Question about moving and online classes

[Lovemybabies]

We are moving in Mid-March so I cannot attend classes at the campus. I've never taken online classes before. Are they strictly online, and do you have to go to campus for any reason? If I move halfway through the semester will that affect an online class? I currently attend a cc and most if not all of their online classes are filled already. I have looked on a few Universities webpages for online classes, but they are so hard to find any information. I've heard of University of Phoenix being an online college, but do their credits transfer to most universities? I will be attending a university somewhere this fall (don't know where yet--awaiting military orders) So is it better just to take a semester off? I was thinking it would be easier to take some online classes to avoid any hassle with my financial aid/student loans. Help!

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[shiftingmirage]

It depends. Some on-line classes are 100% on-line. Others require you to come to campus for exams. I want to say I've heard of online physic classes that had lab components that you had to be on campus for. So it depends.

Online classes are usually viewed negatively, as they seem easier, people can cheat more. I don't know about adcoms, but the SDN opinion is to avoid online classes if possible. With that opinion in mind, I would avoid U. of Phoenix, as it is known as an on-line school, even though I believe they have class lectures now too. Also- adcom will only know it's an online class if your transcripts say so. I took an online class, and it showed like just a regular class, so if it doesn't show on your transcripts, no problem. Since your military, that seems like a great reason for needing the flexability of online classes. You could say somewhere, I did online classes, because I was waiting for military orders, etc.

So there's both sides of the online debate. They generally are less favorable than a regular classes, but if you say you were in the military and as such, were forced to move, I don't see how anyone could hold that against you.

 

[mathgrl83]

Definitely don't take any prereqs online. But if you take a few "filler" classes online that shouldn't be a problem. I took pharmacology and health care ethics as online courses, which I think is fine because they aren't requirements, just extras. But you do have to check and see if they require you to come to campus at all. At my school, some online classes have the final exam on campus. It just depends on the class and the school, so you need to do more research. But DON'T take prereqs online. Med schools don't like it and some won't even accept it.

 

[teddy bear doc]

I would actually disagree with the previous posters. During an interview, my interviewer mentioned that he was impressed I had taken online courses and utilized technology in that way. He commented that it seems to be the way of the future, yet most premed students are hesitant to use it. I did online classes for the same reason (military relocation). I would however not recommend the "building block" prereqs like bio or physics being taken online though, but mostly just because you generally need a lab with them, which you obviously can't do online. Other than those, though, definitely go for it! It's better than being out of school for a semester and may help you prepare for the increased self-study that seems to be very important for success in med school. Oh, and as for schools, I would stay away from U of Phoenix since they are for-profit and thus have different accreditation procedures. Try UC Berkeley Extension, which also specializes in distance education, but is accredited like a not-for-profit institution. Best of luck!

 

[kami333]

For exams/finals you may be able to arrange proctored testing off-campus at a testing center if you aren't able to get to campus. A lot of universities operate testing centers, I think Prometric offers proctored exam services too. Last time I paid $10 at my university's testing center, just had my test sent to them, showed up and took it, and they mailed it back.