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Should I physically go to college for the experience or simply go for the degree with online courses?

Online college courses are more flexible. They allow me to work towards my degree from anywhere, and I can work them around my schedule. I can also save time and money by earning a degree through online courses. However, part of what I look forward to in college is the social life and networking with other classmates. There will also be other opportunities that I'll miss out on by not going to college physically. Am I missing something that might make my decision easier? What should I be focusing on? #online-college #college #decision-making

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Tatiana’s Answer

It depends on what your goals are when it comes to college life. If you are looking to be in the college life and experience it first hand then you should take courses on campus. If you have strong time management skills and able learn and study on your own, online courses are great and give the flexibility you need. Write a list of pros and cons and see what comes from it.

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Ken’s Answer

Much of your success in your education/career journey will come from the physical interaction with your teachers, advisers, and fellow classmates. This interaction enriches your education and expands your experience by allowing you to assimilate the observations and comments and evaluations of other,s which will broaden your understanding of the impact of the studies regarding your career area. In today's electronic oriented world we are becoming too isolated and are losing the benefits of person to person interactions and the dialogue that accompanies it, which allows us to receive and benefit from real time input and reactions to our ideas. Relationships that you develop during your education will be among the most beneficial and long lasting ones which you will ever develop. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I have developed the following ideals, which have helped many through their education/career journey.

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
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Adam’s Answer

Hi Benjamin,


Great question and something many people debate when deciding on college. I personally learn best in person, so it was very important to me to attend college physically. If you are concerned with the time or money associated with in person vs online, there are options to take night courses and work during the day, or to attend college part time.


The best part of my college experience were the friends, teachers and mentors I met along the way, who I continue to stay in touch with today. I did take online courses in the summer during college, but I did not form relationships with my classmates or teachers, nor did I feel I retained the information as well. I made amazing relationships due to my college experience. The relationships and network I built in college helped me develop the interpersonal and leadership skills I apply everyday in my career today. The accounting and leadership courses I took in college helped prepare me for the CPA exam, as well as the leadership opportunities I have in my career today.


Best of luck with your decision, hope this helps!

Adam
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