Cons of an Online Education
Although online education degrees come with many benefits, online degrees aren’t necessarily the best fit for everyone.
- The first con is motivation. “I knew that for me personally, I needed to have my education in-person,” shares online admissions counselor Maddie Barkes. “Having that real-time face-to-face interaction helped motivate me to give my best.”
Many students relate to Barkes and report they are more motivated in a classroom setting than in an online setting.
- Another difficult aspect of online education is staying connected with professors and peers. For many online education degrees, professors and students make few connections with one another. What sets Grace College Online apart is that the professors make an effort to maintain a relationship with their students as much as possible. For example, Professor Matt Metzger is working hard to create as much face-to-face interaction with his students as possible by sending care packages, meeting with local students, and scheduling group classes.
“Rather than communicating through email only, I believe in interactive online education, which consists of weekly Zoom calls with the class,” said Metzger. “The most recent cohort seems to love the interaction.”
Even with thoughtful professors, online students must still make an effort to make the most of online education.
- The third downside of online education degrees is that many online institutions are not backed by a physical building with great professors and reputations. Fortunately, Grace College Online originated from Grace College in beautiful Winona Lake, Indiana. A fully accredited school that is an active member of multiple academic organizations, those who graduate from Grace can feel confident that they have received a legitimate and accredited degree. The reputation of an institution will become tremendously important once you graduate and begin seeking jobs after college.
So, Should You Pursue An Online Christian Degree?
The short answer: we vote YES.
The longer answer: is it right for you?
According to Barkes, an online admissions counselor at Grace, students should take the time to self-reflect before embarking on the online education journey.
“Online students need to have strong self-motivation and focus to be successful. So do an internal assessment and ask yourself: is this really right for you?” says Barkes.
If you have self-motivation, drive, and ambition, an online degree may be perfect for you! Interested in a degree that is more flexible, more affordable, and more centered around what YOU need? Learn more about an online Christian degree with Grace College Online!