It's not surprising to know that many people may still be skeptical about the advent of obtaining their degree/masters online. Well why not? With the flimsy, annoying pop-ups and cheesy ads from certain universities, the credibility of online studying could definitely be undermined.
I personally have not obtained my degree online, however I intend to try it out.
In my undergrad years, I attempted online courses and I did find it beneficial. I liked the fact that I could work on my own pace and replying to responses on discussion boards, was actually a little easier; esp in terms of discussing sensitive issues. It also probed students to provide their opinion because participation in the discussion = marks.
Having the discipline to take on such a task however, is a huge thing to consider. Yes, it's great to be able to pace yourself, but I also found that the online studying went by really fast. Unlike sitting in a classroom, where AT TIMES, you may have the option of reading the chapter, the same cannot really be applied in this case. You have gotta know your stuff.
I guess the first step into considering taking an online course would be to ensure that you may have some sort of physical contact with the institution. Also, many more prominent universities are accommodating the demand of online studying, so if you may be weary about the whole "will I really be able to get my degree online" speak to a school counselor in person; this really helps build the trust factor.
If you feel like you have finally found the right school, ask yourself, are you really ready to commit? This costs' money ya know!
So, I would recommend giving yourself a prep test to tryout studying online; however, Barnes and Noble has terminated it's B&N University which provided courses online of which you could sign up for। That could have been a good trial to test your determination.
