Many people find the flexibility of an online bachelor degree appealing. The old barriers to getting your degree such as interference with your work schedule or the commute aren't issues with online classes. However, online education carries with it some barriers of its own. Here are four things you absolutely have to have in order to successfully pursue an online bachelor degree.
1: An up-to-date computer. In a traditional, classroom-based environment, no one has to know you wrote your assignments on a ten-year-old computer. The same can't be said for online education. When pursuing your online bachelor degree, your computer will be the most important instrument of your education. You will most likely need recent computer software, as well, such as an Internet browser with which to access your online classes' websites, Microsoft Word for writing assignments, and any industry-specific software pertaining to your classes.
Many libraries and schools have computer labs for the use of patrons and students. However, if you are pursuing an online bachelor degree you are strongly advised not to rely on public computers as your only machines. For one thing, saving files can be extremely tricky, as precautions against viruses prevent many public computers from connecting with data storage devices or downloading files. Also, by depending on a public computer lab you are confining your studies to the lab's hours of operation, eliminating one of the main advantages of an online program: being able to "attend" class and complete coursework at any time of the day or night.
2: Reliable Internet access. You simply cannot pursue any online degree without the ability to get online. High-speed Internet access is also desirable, if not downright necessary. Dial-up Internet access is simply too slow to be very effective in today's virtual world. Because you have to access complicated web pages and transfer large amounts of data, high-speed Internet access will save you a lot of time. Also, dial-up Internet is not always reliable, and the last thing you want while taking a test is to find yourself getting kicked offline.
Many prospective students consider publicly available Internet access, such as WiFi hotspots, as an alternative to having access of their own. However, online students are strongly discouraged from relying solely on being able to access the Internet at another location. For one thing, such a setup takes away all of the advantages of online classes, such as not having to commute and being able to complete coursework at any time of the day or night. Having to travel every time you need to access your class will also make it more difficult to find time to do so, and may result in poorer performance in the class.
3: Time to devote to your education. Although an online bachelor degree is much more flexible than a traditional, classroom-based degree, you still need to be able to set aside enough time for your studies. Unlike a traditional program, however, this can be any time of the day or night. Many schools recommend that you plan to spend three to five hours a week on each class, but this may vary for different programs. Be sure to check with your school to see how much time you should allot each week for each class.
Getting an online bachelor degree admittedly takes a little less time than pursuing a traditional program. This is because you do not have to spend several hours each week sitting in a classroom or commuting back and forth. However, many people make the mistake of assuming online means easy, and fail to realize how much time they will need to commit to their studies.
4: Self-motivation. For most people, probably the most difficult aspect of getting an online bachelor degree is relying on their own motivation to get the work done. In a traditional classroom setting, you have class several times a week and your teacher's reminders to keep you on track with the coursework. You also have the instructor's lectures to help you learn the material. In an online program, however, it will be entirely up to you to learn the material, remember to log in regularly, and keep up on the reading and assignments.
An online bachelor degree has many advantages over traditional degree programs. The flexibility is especially appealing for many people. However, one should not assume that just because online education is more flexible, that means it will also be easier. In order to successfully complete your online bachelor degree, you still need to be able and willing to invest your resources in your education, just as with any traditional degree program.
Online Engineering Bachelor Degree
Getting an online bachelor degree can be one of the best things you do for yourself. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 1.8 percent of employees with a bachelor's degree are unemployed, compared to 6.5 percent of those who completed high school. The same source reveals that employees with a bachelor's degree earn an average $30,000 more annually than employees who only have a high school education. Those with bachelor degrees also report more promotions and a higher level of satisfaction in their jobs.
All the above are good reasons to get an online bachelor degree. Not only are you qualified for a better job, especially in today's job market where many jobs require at least one college degree, but you can do better in your chosen career and enjoy a larger paycheck, as well. That's not all, though. By pursuing your degree online, you also enjoy some added benefits.
By looking for your degree options online, you can save yourself considerable money. Tuition at brick-and-mortar universities and colleges increases every year, and those who put off pursuing their degree for even a year or two can end up paying tens of thousands of dollars extra. Many people do not pursue their college degree because of the cost now and because of the inconvenience of pursuing studies full time. After all, pursuing a degree at a traditional brick-and-mortar university or college often means long commutes and giving up your current day job. An online bachelor degree is the perfect solution. With an online education, you save money upfront, since you don't have to pay for commutes, moves, or building fees. All you pay for is your instruction and books, and most online programs even have financial aid to assist you with your costs.
The best reason of all to pursue degree online is that an online bachelor degree means that you do not have to put off a better life for even a minute. While on-campus programs are limited by what a school has to offer, you can choose the ideal distance program for you online in just minutes, no matter where you live. If you wanted an on-campus program in botany, for example, but your local school did not offer that program, you would be either forced to give up your current life in order to move to a school that did offer the program, or you would have to give up your dream. That is simply not a choice you should have to make, and with an online bachelor degree, you do not have to. You can select the distance education program of your choice and study in your spare time, without dramatically altering your current life. You can work towards a better life, one that is better paying and more rewarding, without giving up what you have now.
If your life is not quite what you want it to be right now, an online bachelor degree will certainly help. If you think your life would be better with a more rewarding career, then distance education can help you find a career you will love. If you have never pursued a dream job because you felt you were not qualified, distance education can change that all around. If you want the sense of recognition and personal satisfaction that comes with knowing that you are doing something good for yourself, pursue a degree. You will be pleasantly surprised at the results, both in your own sense of self-worth and in the actual career opportunities that open up for you. From practical benefits such as better salary and better job to intangible benefits such as improved confidence, you can have it all.
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