Which is the better option while serving active duty, taking online classes or in-classroom classes?

2019-02-10T17:33:06-05:00

I’m looking to further my education while serving active duty and using the Army Tuition Assistance. I’m contemplating on doing online classes due to the convenience, but I know I’ll get more out of in-classroom classes. Which is the better option? Which school should I look into?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2019 6:59 PM

2019-02-10T18:59:29-05:00

Generally there are 3 class types and 3 semester types. Class types -in seat, on-line, or hybrid a mixture of the 2. Semester types are traditional 16 week, accelerated 8 week and "stupid fast" 5 week. Choosing which one to attend should be based off of availability and learning style. Online courses tend to either have a lot of individual reading and discussion board posts or a mixture of pre recorded lectures, reading, and discussion board posts. On-line courses tend to take a little more discipline to get the work done but offer the freedom choose when and where as long as you meet deadlines. Oh and Degree Path has a major determining factor on availability of on line classes. Best advice go talk to your local education office, I could type for a really long time and still miss a lot.

Response by SSG Kasius McCall made Feb 10 at 2019 7:45 PM

2019-02-10T19:45:06-05:00

Depends dude. Are you at a duty station and job that affords you the rare opportunity to take physical classes? When I was at MEDDAC, I was able to take physical night classes because we came in at 0430 and got off by 1500. Online classes are the easiest for most soldiers to stick with because you can do them from anywhere. I was at NTC once and submitted a final from the top of an FLA on a mountain.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 11 at 2019 12:49 AM

2019-02-11T00:49:36-05:00

Depends on many things. Assuming the schools are accredited and the programs themselves are accredited for the areas they need to be, you'll likely need to do both. Figure out what works for YOU.

Some people thrive online. I get frustrated. Thanks for the pile of books, I'll figure it out myself.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Feb 11 at 2019 8:59 AM

2019-02-11T08:59:47-05:00

Regardless of classroom or online format, avoid for-profit schools. Although story is about discharged veterans, your education from active service needs to be from reputable place if attempting to bolster resume while in uniform or after ETS.

https://hechingerreport.org/military-veterans-decry-debt-useless-diplomas-from-for-profit-colleges/

Military veterans decry debt, useless diplomas from for-profit colleges - The Hechinger Report

John Andrews was one of many veterans on hand for the screening of a new documentary by Alex Shebanow on for-profit colleges' exploitation of service members. He used his GI Bill benefits to get a degree from the University of Phoenix — and ended up $40,000 in debt.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2019 8:14 PM

2019-02-11T20:14:17-05:00

There are lots and lots of options now. Seems to me there should be education counselors at your local education center that could go over programs available to you both classroom based and online. I attended lots of colleges (Florida Southern, USF, UNF, FSCJ, UTSA, HPU, and then finally graduated from UMUC), but UMUC had accelerated sessions online which would have been nice to have had back in the 90s when trying to fit classes in between field problems. Anyway, I would ask the Ed Center if they have any counselors to discuss the options (from various schools).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2019 8:29 PM

2019-02-11T20:29:30-05:00

Both ways are OK. First: Make sure curriculums are accredited. Second: Make sure you can pay back a loan from what you learn. :) After that it's personal preference. I've taken some online classes where it was difficult to get questions answered, or be able to discuss topics I didn't understand... for that reason I like in person classes.