Does low retention rate=better school??

Some may wonder if a low retention rate makes a school better or worse than other schools. When a school is rated "number one", a number of things are looked at before the determination is made. According to Kiplinger.com, when rating the top public schools they: "examined the academic quality, including ACT/SAT scores, admission rates, freshman retention rates, student-faculty ratios, and graduation rates. They then ranked the schools on costs, financial aid, and average debt after graduation. Final scores were achieved by combining the two rankings, weighting more heavily for academic quality". Although the retention rate is looked at, it does not play the only role in measuring the top schools.

I think the school someone chooses to go to should be based on their needs and goals. Different schools are good for different things. I think that students should look at retention rates when choosing a school to attend, but I do not think that should be the make or break factor. After all, it is based on the entire student body. You can't base that kind of decision on the things that other people do. Students should choose a school based on what they know they are capable of. If someone knows that they are the type of student that does not want to put forth much effort, why waste the money to go to an expensive school? They would be better off attending a community college and save themselves (or parents/government) the money. The students that know that they have the drive and motivation it takes to complete college should look at schools for the programs they offer and choose one that fits their needs.

Students that are motivated and work hard to succeed are the ones that make up the better part of the retention rate. For students that lack motivation and do not do any work are the ones that unfortunately lower retention rates. I do not think that this rate has much to do with the school as a whole. I think it has to do more with the type of students attending. I think that schools should examine their retention rate to get an idea of what they are dealing with, but I do not think that the rate should either positively or negatively reflect on the school as a whole.

Online class vs Face to face class.

Some students prefer to take online classes over face to face classes. There are pros and con's to each. When enrolled in online classes, the student needs to have a large amount of self discipline. You have to have the power to sit in front of a computer and actually do the work instead of watching your favorite shows on TV. Granted, you do get to wear pj's and sit in your bed on a laptop. I personally think it is easier for me to get up, get ready and drive to school to sit in a face to face class. At least that way I am not tempted to skip classes because I am already at the school. I think it takes a special kind of person to be enrolled in online classes and actually do well in them.

It has been reported that retention rates for online classes is about 20% lower than face to face classes. Although online classes have become much more popular over the last decade, they are actually hurting the overall retention rates. Some may say that a student is able to learn more when being talked to face to face in a classroom setting. When taking online classes, it is more reading and doing all of your studying on your own. At least when you are in a classroom and you do not understand something, the teacher is right there to point, speak and help you work it out. The online classes gives you the ability to ask questions but you have to wonder if it is as effective through a computer screen.

I suppose it is all about preference. Some people may think that they have the discipline to take online classes but then they end up getting bored and they stop doing the work. When taking online classes, there are so many possible distractions (TV, Friends, family, etc) making it hard to sit at a computer for an hour for a class. Although I do prefer sitting in a classroom and being face to face with my peers and the teacher, I do believe that online classes will continue to become more and more popular as the years go on.