In this digital age of ours, more of us are starting to avoid conventional colleges in favor of studying online. But with hundreds of platforms available to complete a full course or supplement your studies it can be difficult to know where to spend your dollars and pursue that vital education.

At Nerdify we are passionate about making education available and obtainable to everybody, which is why we asked our Personal Nerds to extensively review different platforms, apps and websites that are available and tell us which they think are the best.

Taking into account student feedback, personal experience and customer reviews, Nerdify are happy to present (in no particular order) some of our favorite destinations for online learning!

Coursera

The Personal Nerds at Nerdify speak very highly of Coursera, and the educational platform comes with great reviews and feedback from students too. Faculties from elite universities all over the world have courses on Coursera and they’re often very affordable too, with funding sometimes offered to the right students.

Coursera offers both short courses and even whole degrees can be completed there. Our Personal Nerds are especially impressed by the fact that elite universities like Stanford collaborate with the platform. In short, a great platform with loads of variety and options and its affordability means Coursera is bringing education to basically everyone.

Udemy

Based on reviews from students and educators using the platform, Coursera’s closest competitor Udemy is considered to be a cheaper and less impressive option, albeit similar. Udemy does impress students however with a slightly larger selection of short, cheap (or even free) courses, which can be very attractive for people wanting to get some extra, quick training on WordPress of Microsoft Excel, for example. Keep in mind that Udemy doesn’t usually offer certificates or diplomas upon completion of a course, while Coursera often does.

Duolingo

Smartphones and tablets have made obtaining certain types of information easier and getting a good education more obtainable. There has also been an explosion of language-learning apps too, which has seen the sales of language-related books take a sharp dive.

In a competitive field however, Duoligno still reigns supreme with over 150 million users around the world. As of November 2016, the language-learning app offers 68 different language courses across 23 languages, with 22 additional courses in development. The app is available on iOS, Android and Windows 8 and 10 operating systems. Our Nerds love this app and it comes highly recommended from us all at Nerdify!

Memrise

Memrise operates in the same sphere as Duolingo but with a slightly different approach, using memory techniques and entertaining content to make learning the language a bit more fun. Duolingo, in comparison, has been called more academic a little less immersive and fun. But Memrise can also boast of a much bigger selection of modules with 150 courses across 25 different languages. There’s a bunch of other stuff you can study with the app also, though. Memrise doesn’t only limit itself to languages and you can do crash courses in everything from different breeds of cats to international relations and history!

EdX

EdX is a very specific platform where you can expect to get some good education and acquire some very useful knowledge, which isn’t surprising considering it was founded in 2012 by guys from MIT and Harvard and the platform now works with the likes of Berkeley and Columbia too.

Featuring a broad range of courses that mostly fall into science and technical categories, students will welcome the self-paced timing of the classes and the freedom to pick when you engage with the educational content. Videos and game labs form a vital part of the courses which usually end in obtaining a certificate (for an extra small fee.)

Udacity

According to our IT Nerds and reviews from customers and students, Udacity is the place for you if you’re interested in computer science and programming. Hardly surprising considering this platform has corporate partners like Google, AT&T and Facebook. Other than IT and programming however, the variety on offer is pretty limited but computer nerds should definitely apply!

And there we have it, some of the best options currently available for learners who are looking to take their studies online, as selected by Nerdify’s Personal Nerds. Good luck with your studies!

College has the potential to be one of the most unique and exciting periods of your life. Whether you’ve just started college or you’re planning on attending college in the near future, you now have the opportunity to make the most of this experience.

Attending college and taking the experience seriously can also be lucrative. Nerdify reviews experts studied data indicating college graduates often earn more than those who only graduate high school over the course of a lifetime.

The following 4 tips from Nerdify reviews team will help you achieve the goal of optimizing your college years. To take full advantage of all that college has to offer, you should:

1. Prioritize academics

Movies and TV shows about college often focus on depicting the social aspects of student life. This can result in some students forgetting that the social element of college is secondary to academics. While college certainly offers students the chance to make friends (a topic this very blog will touch on further down), it’s important to keep in mind that the real purpose of college is to equip you with a degree and education so that you may have a successful career. Reddit threads featuring tips for new college students tend to focus on the importance of studying and attending class for a reason: college graduates know this is critical.

Don’t squander college by focusing so much on partying and having fun that you never actually receive the education and training you’re paying for. At all times, your academic performance should be your top priority. This means along with going to class and completing your assignments, you must take all other necessary steps to optimize your performance academically, such as getting enough sleep, eating right, and trying your best to stay healthy in general.

It’s also worth noting that Nerdify reviews experts found research showing that partying on and around college campuses is becoming less popular than it once was. Focusing on academics may now be the norm for college students.

2. Take advantage of campus amenities and activities

Living on a college campus is somewhat like living in a small town in which everything is within walking distance, say students on Reddit reviews. Although college campuses may vary widely in size, if you live in a dorm, anything that’s happening on campus should be just a walk away.

Thus, living on a college campus offers you easy access to numerous events and activities in which you may participate. For example, theatre and music departments might organize performances you can attend. Or, you could head to your campus’ fitness center to work out. If your campus has a recreation center or game room, you can meet up with friends here at night if you have no studying to do.

Perhaps your campus is home to a museum featuring various interesting exhibits throughout the year. Additionally, student clubs and organizations likely host numerous events that may appeal to you. If you’re a sports fan attending school at a college where athletics are popular, you can likely attend games and matches throughout the semester.

Those are just a few examples of the types of activities, says Nerdify reviews team, that you may have easy access to when living on campus. Best of all, if you’re a student, participating in many of these activities may cost no money at all.

Adult life is different. After college, you won’t have as many opportunities to have low-cost fun within immediate walking distance of your home. Be sure to enjoy this unique benefit of the college experience while you can. You can also check Reddit threads and reviews about campus events and activities to get a sense of what types of events may be taking place on your campus.

3. Spend time with friends

Again, you attend college to earn a degree. That should always be your main goal. However, you can be a responsible student and still have an active social life.

Making good friends in college will have a positive impact on the overall experience. Nerdify reviews a survey of college graduates indicating 75% of those who made at least 10 close friends during college said the experience was very rewarding, while only 26% of those who didn’t make close friends in college said the experience was very rewarding.

Just as living on or near your college campus provides you with fast access to various activities in which you may participate, it also gives you access to many potential friends. During this period of your lives, you’ll all have many of the freedoms of adulthood without necessarily having many of the responsibilities of being an adult. Thus, you’re in a position to spend much more time with one another than you may be able to when you have careers, kids, etc. Take advantage of this by using your free time to cultivate quality friendships.

4. Develop relationships with professors and faculty members

Friendships with your fellow students aren’t the only types of valuable relationships you may forge in college. It’s also smart to develop relationships with professors and faculty members. Along with helping you succeed in your classes while you’re a student, your professors can also potentially assist you in getting jobs after graduation.

You already know research indicates graduates tend to have more positive attitudes about their college experiences if they made friends. Nerdify reviews experts found research showing that graduates are also more likely to feel they benefited from attending college if they developed relationships with their instructors and other members of the staff. Again, Reddit threads and reviews about getting to know professors and TAs in college can prove valuable if you don’t know how to begin developing this type of relationship.

It’s easy to understand why graduates share this opinion. A professor can serve as a helpful mentor who can set you on the path to a thriving career both in and out of school.

Just keep in mind, college goes by much faster than many students realize. Don’t wait to act on the advice here. If you apply these suggestions, your chances of having a rewarding college experience will be even greater than they already are.

While it is commonplace to find students hustling to work after their classes, the motivation behind it can be quite different for each of them. Today Nerdify reviews the advantages and disadvantages of such a lifestyle choice.

Juggling work and study is a lifestyle that is becoming more and more popular amongst students despite the difficulties in their programs. The pretty barista at a nearby Starbucks could be doing it for the additional income. Meanwhile, the young fitness instructor could be doing it solely for his passion. It is an opportunity that can serve many purposes.  Nerdify reviews team decided to speak up of a few pros and cons to consider! So, curious onlookers are recommended to think it over.

PROS:

1. You learn the value of hard-earned money

Many students are privileged enough to have their parents support them until they finish their education. While it may be comfortable, it would be difficult to grasp just how difficult it can be to earn a lot of cash in a competitive labor market under such circumstances. But, when you start earning your own money, each dollar in your pocket can start to mean more to you.

This is especially true for people getting paid a low-range salary, which is likely for students. It is terribly easy to use up all of your hard-earned monthly pay if you are not careful. You may start thinking twice about going to a night out with your friends.

2. You hone important life skills

There are certain lessons and skills that cannot be taught in the classroom. For example, when people work in the service industry, they likely encounter rude and unpleasant customers on a regular basis. As frustrating as it sounds, they have to learn to be courteous and patient with these people if they want to keep their jobs. Likewise, not everyone you will meet in your career will be easy to deal with. At least, others will be better prepared to handle it.

To add, student workers are more exposed to working alongside people that are much older and experienced than they are. They learn how to ask for some time off, apologize for mistakes, request for help, and the like. They also learn how to build working relationships with these people, which is a useful life skill.

3. You develop a better perspective for the future

This point is in Nerdify reviews for a reason. We strongly believe that with the work experience that students gain, they have a better grasp of what work life will be like once they graduate. Because of this, they can either better recognize what they want in their career, or what they definitely do not want to pursue as a career. They can also learn things that would deepen their understanding and appreciation of the industry. It all depends on whether the work that the students are taking now is fulfilling enough.

CONS:

1. Opportunity cost may be high for some

When you choose one opportunity, you are letting go of several other opportunities that you could have chosen instead. Likewise, choosing to spend a considerable amount of time at work can impede student’s studies, involvement in organizations, and other relevant activities. For some, the opportunity cost may be low. But, others could be letting go of something that could make them more competitive in the job market, such as winning national debate tournaments.

2. You may not be prepared for it

Finding work as a student is not recommended if the students are struggling with their academic workload, battling mental health problems, juggling too many commitments, and the like. Some may push through with it despite this to earn some extra money. However, work requires effort and sacrifice even if it is not full-time. You could be putting too much on your plate. Nerdify reviews team suggests paying attention to that.

3. Your job is not aligned with your career path

Most students take on part-time work that is not related to their majors nor to the career that they will be pursuing after graduation. This is not recommended unless money is the motive as relevant learnings can be quite few and far between. It would also not make much of an impact to an employer if it was put in your resume except to show your social and time management skills.

Work while studying can be a great opportunity or a waste of time. Students should first determine what their main motivation is for finding a job. They should then figure out if the job is the best opportunity there is to help them achieve their goals. In case you are still interested, try your best to work within your field of interest. But, if that is not possible, keep in mind that work can still help hone useful life skills. It can also signal to employers your drive and initiative even if it is not related to your major.

However, you must be prepared to handle it.