Anyone taken online classes before?

[TheMagician17]

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I was planning to take some this summer from a community college. Can anyone tell me what taking online classes are like? More difficult? Convenient?

Also, I heard somewhere that it's generally frowned upon to take online classes. Could anyone confirm this or provide a general cap # of courses I could take?

 

[toff4l]

I was planning to take some this summer from a community college. Can anyone tell me what taking online classes are like? More difficult? Convenient?

Also, I heard somewhere that it's generally frowned upon to take online classes. Could anyone confirm this or provide a general cap # of courses I could take?

Online classes are the biggest waste of money I have ever seen. I took an online accounting course and it wasn't even live. The lecture was prerecorded and the production wasn't all that great. You had to meet once a week for a live conference with the other students and professor which was like a recitation. You take the test either at the school or the professor mails the test to your library.

I would only take the most basic of courses online. IMO, it is just for the credit and convenience. As far as learning, it is in no way a substitute for classroom work. It's another way for the school to generate some income.

 

[JKinSC]

Online classes are the biggest waste of money I have ever seen. I took an online accounting course and it wasn't even live. The lecture was prerecorded and the production wasn't all that great. You had to meet once a week for a live conference with the other students and professor which was like a recitation. You take the test either at the school or the professor mails the test to your library.

I would only take the most basic of courses online. IMO, it is just for the credit and convenience. As far as learning, it is in no way a substitute for classroom work. It's another way for the school to generate some income.

Or, on the flip side, they can be wonderful if you have the self-discipline necessary to do the work. I've taken several, and never had a problem, nor any lectures at all for that matter. You will generally teach yourself the material, using the professor only as a safety net. As far as learning, just like any other course, you get back what you put into it. Don't go in expecting it to be any easier than any other class--you'll cover the exact same amount of material as if you'd taken it in a classroom.

As to the question of whether or not online courses are frowned upon, I've never heard of anywhere actually differentiating whether a course was taken at the school or online, as far as transcripts go. No one will know unless you decide for some reason to tell them.

 

[RelicLTD]

I have taken a few courses online. The quality of the courses varies from awesome to a giant waste of time. If the professor has good materials, and you use all of your resources, I have found it to be FAR superior to in class lectures.

90% of my undergrad lectures were a giant waste of my time. I end up learning everything on my own anyway.

Despite my opinion of their quality and usefulness, they are somewhat looked down upon. SOME of the classes are easier, because of the way my school does proctored tests. I would say limit it to just a few courses of your overall education, and try to avoid any of the med school pre-reqs offered online.

 

[shaq93]

I've taken some online classes and I really hated them. Some people love them but I'd rather have a techer in front if me i I had a question.

 

[mvenus929]

As far as learning, it is in no way a substitute for classroom work.

Not that this is directed at you personally, but med students do a lot of learning on their own.

I took a couple online classes. In the case of my psychology class, it was nice because I could take the quizzes and everything on my own time when I had time, so if I was busy studying for an exam in my live classes, I could put off the work for a week.

In the case of my nutrition class, I was forced to work on a weekly schedule, but I could still do things on my own. If I didn't have a chance to do the work until 10 at night, that was fine. It was really nice because I was going to evening school and working during the day, so I didn't have to squeeze it in anywhere.

I wouldn't take more than 2 or 3 online courses, and don't take any course that has a lab component online. The in class instruction will do you far better.

 

[toff4l]

To add to this, online classes are for your convenience. If you have other important things to take care of, you can take a few BS online courses and just get them over with.

Online courses are a great option for your convenience but if there is a class where you really want to learn the material, it's best to go to class.

I agree, with online courses, you are teaching yourself and just getting credit for it.

 

[Disinence2]

I took a few, just looking for a way to get credit for some of the classes I wasn't really interesting in.

Careful! They can turn into a seriously time drain. If your looking for some flexibility make sure you learn as much as you can before you sign up, or you'll be stuck in your room at 10pm talking to yourself in Spanish at your required "chat session".

One good thing about "Online" tests is that its rather difficult for them to be closed book, or even closed internet. It seems to be more of an anything goes style where your grade is based on watching the right lecture and doing the right assignments.

Good luck

 

[REMMAH]

I took a microeconomics class online. I did well, but learned absolutely nothing. The only grades were online exams with unlimited time to take 'em. Why take the time to study the material when you can just flip through your book during the exams? Complete waste of time for me, personally.

 

[Encephalectomy]

I was planning to take some this summer from a community college. Can anyone tell me what taking online classes are like? More difficult? Convenient?

Also, I heard somewhere that it's generally frowned upon to take online classes. Could anyone confirm this or provide a general cap # of courses I could take?

Great prep for the first two years of medical school where > 90% of your learning is independent/online (unless you are one of the rare hardy souls who actually goes to lecture in person)

 

[muffeoniv]

I was planning to take some this summer from a community college. Can anyone tell me what taking online classes are like? More difficult? Convenient?

Also, I heard somewhere that it's generally frowned upon to take online classes. Could anyone confirm this or provide a general cap # of courses I could take?

take them from the harvard extension school... they are hard and more convenient.. I've done it

 

[BME11]

I took a microeconomics class online. I did well, but learned absolutely nothing. The only grades were online exams with unlimited time to take 'em. Why take the time to study the material when you can just flip through your book during the exams? Complete waste of time for me, personally.

same with you I took Engineering Economics (CE 395) only but for me i learned a lot b/c there was a load of work 🙁. I'd much preferred take real classes. The lectures were online (which is soooo long every week) . We took weekly online quiz and two exams taken in class. Easy A though just too much work

 

[StudyShy]

take them from the harvard extension school... they are hard and more convenient.. I've done it

👍

 

[deleted357625]

dont take an online class

 

[muffeoniv]

harvard extension school has online biochem classes that are taught by professors from harvard medical school.... why shouldnt he take an online class? There's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[TTigers70]

Online classes require a lot of self-discipline. I have taken 2 now that were purely online and TOTAL waste of time from my experience. Many of my brick-and-mortar classes use tons of online supplements but the classes that are purely online have been very low yield. I did not have pre-recorded lectures, rather there was a very lengthy piece of reading to do and then weekly assignments. Both times too the professors have been difficult to reach and not helpful overall. Avoid if you can.

Only plus is convenience...

 

[KickStart]

Online classes, ftw.

 

[muffeoniv]

Online classes require a lot of self-discipline. I have taken 2 now that were purely online and TOTAL waste of time from my experience. Many of my brick-and-mortar classes use tons of online supplements but the classes that are purely online have been very low yield. I did not have pre-recorded lectures, rather there was a very lengthy piece of reading to do and then weekly assignments. Both times too the professors have been difficult to reach and not helpful overall. Avoid if you can.

Only plus is convenience...

this is obviously not talking about the harvard extension school

 

[TheMagician17]

Well, the 2 courses I was thinking of taking were stats and gen chem 2.

obviously, there's mix reviews about online classes. i dont plan on taking anymore other online courses, so would it be a good idea to take only these 2 for this summer? (and i plan on finishing all my other pre-med reqs at my university)

 

[Amalgamate]

I was planning to take some this summer from a community college. Can anyone tell me what taking online classes are like? More difficult? Convenient?

Also, I heard somewhere that it's generally frowned upon to take online classes. Could anyone confirm this or provide a general cap # of courses I could take?

I took a criminology class and a few other classes online, as others have said it allowed me to take an extra class without having to worry about deadlines (mine was self paced)

Basically it allows me a few extra credits per semester in which i can work on only when I have a light load in my other classes

Mine is also from my university and on my transcripts it shows up as a normal class, so it's perfect for boring classes ;-)

I'm the self taught type of student though so learning from a book and recorded lectures doesn't bother me, the only inconvenient thing is proctored exams

 

[raltima07]

Im taking 2 next semester, but its because I don't want to sit through class