What About The “College Experience”?

By Melody Dornink

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One of the drawbacks of CollegePlus! education is the lack of traditional social interaction with fellow students. Individuals considering CP! tend to be very intrigued by the “college outside the box” idea; however, one of the first concerns they raise is, “But what about missing out on the ‘college experience’?” The questions may be phrased differently, but they all come down to the same thing: what do I do about my social life? Twenty-year-old Brittany Wellvang has a host of answers for those who are hesitant about distance learning’s isolation stigma.

As an only child, former homeschooler, CollegePlus! student, and now employed by CP! as the National Student Community Director, Brittany has a great deal of experience to draw from when talking about how to stay socially connected in the midst of seemingly isolating circumstances.

1. CollegePlus! Forum

“Number one is to get on and use the CollegePlus! forum,” Brittany said. “The forum is a great place to meet other students, get connected with students in your area, and to establish a sense of community.” Brittany said that a great deal of currently enrolled CP! students do not even know about the forum, and those who do are not necessarily regular users. The Forum has many specific features and sections to help students, and Brittany elaborated further, “You can chat live with other students, find out about events and people in your area, discuss specific tests, dialogue about your faith, introduce yourself, and just talk about random stuff!”

2. Facebook

Facebook is an ever-expanding networking system, and Brittany said that “there’s tons of CP! people meeting on Facebook.” In addition to the official CP! page, “which is a great way to keep up with the latest news,” there are also multiple student-led groups. “One of the advantages of Facebook,” she added, “is that you are able to see more pictures, join groups, chat live with more people, and easily create events.”

3. Skype Groups

“Skype groups are another great way to get connected,” Brittany said, “For example, there’s a prayer group [of CP! students] who meet three times a week on Skype … It’s a great way to get connected with other likeminded students and get encouraged in Christ … Beyond the CP! prayer team, and other large group[s] … Skype is also an excellent way to connect on a more personal level. It gives the opportunity to talk one-on-one with others about tests, resources, and prayer requests.”

4. Planned Area Events

Brittany said that she talked to her life coach soon after enrolling, sharing that she was struggling with feelings of isolation. However, as Brittany dove into the program, she found plenty of ways to socialize with other students, and one that she now coordinates as part of her job is planned area events. In April, Brittany planned and hosted a 4-day CP! get-together, and was pleased with the relationships formed from the event. “Once you actually meet people face-to-face, it’s much easier to connect with them on the forum, because you share a commonality, you know each other better, and you even have inside jokes!” She also added a few tips for anyone who is thinking about planning an event, “Make sure you have activities planned, because if you don’t, and you just want to have a ‘hang-out’ time, it can get really awkward!” She recommended visiting a museum together, going to a movie or concert, etc. Service projects are also a good idea, because “you’re working together as a team, you’re helping somebody else, and you are growing spiritually.” If you are ever hoping to plan an event in your area, Brittany said, “Feel free to contact me for help or ideas!”

5. Tell Other People About CollegePlus!

One of the most obvious ways to connect with other CP! students is to get those around you involved in the program. Brittany said she pulled many of her acquaintances and friends into the program, thus establishing an area community of students without even intending to! Spread the awareness of CP! to those in your homeschooling circle, church, and community, and create your own alternative “college experience.”

6. Church activities

Almost all churches have a host of activities and outreaches, and often lack the necessary manpower to do it all. CP! students nationwide are involved in their church’s music ministry and Bible studies, or teaching Sunday school classes, volunteering in the nursery and going on mission trips. Join a single’s group, help out with special events, or jumpstart a ministry to fill a need you see. Do some research and find where your gifts and talents fit the best.

7. Volunteering

In addition to church activities, there are an abundance of Christian organizations in need of volunteers to minister to various needs. Check out working in a soup kitchen, helping at a crisis pregnancy center, or participating in some other kind of ministry. Get involved in your community by serving others in the name of Jesus Christ.

8. Discipling/Mentoring

Invest in the lives of others by building a discipling/mentoring relationship with someone younger than you. This can be achieved through Christian organizations, by leading a Bible study, or by simply befriending someone with the goal of helping them grow in their Christian walk.

What is Important

“It’s important to look at the quality of relationships you’re building, not quantity,” Brittany added. Interacting with fellow Christians who hold similar values – even though it may be a “distance” relationship – is far more valuable and uplifting than much of the interaction experienced in the traditional college setting.

Taking it a step farther, as college students, it’s easy to lose sight of everyone except our peer group – but for Christians, we are commanded to reach out to the poor, the widowed, the elderly, children, and everyone in between. What could be better than positively impacting someone’s life for eternity while achieving a college degree? Far from being a socially suffocating higher education option, CollegePlus! frees students up to impact their world – right now – for the kingdom of God.

How can the “college experience” compete with that?

We would love to hear your thoughts on how you have a great CollegePlus! experience! Click here to help CollegePlus! keep you connected!

Click here to request free information about the CollegePlus! program and find out how to join the thriving CollegePlus! student community!

you can Melody is a CollegePlus! English major and lives with her family in Minnesota. She is working on a Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate, hopes to travel overseas soon, and helps in construction and remodeling with her father.

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2 comments so far - Leave a comment below

This is all so true. I have been so blessed by my experience with CP!. It has been amazing! One real drawback when I was starting was the non-social part, but that isn't the way it has to be. I have really enjoyed getting to know other CP! students and making friendships with people from all over.

Thank you, CP!

— Klutz Monday, May 10, 2010 5:09 PM CDT

I was just talking with my Mom about this very thing a few days ago while we were visiting Pepperdine University, the college where my Dad and Grandma graduated from and where both sides of my family have extensive history. I was feeling a bit discouraged about my own lack of college memories, compared to the many people my parents met and became friends with during their college days. This article, in conjunction with talking to my Mom about different social activities and service projects I can become part of, have definitely encouraged me in this area, and reminded me that CollegePlus! is definitely the way to go and just as with home-schooling, not having to go to a physical location for school really frees up my time to socialize with many different people not just other college students.

— Chelsea Monroe Friday, May 7, 2010 9:24 PM CDT

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