Thursday, August 13, 2009

Online university versus a traditional university

Which is better? An online university or a traditional university? The only differences between the two are independence and cost. A working professional may look to online universities because of their busy schedules. Students that have the luxury of time and financial concerns should avoid online universities. Why?

Online universities are just as good as traditional colleges because many of the students comes from good colleges and the instructors have credible experience. There is catch though. The cost of online course are astronomical. Universities charge a flat rate for full time while online universities charge per course fees. Do the math. Would you want to pay $2800 per quarter for 4 courses or over $8200 for 4 courses. That should be an easy decision.

Online universities are becoming more popular because people have the flexibility to log into a college website to complete weekly assignments, which can be very challenging. Don't be fooled that online coursework is easy. In essence, online universities are more challenging because a student has to be disciplined and have good time management skills. A student has to take part in weekly discussions, complete course assignments, and communicate with their peers. It is easy for a student to fall behind, making the process seem unbearable.

Traditional universities are fun because you get to socialize with other students, see life in motion, and communicate with instructor - upfront and in person. The only challenge is that a students has to travel to college, pay for gas, sit in traffic, and fight to stay up during boring lectures. Also, they have to deal with classroom midterms, quizzes, and final exams.

What is the difference between online universities and traditional universities? The cost of education favors traditional colleges. Online universities give students more flexibility - having independence. The drawbacks of traditional universities are the lectures and the in-class examinations. Online universities overcharge for their education, have too many requirements, and place a student in an isolated environment, which may be harmful to their health. Communicating with people - in a social environment - helps one to be more proactive and productive.

Which format is better? If cost is an issue, go to a traditional university. Limited on time? You should attend an online university. From experience, both college formats have the same quality of education. Separating cost and time are two processes that will help make your decision easier. With the economy making the job market unpredictable, traditional universities may favor students. Professionals should consider online courses because of their time constraints. Either decision will still deliver the same results - a student will learn about their respective field and earn a college degree in the process.

2 comments:

  1. This is a very useful post. It's good that there are sites like this that gives people ample information needed to make a wise choice of traditional or online college.

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  2. Thank you for the comment. I really appreciate it. I believe students should make decisions on a number of factors. It is the student that has to attend college. Some work well on computers, while there are others that do well in the classroom. Thanks again.

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