The ten sure signs that you shouldn't attempt online education are:

• 1.) You struggle with rapid reading comprehension. You like to take your time and read a subject over until you feel comfortable with the subject material then move on to the next subject. Often online classes require more than average reading. There is reading the discussions, reading the lectures then of course reading assignments.
• 2.) If you struggle with writing or simply do not like to write a lot. Going to school online equals tons of writing. Class discussions are written, almost all if not all correspondence is in writing and of course, just like in brick and mortar schools, there are the writing assignments. It is rare that I have fill in the blank or multiple choice exams.
• 3.) If you are intimidated by the internet, computers, email or technology. If the I-Phone looks like a device spawned by Satan, online learning may not be for you.
• 4.) If you are not a self motivated, driven individual, making yourself do the work in your free time will be difficult. Staying on task will be a daily challenge.
• 5.) If you struggle making and keeping goals for yourself.
• 6.) If you are poor at making and keeping a schedule.
• 7.) If you like being "taught" rather than learning on your own. Most online learning is through "facilitation" not "teaching". You mostly have to teach yourself.
• 8.) If you learn best in face to face discussions and lectures, online learning may not be for you. There are generally not real time or audible interactive discussions amongst students or students and faculty. Again reading and writing are the primary means of learning.
• 9.) Your job and family demand almost all of your time. If you don't have 2 to 3 hours a day to devote to learning, then you may struggle with online college.
• 10.)You are impatient. If you are the kind of person who demands instant results or needs short term gratification, online learning will likely not provide this for you. It is often an individual effort, taken over the span of years, where the only pat on the back you can expect is either from yourself or at your commencement ceremony. There is likely going to be no in between.

So if you are considering online college take stock of your life, your personality and how you learn.  Try to be realistic in your self assessment and try to understand what you are committing to. 

Hope this helps.

---Cajun

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