We are far removed from the days where forging a connection with your classmates could be as simple as sharing the same toy during playtime. However, the value is still there. As an adult student, connecting with your classmates can be challenging, especially if you are learning online.
You may only briefly see each other throughout the week, and your classmates’ focus will be on their other priorities and responsibilities. Making in-class connections is not usually high on anyone’s radar. However, it is still a possibility. This guide will show you how to form valuable professional relationships with your classmates and how it can help you get the most of your student career, whether you are taking classes in-person or online.
Why Network with Your Classmates?
If the odds are stacked against you when it comes to connecting with your classmates, why bother? Well, just because it is challenging to form relationships with your classmates does not mean it is not worth the effort.
In fact, connecting with your classmates offers academic, career, and personal benefits that can last well after you have earned your degree. Here are the advantages of building relationships with your classmates as an adult student.
- Branching Out. Your social life might be composed of friends and family members, which is great, but branching out can also be a great thing to do. Not only do you introduce new perspectives and experiences to your life, but you might just find a lifelong friend in a classmate. In short, you can never have too many friends or too large of a professional network.
- An Academic Buddy. Having a classmate who you can rely on is an invaluable asset. You can ask for notes after a sick day, set up joint study sessions, and bounce questions off one another. If you are both parents, you may even be able to coordinate babysitting schedules to give each other distraction-free time to study or get work done. Obviously, this works better for in-person classmates. However, online classmates can still study using Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Google Meet, or a myriad of other online collaboration and conferencing tools.
- Future Connections. A friend venturing into the same field as you might face a similar experience post-graduation. If they end up employed before you are, this could result in them being able to share or refer you to job openings or even putting in a good word for you when the time comes. Additionally, you can compare the job hunt experience and share tips and pointers.
How to Build a Relationship with Your Classmates
Now that you know all that you stand to gain from building relationships with your classmates, it is time to set your plans into action. Not sure where to start? Here are some great tips to help you build relationships with your classmates and expand your network.
Pay Attention in Class
No, seriously. Look for classmates that are regularly participating and posting on any class forums. These are typically the students who are deeply invested in their education. If your goal is to form a valuable academic connection, then these are the students you want to connect with.
Additionally, keep an eye out for people who seem like they would mesh well with you. Whether they are sporting shirts with characters from your favorite Marvel film or bring up a shared interest during class discussions, sometimes exploring a mutual interest is the easiest way to form a connection.
Take the First Step with Introductions
Whether you are attending classes in-person or online, the first step to fostering a relationship with your classmates is by introducing yourself. Depending on your goals, there are different ways that you can go about making introductions.
- Make Time: Make time in your schedule to get to class early and wait to leave a bit later after class. Use this time to introduce yourself to your peers and strike up conversations, specifically those regarding the topic of the course. It is a simple but effective method.
- Send Out an Email: For online courses, introduce yourself via digital means. Send out an email with a little information about yourself and invite others to join a group chat, Facebook group, or whatever platform will serve as your informal class forum.
- By Proximity: This method is only for the brave at heart. When you are sitting in class, look to your left, then your right. Choose one of the individuals to introduce yourself to, and boom! An established connection. If you work your way up to exchanging numbers or social media information, you now have a person you can chat with about the course or ask for help when needed.
Read the Signs
Unfortunately, not everyone is interested in building relationships or participating in study groups. Despite your best efforts, you may not be able to make real connections every time you try. Do not risk being seen as overbearing. If someone does not seem interested, leave them be.
Luckily, if you strike out the first time, there is an entire class full of other prospects with which you can try to form a relationship. Though it may not always be successful, if you can find just one connection, you have already succeeded.
Stage an Informal Gathering
This does not have to be a party, a study session, or anything with a title, but hanging out with your peers outside the classroom is a great way to foster a meaningful relationship. It removes the barriers of the classroom and makes room for genuine friendships to form. Regardless of whether you are attending an in-person or online course, do not be afraid to use technology to your advantage. A Zoom hangout is a perfect way to “meet up” with your classmates for online students. You can even turn it into a “zoom happy hour”. In-person classmates can meet up at a coffee shop, library, or fast-food restaurant.
Key Takeaways
Once you have forged your connection, don’t let the spark fade. Foster it, and you will reap the benefits that only come from professional relationships with your classmates. It is what makes the effort involved worth it.
At the Institute of Medical and Business Careers, you can be one of the many students who have formed lifelong friendships with your classmates. We encourage students to make the most out of their academic career, including through friendships.