Online College Vs. Traditional College When Considering Essay

Online College vs. Traditional College

When considering the ever-changing and ever-growing world of globalization and technology, it is no surprise that such trends have found their way into the educational arena. Accordingly, with the computerization of classrooms and assignments many more worldly citizens have been given access to the valuable education they deserve. Regardless of the subject they teach, almost all teaching professionals have also had to become more educated in the world of technology. For, in addition to the computerization of assignments, technology has found its way into several other aspects of the overall higher education experience. In the modern collegiate world things like applications, grades, transcripts, library resources, textbooks and even exams have all been incorporated into the lives of students and faculty members. In keeping with this advancement of technological integration, countless universities have begun to offer online classes and degree programs, whereby students never enter a real classroom and rarely meet their instructor. The success and increases in application rates to these classes and programs has prompted the creation of numerous exclusively online universities that specifically cater themselves to the needs of this growing demographic of students. However, as this trend continues to gain steam, there have been many critics claiming that this type of education is prohibitive and takes away from the valuable experience that is a traditional college education. While there is little question that the recent surge in the popularity of online educational outlets is based upon their convenience and lower costs, there are several substantial differences with respect to a traditional college environment that are certainly worth exploring.

The traditional college experience is one rife with personal interactions, teacher-student relationships, community events and extracurricular options. All of these facets of conventional college life can provide students with valuable memories and learning channels. The friendships forged in this atmosphere often become lifelong comradeships. What is more, the strictly academic components of traditional university life come with a much larger inventory of useable resources. When students experience difficulties in their studies, universities will offer tutoring programs, teacher meetings, and students can also ask their classmates in a candid face-to-face environment. The presence of such helpful services and the chronic support of friends often translate into increased academic performance and confidence in the classroom. What is more, the camaraderie developed through extracurricular clubs and teams often has the same carry-over effect in the classroom and provides yet another source of friendship and support. Thus, cumulatively, the traditional college environment provides students with a full and well-rounded experience inside and outside of the classroom.

However, as all of the aforementioned characteristics of conventional college have the capacity to aid students in their educational and occupational journeys, these aspects of university life also have their drawbacks. One such shortcoming of the traditional higher education framework is the wealth of distractions that are ever-present in the social world of college. The same outlets that are created to provide students with camaraderie and personal values can act as disturbances and hindrances on academic achievements. Additionally, things like intimate relationships, parties,…