Despite meeting new and interesting people through tutorials online and off, I'm sure there are many young students out there who would like to meet other students their age who live nearby to socialise with.
Why not share your thoughts and experiences on how you socialise whilst studying from a distance, and if you would like to meet more young students in your regional area.
Hello everyone!
I thought I would get the ball rolling by providing a brief personal view on my social life as an OU student. Where I live plays a big role and always had done, even at school, for it's very rural and there is no public transport. So I can not honestly give a full and complete comparison on that basis. I do depend on sites such as Platform and Facebook to make OU friends and to get to know more interesting people, whilst I remain in contact via e-mail with old friends. However as a 20 year old, the majority of my close friends have gone to university so we're all in the same boat I think. Socialising isn't an absolute given with distance learning institues, because you do not have a load of students living outside your front door 24/7, but for some that isn't an issue.
I will be writing about my social life a little more on my blog in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled if you want to know a little bit more about how I manage etc. But it would be great to hear other people's experiences!
Keep in touch
Hayley
Hi Hayley,
I'd be interested in reading your blog. What's your blog URL?
-Michelle
www.michelleamanda.co.uk
I think thanks to social media plus the course forums, it is easier to stay in touch with your distance learning colleagues. You can chat about the course, get advice and support and even build some friendships. But many of these are and will remain distance friendships, kept up only thanks to social media online.
Having said that, tutorials are a good place to meet other students. But speaking as a student down in Cornwall, unless you're on a big course in a more central area, there are not many students in the tutor group and then not many turn up to the tutorials, and of those, not many are near my age! So while I have made a few friends through the OU, and talk to fellow students, there is not very much opportunity for socialisation in person. I can't, for example, find a few students of my age in my area and go for a drink at the pub. It would happen at a brick uni, but currently, it is difficult for me to see it happening via OU learning.
If, however, anyone is reading this who studies with the OU and is in Cornwall, then get in touch! :)
-Michelle
www.michelleamanda.co.uk
Hi Michelle!
I've actually just added you on FB! My blog URL is at the bottom of this comment.
I agree, social forums are good, particularly Facebook groups that are created purely for socialising. Sometimes I can find it daunting when people gives updates on how far ahead they are on their studies.
I also think, like you mentioned, that it would be really good to have a group on facebook for younger students, purely as a way of getting to meet other people your age. Groups on FB that are dedicated to your modules are great for study help, but like I said, it would be nice to just have a total break and just chat about generic things!
Hayley
https://myopenexperience.wordpress.com/
Going to tutorials was one of my favourite experiences on the AA100 course. I wish there was more tutorials/open days.
I must admit that when you're doing an assignment, and you're stressing out, it would be nice to be able to contact someone who is in a similar situation. Plus it would be nice to get to know people more
Dani