JMC wrote:
I echo the recommendation to try it before committing. I am an excellent student in the traditional classroom, but a terrible student in a distance learning environment. It's very different from what you might be used to from high school or college.
Good luck!
Conversely, I strongly prefer distance courses. I get extremely bored n a traditional classroom where the emphasis is on "contact hours" rather than what students know. If I can learn something in 15 minutes of research then demonstrate my understanding, what is the point of me wasting time listening to some professor ramble on for an hour or so while other students sit around with blank stares or ask stupid questions?
But, I would also say that distance courses probably work far better for graduate programs or specialty courses for well prepared students than they do for teaching the basics. And the failure rate of students in distance course is usually high and that is generally attributed to poor self-motivation As a student you really need to be hones with yourself and don't look at distance education as an easy way out because it usually takes MORE work than a traditional class.
I would also steer you away from private schools offering distance programs. Stick with state schools! There are some very good private schools that have distance programs but there are also some major scams out there from schools whose names you are familiar with!
