If you’re applying to college, there are many reasons why you might want to consider an online degree. Studying for your degree online can not only be a much more flexible option as you can put together your own timetable to study from the comfort of your own home, it can also be a much cheaper alternative to a traditional campus-based course, with tuition fees for online learning priced at up to a third cheaper than their on-campus counterparts. But, one of the main downfalls of studying online is that there are fewer opportunities to meet new people and socialize at college. However, studying online doesn’t have to mean that you are a loner. We’ve put together some of the best ways to meet new people and socialize when studying for a college degree online.
Networking
Students on online MBA programs from Northeastern University, for example, can use networking opportunities as a method of meeting new people and socializing more often. Not only can networking events be essential for furthering your degree and forming good relationships with people who can contribute to your future career, it can also be a great way to meet new friends and find new opportunities for socializing.
Social Media
One of the best ways to meet other online students for your course is on social media sites such as Facebook. Facebook can be great for meeting like-minded people and connecting with those who are studying the same degree course as you. Whether you meet up in person or not, social media can definitely be a great method of communication and you can use it to make online study groups, talk about assignments, and more. This can be a great tool for students studying for courses such as an AACSB online MBA.
Virtual Festivals
Many online colleges and colleges which offer online courses will arrange virtual festivals and online events, which are designed to allow online students to meet up and make new friends. Keeping up to date with the latest events at your college is important to ensure that you don’t miss out on any virtual festivals for online students. These are great events as they allow you to not only find fellow online students close by to you who you can meet up with, they can also be great for meeting other like-minded people who study online around the country.
On Campus
If you’re studying online for just a part of your degree, there’s no need to miss out on socializing when studying for the modules that you’re taking online. Research shows that online study is becoming less popular as distance learning alone and more popular as a blended experience, with more and more students opting to take some classes on campus and others online.
Even if you’re taking a completely online degree, you will probably be able to use facilities on campus such as libraries where you’ll be able to meet up with fellow students.