Prospective undergrads are faced with a sizable challenge when selecting a Cape Town distance learning campus. First, there is the question of whether or not your chosen school has the courses you are interested in studying. Then, you need to have full peace of mind in knowing that remote learning is handled efficiently. You also need to consider aspects such as cost, accessibility, exam process, reputation and innovation.
One way that you can help to narrow down your selection is to watch out for some of the most commonly made when choosing distance learning schools in Cape Town and surrounds.
Avoid These Common Distance Learning Campus Mistakes
Some of the biggest mistakes to avoid when deciding where to study include the following:
- Making a rushed decision. This is one decision that should never be made in haste. Finding the right school can be hard, and time-consuming. But trying to rush things by picking a place without doing your homework is never a good idea. Start thinking about schools as early as possible. Make a list of places that look like that have what you need, then begin to research each one carefully. What are your looking for in a remote campus? Make a list of things that are most important, and compare each school you are reviewing to see which ones have what it takes.
- Following someone else’s choices. Just because your girlfriend, boyfriend or bestie has chosen a college, it does not mean that you should follow them. If you really like the school they have chosen, and it offers the courses you want to take, and ticks all of your boxes, then you can apply. If your choice is being made mostly on staying close to your partner in crime however, you may end up jeopardising your future by blindly following someone else’s choice.
- Buying into the hype. Reputation is important to some degree – mostly because it separates the fly by night schools from the truly good schools. Don’t be swayed by campuses that are ‘trendy’, ‘prestigious’ or ‘cutting-edge’ however. A big, famous school that is notoriously hard to get into will not automatically mean that you will get the best education. Sometimes, smaller or regional schools have a better offering or have interactive tools that will help you grow.
- Letting your parents make your decision for you. Parents are great for support. They should never dictate where you should study however. What was right for your mom or dad will not necessarily be right for you. Colleges and distance education campuses in Cape Town have changed a lot even in the last decade – the experience that your folks had will therefore never be the same as the experience that you may have.
- Not keeping an open mind. You may not have even considered studying via a remote campus, because you were dead set on a traditional on-campus school. Being too rigid in your thinking may prevent you from finding a learning facility that is exactly right for you, so try to keep an open mind right from the start… whether you are dreaming of a future MBA or a diploma.
Need help making the right decision? Contact REGENT Cape Town today and let us know what you are seeking in a distance learning campus in the Western Cape.