i have social phobia so I am doing online medical administration is it harder than being in class?

[Leanne]

I start on Monday and Ive done my orientation and doing a second one on Saturday with my advisor step by step to make it easier for me..I was wondering if someone on here has done this field before and was wondering if its easier in the class room or online with a class or what

[Freefromdrama]

The Plus Side
Cost and convenience are just a few of the major 'pros' for studying online.

Scheduling
Online education is very popular among students with jobs and families. While some courses include synchronous components such as Skype conferences with instructors, most allow students to complete coursework on their own schedules.

Location
You can take an online course anywhere you have a computer and an Internet connection. This perk is especially important for individuals living in remote or rural areas who can't relocate and don't want to commute hours to school. But it's also useful for parents who need to be able to study at home with young children or any student who prefers to work in the comfort of their own home or local coffee shop.

Pacing
Do you find yourself struggling to keep up with difficult or fast-paced courses? Many online programs will allow you to either finish your coursework entirely at your own pace or give you additional time above and beyond the average school term.

Savings
Tuition for online courses is often a little bit lower than traditional classroom courses because the overhead cost is lower for the teaching institution. Online students may also save money on activity fees and similar costs paid by on-campus students.

There are also many 'hidden' savings associated with studying online. Most students save money on gas, parking or bus passes when they don't commute. Many students are also able to keep housing and food costs down when they're not tied to the location of a school or the schedule of a traditional student.

Finally, many online courses give students access to e-textbooks or other digital materials that may cost less than traditional textbooks.

The Minus Side
Online education may be sounding pretty good right about now, but it's important to remember that there can be significant drawbacks for some students.

Limited Instructor Interaction
Some online programs give you the opportunity to use instant messenger or Skype to chat in real-time with your professors. But these conversations have to be scheduled and are usually far and few between compared to the daily face to face interactions you'll have in a traditional classroom.

If you're a student who prefers large, anonymous lecture courses anyway, then this may not matter much to you. But if you're the kind of student who prefers smaller conferences and likes to ask a lot of questions, then you may find yourself struggling without these opportunities.

And there's one final drawback to not having frequent interactions with professors: You miss out on developing mentorship relationships that can result in invaluable guidance and recommendation letters down the road.

Limited Social Interaction
Since you're not studying in a traditional classroom, you'll also miss having face time with other students. This can deprive you of important networking opportunities for your future career, as well as basic social interaction. If you're hoping to make new friends - or find future business partners - in school, consider taking at least a couple of your courses on campus.

Tech-Savvy Required
Most online programs deliberately keep their tech specs simple: A word processing program, a PDF reader and a computer and Internet connection fast enough for online learning tools.

But these basic requirements hide the fact that most online education programs require students to navigate potentially complex virtual learning environments such as Blackboard or Moodle. For savvy computer users, this is no problem. But if you often find yourself struggling with the digital age, this can present a significant frustration and impediment to completing your coursework.

Learn More
Still not sure if online courses are right for you? Contact your institution and find out if they can put you in touch with a student who's currently enrolled in one of their online programs. You'll get the best advice from someone who's already in your (prospective) shoes.

[Simpson G]

Can you still drop it and get your money back? If so, do so.

Medical Admin certificates are useless. The only classes that even remotely help you are English, a Foreign Language, and Medical Terminology.

For receptionists and back office work, employers want EXPERIENCE, not worthless certificates. I actually chuckle at these 'degrees' because it means that the applicant didn't even bother to look at help wanted ads or talk to an HR person before signing up for the classes.

If you want to be a receptionist of office assistant in a medical office, instead of dropping money on classes, get a job/volunteer as an office worker someplace. It should have a multi-line phone system and a computer network. Spend 6-12 months there and volunteer in a free health clinic during your down time. When hiring office help, office managers and physicians want someone who has experience with phones, customers (patients), computers, and who has worked in an office setting. They can teach medical terms to a good candidate.