My parents and I are trying to find which is better for me????

Question

I am a 19 year old soon to be college boy.
Is college or online-college better for me? What do you think? What are the real differences, and pros/cons of both?

Answer 1

correction for poster above re: "most online colleges are not accredited" -- you are aware that 58% of all colleges offer degrees online? Places like Harvard, UMass, Boston U, Fl. State, SUNY, and probably the "real college" you attend.

Here's the deal, bottom line. A school is only as good as its reputation - online or not. That's the way it is. An online degree from Harvard is much better than a traditional degree from East Podunk State Teacher's College

Understand this single idea before you make any other decision. It's not about online or not, it's about the reputation of the school itself.

Online college:

Pros - convenient (work at home) and you can study at some of the best colleges in the world without going away. Often have programs you can't get where you are. If you just can't go to regular classes (small kids at home, you're in the military in Iraq, you're in prison, you work odd and changing hours) then online may be the only option. You can pace up (work faster than the class).

Cons - low social interaction (no parties), no face-to-face interaction with the professor, some classes are really really hard when done online (physics) and some classes will expect you to make your own arrangements for labs (physics) or library materials. A lot of papers and very few multiple guess tests. You must motivate yourself.

Traditional college:

Pros - There are people there to help you all the time. They have parties. You can make friends. They usually have everything you need (library, labs, computers, etc...) you get 1:1 interaction with the professor if you need it. Multiple guess tests are easier than 40 page research papers. Someone is there to help motivate you.

Cons - Inconvenient (class is sometimes at 8AM! or ends at 11PM!), the pace will be set, parties and social activities are distracting, they may not offer the exact major you want. They don't care what other responsibilities you have - it's class time and your assignments are due.

Other difference depend on the school involved. Some are very easy to get through and others are very hard. Comparing an online degree to a traditional one given at the same college, the online will likely be harder but more flexible. The traditional will provide you with a social outlet but also distractions.

It all depends upon what you're looking for.

Answer 2

I've done both.
1) Most online colleges are not accredited. If they aren't regionally accredited, it will mean NOTHING to a graduate school or ANY employer. It's tough to find a good online school worth paying thousands of dollars. Real colleges are always accredited and will offer you financial aid unlike online schools.

2) Online shool systems lose papers. They lost my papers, applications, and money I've paid. One of them failed to provide the next college with the courses I've completed, and removed me from their system because they didn't receive the transcripts within a timely manner. The school where the transcripts came from, refused to resend them cuz I haven't paid the ENTIRE tuition fee of over $3,000 which they weren't even entitled to. Real colleges rarely loses your financial papers and other stuff. They simply have more departments to keep track easier.

3) It's impossible to get ahold of faculty at online schools, and at some schools, they aren't even real professors..
4) Those "professors" are not available to talk to on a regular basis. They will leave u a contact e-mail, but they won't respond every few hours or everyday like they're supposed to. At one time, I had a very important question about an assignment, and she did not get back to me until a day before the big test. Real colleges' professors are available during certain office hours and by appointment. They'll answer questions about Finals, quizzes, and anything else to help u out.
5) Federal Financial Aid has a hard time letting online schools participate. You'll most likely have to pay those huge fees out of your pocket. Real colleges always offer financial aid to their students and scholarships. Unlike online colleges.

The only pro I have had was the convenience of being able to work at the same time.

College isn't just about learning a profession. It's about being able to socialize well with colleagues and classmates. They have in-class projects and assignments which online colleges can't compete with.

I'm sure online studying has been great for a lot of people, but if you're truly serious about education and getting ahead, go with a traditional school. They have more to offer.

I just summed up the most important facts. If you need any more questions asked, email me.

Answer 3

It depends on the person.

If high school seemed to drag on for you, then taking online classes can let you go at your own pace. The same goes for if you had a very difficult time in high school. The online classes can help you go at a slower pace so that you can get all of the information that you need to pass the class.

If you liked the pace of high school and you had average to slightly above average test scores, you should go through college with actual instructors at a college. Everyone I've talked to says that as long as you learn and have papers to prove that by the end of a class, it is a maturing, humbling, and fun experiance.

Answer 4

College... Pros

'Real' college is more than just education, it gives you the experience of interacting with other people. You can meet professors that will change your life. You can make friends. You can go to extracurricular activities, join clubs, and learn to live on your own. You might meet your future spouse, or at least learn more about relationships. You will come to know more about yourself. The degree that you get will be respected and useful in your life after college when seeking employment, and even afterward.

College... Cons

You will have to wake up early and go to sleep late on many occasions. You will have to come up with a sizeable amount of money to pay for your education in one way or another. You will be expected to work hard and be autonomous, without constant support from your parents.

Online College... Pros

You will have the freedom to study and work when you want. You may well be able to work a full-time job at the same time you 'attend' school. You will not have to pay as much in fees. You will be done much sooner, probably.

Online College... Cons

You will not necessarily know the experience of living on your own and learning things for yourself out of necessity. You may become dependent on your parents. If you become lazy, it will not affect your studies as deeply, so you may not be inclined to work very hard. No extracurricular activities, no clubs. You won't meet new people- not professors, and not peers- and you won't make friends that way either. Your degree may not be accredited, and if it is, it will likely still not carry the same amount of weight as a college degree from a physical college.


My opinion...

If you can, go to a physical college. I think it's worth it. Sure, you may have to take out loans, and yes, being independent can be difficult. But the value of your degree, not to mention the amazing interactions you may have with other people, can be well worth it. You may meet people that you can start a business with, or people who can lead you into internships, or, as I said, your future spouse. Online college is something of a shortcut- it is easier, in a sense, but it is not as rewarding in the end. You can always take online courses, but to experience college life as a teenager and young adult is not to be missed. Anyway, there are plenty of scholarships to be won, not to mention grants, to pay for college.


Also...

I don't know anything about online colleges' unit transferability. You should consider whether units from online colleges are easily transferable in making your final decision.


May God bless you.

Answer 5

what you should do is go to college and take a few online classes. that way, you experience both, so you can decide what to do for the other 3 years

Answer 6

College: real college is better, because you have real interactions with people & they are reputable

On-line colleges: put lots of responsibility onto you, I think too much, and may not have the reputation of even a medium-rated real college setting.

Answer 7

college is better. you have the opportunity to grow more independent, especially if you live in a dorm. if you take the online course, you're not gonna get anything positive from it if you're just sitting at a computer