The decision whether or not to take an online course is something that almost all students must decide at some point in their college career. Taking an online course has both advantages and disadvantages, and students differ on their opinions about online courses. Despite some drawbacks, the flexibility and convenience of online courses are significant advantages over a traditional classroom. However, these benefits must be used correctly. A student who takes an online course, but has poor time management skills, may end up dooming themselves by procrastinating on all their assignments until the very last minute. When the student uses time management, the main advantage of online courses is the flexibility and convenience it offers to the student. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayThe convenience of an online course is one of the biggest benefits 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 biggest benefit of online learning…” (21). Students' ability to work while taking college courses is an essential part of their college education. Working allows students to gain experience for future jobs, earn income to start paying off college loans, and have some spending money. Some students have indicated that they would not be able to attend college without the convenience of an online course. Student responses included, “I work shifts and this is the only way I can 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 allows people who want to pursue higher education to do so without compromising their financial needs. Overall, the convenience of an online course is one of the top benefits many students describe. The flexibility of an online course is closely related to the convenience of an online course. However, while convenience seems to be more focused on work, flexibility is more about creating less stress for the student by allowing them to choose when they do their work. According to the same survey by Dr. Serhan, 77% of respondents “cited the flexibility of being able to take the course anytime, anywhere as a major benefit and reason for taking online courses” (21). This proves that students enjoy being able to learn when and where it suits them. This flexibility saves students the time and hassle of traveling to and from school, while eliminating the “rush” and stress of getting to class on time (Serhan 21). In a separate survey at Johnson & Wales University, 29% of respondents who took an online course said that flexibility in your schedule is the biggest benefit of online courses (Shi, Di, Jiang and Bin 8). This advantage is likely because online classes can be placed anywhere in your schedule – without the constraints of traditional classes, work, and other extracurricular activities that have fixed schedules. It’s clear that the ability to choose when and where to learn is something that students see as a major benefit of online courses. As mentioned earlier, the convenience and flexibility of online courses can only be leveraged with a.