Living on Campus, Commuting, Or Distance Learning - Which is Right For Me?
In today's world of career education, students have more choices than ever before.
In the old days, "going to college" literally meant going to a far-off school and living in an ivy-covered dormitory for months at a time.
Not any more! Today's students can often choose to live on campus, commute from home, or even get their degree through Internet programs that don't require travel.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Living on campus.
This is the old-fashioned way.
Larger colleges and universities often have residence halls specifically designed for students, and may include dining facilities and recreational opportunities.
Residence halls are located on or near campus, so that students can walk to class.
Residence halls provide a sense of fellowship and security, which is a benefit for students who may be living away from home for the first time.
The downside? Living on campus can be expensive, with room and board fees often costing nearly as much as tuition.
For adult students with families, moving away from home for months every year may not be an option.
Commuting.
If you choose to attend a college or career training school near your home, commuting may be the perfect solution.
Many career colleges are located near major population enters, and cater to students who commute from home by offering flexible day, evening, or even weekend classes.
Commuting means that you have greater freedom when juggling work, family, and school responsibilities.
You'll save big bucks, too, compared with living in a residence hall.
Because they serve the local population, many top-ranked career colleges don't have residence halls, so if you're applying to a career training school in your community you may expect to commute.
If you are considering enrolling in an undergraduate or even a graduate degree program located an hour or more from your home, you may want to analyze the costs of commuting versus living on campus.
There are expenses associated with commuting either by car or commuter rail, and your schedule may be difficult if you have an early-morning or evening class--it is not easy to get on a six a.
m.
train for a nine o'clock class! But millions of working commuters do it, and if you can ride a commuter train you have the advantage of being able to sleep or study.
If you are thinking about driving, make sure that there is parking on campus.
Figure out a budget and determine just what it will cost to drive to school every day.
Distance Learning.
Forget the cliches about "mail-order" degrees.
Thanks to the Internet, many schools are offering certificates, bachelor's degrees, and even master's degrees through challenging online programs.
These distance learning programs are often taught by the same instructors who teach on campus, use the same textbooks and resources, and offer personal feedback and interaction with fellow students.
Distance learning may be the right choice if the program that you want is not available in your community, or if your work and family schedule make it difficult to attend class on campus.
Through distance learning you can get the work done according to your schedule-days, nights, weekends, whenever.
Many technical schools that require hands-on training-such as auto mechanic, HVAC, or computer repair schools-offer a split program.
In this case, students complete part of their studies online, and then attend class on campus for the second half of their training.
This is an effective solution that is becoming increasingly popular, because it combines the efficiency of the Internet with the experience of hands-on training.
How do you choose a program? The best way to start is to log onto a free college directory website.
Simply enter the search terms that are appropriate for you (such as "medical assisting in Los Angeles, California," or "online MBA").
You'll be able to compare programs and features, including financial aid and career services.
Contact the colleges that interest you and they will send you free information.
Then explore your options.
With an online college directory, it's easy to get started on your college search.
In the old days, "going to college" literally meant going to a far-off school and living in an ivy-covered dormitory for months at a time.
Not any more! Today's students can often choose to live on campus, commute from home, or even get their degree through Internet programs that don't require travel.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Living on campus.
This is the old-fashioned way.
Larger colleges and universities often have residence halls specifically designed for students, and may include dining facilities and recreational opportunities.
Residence halls are located on or near campus, so that students can walk to class.
Residence halls provide a sense of fellowship and security, which is a benefit for students who may be living away from home for the first time.
The downside? Living on campus can be expensive, with room and board fees often costing nearly as much as tuition.
For adult students with families, moving away from home for months every year may not be an option.
Commuting.
If you choose to attend a college or career training school near your home, commuting may be the perfect solution.
Many career colleges are located near major population enters, and cater to students who commute from home by offering flexible day, evening, or even weekend classes.
Commuting means that you have greater freedom when juggling work, family, and school responsibilities.
You'll save big bucks, too, compared with living in a residence hall.
Because they serve the local population, many top-ranked career colleges don't have residence halls, so if you're applying to a career training school in your community you may expect to commute.
If you are considering enrolling in an undergraduate or even a graduate degree program located an hour or more from your home, you may want to analyze the costs of commuting versus living on campus.
There are expenses associated with commuting either by car or commuter rail, and your schedule may be difficult if you have an early-morning or evening class--it is not easy to get on a six a.
m.
train for a nine o'clock class! But millions of working commuters do it, and if you can ride a commuter train you have the advantage of being able to sleep or study.
If you are thinking about driving, make sure that there is parking on campus.
Figure out a budget and determine just what it will cost to drive to school every day.
Distance Learning.
Forget the cliches about "mail-order" degrees.
Thanks to the Internet, many schools are offering certificates, bachelor's degrees, and even master's degrees through challenging online programs.
These distance learning programs are often taught by the same instructors who teach on campus, use the same textbooks and resources, and offer personal feedback and interaction with fellow students.
Distance learning may be the right choice if the program that you want is not available in your community, or if your work and family schedule make it difficult to attend class on campus.
Through distance learning you can get the work done according to your schedule-days, nights, weekends, whenever.
Many technical schools that require hands-on training-such as auto mechanic, HVAC, or computer repair schools-offer a split program.
In this case, students complete part of their studies online, and then attend class on campus for the second half of their training.
This is an effective solution that is becoming increasingly popular, because it combines the efficiency of the Internet with the experience of hands-on training.
How do you choose a program? The best way to start is to log onto a free college directory website.
Simply enter the search terms that are appropriate for you (such as "medical assisting in Los Angeles, California," or "online MBA").
You'll be able to compare programs and features, including financial aid and career services.
Contact the colleges that interest you and they will send you free information.
Then explore your options.
With an online college directory, it's easy to get started on your college search.
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