Top 10 Benefits of Studying on Campus

By Aimee Hosler | Nov 22, 2010

If you're trying to decide between on campus based and online colleges, you aren't alone. While the Sloan Consortium reports that online degree programs boast record-high enrollments, most students still attend traditional brick-and-mortar colleges. Here are ten reasons to join them.

Kicking it Old School: 10 Great Reasons to Attend Campus-Based Colleges

1. Get the full college experience.

Online colleges transform your couch into a classroom, but what is college without awkward social dynamics, football games, and dorms? Attending a campus school emphasizes the experience in your college experience.

2. Get a true hands-on education.

Can a nursing student learn how to give an injection online? Maybe, but would you let her syringe near you on her first day on the job? When it comes to hands-on disciplines, nothing tops learning by doing.

3. Network with local employers.

Unlike online colleges, your local college is, well, local. From job fairs to guest speakers, attending a campus school gives you the opportunity to interface with area businesses, including potential employers.

4. Enjoy a change of scenery.

Online degree programs are great for those who never want to leave their bedrooms, but what if you need a change of pace? Attending campus in a new city, state, or even country is a valuable life experience only campus colleges provide.

5. Get some face time with your professor.

Don't understand an assignment? Online degree programs make it easy to shoot your professor an email, but sometimes explanations are too complicated or visually-demanding. Campus-based schools feature flesh-and-bone professors with regular office hours and chalk boards.

6. Study anything.

Campus-based colleges can offer virtually any program without concern for technological limitations. Online degree programs are more diverse than ever before, but they just aren't suitable for some areas of study.

7. Build relationships with your peers.

The Internet is an incredible means for finding and exchanging information, but it's no substitute for human relationships.

8. Get a head start in team building.

However you attend college, most of us eventually report to an office to work with real people instead of avatars. Group work in a campus setting teaches you how to work with and relate to your peers in a team environment -- a skill that could determine your professional success.

9. Today's campus programs are more flexible than ever.

Online degree programs are no longer the only option for busy professionals with rigid schedules, thanks to the flexible scheduling and weekend courses most campuses offer these days.

10. Classrooms don't fail with your Internet connection.

Technology is a wonderful educational tool, but it isn't perfect. Your classroom can't be corrupted by malware or drop off when you're experiencing an Internet outage.

Choose the Best Program for You

Both campus and online colleges can offer top notch educations; the trick is figuring out which best suits your goals and learning style. Request information from both types of schools, tour area campuses, and set up appointments with admissions officers. Learn all you can about prospective schools before committing to one. Don't take this decision lightly -- it will have a tremendous impact on your success both as a student and as a future professional.