Online Courses are not for everyone.
Online courses are a lot of work and much of it is done independently.  If you require the structure of a classroom, this method will not suit you.

Online courses are not easy.
Sometimes students register for an online course looking to squeeze one more course into an already full schedule. While you can do your work at times that are convenient for you, deadlines still need to be met, and just as much work is expected of students as on-campus courses.

Most courses require that you log in at least three times a week.
In most courses you will be asked to log on several times a week, for approximately two hours each time, to participate in online discussions, read lectures, do assignments and interact with the professor and other students. The most successful students log on frequently.

Good time management is the key to succeeding in an online course.
If you like to work independently, if you don’t need to be reminded to do your work, if you do not procrastinate, then an online course may be right for you. On the other hand, if you tend to do your work at the last minute, and you easily forget deadlines and often fall behind, then an online course is not right for you. Students report that once they’ve fallen behind in their online course, it is very difficult to catch up.

Successful students access their course early.
Online courses "go live" (are available to view online) one week prior to the first day of classes, because the online environment can take some time to get used to. You should access the course as soon as possible (see Getting Started) and begin working through the initial activities such as the Student Orientation. You should also purchase your textbook as soon as possible. Students who enter their course late are more likely to do poorly.

It is not necessary to own a computer to participate in an online course.
Computers with internet access are so widely available that your coursework can be done from an internet café, a library, or in a school computer lab.