Tips for Understanding the Costs of Online Summer Classes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest

– Benjamin Franklin (Founding Father of the United States)

Every year, summer brings the excitement of enjoying bright days with ice cream and seasonal fruits. But it doesn’t take long for it to turn into boring routines for children with nothing constructive to do. Usually, this is when they become best friends with smart devices and start wasting their time on random stuff online. 

Well, this is how summers looked at my house too. But not anymore. I enroll my kids in online summer classes to help them utilize their time constructively. 

These courses not only help develop additional skills but also contribute to their overall development.

However, I understand that an additional expense in this economy can be a headache for parents, even if it is for the benefit of their child. To help you with the financial aspects, I have listed six tips that help me find a summer course that suits my budget. 

Consider Additional Costs For Materials

I am sure that most parents would be aware of the fact that when it comes to education expenses, the initial cost of enrollment is usually not the end. While there are plenty of high-quality online summer courses to choose from, it’s only prudent to double-check if there are any additional costs involved vis-à-vis materials like books and stationery, etc. 

Taking these costs into account, if relevant, helps me make sure that any money I put aside will cover them, ensuring that the children can get the most from whatever course is chosen for them.  

Research Potential Technology Requirements Needed

It cannot be forgotten that modern courses, especially those that take place online rather than in person, involve extensive use of various technologies. In most cases, it requires access to a computing device of some sort and the internet. While you can get away with using something like a tablet and Bluetooth keyboard, the internet is obviously a requirement to gain access to course materials. 

However, if you want your child to get all they can from the course, I would advise you to invest in a laptop that they can also use for a variety of other applications. Well, here the good news is that you can generally find pretty acceptable laptops for not very much these days, but if you want to ensure your child is able to use the device for the long term, you might look to spend a little extra to ensure whatever you purchase is future-proof to a degree.

DO YOU KNOW? 
78% of people believe that online learning adoption will increase in the near future. 

Look For Hidden Registration Fees

This might not be the case for all online course providers, but still, I always check if there are any hidden fees, such as those for registering your child, that turn a relatively affordable course into one that causes you to cancel the whole thing. 

Even if there are some additional charges, if they are reasonable enough, it shouldn’t be an issue. If, however, the fee is almost as high as the cost of the course, then it is best to look elsewhere for providers who take education seriously and aren’t only in it for the money.

See If There Are Any Discounts For Early Enrollment

If you are concerned about how much the entire thing is going to cost, there is nothing wrong in confirming if the provider you have your eye set on is willing to offer you a discount for early enrollment. 

A lot of times, sending a simple email has helped me save a not-inconsiderable amount of money, freeing up more cash to invest in other required components. 

Bonus Tip: As you know, summer is still a few months away, this is the best time to start looking now and gain access to those juicy discounts before they disappear. 

Assess The Value Of Accreditation

The importance of this point will vary depending on why you’re enrolling your child, to begin with. If you only wish to give them something educational just to get up during their summer holidays, trust me, it might not be so vital. 

However, like me, if you’re also expecting to receive accreditation that you can attach to their list of others for a specific reason (i.e., to help them gain access to particular schools, to look good on their resume, etc.), then examining what sort of certificates they offer and how valuable they are will be critical if you want to avoid wasting money.

DO YOU KNOW? 
According to some reports, online summer courses can help children reduce anxiety and depression, improving their mental health. 

Understand Cancellation And Refund Policies

Everyone knows that life is such that we can never predict what will happen the next moment. But while that is an axiomatic truth, you can mitigate a lot of the downsides when you briefly look at what kinds of cancellation policy a provider offers. 

Usually, most policies I’ve seen state that as long as you inform them early enough, they can probably refund some, if not all, of your money, but it’s still worth checking.

In conclusion, choosing to enroll your child in a summer course is a great idea and one that will keep them occupied beneficially throughout the break. As long as you pay attention to the above-mentioned aspects of costs, you should also be able to avoid any unexpected surprises.

---