Considering Accelerated Online Degrees
There are many advantages to having an accelerated online degree. It takes around half of the time to achieve this certification as it would a traditional degree. Acquiring an accelerated online degree is also more cost-effective than working toward a regular post-secondary degree.
In addition to less money, there is also less time per day spent in the pursuit of a credential of this type; this leaves an individual with more time to proceed with other important matters, such as maintaining a career or raising a family. However, despite the pros, it is important to take in to account important factors that may affect your decision.
Deprivation of a Real College Experience
Accomplishing an accelerated online degree is very convenient when it comes to mobility. You can take online classes on your laptop without leaving your home. In many cases, this saves time and money, as opposed to traveling back and forth to a regular college campus. Moreover, with your laptop and a job that requires travel, you can take your online studies with you, instead of waiting for another day or time to attend classes at an educational institution or, in many cases, night school.
However, many people still feel content attending traditional colleges to acquire their degrees. This is especially true for high school graduates who want to attend prestigious universities and experience the college life for the first time. Many of these students want to do more than just take the required courses necessary to achieve that degree that will give them access to very rewarding careers.
They want to see what the campus looks like, meet different people with various backgrounds from around the world, go to highly-publicized sporting events, and, of course, attend many wild college parties. All of these leisures are also apparent when living on campus, which is also convenient for attending classes nearby.
Lack of Personal Interaction
For those working toward an accelerated online degree, many online schools enable classroom participation and interaction with the instructor and other students. For instance, there is communication via web conferencing. However, for many freshmen, attending a lecture for the first time can be exhilarating.
Whereas most high school graduates are accustomed to instruction in classrooms of about 15-30 participants, as first-time students on a college campus, they can attend classes in huge auditoriums or lecture halls with over hundreds of people. Moreover, there is interaction with other students and with professors, especially when talking over lecture notes, raising hands to ask questions, or talking to instructors immediately after class. Professors are also likely to have drop-in office hours during the week for any further questions, and this would be convenient for any students living on campus.
Learning More in Less Time
If most people are determined enough, completing required courses for an accelerated online degree can take as little as two years or less. However, achieving this credential in that amount of time means having around four years of course material condensed into its online curriculum, which can be overwhelming.
This is especially difficult for those who have personal, familial, professional, or other commitments. Imagine having these obligations, attempting to achieve an accelerated online degree in 24 months or less, and working on a curriculum with the equivalent of a four-year workload. Those who claim that online school is not rigorous are misinformed indeed.
It's Up to the Individual
Ultimately, whether or not online school is the right choice is determined by personal circumstances. Acquiring fast-track degrees has become a growing interest for many, especially for those looking to move up to more prestigious and high-paying careers in the job market. Furthermore, for veteran employees, working toward an accelerated online degree does have many advantages.
So, it depends on a person's goals or his/her stage in life. If the individual has worked for a company for years and wants to move up in the business, an accelerated online degree may be ideal. However, for someone who just graduated from high school and is experiencing life for the first time, attending a traditional four-year college may be more fitting. Whatever the case, it's up to the individual.