There are a lot of reasons why students may choose remote education over a degree delivered on-campus. Some need the flexibility of studying online because they are working or taking care of children. Others do not want to move for a degree. Also, as the pandemic has revealed, it might not even be a choice.
No matter the reasons behind the decision to study online, remote education offers a lot of benefits. What student does not want to save their time on writing a college essay and by typing ‘write a paper for me’ make it magically appear on their screen? There is a lot to appreciate about remote education since it saves one’s time greatly. Here are some of the ways students can benefit from it.
1. Appreciate the Safe Environment
Learning how to navigate student life can be very stressful. On top of adapting to the workload and autonomy, new students who study on-campus need to adapt to the environment. As a result, many of them admit that the first couple of months were some of the hardest in their academic journeys.
The pressure on students who study remotely is much less. Sure, the workload can still be intense and require some getting used to. In addition, trying to remember the classes, schedule, professors, and classmates can make anyone feel dizzy. Still, at least there is no added pressure on-campus life.
Also, studying from the comfort of one’s home is a great opportunity to be a little more daring. Many students who struggle with public speaking say that participation is easier for them when they are not physically in the classroom. This is helpful not only for academic performance but for future professional life as well.
2. Master Self-Regulated Learning Skills
Research suggests that self-regulated learning skills are the most decisive factor that can make or break students’ academic success. They include the ability to set individual goals as well as self-monitor, self-instruct, and self-reinforce. Basically, self-regulation is the power behind transforming a WritePaper post-it into a well-written essay.
The development of effective self-regulated learners is actually part of K-12 education. But it would be naive to believe that every high school graduate is a great autonomous learner. In turn, the lack of self-regulated learning skills harms people’s careers for years, if not decades, to come.
A rare manager likes to spend much time on training and development. So all soon-to-be employees should try to master the science of independent learning. Of course, any studies improve students’ self-regulated learning skills, but remote education is a true boot camp for them.
3. Engage in Less Stressful Networking
College is not just about academic education. It is also the place where many of us find friends for life and future business partners or employers. For example, all four of the co-founders of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg’s partners were his friends from Harvard. Networking can lead to a mind-blowing career – so choose your friends wisely.
Sure, not everyone becomes a Facebook co-founder thanks to college friendships. But friendship for friendship’s sake is still a good investment. In addition, college allows students to meet people from across the country and abroad, even more so when education is delivered remotely.
However, not everyone is comfortable with networking, especially for professional needs. The higher the stakes, the more stressful it is to approach a potential employer or a professor who can write recommendations. Doing it over messengers, emails, and Zoom can be a true salvation for shy people.
4. Save Money (or Spend Them Wisely)
Unless remote education is just a pandemic-related safety measure, it tends to be cheaper than studying on-campus. First, the actual tuition fees are lower. Also, there are no additional expenses involved, such as student accommodation. Frugal people often opt for a degree delivered online specifically to save costs.
Think of all the nice things you can do with the money saved. Travelling, learning additional marketable skills, investing – these are only some of the options. Saving is always a wise step as well. Student loans can be a huge burden, making sense to do everything to keep them as small as possible. Luckily, education does not need to be expensive to be good.
5. Learn Additional Skills
Much of the skills valued in the professional world are not taught in colleges (or they might not be part of your chosen degree). Sure, learning at college what it means to be an expert paper writer is cool, but the basics of project management are far more relevant for many professions. It is always a great idea to invest in self-development beyond academic education.
Remote education is generally cheaper and more flexible than its traditional alternative. More flexibility allows students to take on extra courses beyond their degree. Some of the most marketable skills to master are:
- Coding;
- Google Analytics;
- Social Media Management;
- Public Speaking;
- Project Management (among many others).
Money saved on academic education can finance online courses.
Six sigma green belt certification helps an individual to showcase his competency, commitment to the profession, build expertise in his professional subject area and help with job advancement.
6. Spend Time with the Family
When asked what the most difficult part about going to college is, many students talk about being away from their loved ones. People close to their families may find it difficult to see them only on holidays a few times a year. Missing one’s family can negatively affect a person’s mental health and affect how well they do both in and outside the class.
Sure, you can always choose a local college to see your family whenever you like. But opting for an online degree is a reasonable step too. Students who study remotely can even stay at their parents’ houses for the first year or two to save on rent.
Final Thoughts
Remote education may not be for everyone, but it is silly to ignore the benefits it offers. Students who choose to study online can adapt to college easier, improve their self-regulated learning skills, enjoy the benefits of stress-free online networking, and save money. They can also learn additional skills and stay close to their families thanks to the flexibility of remote education.
