Congratulations. You’ve decided that a distance learning experience will help prepare you for a satisfying and successful career. But with so many options to choose from, how do you determine which one will be best for you?

While many institutions can provide you with the academic credentials you need, you may be surprised by the variety of experiences different schools have to offer. And finding the one that best satisfies your needs can be a little challenging.  Fortunately, there is a tool – a set of insights really – that can help you make the best choice.

Ever heard people talking about a person’s “Temperament”? They’re usually referring to certain observable personal characteristics that describe how someone acts, most of the time. Some people are playful and easy-going, where others are more serious and conventional. Some have a scientific and analytic bent, and still others are more artistic and sensitive.  People come in a variety of flavors!

For this discussion, I’m referring to a model of Temperament that has been around a very long time – since 450 BC, in fact. In essence, it describes four different types of people – all equally valuable and talented – but in very different ways.  You might be thinking: “OK, this is sort of interesting, but how can knowing about this stuff help me choose the best online university?” Here’s how:

A person’s Temperament is really central to who they are as a person – their values, drives and motivations. It influences many key things, including what interests them, how they learn best, and what they need in a career for it to be satisfying.

So it makes sense that people of different Temperaments will be attracted to and thrive in different learning environments. Choosing an online university is an important decision, and I’m not suggesting that Temperament should be the only criteria – but it should certainly be one of the most important you consider. When weighing your distance learning options, there are certain considerations that are important to people of all temperaments:

• Curriculum – Does it offer courses that I need?
• Outcomes – Will my education help me reach my career goals?
• Teaching method – Do they teach the way I learn best?
• Learning experience – What will it feel like being enrolled?
• Track record – How successful are graduates of this program?

While all of these criteria are important, people of different Temperaments will find some much more essential than others.

What’s My Temperament…and what do I need in an Online University?

To answer these two important questions, I recommend you take our quick (less than 5 minutes – honest!) and accurate online personality assessment. Once you do, the simple chart and descriptions below will help you identify your Temperament and guide you in finding the right school.

The following descriptions can give you a pretty good idea of your Temperament. As you read the descriptions, see which one sounds most like you and if it fits what you might value most in an online university experience.

Traditionalists are the largest percentage of the population with about 40% falling into this category. They tend to be serious and no-nonsense.people. Their core values are being of service to others, doing the right thing, and working hard. In a nutshell, what Traditionalists want most from an online university is a solid academic experience, offered by a stable, well-established institution that provides courses of study that will result in a well-paying, secure job. The teachers should be very experienced, and all communication and systems should be straightforward and easy to follow, with expectations and all directions made crystal clear.

Experiencers are the second largest percentage (about 30%). What drives these people is a strong need for freedom and action, using skills they’ve mastered, and enjoying as much of life as they can. For Experiencers, the ideal education is one that will give them practical and usable skills as quickly as possible. Instruction should be straightforward, focusing on the practical application of everything they learn, with as little exposure to or emphasis on theory as possible. The more “real world” experience, the better, and any opportunity for hands-on learning, via field research, for example, would be especially appealing.

Conceptualizers, who comprise about 15% of the population, are global thinkers in a life-long pursuit of knowledge and excellence. They strive for competence in everything they do.  What Conceptualizers want most is a program that will stimulate them, challenge them intellectually and provide them with a strategic advantage when it comes time to find employment. Courses should offer the most advanced thinking on the subject and be taught by very competent, well-credentialed professors who hold their students to high standards.

Idealists also make up about 15% of the population. They are the ultimate “people” people who thrive on making deep personal connections and helping others realize their potential. Idealists want most to be able to use what they learn in service of their deeply held values. The content should be completely relevant to furthering their goals – which often involve helping others. Global citizens who like to share their knowledge and gifts, the school’s educational philosophy is important to them as is being a part of a “community.” The more opportunity for collaboration in the form of discussions, study groups, etc, the more engaged they will be.

What’s next?

I hope this article has given you a better idea of what you need in an online learning experience for it to be most satisfying. I encourage you to consider what you’ve learned when weighing different options, and wish you the best of luck finding the very best program for you.