Nowadays, in our advanced technological world, everything becomes smaller, more efficient and faster. This is the progress that we’ve been looking forward to for ages, but we can’t just take it for granted. We have to adapt – become more efficient and faster ourselves. That’s why there are loads of devices, applications, and programs that optimize our routines, and an accelerated online degree is one of them.
If you don’t want to spend 4-5 years studying in a physical college, there is an alternative that can solve loads of problems. You can opt for online education, and, what is more, for its fast-tracked option. Accelerated online degrees are originally designed for people who have not certified experience in a certain field. However, many students use them as a replacement for traditional diplomas. It is hard to say whether it is better or worse because, like any other type of learning, fast online degrees have both benefits and pitfalls. Let’s look into them in detail.
Advantages of Fast Online Degrees
There are different types of accelerated programs like competency-based degrees, online classes together with campus meetings, accelerated degrees for students, etc. If you’ve decided to enroll in one of those programs, you will endure such benefits:
- Fast degrees online allow you to finish the courses in 2 years or even less.
- You can skip disciplines that you are proficient in and dig deeper into the ones you know less about.
- Given the fact that it’s online, you can study wherever you wish as long as there is access to the Internet.
- You can change your specializations quite regularly and adapt to the job market demands.
- You don’t have to follow the pace of the standard program – if you can cover a subject faster, you just move on to the new one.
Of course, the picture described in words looks perfect. But you also have to take into account the negative possibilities.
Pitfalls That You Need to Be Alert to
Like any other successful enterprise, the industry of accelerated online education is teeming with scams. Different degree mills without accreditation give away fake diplomas and students are happy to accept them without prior verification. But don’t buy into great promises that are not supported by accreditation.
If you have finally chosen a reliable institution that provides legal online certification, take into account that some subjects are much more difficult to perceive in an accelerated mode (e.g., computer science, mathematics, aerodynamics, etc.). And if you select a fast degree online as your main higher education, be ready that some of the courses offer only compressed and perfunctory information on chosen disciplines.
Before making the final decision, weigh up all the pros and cons as this is a serious step into an alternative career. Make sure you understand what you miss out opting for an accelerated program and prepare yourself for quite hard work. If you think that this is an easier path, reconsider all the terms and conditions again.