How to Get Involved as an Online Student

As a college student, getting involved beyond your coursework can help you graduate with much more than a diploma. It could lead you to finishing your program with valuable connections in your field and a supercharged resumé that includes relevant career experience, too.

Your education is what you make of it, and it's up to you to create the experience that you really want.

“Whether it’s attending your first virtual event or stepping into a leadership role, every experience helps you grow and connect with others,” said Lindsey Acampora, a student involvement coordinator at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “A piece of advice I would give students looking to get involved is to not be afraid to put yourself out there.”

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Online College Experience

Take advantage of available resources and opportunities at your school. You might find that your college offers:

Clubs and Organizations

Many online schools have clubs and organizations for students. At SNHU, for instance, students can join clubs and groups through SNHUconnect, the school’s online connection portal.

“These clubs are student-led, with opportunities for members interested in stepping into leadership to serve as president, vice president, secretary or engagement officer,” Acampora said.

While earning her bachelor’s in psychology online from SNHU, Amanda Saldana ’24 was the president of SNHU’s Psychology Club. She said the experience was a valuable one and recommended joining a club as a great way to get involved and feel connected to your community.

“It helps build connections, such as being able to share experiences with like-minded peers, being able to join events, which can be inspirational and resourceful," Saldana said.

Learn how an online learning community can transform your education.

Contests and Competitions

Entering a contest or competition is another way to get more involved as an online college student.

If you’re a writer, for example, SNHU has an annual Fall Fiction Contest. Or if you’re interested in cybersecurity, you could consider getting involved in the National Cyber League (NCL) competitions. In fall of 2024, SNHU placed fourth among more than 500 colleges and universities competing in the NCL competition to perform various cybersecurity tasks.

While earning her bachelor's in cybersecurity online from SNHU, Gina Cramer '20 participated in several NCL competitions and said they helped her grow her skills.

"My first season I didn't do the greatest, but that just opened the door and made me want to learn more and do more," Cramer said. "The effort that you put in is what you will get in return."

Ask your academic advisor or career advisor for more information about contests and competitions in your field.

Events

Many online schools host events that you can attend virtually, and there may be some opportunities for you to travel to attend events in-person, as well.

Some events could include:

• Celebrations, like homecoming
• Conferences
• Webinars
• Meet ups

You could also explore planning a school event near you. Reach out to your school to see what opportunities might be available. If you're a student at SNHU, for example, you can connect with the alumni team for information on planned events and the chance to get involved in some capacity.

Internships

Internships are an impactful way to get real-world work experience, with the potential to earn credits toward your degree at the same time. For many students, like Justin Charles, internships can also help with confidence building.

Charles is earning a bachelor's in cybersecurity from SNHU, and he's currently in his third internship with NASA. But when he first started, he said he struggled with imposter syndrome.

He told his mentors that he couldn't believe they picked him for the position. They responded by telling him that they have confidence in him, so he needs to have that same confidence in himself.

"All my life I always thought I wasn't smart enough for everything that I did," he said. "So hearing that from like the top chief engineers at NASA was amazing to me."

He said that with more experience, his imposter syndrome slowly faded away.

Leadership Opportunities

You could also pursue leadership opportunities as an online student, like becoming a club leader.

“These positions not only ensure that clubs remain active and welcoming but also provide valuable hands-on leadership experience that helps students build confidence and develop skills transferable to future academic and professional opportunities,” said Acampora.

You could also consider broader student leadership positions. Acampora said the Student Engagement Council (SEC) is SNHU's student leadership organization. “Competition is incredibly fierce, with only about 40 student leaders serving on the SEC at a time,” she said.

There may also be opportunities for you to join an honor society that can help you to develop your leadership skills, like the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS).

Networking Opportunities

On top of networking through clubs, events and experiential learning opportunities, you could focus on building relationships with peers and instructors in your courses. That could mean deeply engaging with others in your weekly discussion posts and responses or making an intentional effort to connect beyond those conversations.

In each course, consider reaching out to your classmates to see if anyone would like to form a study group. You could also keep in touch with your favorite instructors. In the process, you might even find a mentor who can guide you as you begin your career.

Your alumni network is another great resource to find connections or potential mentors. You never know what kinds of relationships and opportunities might start with a friendly and professional LinkedIn message, for example. Or if you'd prefer to connect in person, you could also contact your school's alumni team to find out what events they have planned.

Read more about the value of professional networking.

Research Projects

Taking part in extracurricular research projects can be another way to expand your learning and involvement outside of your usual coursework.

In addition to her experience as president of SNHU’s Psychology Club, Saldana participated in several research opportunities with the university. One was a research project she participated in alongside Dr. Peter Frost, a psychology professor at SNHU, and two other students.

She said they presented their research, "Following Conspiracy Theories: Implications for Mindset and Mental Health," at the New England Psychological Association in October of 2024.

As an alum, Saldana also took part in Black History Month research projects during the 3rd annual Social Sciences Pre-professional Student Experience at SNHU.

“I led two projects: ‘The Power of Music: How Black Artists Shaped the Psychology of Sound and Identity’ and ‘Important Places in African American History,’” she said.

Work-study Positions

You could also consider applying for a work-study position at your school, like Rebecca Cahill did.

Cahill is a writer who's currently earning a bachelor’s in creative writing from SNHU. She was already a member of SNHU’s Creative Writing Club before deciding to further her involvement as a student.

“I also fell so deeply in love with my SNHU experience that I sought to be a part of it from an employee perspective,” Cahill said.

Now, she's holding a work-study position as a content marketing assistant with the university's marketing department. “I’m thrilled that I get to share the stories of others who have enjoyed and benefited from their SNHU experience as much as I have,” Cahill said.

Work-study positions often offer real-world work experience in your field, which makes them especially beneficial if you’re looking to beef up your resumé as a student.

Learn more about work-study positions and whether they’re worth it.

Volunteering

Volunteer opportunities at your school can also be a way to make a positive difference while gaining experience and meeting new people.

SNHU holds an annual community service initiative, Global Days of Service, that gives students, staff, alumni and faculty opportunities to get involved in various volunteer projects. There are projects to join across the country, and participants have the opportunity to create and lead projects of their own.

William Gorman, an online student earning his bachelor’s in environmental science at SNHU, led a conservation research and awareness project for Global Days of Service in his local area of Ballston Spa, New York.

“I wanted to raise awareness about rare species, climate change and invasive plants, but in a fun, meaningful and interactive way,” he said.

He said the project was transformative for him and his community.

“I’m so, so thankful that SNHU supported me in putting this project together,” he said. “It’s going to make a real difference for the environment and the community here in New York.”

Other Experiential Learning Opportunities

Depending on your program, you might have other experiential learning opportunities available to you, too.

If you’re in a graduate program, you might be able to complete a teaching assistantship and gain valuable hands-on experience with online course instruction. Other programs could prepare you to earn a certification in your field of study.

Check in with academic advising and career services about your options. You could also ask your instructors about experiential learning opportunities to pursue outside of your coursework, too.

Learn more about experiential learning.

What Are the Benefits of Extracurricular Activities in Online College?

As an online student, extracurricular activities are important for both your present well-being and your future success. Getting involved can improve your overall college experience by offering a sense of community and opportunities to make friends.

“Through these opportunities, I’ve witnessed students form lasting friendships, fostering a sense of belonging within SNHU, and making their virtual learning experience more rewarding and supportive,” Acampora said.

Many extracurricular opportunities and activities could also elevate your resumé and better prepare you for the workforce. For instance, Victoria Wacik, an admission team lead at SNHU, said that engaging in an online club can help prepare you for professional conversations and teach you how to facilitate meetings.

“This written communication and engagement in virtual spaces directly translates to many work environments, equipping students with many skills they will need to be successful in the professional workplace,” she said. “Extracurricular activities also help students contextualize some of the material they learn about their program of choice by seeing it in action.”

If you're ready to start getting involved, it might be tempting to get involved in as many opportunities as you can. Wacik said it's also important that you don't overcommit yourself.

“Start small and set realistic goals and expectations with yourself," she said. "You can always add more in the future."

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.