What are the benefits of having a social life in college? I feel like spending time socializing outside of study groups and group projects is pointless and unproductive. I don’t enjoy casual social encounters and small talk. I have a lot of friends or “acquaintances” but I don’t enjoy spending time with them if they are doing something unproductive. Am I missing out? What are the benefits of socializing in college besides networking? I also believe that networking is overrated. IMO getting good grades and improving ones self is more important than having a social life. What are your thoughts?
You gain friends, memories, and great life experiences. The friends I spent time with in college are my closet friends now. If you aren’t looking for those relationships, then it’s understandable why you feel that way. But while I worked hard in college, I also wanted to have fun and be a young adult. My friends acted as a great support system. If that’s not where your interests lie, then you don’t have to focus on that. But for a lot of students, there’s also a lot more to college than just study, study, study.
You will find out the benefits of developing strong social skills when you start interviewing for jobs and much of the discussion will have nothing to do with your academic skills. You will be evaluated for how well you fit in, can you talk about things beyond the classroom, do you really connect with people.
It’s very hard to fake the soft skills, which are prized by employers. These come from genuine, natural, organic social friendships.
I basically agree with the other comments. I have poor social skills, and this has hurt me in every job I’ve ever had. Some people are naturally good at socializing, and it’s hard for them to understand that social skills need to be learned and practiced.
If you’re happy with your life as it is, however, there’s not much of a reason to force yourself into social situations you don’t like. It sounds like you might enjoy academically-oriented student organizations (e.g., philosophy club).
Maybe you are right @Badgers21, I don’t really value such relationships. When I ask this question people usually assume that I am trying to justify not having a social life or I that I don’t have the skills needed to carry conversations or work with groups. I think that I am very good at socializing and making friends, I even usually lead and organize most study groups and group projects. I am just wondering what are the benefits of such relationships? How will socializing benefit me as an individual? I think that having excellent grades and focusing on improving myself is more important. I highly doubt that I will keep in touch with 99% of the meet I meet after I graduate.
Socializing may lead to a relationship that may develop into a marriage, employment relationship, business partnership, someone to do an activity you enjoy with, and a myriad of other possibilities. Relationships are vital to a satisfying human existence for most of us. What tends to differ is how many relationships or friendships you need to be happy. For some that might be one or two while others need many.
Read this article:
http://fortune.com/2015/07/07/tom-farley-networking-tips/
A strong network is extremely important. Although you “lead and organize” a lot of your group projects, you might not have a great read on how the other people view your leadership abilities.
Read “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. It’ll help you see the importance in networking &c
If I can be rather blunt, I would guess a certain amount of socializing or partying might include getting laid as the desired end result. Also, just blowing off some steam and doing something non-school work related.
But you are your own person so doing what’s right for you is ok in my book.
Many, many jobs do not hire based solely on grades and where you go to school. That might get you in the door, but if you come off as trying to look like the smartest person in the room without any social skills to actually get along with the people you’d be working with, you’ll find yourself either unemployed, under employed, or marginalized at your job. There aren’t many jobs where working with others is optional. If all you think you need to do is wave your resume at employers, you’re sadly mistaken.
As well, in the future, unless you plan to live off the grid in some remote place, you will need friends. Sitting alone in one’s room once college is over and there’s no more grades to produce makes for a very lonely existence. Finding hobbies to share, a sport to enjoy, music to listen to, dances to see-all of these and many more come about through contacts with others, unless watching it all on Youtube is the only goal. You may one day want to share a dinner out or go to a play with someone, only to look up and see that there isn’t anyone.
There’s also future relationships and possible marriage and children. If you have no social skills or know how to relate to people beyond your GPA, you won’t be IN a relationship.
Those are just a few reasons to cultivate social skills. And I say that as an introvert who finds it challenging to get myself out there.
What you are asking are very fundamental questions.
What is the meaning of life?
Why do we exist?
What makes you happy?
Do even want to be happy?
Do you want to “live to work” or “work to live”?
Depending on how you answer some of these questions, you are overvaluing productivity over emotional well being.
While I love my career, I love the personal relationships I have even more.