You’ll be working with a driven group of peers
It takes a lot of dedication, determination, and drive to earn a college degree online, so although attrition rates still seem to be higher among online classes, the students who do stick with them are the kind of people you want in your professional network. (That being said, it’s harder to network with your online peers; keep reading to learn more...)
You’ll get better at writing and communicating in general
When most or all of your interactions take place online, it’s communicate well or bust. You will be judged primarily on your writing abilities, so you’ll learn to put forth your best work and clearly articulate your meaning. (You’ll find tips for writing and other ways of excelling in your online classes here.)
Online class discussions are a unique and democratized experience
In an online class, you will almost certainly have to participate in discussions—often for credit. So if a fear of public speaking has held you back in the past, you may enjoy the ability to type out your responses and review them before you post. And when everyone is required to participate, you can read and learn from allof your classmates’ thoughts. It’s harder for one or a few people to dominate the conversation when everyone is required to speak.
Cons of an online college education
You need to be highly motivated and self-directed
The freedom that makes online education such a blessing for some can be a curse for others. If you struggle with procrastination, understanding the material, or time management—like many students do—it can be hard to get through your online college course work on your own. Sure, traditional college programs require a hefty dose of self-discipline and time-management skills too, but because online courses are primarily self-directed, you need even more motivation and self-discipline.
Self-discipline is also a finite resource, and it takes a lot of it to carve out time to watch lectures and work on projects, particularly if you’re fitting them into the end of a busy day or workweek. And, obviously, the more responsibilities you have to juggle, the harder that balancing act becomes.