Pros and Cons of Online Education
Technology has wildly changed our world. One of these new technological advancements has been the advent of online schooling. Thanks to the ever-increasing power of the internet and computers, you can now obtain a higher quality education than ever before online. However, there are both benefits and drawbacks to online education you should be aware of.
Pro: Convenience
One of the most significant benefits of obtaining an education online is convenience. You’ll be able to learn and study in your own home. You’ll also be able to learn at your own pace. Learning at your own pace in a classroom can be difficult, however, this is not the case with online schooling.
Con: Lack of Social Interaction
School and college aren’t just about learning. They are also about social interaction and experiences. With online schools, this social aspect will certainly be diminished. Networking with fellow students post-graduation may be more difficult as a result.
Pro: Low Cost of Tuition
One of the biggest advantages of attending an online school is cost. Thanks to the slashing of overhead expenses, most universities and schools can offer online classes for a fraction of the typical on-campus tuition. Considering the fact that students have more debt than ever before, this should be good news to many.
Con: Lack of Financial Aid
While financial aid exists in some places for online schools, it’s far rarer than financial assistance offered for traditional schooling. If you qualify for financial aid, it may be in your best interest to consider on-campus education if you can’t apply it towards online classes.
Pro: No Travel Required
Online schooling also slashes costs in other ways. For one, you won’t have to pay to stay in a dorm on campus. You also won’t have to pay for gas money to commute to and from school if you choose to live at home since you’ll only need to access the internet.
Con: Motivation
It’s not just college degrees that are available for online students. High school and online education can also go together in certain programs, and efforts on online education to earn a high school diploma have been evolving. However, completing high school online still requires a lot of work and dedication. It’s not a cake walk. Without teachers and others being physically present, some students may lack the motivation to work as hard as they should to succeed in their studies.
Overall, online schooling has a lot of benefits with regards to things like convenience and cost. Still, there are significant downsides you should consider as well. Weigh all these factors when deciding if attending an online school is right for you.
