A few years ago, I decided to buckle down and complete my degree. I had not been to school in years and was a new mom to twins. Between the babies and working full time, most people thought I was crazy to take college hours also. Well, maybe I am a little crazy, but that has nothing to do with this. The truth is, the convenience of online courses has helped do the impossible.
Here are a few things you may not know about taking online courses:
1. You can take your classes at many state universities and colleges. You do not have to go to a special online-only school. This means you still get a mascot!
2. Some schools offer complete degree programs online, so you never have to go to class. I have to go to a testing center for my exams, but some programs do not even require that.
3. Most classes do not require that you be on the computer at a specific time of the day. You can do your coursework when you have the time (within deadlines of course). I study when the kids go to sleep.
4. Some schools will not charge parking and other facility usage fees because you are not on campus using those facilities.
Many schools have reported a sharp increase in enrollment for online courses. Saving time is not the only reason. This summer has seen students turning to online courses to avoid the gas bill. Whatever it is that has kept you from finishing that degree, the Web might be a great route for you, too! Of course, buying new school supplies is fun, so why not go ahead and get a backpack to carry your books or laptop. Going back to school is a good excuse!
August 21st, 2008 at 6:24 am
Are the major universities in Texas such as UT, A&M, or TTU offering these online courses also? I think many people who thought these deals were scams will look at this option again with this new information from your blog. Would this be a suggestion for a young first time college student and if so, how would you suggest they sample the college life?
August 21st, 2008 at 7:22 am
@Jeannette – Great questions! Below are links to the distance learning options for the schools you mention. You’ll find a combination of satellite campuses and computer based classes available. There are not as many degree programs offered through this route as those offered by the campus, so that should be an early consideration.
If the ‘college life’ is important, computer based classes are probably not the right fit, unless they are supplemental to on-campus coursework. A young first-timer might find this option helpful if they are unable to move away, need to keep a full-time job, or still need to work on study skills. The self paced nature of online classes requires maturity in time management and discipline.
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/distancelearning/
http://distance.tamu.edu/
http://www.utexas.edu/conted/