County College Courses or Online College Courses?

By The Manolith Team on January 1st, 2009

If you’re considering taking college classes you might wonder, “Is community college or online courses the best for me?” This is a very individual choice. Some people prefer the feel of a classroom, while others do better with private study. For some people it may not be as inconvenient to drive to a campus, while it would add another hour or more to some other people’s daily commutes. If you’re wondering, “Is community college or online courses the best for me?” then consider the big differences between the two types of education.

Community college has some benefits, especially for people who have recently graduated from high school. It’s a smoother transition than a large university which can leave some people feeling overwhelmed by its sheer scope. Recent high school graduates are used to the classroom experience, and the local community colleges are adept at taking high school students and preparing them for college coursework.

For working adults, community college can be beneficial, too. Understanding that more and more adults are going to back to school to take courses and earn degrees, more community colleges have started offering more flexible class meeting times. Many offer more night classes than ever before, and some have even started weekend college programs.

In these programs, working adults can take classes on Friday night and during the day on Saturdays to work toward a degree or just to enhance their education and make them more valuable in the workplace. Some community colleges even offer some classes in a variety of formats, like DVD courses, television courses and online courses to further cater to the working adult.

But even with more flexible class meeting hours, you still have to go to the campus for the class. Some may meet once a week for several hours, while others meet twice or three times a week for a shorter period. You must sit for exams and attend any necessary labs and lectures. This rigid schedule makes it difficult for some people to take the classes they want, and given their work schedules and other commitments it may make it impossible.
Online courses, on the other hand, allow you to study and dip into the course materials when it’s convenient for you, not when a class, lecture or lab is scheduled. Working adults can make study time every day or every other day, or opt to do all of their course work on weekends or when it’s most convenient. And online courses typically cover the same information found in traditional classes, so there’s no disadvantage to learning this way.

Of course, for someone who feeds off the energy of a group, online courses can pose a slight disadvantage. Though many colleges make up for that with optional group chats and message boards where students can interact.
The other potential drawback to online courses is the price. Typically they’re more expensive because you’re paying for the convenience. But when you ask yourself, “Is community college or online courses best for me?” consider the money you’ll save in gas and transportation, as well as the value of your time.