The Reality of Attending an Online University

Even though I attend one of the leading UK universities for media related courses I still find that there is always something to complain about on the programme. I am sure that it's the same story in every other top university across the country. It could be that you don't feel as though you have enough lectures to fill your week, or that you have too many lectures and too much work piled onto your schedule. Maybe you feel as though the computers at the university need updating and that there are not enough books in the library?

The stately picture of university that we get from American television programmes is far from the reality. Stately buildings concealing long wood panelled corridors and cosy dorm rooms with huge bay windows overlooking freshly mowed lawns...the truth is quite different. You are more likely to find crumbling plaster and old carpet, dusty cupboards and creaky featherweight beds that you can lift with one arm. As for university lettings it's a matter of one-word fits all, 'stark'.

If I had known everything I do now about the reality of university life I would have certainly looked harder at the possibility of doing online courses. At the time I applied for my Honours degree I was wrapped up in the idea of getting away to live in a different city for a while and having the opportunity to meet new people. The problem with this is if you are applying to a good course then you won't have the time to enjoy those things. £3000 or more is a lot of money and you should expect to get at least twenty hours of lectures and many more hours of homework on top. Sitting around in strange smelling lecture halls crammed with too many people and a lecturer who has never heard the words 'voice projection' can often leave you looking around and wondering why you first wanted to come to university.

If you are a mature student then the experience can be even worse. You soon come to realise that most other students are of average age 18 and have no other interests apart from the percentage of alcohol compared to price in each bottle of cider/cheap wine sold at the nearest off licence.

There are other options for those who feel that they have had enough life experience to warrant not skipping away to another city to scrape by for a few years. Many people who want to go into higher education don't consider the option of an online education yet this can often be the best yet most overlooked opportunity.

It is always worth looking into the possibility of using distance learning to gain the qualifications that you want, especially if you are a mature student or you already have a full time job that you would like to progress with. Reputable universities that offer courses online will be happy to talk to you about the possibilities on offer and can send you a prospectus just like any other institution of higher education. I can't think of any drawbacks in taking lectures in bed or catching up on notes the week after by using an online podcast your lecturer posted on the university website. Instead I am looking forward to the ten-minute walk for the uni bus accompanied by a bit of torrential rain and gale force winds. Nice.

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