Choosing a Gerontology Program When you are considering going back to school for a degree in gerontology, you will find that there are a wide variety of gerontology programs across the nation. Finding out which gerontology program is going to fit your needs can be a time consuming process.
In Class or Online The first question that many people stumble upon while they are searching is whether or not they want to take online classes. There are programs that are entirely online, programs that integrate online classes while providing faceto-face classes and programs that are wholly face-to-face. As you are deciding which gerontology program is best for you, there are a few questions that you will want to ask yourself. Understanding the pros and cons of each type of program will ensure that you are able to make the decision that is best for your personal needs. Start by understanding that when you take a face-to-face class you are going to have to fit your classes into your schedule. You will need to make sure that you are going to be available to make it to the scheduled class time every time that you have class.
Make Sure to Schedule Sometimes, fitting classes into your schedule can be tough. If you have an erratic schedule you may find that this is difficult, but if you have a consistent schedule this may not be a problem for you and it may be easy to schedule a block of classes throughout your week. There are some online classes that also require you to log in and participate in discussions at a specific time. If you are signing up for an online class because you have an erratic schedule, you will want to talk with your school counselor about which online classes will work for you. You should also make sure that you are dedicated to your class when you are taking it online. Because you are not required to show up in person, it can be easy to put the class off until the
end of the semester when you have deadlines that are looming.
Managing Your Time If you are going to put a class off until the end of the semester, you are not going to learn as much as you could have by spreading the class out. This can be a problem during a foundation class when you are required to have a sound understanding of the class’ material. If you know that you are going to be able to manage your time properly and stay on schedule with your online class, you may find that you are much more prone to success with an online class. Do not be afraid to talk to a school counselor about your options if you are indecisive. Talking with a professional may be the best way to decide what kind of gerontology program will work the best for you. You do not want to make this decision without feeling like you have all of the information that you are going to need to be capable of making an informed decision.
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