Are Online Classes Right for You?

Hey everyone! Thought I’d talk about online classes this week. People typically opt for online classes to free up some space in their schedules during the academic year. You can take them during the summer or simultaneously with your regular classes to knock out some credits. You can also seek out courses not typically offered at your college or university. The benefits of online courses, in my opinion, greatly outweigh the negatives...but I’ll let you readers sort it out.

Benefits

• You can work simultaneously and the hours are more flexible than a typical class.
• The credits normally transfer and will put you ahead in hours for your majors/minors.
• It’s a great thing to do over the summer if not enrolling in traditional summer classes. This will make the school year less stressful.
• Online classes can be cheaper as well.
• They are independent and can promote time management skills.

Negatives

• Being independent, there is less of a chance of study groups and working with others.
• Sometimes people do not take online classes with the same seriousness as regular classes when they should be treated as such.
• There’s a lot of time spent on the computer – to those with Facebook addiction and problems focusing, it could be a challenge.
• There is much more distance and more hoops people have to jump through to get help in these classes. That’s not an issue for more independent students but those who frequent help sessions or their professor’s office hours with questions might find it difficult.
• Online courses are much more objective in nature. If you rely on the participation portion of grades and partial credit on tests, these courses might prove difficult.

I personally believe that if you have the chance to get ahead through online classes, you should take it. College can be tough and anything to ease your workload in the future is a plus.

Mike Sheffey is a junior at Wofford College double majoring in computer science and Spanish. He loves all things music and has recently taken up photography. Mike works for an on-campus sports broadcasting company as well as the music news blog PropertyOfZack.com. He hopes to use this blogging position to inform and assist others who are seeking the right college or those currently enrolled in college by providing advice on college life, both in general and specific to Wofford.