I understand where you are coming from now. I myself have nothing against B & M schools. Although I would still rank socializing with my peers down at the bottom of the list of what things were more unique to that setting. Granted I was a commuter student, and I was 21 fresh out of the Army,when I first took a class instead of 18 and residing in the dorms.
I took a few classes at a large university where I was pretty much lost. I remember a few people sleeping next to me in class or/and coming in drunk. I'm sure they had to cram just as much as we do when we take cleps, if not more so b/c they had spent the whole semester sleeping! Is that experience any more valuable? I think not. I am sure many of those people who drooled next to me can't even remember what half those courses were that they attended! Yet they have that degree from a B & M which might lead people to think they are more intelligent, retained more info.etc.
On the other hand,one of my favorite classes was a English 101 at a community college here in Chicago. I probably couldn't have gotten the same experience if I just clepped it, did it via Independent Study or even took it at a large university. My professor encouraged me and actually had me publish one of my short stories. Another story I wrote was put into an upcoming English comp textbook(with questions I couldn't even answer! LOL! I still have that textbook on my shelf.) I am glad I had the face to face interaction with my professor who encouraged me to keep writing.
I guess we could also take the argument even further beyond online vs b& m. What educational experience is best? Mainly residential campuses or commuter? -and on and on and on. There is no one size fits all approach. I am just glad that the online education at this point in my life fits me just fine.
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