Over the course of my college career, I have, on more than one occasion, taken on online class. So I feel comfortable giving this advice regarding online courses: Enroll in online education at your own risk.

Online education can either be the highlight of a student’s semester or the bane of your existence. I suggest doing a little research. If you can, find someone who has already taken the online course from the same professor. Ask them how much time and energy they devoted to the course. Ask them about the professor, find out if he/she is readily available to answer questions during the course.

The reason I say online education can be the bane of one’s existence is because you have to be extremely self-motivated to complete most online courses. There is often no set time to “attend” class so you are left to complete all course work on your own time. This is a great tool for those who work crazy schedules but can be counter-productive for those who need the stability and consistency of attending a class.

Bottom line, be responsible and know your studying habits. If you think online classes could work for you, try one, but make sure you’ve done your research.