Being an online student is not always as easy as you kids on campus would think. Sure, it fits your schedule better, and you only take one class at a time, but you do not get that "face-to-face" type involvement. I do not get that one on one time to really help myself when it comes to not knowing things. I have to go through videos (and I am not an auditory learner here, nope!) and readings that sometimes I cannot understand.
1. Group Projects
Group projects! A hair pulling massacre! It sucks! Some just never check in, and you have no idea when they will be logged in, online, and active in the class room. Group projects are even worse than they were in high school! Forget not getting partnered with whoever, just be happy if you have an active group!
2. "Lazy" Teachers
I also want to address teachers, not all of them are active with you, and when you ask questions their answers just confuse you more because they are being way too vague and it makes it harder as a student. I feel as if I have to teach myself because it feels like the teacher just wants me to read their mind and know exactly what's up.
3. Keeping up your work
Keep yourself ahead, you can get behind a lot faster than you think. Yes, it can be hard, but so worth it! Do not forget to take a study break! A nice nap will do!
4. Ups and Downs
Being an online student has its ups and its downs. Some courses are easy peasy lemon squeezy, while others just want to make you curl up in a corner and cry because it feels like so much, even more so when you do not understand what the material is trying to tell you.
5. Awesome Flexibility
Being an online student is awesome because it is on your time (within deadlines of course) and you get to choose what time is best to do your work. If you are not a morning person, you do it in the afternoon, or evening. Or if you work overnight, you do your work during the night, on your breaks, and when you get home, or even before you go to work. If you are a mom (I am!) you can do it during nap times and bed times, and even in the wee hours of the morning (no thanks).
6. Only one class at a time
Being an online student at GCU is nice, because they are the only college (that I have heard of) that let you go one class at a time, instead of having four or five classes. It is really nice!
7. Breaks
Last, but not least, we do not get spring break or a fall break. We do however get winter break!
