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Online or Traditional Education: Which Is Right For You?
Author: Ben Welch | Posted: 12-06-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 6 | 
For most people, the decision to get a college education is, if you'll pardon the expression, a "no-brainer." A not-so-obvious decision is to whether to get your education in a traditional, on-campus setting or - as is becoming more common - to get it online. The purpose of this article is to examine the differences between traditional and online education in terms of cost, class schedule, classroom environment, social life, and job opportunities.
Cost
The primary financial advantage of online education is that it is typically less-expensive to obtain. Tuition is cheaper for online classes than it is for traditional classes, and by studying online you also save money on housing, transportation, and other fees. The primary advantage of traditional education is that despite its relative cost you are more likely to get a high-paying job than a graduate from an online university. Thus, online education is less-expensive to obtain but traditional education may provide a bigger pay-out at the end. Please note that these are general differences and may vary greatly depending on the school and area of study.
Class Schedules and Classroom Environment
One of the great appeals of online education is its convenience. Online education allows you customize your classes to fit within your life while still maintaining a balance with your career, your family, and your social calendar. Traditional education, by contrast, revolves around a set schedule. Classes are held at specific times and vary semester to semester (or term to term, depending the school), and attendance is mandatory. The set nature of traditional education can present challenges to students with families or work commitments. That being said, traditional classes are more "hands-on" than online classes, which means they offer the kind of face-to-face contact with instructors and access to equipment that can greatly enhance the learning experience.
Social Life
One of the great strengths of traditional education is that it facilitates social interaction among students. In addition to classes and study groups, students are encouraged at traditional schools to network with each other through dorms, clubs, athletic events, and various other extracurricular activities. Online education, by contrast, is much more limited in this respect. Students may correspond via email or participate in discussion boards for specific classes, but there is little, if any, face-to-face contact. On the other hand, for students more comfortable with this kind of social interaction, online education may be an ideal alternative.
Job Opportunities
The truth is that despite the growing credibility of online education, many employers still rank applicants with online degrees lower than those with traditional degrees. In other words, while an online degree will allow you apply for a job, it may put you lower in the "hire pile" than someone with a degree from a traditional school. The upshot is that if a job doesn't work out, or you wish to change your career (as many people do) it is much quicker and less expensive to do it through online education.
In conclusion, when it comes to getting your education in a traditional classroom or getting it online, there is no clear-cut winner. Each has its strengths and each has its weaknesses. Each prospective student must weigh the options carefully based on personal preferences and professional goals. Just remember this: the choice between online and traditional is, ultimately, far less important than the choice to actually finish your college education - that's the decision that really matters. Rate this Article:
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/online-or-traditional-education-which-is-right-for-you-163347.html
About the Author:Benjamin Welch has been a college instructor in writing and composition for nearly six years. When he's not teaching or playing golf, he offers advice for students seeking to earn either an online education or an on campus education.
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I got 74 in TOEFL(ibt) & didn't give GRE then which universities will give me admission in Singapore?
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my daughter was sexually assaulted at school in 2002 and the school system has made her and my and her siblings life a living hell sense then she has been beat up by other students and assaulted by a teacher and the being the school system and its attorney and board does nothing but threaten me i have saught legal help but cant afford an attorney or the attorneys ive contacted even thru prepaid legal wanted 5000.00 upfront i have all the documentation needed . could someone please give me some suggestions the school system is nash rocky mount school my daughter was attending williford elm school in the first grade at the time i have medical records. i was injured on my job of 15 years and placed on disability but its not a portion of what i was making when i was working and i am a mother of 8 children and i dont need pity i need help this school system has done some thing they know is wrong such as accusing my sons of molesting there sister to get the heat of the school but it was unfounded they say nash county dss cleared the school when they investigated my home which i was told by the child protective service supervisor at nash county dss that they didnt investigate the school system and the school asst superintendent leorita hankerson knows that nash dss didnt investigate the school only my home. the school allowed the principal to investigate the sexual assault and there is so much more which i have the proof to back up my statements but i need legal help i have letters from the school attorney threatening to sue me for slander and libal for saying my daughter was sexually assaulted at school because according to him dss cleared the school also the rocky mount police dept but i found out in 2005 that the det that did my daughters case unfounded it even though i was told he was doing a thorough investigation. after i received letter from woodlar lamar the school attorney saying police dept cleared the school i went to get a copy of the report but there wasnt one. i was given the run around so i contacted the sbi and was told to go thru my local police dept internal affairs dept a sgt mahughes. i did and was told that det stoney battle never did an investigation he gave info to the school principal and she did the investigation and he unfounded the without an investigation. now his cheif stated to me that that he was sorry but det battle was like a brother to him and had i not wondered why he has been on the force for 18 to 20 years and is still a det hadnt moved up the latter also stated he couldnt comprehend what the word thorough meant so when he said he was doing a thorough investigation he didnt comprehend the word thorough like the cheif john manley and i do.there has been 2 hospitilizations in holly hill hospital because my daughter tried to kill herself and her sister as a result of the these assaults at school and on the school bus . also the schoolassigned my daughter and son aunt by marriage to investigate my home when i was tired of the beat down my daughter was getting and the school not helping in any way. she is married to my children fathers brother , she pressed charges for attendance law violations but the judge found me not guilty for my daughter hat was sexually assaulted at school because the medical records stated for me to keep her home from school until the school could provide her with safety from the students that sexually assaulted her but they hadnt done that nor even tried to do that. i was found guilty for my other 2 children the school decided to add in after the fact the judge said i would understand later why he did what he did i do now. also teacher stated to another parent not to allow her daughter to come to my home when she had to come to the school because of boys touching her daughter mr lasley stated it was happening because she was allowing her daughter to come to my home and be around my son that was doing the same to his sister and then there was talk to my so about him screwing his sister then mr lasley said he saw me with his own 2 eyes slap her daughter in the face.when she came to me and asked me what was going on and told me what was said to her she said she didnt beleive it but shortly after she put her daughter in day care she didnt come to my home early in the morning anymore so her mom could go to work on time and she would walk to school with my children actions speaks louder than words.if there is anyone that knows a lawyer or knows how i could get a lawyer to help these are the short version a minor part but i have documents to back up everything and some
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