The world has taken on many changes throughout history but one thing remains the same: the importance of a good education. A proper education for many countries starts at a young age and ends around the age that someone is declared an adult, such as 18 in the United States. After that is finished, many students wish to advance their education even further by attending universities, technical schools, or other educational institutes. Due to the recent technological advances, students can now even attend online classes. This guide goes over the benefits and disadvantages of using online education so students can make informed decisions about it.
Advantages
-
Convenience
A huge advantage of using online education is the convenience it offers. People who didn't have the means to get to a brick and mortar education institute can now have the chance to continue their education. Those who work long or unusual hours will also have the chance as well.
-
Comfort
Another great benefit of online courses is the comfort level, both physically and mentally. You can literally sit home in your pajamas while you complete your coursework. Students who have social anxieties or severe shyness can take comfort in the fact that they can be part of a class without the social aspect of it.
Disadvantages
-
Scams
During your search for online courses, you will undoubtedly come across hundreds of results. You need to be careful when choosing a school. There are several that are unaccredited, which means you cannot transfer any credits that you earn to another school. Many companies will also not honor degrees from unaccredited schools.
-
Variety
Once you join a college, you may find that only certain courses are available through online study. The ones that are may fill up quickly each semester. If you are going to do all your schooling online, it is a good idea to find an online-only school that is accredited. They will offer the biggest variety of classes.
Considerations
One thing that is may come down to is the cost of tuition. A lot of online schools will offer cheaper costs for the entire course, but it varies per school. In some cases, taking online courses through regular colleges ends up being cheaper. You have to research the degree that you are pursuing and see which option ends up working with your educational budget. Take any loans and grants into consideration as well.
