by Christine L. Rice

Created on: February 04, 2009   Last Updated: May 11, 2011

I am an online college student, currently pursuing my bachelor of arts in English with professional writing specialization as well as a technical writing certificate. I take one (accelerated) class at a time and set aside at least 20 hours a week to devote to it. Going to college online is not easy, but it can be done, and it can be fun.

I check into class every day to read new posts and announcements. I also post my own comments, as participation is graded. Student questions are usually posted to the whole class, so that other students can benefit from the answer. But more individualized questions can be posed directly to the teacher in the "faculty office."

In the beginning of the week—usually Sunday or Monday—I check in to see what the assignments are for the week ahead. Typically, they are due on or around the weekend. I start with the required reading for the week, which ends up being 10 to 20 pages a day for 3 to 4 days.  The assigned reading is usually from a textbook, but it can also be from a novel, or book of short stories or poems.

Once the reading for the week is complete—usually by Thursday—I begin working on the assignments. Most of my assignments are essays and it takes considerable time to research, write, and edit them.

Occasionally, I have automated quizzes. They are fairly easy in the sense that they are usually only 10 multiple-choice questions and I can access class materials during the quiz. However, it's easy to misinterpret the questions by not understanding the wording or by looking into the meaning too much. My quiz grades are usually lower than my essay grades.

There are also team projects, but they are seldom. When on a team, everyone relies on each other to put in equal effort and submit their share of work on time. It involves a little faith, above-average communication skills, and substantial effort to keep the team project moving forward until completion. Consequently, I am not fond of team project assignments.

Going to school online is challenging, but I'm happy I made the decision to earn my degree this way. It takes less time than going to a campus school, because I don't have to commute and attend lectures. Instead, I learn on my own terms, with guidance from the teacher when I need it.

I have developed a great deal of knowledge that I am already able to apply to my personal and professional life. I feel I am receiving a quality education and will be well-prepared for a new career upon graduation.

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