A student who wants in-depth knowledge in a particular discipline has the freedom to pursue those interests without the pressure of learning other disciplines at the same time. The faculty members can be consulted for clarification, additional resources, or to answer questions. ISP students can take Leaves of Absence without penalty. Students who wish to take time from their studies for research or other special experiences can do so without missing material or being required to start over. Independent study is considered less stressful.
Many students feel a flexible schedule is less stressful than a rigid one.
The ISP allows time to build confidence by mastering material before proceeding to the next stage. Students must be able to set reasonable time schedules for themselves and hold to them with effective study. They must discipline themselves against outside distractions and procrastination. The fact that they can postpone taking an exam is often counterproductive for making reasonable progress. The fixed scheduled exams of the lecture program are great motivators to study.