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Going on to college is an exciting time in everyone’s life. You get the chance to broaden your horizons, meet new people, and even discover yourself. While you’re certainly there to learn, you can (and should) embrace the social side as much as possible, because you never know who you might meet that might change your life. 

However, some people can find coping with college more challenging than they initially thought. If you have traveled to the other side of the country for your higher education, you can feel lonely. You miss your friends, you miss your family, and if any of these are still hanging out together, you feel you’re missing out on all the fun. This is why it’s important to stay connected no matter where you go, and here are a few ideas to help you keep in touch with your nearest and dearest. 

Schedule Weekly Chats 

Weekly chats, whether on the phone or via video call are a fantastic and more importantly easy way for friends and family to stay in touch. It doesn’t even need to be every week, and some people - parents especially - will want to speak to their kids as regularly as possible. Arranging a time and a place to chat can also provide some sense of normality and routine, which is essential when you’re just starting college considering everything that’s going on. You don’t need to be too strict with these calls, but whenever is convenient can keep you connected to home. 

Throw a Video Party 

If your large group of friends celebrates a birthday every month, there’s no need to stop this tradition just because you’re on other sides of the country. Of course, not everyone has the time or resources to visit and celebrate like in the old days, which is why video parties are so useful. You can get everyone together to chat while enjoying a few drinks, or you can look at these virtual birthdays for all ages to get an idea for something fun that everyone will enjoy. Pub quizzes are always popular, as it keeps people engaged and adds some stakes to the proceedings. 

Watch Your Favorite Shows Together 

Many people make their first connection by bonding over their favorite shows. Whether it’s the latest must-see drama or finding kindred spirits in niche TV shows, you can stay in touch with friends and family back home by watching them while on the phone or making a Skype call. This is simple if you’re all in the same country, but if not, the best streaming VPN will make it easy to keep up with what’s going on. After the show finished, you can talk about what happened well into the night, or if it was particularly heavy, give yourself the chance to decompress and revisit it tomorrow. 

Send Them Things That Remind You Of Them 

While you’re out and about in your new college town, you may stumble across something that reminds you of someone you love. Now, college students are not especially known for being flush with cash, but if it’s affordable, why not pick it up and send it to your friend or family member. If you can’t afford it, perhaps a simple picture will suffice.  

Meet In The Middle 

No one wants to be responsible for being the one to travel every time you want to see each other. It’s expensive and there are only so many times you can go back to the same bar. However, if you haven’t seen someone in a while, you can always meet in the middle. This takes the burden of travel from one person and gives you the chance to have an adventure somewhere you might have never seen before. 

Check-In On People You Haven’t Heard From In a While

It’s easy to get swept up in the college atmosphere. You have met lots of people and you’re drowning in assignments. Everyone is usually in the same boat, and this can become overwhelming for some. If you realize you haven’t spoken to someone for a while, a simple text can go a long way towards letting them know you still care about them. They might be struggling to deal with the dramatic changes that come with going to college, and if they have felt at all alone or isolated, your message could encourage them to open up, which will feel like a weight off their shoulders.

Don’t Forget About Those Who Didn’t Go to College 

While it’s safe to assume that a strong number of people head off to college, it isn’t for everybody. Many friends will be able to stay connected because they share similar experiences about college life, but those that did not go into higher education will not feel the same. This could mean they feel left out and could cause them to withdraw from the group chat because they don’t feel they have anything to contribute. Staying connected means staying connected to everyone, so don’t forget about those who went into full-time work or vocational training. Ask them how things are going, and treat them as you would anyone else. 

Surprise Visits 

Who doesn’t love surprises? Well, this all depends on the surprise, but a surprise visit can be an incredible feeling. If you rock up on someone’s doorstep unannounced (and hopefully, they’re in), you will feel like nothing has changed, and you’re still the best friends. The same goes for your family. Your parents and siblings might think you're overloaded with schoolwork or have shifts at your college job. This means they’ve probably accepted they won’t see you for a while. If you want to reconnect after too much time away, consider how much fun you’ll have going home for a few days. 

Connection 

You don’t want to be that person who always goes home for the weekend or talks incessantly about their friends back home. You make connections with those around you, but you can still stay in touch with people you knew before. With so many ways to stay connected in the modern world, you have plenty of opportunities to balance your old life with your new one.