On Campus or Online — You Have Choices?
These days, there are more options for you to get your post-secondary education how you want it — including on-campus, online or blended learning.
What option is best for you and your academic success? Individual learning styles, schedules and other commitments are important factors. You also need to know what you want to get out of university. Are you looking for a full on-campus experience or to simply finish your degree?
One of the biggest questions you need to answer before jumping into your studies is whether learning in-person or online is best for you.
Studying on Campus
Most students entering post-secondary education right after high school are looking for on-campus learning.
Attending classes in person is one of the easiest ways to meet people with similar interests and get hands-on experience. Being on campus also opens you up to different learning or research opportunities, the ability to befriend and network with faculty, more exposure to diverse ideas and lifestyles, and more chances to make lifelong friends in a lasting community.
And if you are looking for a home away from home while at university, extracurricular activities and classroom communities can provide a sense of stability, freedom and comfort.
However, learning in person and on campus comes with challenges, too. You need to keep up with your course schedules and timetables, and there’s less flexibility than studying online when it comes adjusting deadlines or catching up on missed classes.
The first year can seem overwhelming for some when they face their own high expectations, new courses and different instructors. You may need to improve your organizational skills and study habits to keep up with deadlines, and this can be challenging if already feels like there’s no time to catch up.
Fortunately, there are many services available on campus to help you meet and exceed expectations in your courses.
TRU offers five Student Success Courses that provide a strong foundation for university achievement for those needing more help in being prepared for university learning.
The Writing Centre is another great tool available, if you are looking for feedback and a better understanding of how to write at the university level.
Peer Academic Coaching is a one-to-one learning opportunity for you to gain individualized strategies and resources from other students who have found success in similar academic challenges.
Academic Supports are important for a smooth transition into post-secondary education and for the long-term success of your learning. For many students, these resources and the in-person support that comes with them are a big factor in choosing to study on campus.
Studying Online
Online or distance learning is another option if you are looking to further your education at your own pace, from your own space.
“The benefit of online is that you can really have courses fit into your needs and schedule,” Matt Dyck, one of TRU’s seasoned Open Learning advisors, says, adding that online learning is popular with part-time and mature learners.
If you are interested in completing your education online, TRU’s Open Learning division (TRU-OL) offers 140 courses and 60 programs — entirely from a distance. It provides accessible and flexible learning options to students across the globe.
Online learning allows you to choose between full- or part-time studies while planning your course schedules around work or life commitments. There are many flexible course delivery options that can be completed any time, any where, which can solve issues around commuting or moving for school.
Another aspect of studying online that’s unique to TRU, is the ability to get started within a course or program almost immediately.
“We try to make it as easy as possible for a student to take a course. We don’t have the normal ‘apply in the winter and start in the fall,’” Dyck says, noting that the ability for students to enroll and start their course on the same day is something TRU-OL is proud to offer.
But studying online can be challenging, especially if you are a new student who hasn’t had experience with a distance-learning course or require additional support and structure.
“Sometimes I think there is a conception out there that online learning is easier, but I don’t think it is,” Dyck says. “The discipline and structure it takes can actually be very hard. The online experience might require you to be a little more responsible, in the sense of creating a schedule that works for you and sticking to deadlines.”
Online learning requires you to be organized, motivated and self-disciplined. This is especially relevant for distance learning programs, where you may not have the same in-person direction or reinforcement to complete course objectives within the suggested timeline.
Choosing Which Style Works Best
So, how do you know whether on-campus or online learning is right for you?
“There’s just so many more options now,” Dyck says, recommending students evaluate themselves and how they learn to determine which option might work best for them.
“It depends on who you are as a learner and what you’re going to put into the course, what you have to offer, and what you need.”
If you value on-campus experiences, supports and the lifestyle that comes with studying in-person, you might find this is the best option for you. However, you should make sure to check your program requirements and delivery options, as some programs are only offered on campus or online — but there may be an option to blend your course load.
If you value learning on your own schedule, in your own space and within your own timeline, you might find that studying online through TRU’s Open Learning division would provide the freedom and flexibility you are looking for.
And if you like the best of both worlds — the ability to study on campus with the occasional online course — you should explore the blending learning options TRU-OL is proud to offer.
