Pros and Cons of an Online Bachelors Degree Education

Are you planning on getting a college degree? One of the options today is getting an online bachelors degree education. What are the advantages and disadvantages of an online degree program?

Pros of online degree programs

• Flexibility
  One of the major advantages of online degree programs is their flexibility. You can do your work according to your own schedule, whether you work full time or are a stay at home Mom. While there are deadlines that you must meet in order to complete a given class, your schedule is generally up to you.

  More and more colleges are offering online degree programs. You may be able to attend the college of your choice without actually living there by taking online classes.

• Contacts
  One of the nice advantages of online degree programs is that you can make contacts right now with other students across the country who may also be working in your field or related fields. This can be a valuable business tool.

• Recognition
  In the past, online degree programs were considered to be second cousins to attending school in a traditional manner. Today, more and more businesses are recognizing online colleges as a viable way of getting a degree.

  However, not all businesses have taken this step yet. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you get your online degree from a reputable, accredited institution. Some employers are more likely to acknowledge your accomplishment if you get an online degree from a college that also offers traditional classes.

• Work and Study Habits
  Online degree programs require participants to be self-motivated and self-disciplined. If you tend to procrastinate or need to be around others to get motivated, a more traditional college setting might be right for you.

  Keep in mind that an online degree involves lots and lots of reading. It is important to understand how you learn. If you do not like to read or learn more efficiently by listening than reading, an online degree program might not be for you.

  Along the same lines, if you are not comfortable expressing yourself in writing all of the time, a traditional class might be more to your liking.

• Accelerated Programs
  Many online colleges offer accelerated degree programs. If choosing an accelerated program, remember that accelerated means quicker, so you may be spending more hours studying and working on homework than if you were taking traditional classes.

Cons of online degree programs

• Technology
  In order to participate in an online degree program, you must be comfortable downloading information and be comfortable with general computer functions.

• Classrooms
  While most online degree programs tout their "classroom-less" classrooms, taking online classes is very different than participating in a classroom situation. The social side of going to school can be largely absent. And while your primary motivation for getting a degree is probably not social, we are social beings and going to school can be more pleasant when you are interacting with actual people.

• Time Differences
  While time differences might seem immaterial when participating in an online degree program, time differences can hinder you if you are waiting for an answer from your instructor or a fellow student or if you are working on group projects where the participants are in several different time zones and one or two are procrastinators.

• Communication
  Since all of your communication will be via writing, you will be missing out on cues such as body language and tone of voice to help guide you when communicating with your instructor, other students and teammates. This can lead to misunderstandings that can take up valuable time to fix.

Are Online Degree Programs for You?
Only you can decide if an online degree program is right for you. If you choose an online degree program, go to a recognized, accredited school for the biggest bang for your buck.