Help! Need advice on whether or not to take online courses

[MaryE]

I currently work for an appraiser as the office manager. After my year, he told me he had no intentions of giving me a raise and that I should be happy with what I have. This led me to really decide that I needed to take things into my own hands and really do what I want to do which is work in the appraisal business. He knew I wanted to be in the business ultimately, so I took the job thinking that I could move up and go into the business. It would have been the perfect opportunity to have a mentor. I learned quickly that wasn't going to happen. He would be content to have me chained to the desk and underpaid.

I have looked at the Appraisal Institute in ATL; however, they changed the classes from January to March 2010. I am concerned that by waiting to take them there they could change their minds again and move it back even further. I am ready to get out of this job and move on into the profession despite the current situation with the economy. I am considering taking the courses online, but apprehensive about it. The ATL Chapter offers classes in a classroom which is a better learning environment for me. I have looked at other schools and programs, but I keep hearing oh we dont have enough students signed up yet, it could be canceled if one person drops out which is too risky or that they arent offering the course right now due to the economy. The online courses are always being offered, monitored by a teacher and I wouldn't have to worry about the program getting canceled.

Are the online courses the way to go? Will they give me the information & examples I need in order to pass the exams? What is the consensus?

 

[nstanbru]

IMHO, I think you can learn more in a classroom setting. Good luck.

 

[MaryE]

I feel that way and I learn better that way. Im just nervous that they will change the March date and now Im stuck at this job longer than I really want.

 

[jlabauve]

I much prefer the classroom over online courses any day. It is invaluable to be able to ask questions whenever you are unclear on something - also hearing the other students' questions. And the networking possibilities are wonderful.

 

[MaryE]

I think so too. If you are unclear on something then you have the opportunity to ask more questions and as you said listen to the other students. If you are sitting at a desk it makes that so much harder. I asked an appraiser in our office for his helping tutoring me if I needed it on any questions or a section. I feel that is a pro for doing it online.
I am going to join the appraisal institute as well. I thought it would be great networking, you get a certain % off the classes and the contacts you would make one on one are invaluable.

 

[Bpowers123]

Classroom

I took all my classes in ATL through the Appraisal Institute (06-present). I would recommend you take at least the initial core coarses in a classroom setting. I am about to get my CG and would consider taking some continuing ed on-line, but you need a good basis to start. The professors I had were great and very knowledgable. I think you are just seeing the effects of the economy on the number of people taking classes. If you can hold out till March I think it would be good for you.

 

[MaryE]

did you have a hard time finding someone to train you?

 

[Mr Rex]

The best USPAP update class I have ever taken was an online course.

 

[Kali the Boston Terrier]

I find that the AI will often cancel beginner classes. The reason being is that most people enter the business through ma and pa shops for entry level. They will eventually migrate to higher quality education when they know better.

That being said, AI online is going to be a far better educational experience than most "live" ma and pa shops. If it were me, I would go with the online setting, if it were wait or go now. However I personally learn better in a self study, online setting...so I may be a bit biased.

 

[Metamorphic]

I've done a couple AI classes online and a couple live.

Live is FAR better for learning the material, and for me, much less painful. I find the online classes to be a slog. You might actually save a little time doing it online, but its hard time.

Conversley, the AI instructors I've taken have value to add that goes well beyond the printed material.

So basically, hit the live classes. Go out of your way if need be. But if you have to have one to proceed with your license sooner rather than later and you feel like you've got a good understanding that the material, there's nothing wrong with moving forward with a online class.