Is Distance Learning Right for Me?

Earning a degree online can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but distance education is not a good fit for everyone. It takes time, dedication, and focus to succeed in online classes, other students or professionals find themselves regretting their decision and wishing they had enrolled in a traditional school – or a combination of a traditional and online program – instead.

Successful and satisfied distance learners have a few characteristics in common. Consider the following points and analyze yourself, deciding whether or not online classes are right for you.

1. Successful distance learners do well with minimal supervision. While some people need to be in a classroom setting to stay motivated, distance learners are able to maintain discipline and meet assignment deadlines. They know that professors won’t be there to give them personal attention (unless through email), office hours, or the ability to meet with them for questions and/or help. Regardless, online students realize they do not need others to encourage them; they are individuals who set their own goals and achieve them – be it career or academics.
2. Online students rarely procrastinate. Procrastination is an online student’s worst enemy. It usually results in stressful, sleepless nights before exams and due dates. Whether it’s your favorite show, the rowdy kids, or the allure of anything that isn’t schoolwork, some students know how to avoid constant disturbances that threaten their progress. They feel confident they can turn down an invitation or ignore a phone call when they know there is work to be done.

Students who are successful in online programs rarely put off assignments or wait until the last day to write their papers. These students appreciate the freedom of working at their own pace and the ability to complete their work with long term deadlines. Completing an assignment when you’re in the mood can really help make an online experience more fulfilling.
3. Successful online degree students have solid reading comprehension and writing skills. Online students should be prepared to read the majority of their materials, though many online programs now provide online video lectures, which replicate the classroom feeling. Regardless, reading and writing will still probably be a huge portion of a student’s learning experience as most programs require that students understand a large portion of their study materials through text.

In the end, none of these character traits can deem someone definitively fit or unfit for the program. Consider your ambitions, goals, and focus, and if online schooling is the best option to achieve your dreams, encourage yourself to go through with it.