Are you thinking about going back to college? Are you torn between attending an online school or a brick and mortar college? Are you unsure of the type of college that is best for you? When it comes to selecting the right college for you, there are many different things that you should take into consideration. One of the most important considerations, however, is your personal learning style. The more you understand your learning style, the better you will be able to select a college that will meet your individual learning style needs. As a result, you will have much greater success from your college experience and will be able to get as much out of college as possible.

The Visual Learning Style

One of the three main learning styles is the visual learner. As the name implies, the visual learner learns best by actually seeing what he or she is learning about. Therefore, you may find success in both an online school and a brick and mortar college. At the same time, you will need to use some learning strategies that complement your learning style.

As a visual learner, you may need to actually picture what you are learning about in your head in order to remember and understand it more clearly. When learning how to spell a word, for example, you will do better if you actually picture the word in your head. The same strategy applies to learning any type of new material. You will also be more successful if you get to look at slides, posters, diagrams and demonstrations to illustrate a topic.

The Auditory Learning Style

Another learning style is the auditory learner, which is a person who learns best by hearing what is being taught. If you are an auditory learner, you will probably be more successful at a brick and mortar college where the professor can lecture to you or at an online school where the professor provides audio or video lectures. Of the three learning styles, the auditory learner is the least likely to be successful at an online school because auditory learners also learn best when they can actually discuss ideas with their classmates. Nonetheless, it is possible for an auditory learner to be successful in both settings.

The Kinesthetic and Tactile Learning Style

A person who is a kinesthetic and tactile learner learns best by “doing.” The kinesthetic and tactile learner may have some difficulty grasping some concepts when taking online classes, but will truly excel with programs that send components to the student or require the student to purchase certain items to look at and to use at home. If you are a kinesthetic and tactile learner, performing “hands on” activities will help you learn best.

The bottom line is that all three types of learners can be successful at both online and brick and mortar colleges. Nonetheless, it is important for you to understand your learning style so you can be certain to select the program that is best suited to you and your needs.