Is Distance Learning the Future for Literature Students?
Distance learning would appeal to professionals who want to go back to college. They need a degree, which could lead to lots of options. And one of which may be a career change. They should be classified as mature students (if they get admitted to their university of preference), and the administrators would welcome them with open arms. Experience is the best teacher. Furthermore, those who have a family have greater challenges. It won't be easy to have quality time (or less) with the family while devoting the rest of the free time (or little of it) to paper writing. Sleeping (or the lack of) could be an issue, but what a feat if they pull it off. And they would. It should be a different case with those who aspire for a B.A. English degree.
Solitude is the downside of distance learning, possibly the only one. It would be a world for teenagers, even more with older students. The arts is like a mistress with a cold heart, expecting more from those who want to make a living from it. Fame and fortune beckon a few, but this would be the farthest from the minds of those who want to be literature students. In fact, distance learning should be the perfect set-up. Technology may not be a good substitute to socializing (or making new friends), but they can stay in touch with the people they can count on.
Some applicants may have second thoughts about pursuing distance learning, as they don't want to miss the seminars, the exchange of ideas (or the clash of opinion), and the encouraging faces of the members of the faculty. It won't be frequent in an open university, but it doesn't prevent you from initiating an invitation to a gathering. One may be good enough, but let's get to business.
The Advantages of Distance Learning
It's so affordable if compared to attending lectures (and living in a dorm). Tertiary education is a serious matter, such that a debt could lead to (years of) anxiety. You rather not think of the disorders that you may suffer from it, yet you want to make a head start after you earn your degree. Distance learning would make those seemingly lofty dreams within your reach. You don't have to worry about transportation, which doesn't come cheap nowadays. There's no need to pay for the rent as well. And you don't have to summon your mental fortitude while you stretch your (limited) budget to another week. You're studying at the comfort of your own home, but spending on food and beverages may be a problem in the long run.
You learn at your own pace. This particular aspect may not appeal to some applicants. (Think of mathematics.) It should be the opposite with literature. Long novels, such as "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, could put a strain on your daily routine if you happen to be enrolled in Victorian literature, and there's a high chance that you could skip several chapters (to beat the deadline). It won't be the scenario in the open university. You might be asking some questions about it, but you almost forgot about your interactive experience. It can wait (while you finish a book of almost a thousand pages or less in a few days or less).
Flexibility. This should benefit literature students, as some must be in the mood (before they pen the opening of their essays). The coursework also involves lots of reading, and there are times of the day when it's hard to read between the lines. There's no need to force yourself (to understand such things), as there are many things to do in the house. (A vacuum cleaner may come in handy.) If you're a night owl, then you don't have to think about lectures the following morning. Make sure that you have made an arrangement with your instructor (if it would be the subject of an upcoming deadline). It won't take a minute to compose an email.
Your Degree Is as Good as Anyone
Your journey may be different, if not easier, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be proud of your achievements. Your degree would open doors, and it doesn’t matter if you didn’t partake in any (live) discourse. Keep in mind that your B.A. would be the beginning. Your education won’t end there, as the next journey might knock you off the road. It should be all up to you, with a little help from your professor(s). If you decide to pursue a graduate degree, then you must think twice. Thrice. It might not be a wise thing to opt for distance learning, as an academic career is becoming the first option. In this regard, you might have to visit your university of choice. Get the feel of it.
The other options should make you feel good about your chances (of success), as you can draw from your experience in distance learning. Authorship for one. There’s nothing to be ashamed about online teaching if this could lead you to a promising offer. A career in a British university? You might have to familiarize yourself with British idioms. If it’s the mainland, then study a foreign language. You could study it on your own.
