Attending a Campus or Online Distance Learning Program

GOING TO SCHOOL ON CAMPUS

Benefits of Attending School on Campus

Social Interaction – In a traditional campus degree program, you’ll be attending classes on an actual college campus. You’ll take classes with a diverse group of students, giving you the opportunity to make friends, find study partners and learn more about people from different backgrounds. This social interaction can enhance your overall academic experience and help you develop social skills you’ll need to be successful in your career and in life.

Hands-On Learning – A traditional campus degree program gives you the opportunity to interact with your instructors face-to-face each day. You’ll be able to immediately ask questions if you don’t understand something or seek extra help during your instructor’s office hours. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in labs, field trips and other hands-on learning opportunities designed to help you learn more than any textbook could ever teach you.

Organized Schedules – With a traditional campus degree program, your classes will be held at set times during the week. These set-class times allow you to plan your day effectively – you can plan your day by setting aside time to attend classes, study and participate in extracurricular activities.

Drawbacks of Campus Life

Added Expenses - Attending a traditional campus degree program requires you to attend class in person each day. This means that in order to pursue a traditional campus degree, you’ll have to move to the city where your college is located. You’ll have to find housing either on or off campus. If you choose to live on campus, you’ll have to pay for your housing and food expenses. If you choose to live off campus, you’ll have to pay for your housing and food expenses, along with the added expense of transportation to campus each day. These expenses can quickly break your college budget.

Enrollment Hassles - Attending school on campus means you have to take classes in a physical classroom. Because classrooms only hold so many students, you may not be able to enroll for all of the classes you need to complete your degree. If a class you want to take is full, you’ll have to wait and take it the next semester. This can quickly derail your academic schedule and put off your graduation plans if many students are trying to get into the same classes as you.

Rigid Schedules – Because classes in a traditional campus degree program are held at certain times, you won’t be able to work a full-time job. Most professors require that students attend all class sessions and tests to receive a passing grade. This means you’ll have to find a job that fits around your class schedule.