Why not Study on the Internet?

It has become quite common for these days for people to study on the internet. In fact some people are predicting that in a few years there will be more people taking online degrees than attending traditional colleges. While this might be true it is unlikely that online study will ever completely replace on campus study. An online degree isn't for everybody and there are reasons not to study on the internet.

The main reason that you might not want to study on the internet is that a lot of people are incapable of doing the required work without somebody standing over them. The great advantage of online study is that it allows the flexibility to take classes at a time that is convenient for you. Unfortunately for a lot of people this represents a problem. With no set schedule and no teacher telling you what to do and when a lot of people won't do the work at all. It takes a lot of discipline to study online and there are lots of students who don't have that discipline. If you are the kind of person who needs to have somebody watching over them to make sure you get your work done then online study probably isn't a good option for you.

The other big reason that you might not want to study online is the lack of interaction with your teachers and fellow students. For some students like those pursuing an MBA the chance to network with your fellow students is one of the primary reasons for taking the course. This obviously isn't going to be possible if you are taking the course online. Even for people who aren't necessarily looking at school as a networking opportunity the social aspect is an important part. Classmates can also help to keep you motivated and help you through difficult times. If you aren't comfortable working on your own then online study may not be the best idea.

Although online degrees have increased massively in popularity in recent years and are now widely accepted you will still encounter some people who will look down on your internet degree. This is mainly true in the world of academia or other highly competitive fields. It is very difficult if not impossible to get into medical school for example with an online degree. You will also likely have a hard time getting into a traditional on campus graduate degree program with an online degree. Part of the problem here is that online degrees are a threat to the jobs of people who work in academia so they tend to be less accepting of them than other people. There are just some areas where a traditional degree is still going to be required; if you are interested in one of those fields online study is not really an option.