Many online courses use message boards and chat rooms in order to hold discussions based on the lessons. It takes away the personal interactions you find inside a classroom between the professor and the students. In the classroom, the discussions build on each other in a natural way, possibly going into great detail. When you leave a message on a board, people do not respond instantly. There may even be a day or two between posts.
Online learning may provide you with the ability to work on homework whenever you want, but that is not necessarily an advantage. You need to be disciplined enough to make yourself sit down every day and do the homework, post a message or take a test. You may be more likely to procrastinate when you do not have to leave the house in order to get to class.
Some online programs sound too good to be true. Those programs may not offer degrees from accredited schools. Accreditation is an across the board standard that means you will have a quality education. This basically means that you are getting the same degree as someone in another accredited school in the same program. Be sure to look for the accreditation before making a commitment to an online learning community (see Resources below).
Some employers frown on degrees from online institutions. Many managers see online degrees as "rubber stamped" diplomas, meaning you paid enough money so that online program just handed you the diploma. This is similar to an unaccredited program.
If you are finishing this degree in order to gain a promotion at work, or if your company is paying for this degree, make sure to check with your boss before you start.
Several online learning communities do not allow any credits to be transferred to another institution. They do this so you will complete the certificate or degree program with them only.
All online courses require certain information technology needs. You must have a high speed Internet connection, a fast browser and a certain amount of free space on your PC. There are also courses which must be started and completed on the same computer, so you would not be able to work at home and then work on your laptop.
We all have different learning styles. Some people who are auditory learners need to be inside a classroom in order for their brain to comprehend the materials. Find your educational style before you unintentionally set yourself up to fail.