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Unfortunately, online education isn't popular because folks don't want the experience, especially if you are returning to school later in life. The reality is t

Unfortunately, online education isn't popular because folks don't want the experience, especially if you are returning to school later in life. The reality is that many colleges are geared towards a non-working, single, young adult student. This is reflected in classroom times and coursework. (I had a class require volunteer work and short-term participation in college groups). You simply cannot work a 9-5 job and attend most regular colleges.

TheSpiceIsLife 6y ago
I was under the impression remote / online leering was most popular with older learners? Aren’t there schools that specialise in this segment. This post https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23353796 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23353796 mentions University of Phoenix for one, and I’ve know more than a few people here in Australia who claim to have enjoyed their remote / online courses as older learners.
- Broken_Hippo 6y ago
  Sure, some folks enjoy them. I'm not arguing this at all: It is just that it is hard to say that folks actually prefer them if they cannot comply with a standard university's requirements - class times, for example. Which really is the reason the colleges would go after older learners. I'm going to guess that there are a few schools that do specialize in this segment - I know Ivy Tech in Indiana use to make an attempt. Not every campus offered non-traditional class times, not all degrees were offered at those times, and I'm not sure you can get more than an associate's from there. There are other weird quirks as well. So many people cannot drive to the school locations (and keep their jobs) and many jobs simply won't work around a college schedule, especially not one that changes from semester to semester. (To be fair, 'traditional' college students have this problem all the time, but it is easier to switch jobs when young than when one has a family and insurance to consider).
  - TheSpiceIsLife 6y ago
    Ah, right, yes. I see what you were getting at now. Thanks for clearing that up.

TheSpiceIsLife 6y ago

I was under the impression remote / online leering was most popular with older learners? Aren’t there schools that specialise in this segment. This post https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23353796 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23353796 mentions University of Phoenix for one, and I’ve know more than a few people here in Australia who claim to have enjoyed their remote / online courses as older learners.

Broken_Hippo 6y ago
Sure, some folks enjoy them. I'm not arguing this at all: It is just that it is hard to say that folks actually prefer them if they cannot comply with a standard university's requirements - class times, for example. Which really is the reason the colleges would go after older learners. I'm going to guess that there are a few schools that do specialize in this segment - I know Ivy Tech in Indiana use to make an attempt. Not every campus offered non-traditional class times, not all degrees were offered at those times, and I'm not sure you can get more than an associate's from there. There are other weird quirks as well. So many people cannot drive to the school locations (and keep their jobs) and many jobs simply won't work around a college schedule, especially not one that changes from semester to semester. (To be fair, 'traditional' college students have this problem all the time, but it is easier to switch jobs when young than when one has a family and insurance to consider).
- TheSpiceIsLife 6y ago
  Ah, right, yes. I see what you were getting at now. Thanks for clearing that up.