Online Education: Ideal for Military Spouses?
I don’t know about you, but when I dreamed of going to college as a teenager, I pictured a beautiful campus, lots of big textbooks, and a professor (usually in tweed) at the front of the classroom. I barely imagined the possibility of having a computer of my own, let alone taking classes completely online, but that’s where we are today—and online education is here to stay.
Online education evens the educational playing field. It can make education more accessible, more personalized, and more affordable, and it’s a particularly good fit for military spouses. Here are a few reasons to consider an online program when you think about going back to school:
Your Schedule, Your Pace
Flexibility is the name of the game with online education.
Whether you’re a morning person who wants to start studying at 5 a.m., need to study during your toddler’s nap, or learn best late at night, an online program lets you study on the schedule that works for your life. Most online programs also give you the flexibility to study at your own pace, which is a more personalized approach to education than a traditional classroom because you can spend the time you need to truly learn the material. Overall, online education makes it possible to fit education around the rest of your life instead of reorganizing your entire life around going back to school.
No PCS Worries
One of the unique challenges of the military lifestyle is moving every few years. If you don’t complete your program before you PCS, then you have to worry that your new area will have a school with a similar program and that all your credits will transfer. Online education solves that problem. With an online program, you can take school with you no matter where the military sends you!
Affordability
In many cases, online education is more affordable than traditional education. Think about it—you’re removing many of the overhead costs of classroom space, instructor time, etc., and many institutions will pass those savings on to students. Online education also eliminates (or at least significantly decreases) your transportation and child care costs, as well as the need to adjust work schedules to accommodate your class schedule.
So when you’re thinking about going back to school, give online education a look. You may be surprised at the number of programs and quality of education available.
