School is back in session, syllabus week is almost over, Add/Drop is about to end, and it’s time to figure out what classes are going to work for you and which ones aren’t.
There’s always been a major debate regarding whether or not to take online classes. Some people think they’re tough, and some people don’t think an online class constitutes an actual, in-person class. Who’s to say that just because you can take all of your exams in your PJs at home, on your own time, means you aren’t actually learning anything? There’s a lot to online classes that people don’t quite understand, and I’m here to tell you what I know from my personal experience from being a full-time online student.
Pros:
1. PJs.
This is one of my favorite reasons to take online classes. There’s no classroom, so there’s no reason to get dressed up in the morning. Instead of getting up early to get ready for school, you can study for class in the pleasure of your own home, on your ridiculously comfy sofa, in your ridiculously comfy pajamas.
2. The flexibility.
Between work, extracurricular things, studying, friends and family, there’s not a lot of time to add traditional courses to the mix. On-campus courses are usually about an hour to two hours long, and sometimes even longer than that. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
3. Working at your own pace.
Online classes still have deadlines, but usually, you’re able to access the materials and coursework in advance. This means there’s absolutely no excuse for procrastination (even though we all still do it). Plus, working at your own pace means you get more “me” time!
4. You don’t have to talk to other people.
If you’re like me, you like to get right into class and get right out as fast as possible. Not only is there no time for chitchat, but I also just really don’t want to talk to anyone when I don’t want to be sitting in class anyway, especially if it’s a morning class. There’s always that one person who’s just a little too happy about being in an 8 a.m. class. The beauty of online classes is that you can hide behind your computer screen in complete solitude, and you’ll never have to deal with other annoying people again. It’s beautiful.
Cons:
5. Responsibility.
If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s the responsibility. Online classes take dedication and hard work. Since there’s no one to tell you what to do or when to do it, it’s up to you to make those decisions. A missed discussion post here and there can really add up and hurt your grade (trust me, I would know.). You probably shouldn’t take an online class if you’re lazy.
I will probably take online classes for the rest of my life (or until I graduate!), and I think everyone should try it for at least one semester. If you know what you’re getting into, and you’re prepared, online classes really aren’t that scary. In the end, online classes aren’t for everyone. But hey, that’s what Add/Drop is for.
