What are the real differences between online and traditional campus based classes? More than you might think, actually.

Online college courses offer you the same quality education that a standard campus degree program offers but with the added benefit of giving you much more flexibility to complete assignments, attend classes, and in some cases, even test whenever your schedule allows.

However, that’s where the similarities typically end.

Visual learners can benefit from either format, whereas audible learners are often better off with campus based classes as they require a non-text explanation to help them better grasp the concepts being presented. Though online college courses offer vivid and intuitive multimedia programs via download or disk and often allow for time consulting classmates or instructors via e-mail, this doesn’t always translate into the best learning environment for all students.

So, provided you have the option of choosing either, which is right for you?

Again, it depends on what type of learning method you respond better to in the context of what you are trying to learn. Regardless of what type of learning method you prefer, some courses simply cannot be translated well online whereas others can quite naturally. Business, tech and liberal arts programs are, in most cases, entirely feasible as online courses of study whereas many science, mathematics and healthcare related degrees require the presence of the student.

The best advice for anyone contemplating an education is to think about what holds your interest; balance that with what you expect from a course of study and finally, consider the available options for your preferred learning style and schedule. The reality of any education is that while it should be an eye opening, rewarding experience, it is also meant to be a means to an end – with the "end" usually taking the form of a career.

Ask yourself these questions:

A) What are the fields of study that most interest me?

B) Of the choices I’ve made above, which can provide me with better employment opportunities and the compensation to fit the lifestyle I hope to lead? 

C) What sort of learning environment is most conducive to my success as a student?

D) What extenuating circumstances must my educational plans fit around (current employment, family, parental care responsibilities, etc…)

  One last thought…

I was a waiter through the majority of my undergraduate college years, and had the fortunate luxury of meeting some great people in the course of my employment. One I’ll never forget was a fellow employee who, at the age of 32, decided he wanted to get a pre-med degree and go on to medical school. He had a liberal arts related bachelor degree and needed almost two more years of undergraduate study, four full years of med school and likely a few more years of residency. One night, as we were closing down the restaurant, several of us got to talking about the future and what it might hold when another co-worker asked him, "Isn’t it a little ‘late in the game’ to be considering medical school?" – meaning "aren’t you too old to start a career as a physician?".

He responded, "I can finish in roughly 8 years, at which time I’ll be 40 years old. I can be a 40 year old doctor, or a 40 year old waiter, but either way, I’ll be 40 years old".

Remember, time waits for no one – make the most of yours.

 Few people have the ability to drop everything in order to concentrate solely on getting an education. This can influence whether you choose online or campus based education, but it shouldn’t influence your decision to get an education. Remember, no matter what your situation, it’s always possible to further yourself educationally provided you’re committed to a better future. It may take a little longer, but even the slowest trains still arrive at the station as long as they keep moving.

 Try to determine whether you are an audible learner or a visual learner. Having the right environment is crucial for educational success.

 Choosing an educational path may mean a compromise between what you are most interested in and what can provide you with a solid career at the end of the day. If your financial future is as much of a concern for you as it is for most, try to find something that meets both needs. It shouldn’t be a surprise that there are many graduates doing something other than what they intended (usually for very little money) because they gave little foresight to what their education might realistically entitle them to in the workforce.

 If an undergraduate degree program, certificate or postgraduate degree can’t hold your interest, it likely won’t matter which learning environment you choose.

 Online or Campus Based Education – Which is Best For Me?