by Jonathan Ginsburg

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 20, 2009

Today's students are fortunate to have a wide variety of options available to them when they are ready to get either their graduate or undergraduate degree. Most traditional colleges, meaning the ones where classes are conducted in real buildings, offer a wide array of scheduling choices to students whose personal lives preclude the classic full-time student lifestyle. There are now a wide variety of scheduling options, as well as tracks that allow non-traditional (also called returning) students the ability to go to school on a part-time basis and still be on target to obtain their degree.

There is also a greatly expanding world of distance learning options (aka online classes). At this point, almost any degree can be obtained online, which allows both traditional and non-traditional students the ability to have a pretty good amount of flexibility in their educational schedules. Because of this, online classes are increasingly popular among all sorts of students.

However, this flexibility can be deceptive. Students cannot just do their work whenever they want to, however they want. In an effort to replicate face-to-face classroom interactions, distance learning classes have discussion forums to which students are required to post discussion responses, usually four times a week. They also have team projects (aka group projects) which require students to coordinate schedules and piece together projects ranging from power-point presentations to term papers to business plans. They also have a strictly-scheduled series of individual assignments including journal reflections and term papers.

And so, while students can, for example, write those term papers any time they want, they still have to post them by the deadline - usually to the minute - for both their individual and their group-oriented projects. Such deadlines come fast, as online classes are typically only four to five weeks long.

So, which option is better for you? There are lots of factors to consider. First is geography. Do you live near a brick-and-mortar school, one which has a program you want? If so, then this is an option. Your second consideration at that point would be your life. Do you have a rigidly-scheduled job, a family, volunteer responsibilities? Are you packed so full in your daily life that sitting in class three nights a week feels impossible? Or would you welcome the chance to get away from it all and focus on something else with a group of like-minded students? A third consideration is cost. Although distance learning is not free, online classes can definitely be more cost-effective than in-person classes. Finally, think about your personality. Are you self-disciplined enough to check in with your online class every single day, do what you have to do, and meet your deadlines? Do you enjoy a good face-to-face conversation with your peers or would you prefer to remain anonymous in your scholarly pursuits?

All of these factors and more should be taken into account when considering which option is best for you. Either way, remember that there is help if you need it. Academic writing and research companies are increasingly helping students of all kinds, and can help you too.

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