For many students, going to college is one of the most social times of their lives. The traditional college pathway includes finally leaving the parental home and moving into college accommodation, often with a bunch of strangers who go on to become some of your best friends – or worst enemies, in some cases! Either way, going to college usually means that you meet a ton of new people and get plenty of opportunities to socialize with new groups of friends. But, with studying online growing in popularity, there are more and more students today who are missing out on the social side of further education. So, if you’ve decided to study for your college degree online, what can you do to avoid getting lonely?
Tip #1. Use Social Media
When it comes to studying online, there’s no better tool than social media for finding new people to talk to and making new friends. With online study programs rapidly growing in popularity, there’s a high chance that a quick search on social media will bring up plenty of results when it comes to finding people who are studying for the same online degree as you at the same institution. You could even set up a Facebook group for students to join so that you can all get to know who’s in your virtual health policy masters classes.
Tip #2. Keep in Touch with Your Old Friends
When your time is taken up with studying for your health law degree from Hofstra Law, it can be all too easy to put off socializing with friends and instead opt for sitting in and revising or working on your assignments. However, bear in mind that staying in too often could lead to you feeling lonely and worried that you’re missing out on having a social life, which can leave you feeling demotivated about your work. Don’t forget to schedule in some time to spend with your family and friends; taking a break from your studies and doing something fun with people who are close to you will help you regain your focus and motivation.
Tip #3. Get a Pet
If you are living alone and studying from home, then at times you’re probably glad to have peace, quiet, and few distractions. However, studying from home when you live by yourself can also have several disadvantages. If you’re spending all your time in your house with nobody to speak to or spend time with, then this can quickly lead to feelings of loneliness. If you are an animal lover, then getting a pet such as a dog or a cat can help with this! Although it’s not the same as having another human around, pets can make wonderful companions for anybody who lives alone.
Tip #4. Take Some Campus-Based Classes
Lastly, don’t think that you need to complete your degree in its entirety online. Many colleges will offer the option for students to take some classes online and others on campus, which is a great way to get a better balance – you can pick which classes you need more flexibility for whilst studying for the rest in a more traditional setting, which could be helpful in terms of having a professor around, too.
Did these tips help? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
