• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • College Financial Aid
    • Financial Aid for College
    • Student Financial Aid Eligibility
    • Student Financial Aid
      • Student Loans for College
      • College Financial Aid 101
      • Need Based Student Loans
      • Financial Aid Forms (FAFSA & College Board’s Profile)
      • Military Student Financial Aid
        • College Benefits for Active Duty Military
        • National Guard Education Benefits
        • College Aid for Military Reservists
        • College Aid for Military Veterans
        • Military Dependent Financial Aid
    • Financial Aid Programs
    • Paying for College
  • Scholarships 101
    • College Scholarships (Overview)
    • College Scholarship Applications
    • College Scholarship Essay Writing Tips
    • Unusual Scholarships
    • Unclaimed Scholarships
    • Free College Scholarship Searches
  • Find a Scholarship
    • Latest Scholarship Postings
    • Student Scholarships by College Major
    • Scholarships for Hobbies and Interests
    • Sports Scholarships
    • Community Service Scholarships
    • Association Sponsored Scholarships
  • Find a Student Loan
    • Private Student Loans
      • Sallie Mae Student Loans
      • PNC Student Loans
      • Charter One Student Loan
      • Wells Fargo College Loan Programs
      • Texas Dow Employees Credit Union Loans
      • SunTrust Education Loans
    • How Do Student Loans Work?
    • Types of Private Student Loans
    • Student Loans to Cover Living Expenses
    • Private Student Loan Interest Rates
    • Graduate Student Loans from Private Lenders
  • Saving for College
  • Site Map

Financial Aid Finder

Your Guide to Maximizing your College Financial Aid

Financial Aid Finder HomePage
You are here: Home / Colleges / Is an Online Degree Right for You? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions.

Is an Online Degree Right for You? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions.

August 13, 2012 By mara

Thanks in large part to the recession, the distance learning world is booming. Many job seekers are deciding to wait out the recession in the classroom — virtual classroom, that is. And even those with secure jobs are buttressing their resumes with advanced degrees or certifications that they can earn online. The number of distance learners has climbed exponentially over the past several years, with more than 5 million Americans currently estimated to be taking at least one online class.

Are you thinking about pursuing a degree online? Distance learning is increasingly viewed as equally reputable with studying at a brick-and-mortar school. Even still, studying online still isn’t for everyone. How do you know if elearning is right for you? Start by answering these five questions.

1) Are you currently employed and/or parenting full-time?
Online learners are master multi-taskers. Most e-students work full-time and many are also moms or dads. In fact, one of the major pluses of pursuing an online degree is that you can still work full-time while doing it.

2) Do you want or need to take breaks in your learning schedule?
Traditional colleges try to get their students in and out in five years or less. Masters degrees are typically completed in 18-24 months. Online degrees, however, are better suited to those students who need to take some breaks in their learning schedule. If you think you will need to start and stop a few times before you finish your degree, an online school could be a good choice for you. You will likely find that breaks are more common and less distracting from your overall educational success that at a traditional school.

3) How do you learn best?
To be a good online learner, you will need strong visual learning skills. If you learn better by hearing (auditory) or doing (kinesthetic), you may struggle in an online situation. Look for classes in which professors stream their lectures or that require a field study component.

4) Are you self-motivated?
At traditional schools, students interact not only with their professors, but with other students, all the time. Whether through group projects or just group discussion, that interaction is key for keeping some students motivated. On the other hand, if you are highly self-motivated, you will do well in an online environment.

5) Are you tech savvy?
You don’t need to be the next Bill Gates to be a successful distance learning, but you do need a desktop or laptop computer with high speed Internet access. Some classes will also require you to purchase or download special programs to interact with other class members.

How did you know online learning was right for you?

Sallie Mae Student Loans Ad

Filed Under: Colleges, Financial Aid News Tagged With: distance learning, elearning, online degrees

Primary Sidebar

FinancialAidFinder Logo
Sallie Mae Student Loans Ad

Latest Scholarship Postings

Systems Consultants Scholarship (Deadline: March 31, 2023)

March 18, 2023 By The FinancialAidFinder Scholarship Team

Reno and Gloria Quilici Scholarship (Deadline: April 1, 2023)

March 18, 2023 By The FinancialAidFinder Scholarship Team

Nevada Air National Guard Scholarship (Deadline: April 1, 2023)

March 21, 2023 By The FinancialAidFinder Scholarship Team

General Fred Michel Memorial Scholarship (Deadline: March 31, 2023)

March 18, 2023 By The FinancialAidFinder Scholarship Team

More Scholarship Listings

Sallie Mae Student Loans Ad

Explore Financial Aid Finder

  • College Financial Aid
  • Saving for College
  • Military Financial Aid
  • Grants for College
  • Student Scholarships
  • Student Scholarship Search
  • Find Student Loans
  • Financial Aid Info
  • Register to Receive College Financial Aid Updates
  • About FinancialAidFinder
  • Contact Us

Tags

529 plans applying for scholarships college college financial aid college savings plan college savings plans college scholarship college scholarships college student loans college tuition community college debt distance learning education engineering scholarship essay scholarships expected family contribution FAFSA federal student loans financial aid financial aid application financial aid eligibility free money for college GI Bill grant Grants hispanic scholarships minority scholarships Pell Grant Pell Grants private student loans reduce cost of college saving for college scholarship scholarship applications scholarship essays Scholarships scholarships for college student financial aid student loan student loan consolidation student loan debt Student Loans Info tuition work study

Footer

About FinancialAidFinder
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Scholarship Submissions

If you offer a college scholarship, you can submit it to us through this form:

Scholarship Submission Form

Copyright © 2023 · FinancialAidFinder - All rights reserved.