd be in for a surprise. College is no longer reserved for those fresh out of high school.
The growth of online college programs opened the doors of higher education to a broader range of individuals and changed the way many students choose to pursue their degree. Classes can be taken from anywhere with an Internet connection, and are quickly becoming a popular option for completing a degree. In fact, online degree programs offer students many advantages over traditional brick-and-mortar schools. For one, classes can be completed on the student's own schedule. This can free up time, allowing them to better fulfill their personal responsibilities.
Many students who are interested in continuing their education after high school, but want to be able work and earn money are enrolling in online colleges. Thanks to the flexible schedules distance education provides, students can fit both school and work more easily into their daily lives. This may help them pay for their classes and stay out of debt.
Online classes may also be a good fit for busy parents who are interested in furthering their schooling. As anyone with children knows, young ones tend to set the schedule for a family. With virtual education, parents have the option to complete their coursework after tending to their children's needs. Further, whether they are completing a degree they never finished or going back to school to earn higher qualifications, online classes can help parents set a positive example for their children by showing them that education can lead to a better life.
Some parents may worry that pursuing a degree might take too much time and money that could otherwise be spent on their family. However, many high-paying jobs require higher education. Completing a degree can greatly improve a parent's earning potential, enabling them to provide a better life for their children.
Additionally, degree programs online are often less expensive than classroom-based programs. These days, many a working parent knows that every penny counts, especially when the kids are constantly growing out of their clothes and attacking the fridge like a pack of starving wolves. This makes education at a distance a better financial fit for a number of students.
As for those who remember when their classes involved nothing but book-laden travel from one room to another, only to sprawl in an uncomfortable chair and listen to a professor lecture, there's a worry that adjusting to virtual learning will be difficult, even if more comfortable on their couch. Luckily, just about every school out there is well aware of this. As such, they have set up special departments staffed with personnel skilled in making the transition a lot easier.
Degrees online may be a good option for these individuals, as they don't have to worry about making it to class on time or worse, skipping a class when their babysitter cancels. Class work can be done whenever the student can fit these courses online into their schedule, and if there is any group work, it is done through message boards. Add in $3-plus dollars for a gallon of gas, expenses for taking care of kids while away, and the loss of family time, and the benefits of distance education grow exponentially.
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