Online courses can work for any student, just as a physical, onsite classroom with face-to-face instruction can work for any student - however, the quality of the "fit" varies with instructors and class environments. Taking an online class requires just as much time and effort as a class on campus - maybe more! To see if online classes are right for you, answer these questions:

• Do you like to work independently?
   
• Do you need convenience and an adjustable schedule?
   
• Are you comfortable asking for clarification and continuing to ask when you need more information?
   
• Are you good at meeting deadlines?
   
• Are you comfortable working at a computer?
   
• Do you have experience surfing the World Wide Web? If most of your experience is through AOL (America Online), you may need to investigate other paths to the web such as Internet Explorer before taking a class through the West Valley College Virtual Campus. Click here for browser issues.
   
• Are you comfortable working primarily with a text-based medium?
   
• Would you be comfortable phoning or faxing your instructor if you had problems with anything in the course?
   

Did you answer "yes" to most of the above questions? Then you'll do well in an online course - if you hesitated on some of them, you'll probably still do well, but you may need to work harder and more deliberately at staying in touch with your instructor.
 
For a second look at the skills you'll need to be a successful Distance Learning student, take our Distance Learning Successful Skills Survey.