Advantages Enjoyed by Online College Students
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Online colleges have been more and more popular these days, and they have been offering a widening variety of courses as well. According to a study, around 30% of college students today are enrolled in at least one online class. Moreover, online course enrollments have also risen by 10% from a year ago.
If you've been considering signing up with an online college, here are the most important advantages you can expect:
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Flexibility
If there is one big edge online college students have over those who study in a traditional setting, it is flexibility. Online students can listen to their instructors' lectures, read their notes and basically create their own schedule, depending on their free time.
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If you have a job, this is going to make a lot of difference for you. In fact, many professionals who wish to earn additional credentials to build their careers decide to enroll online as it is the most convenient option for them.
Even for working students, maintaining a healthy balance between their school and employment obligations is almost always a challenge. However, while online colleges are highly flexible in terms of their schedules, students will be required to practice a high degree of self-discipline in order to successfully finish their courses.
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Personal Comfort
Being able to do their coursework in the comfort of their homes is a big thing for many learners. There are students who are easily distracted by other students in a classroom setting.
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At home, you can assign a particular spot where you know it will be most conducive for studying. You can read your materials while on your recliner and grab a snack when you need a break. There are people who need to take frequent breaks in order to maintain their ability to focus, especially when preparing for exams.
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Cost Efficiency
Tuition for many online courses are often around the same or even higher than that for conventional courses; however, the cost of education is still lower in general. For example, when you don't have to leave your home and spend money on gas or public transport to go to campus, you can save up to $100 or even more in a month.
You don't have to buy as many clothes and other supplies that you will probably need in a classroom setup. If you have a child, you don't have to pay for childcare just to be able to attend your classes using your iPhone.
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Becoming Tech Savvy
Finally, by attending Online Colleges and classes, you get the indirect but solid benefit of developing your technology skills. Among instructors and students, email is a common way of communicating. You can even brush up on your professional written communication proficiency.
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Furthermore, online colleges usually make use of forums and discussion boards for discussions. This is similar to virtual team software and intranet forums used by companies to allow physically separated employees to communicate. These are very practical tools that come in handy for people who would like to exchange ideas on a regular basis.
