by Leigh Goessl

Created on: October 27, 2007

Today the options available for students to learn are tremendous. Never before have people been presented with so many choices in ways to pursue higher education. The integration of technology into college programs to create the virtual classroom has transformed higher education. This is especially beneficial for the "non-traditional" students who really want to earn a degree but have family and work responsibilities that put time constraints on being able to attend traditionally structured classes.

While online universities are terrific, it isn't for everyone. When I was employed at a college, I worked with students who took a combination of both traditional and online courses and I received a lot of feedback on what qualities they felt were needed to succeed. Also, I have been a distance learning student myself for almost five years now. What I've learned along my journey is that there are several factors which influence success or failure in online programs. Before taking the plunge into an online university there are definitely several issues to evaluate.

*Carefully choose your major and make sure all of your courses can be taken in the online environment. If distance learning is a must and you are not flexible to attend some classes on campus, be sure the degree program is offered in its entirety. Some colleges are dedicated to strictly online learning, while others offer both traditional and online degree programs. Many schools also offer a hybrid structure also where you can do some online and some classroom coursework. Don't get stuck in a degree that you won't be able to complete - make sure the program you select meets your criteria.

*Are you diligent in time management? If you find that you are the type of person who procrastinates or doesn't do well with self-guided learning, distance learning may not be the right avenue for you. Before registering, talk with a college counselor and see what they recommend. In addition to talking to college personnel, many colleges offer a questionnaire that is designed to help you determine if learning over the web is the right decision for you.

*Strong self discipline. Do you thrive on working on your own and are you able to set regulated time schedules to "go to class"? Many students are under the impression that online classes are easier and require less work, but this is an untruth. Taking courses over the Internet are time consuming, even more so than traditional courses. I believe this to be true because there

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