Whether or not to take an online course is something that almost all college students must decide at some point in their college career. Taking an online course has both advantages and disadvantages, and students differ in their opinions about online classes. Despite some disadvantages, the flexibility and convenience of online classes are significant advantages over a traditional classroom environment. However, these advantages must be used correctly. A student who takes an online course but has poor time management skills may end up condemning themselves to procrastinating on all their homework until the last minute. When student time management is used, the main advantages of online classes are the flexibility and convenience they offer to the student. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The convenience of an online course is one of the main advantages of taking an online course. According to a research paper by Dr. Derar Serhan of Arizona State University, 80% of respondents said that "being able to study and work at the same time was the top benefit of online learning..." ( 21). Students' ability to work while taking college courses is an essential part of attending college. Working allows students to gain experience for future jobs, earn an income to start paying off college loans, and have some money to spend. Some students said they couldn't have attended college without the convenience of an online course. Student responses included, “I work shifts and this is the only way to get a degree without quitting my job” and “Without this convenience, I would not attend college in any form” (Serhan 21). This is a great advantage because it actually allows people who wish to seek higher education to do so without compromising their financial needs. Overall, the convenience of an online course is one of the main benefits described by many students. The flexibility of an online class is closely related to the convenience of an online class. However, while convenience appears to be more focused on work, flexibility focuses more on creating less stress for the student by allowing them to choose when to do their work. According to Dr. Serhan's same survey, 77% of respondents “mentioned the flexibility of being able to take the course at any time and in any location as a major advantage and reason for taking classes online” (21). This shows that students like being able to learn when and where it works for them. This flexibility saves students the time and hassle of traveling to and from school, as well as eliminating the “rush” and stress of getting to class on time (Serhan 21). In a separate survey conducted at Johnson & Wales University, 29% of respondents who took an online course said that schedule flexibility was the biggest advantage of online classes (Shi, Di, Jiang, and Bin 8). This advantage is likely due to the fact that online classes can fit anywhere into your schedule, free from the constraints of traditional classes, work, and other extracurricular activities that have set times. It's clear that having the ability to choose when and where to learn is something that students consider one of the main benefits of online classes. As mentioned above, the convenience and flexibility of online classes can only be exploited with good management.