If you’re considering going back to school after having been away for a while, there is a lot to think about. One of those considerations needs to be on the type of school you’ll be applying to. I want to focus on the two main different types of school — traditional and online. When I say traditional school, I mean a brick and mortar building that you go into to study face to face with a professor and other students. Online schools are those where every aspect of your education is done digitally, from reading assignments to exams.
It’s worth noting that many traditional schools have online elements included. They still require that the student does most of their education in the building in a traditional classroom.
Both types of institutions will get you an education. They will not be the same education. Each will require different skills, and you, as a student, will learn through a different set of rules.
I’m here to weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you decide which one is better for your learning style and your lifestyle.
Traditional School Advantages
In a physical classroom, you are dedicated to one task and that one task alone. There are fewer distractions because you have no TV, spouse, or kids. If you’re feeling frisky you can even turn your cell phone off.
The learning experience is more dynamic. The professor is there giving you clear instructions with both verbal and nonverbal cues. The class is giving him feedback which can help him adjust his teaching style on the fly to better suit the needs of the students. Everyone is working together in real time to accomplish a goal.
Your peers are in there learning with you. You can exchange notes with your neighbor or giggle over a joke. The socializing is valuable because, remember, these are the people you can network with later for a job.
Traditional School Disadvantages
The dedicated time in a classroom is also dedicated time that you have to work into your regular schedule. There is no flexibility. Don’t forget to work in travel time, too.
Not all of the other students in the class will be sharing notes and networking. Some of them will be disruptive to your learning. Different people have different goals, and if the class doesn’t reflect their goals, then neither will their attitude.
One last consideration for traditional schools is that they are incredibly expensive. Savings funds can dry out quickly and loans can pile up faster than some people can keep track of. The cost of school is no joking matter.
Online School Advantages
When you enroll in an online dedicated university, you are in complete control of your time. You still have due dates, but how you get the work done up to those due dates is on you. It’s easier to squeeze in a little studying here and there around a busy schedule.
Online schools are full of opportunities. More degree options are being offered online, even from major institutions you never thought you would have access to. Speaking of access, online may be the best option if you live in a community with few or no traditional universities nearby.
The skills you get from those online school opportunities are just as valuable as the degree. Changing technology and globalization means it’s more important for workers to understand how to communicate and effectively work online. I’d say getting a degree is a good demonstration to future employers that you know how to navigate that terrain!
Affordability is the last point I want to make as an advantage of online universities. The school doesn’t have to worry about electricity bills and janitorial staff and parking lots for an entire campus. The lower cost of running the organization is transferred back to the student. An online degree costs the student a fraction of one from a traditional school.
Online School Disadvantages
Self motivation is a bitch! Some days it will seem impossible to sit down at the computer and convince yourself to study when there is no one there to tell you to not put it off until tomorrow. At least in a classroom environment, if you’ve gone through all the effort to get there you might as well actually learn something.
And learning something from an online school isn’t the easiest way to go. Sometimes you’ll get instructions from a professor that are less than clear. Sure, you can shoot your professor an email and she’ll probably get back to you in a very reasonable amount of time, but what do you do while you wait for the response?
Non-immediate feedback puts you at risk of wasting time. As a nontraditional student, you don’t have a lot of time to waste. You need to be able to make decisions and keep going despite any doubts or concerns. If that type of uncertainty is difficult for you, then it will be a big disadvantage while you’re considering an online university as an option.
I hope I was able to give a well enough rounded evaluation of the two main types of schools in the context of a blog post. My goal was to give enough varied examples for someone considering returning to school as a nontraditional student to be able to critically assess each and make a decision based on their own strengths, weaknesses, and situation.
Leave a comment and let’s start a discussion about what concerns you have about becoming a nontraditional student.