by Lynette Olson

Created on: April 03, 2008

I currently started taking online classes working toward my degree in Fashion and Retail Marketing. At first I really wasn't sure online classes were for me, but I have a daughter and feel a very strong need to continue being a full-time mommy to her. Then again, I also want to teach her the value of her education and couldn't do that very well if I didn't value my own. The online environment has given me the freedom to stay with my baby and still continue my education. Though I have never been enrolled in my own ground college courses I have attended several for and with my husband. There is a huge difference. Maybe this will make things a little easier for someone who wants to go online; I know I would have been grateful for the tips when I started.

1 ARE ONLINE COURSES FOR ME?
MY first tip for you is to be sure online courses are for you. They require a large amount of self motivation, self discipline, and selfperiod. If you're the type of person who needs someone to ride you to get something done, or need the social interaction of a classroom then you probably won't do well in an online environment. If you don't have a sense of self you may feel out of place or not know exactly what to do with all that time alone.

College is a lot different from high school because you will have to have a degree of self motivation; this is where your parents can't remember for you. Determining what college environment best suits your needs is very important. First consider the college you would like a degree from is it close to you or would you need to relocate or travel and are you willing to do so if needed? If this poses to be a problem, then you might be best off to go for an online degree. Is the convenience of 24 hour access and flexibility to choose your own times to be in class important to your job or your schedule? Online courses offer great convenience in timing, but this is also where it gets hard.

2 SET ASIDE ENOUGH TIME:
You don't have a classmate right next door a lot of the time your instructor and your classmates live in different time zones. There is no room for procrastination, you have to get on the ball and stay there. If you have a question about an assignment it could take 24 hours to get a simple yes or no answer to something. You have to make yourself start your assignments early or you risk not being able to do them at all.

A common misconception is that online classes take less time. It is very probable to invest ten to twenty hours a week per class

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