{"id":12622,"date":"2020-03-19T17:42:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T23:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=12622"},"modified":"2023-12-07T02:42:20","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T09:42:20","slug":"social-distancing-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-time-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/social-distancing-how-to-make-the-most-of-your-time-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Distancing | How to Make the Most of Your Time at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

We know that things aren\u2019t normal right now. The global outbreak of COVID-19 has affected students of all ages across the country. In an effort to keep students and communities safe, schools and universities have closed their doors and turned to online learning as a way to continue education safely through the current health crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

By now, you\u2019ve likely heard the term \u201csocial distancing\u201d mentioned when discussing prevention measures for COVID-19. According to <\/span>Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/span><\/a>, \u201c<\/span>Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19.<\/span>\u201d <\/span>For most, practicing social distance means avoiding crowded public places and limiting time at social gatherings. In other words, a lot of people will be spending more time at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

So how can you make the most of your time at home practicing social distance? We have a few ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find the right school for you<\/b><\/h2>\n

Are you planning to apply to an undergraduate or graduate program within the next year? Not sure where to start with your college search? Peterson\u2019s <\/span>College Discovery Center<\/span><\/a> can help provide you with suggestions. The College Discovery Center features carefully curated lists of the top 10 schools for areas like <\/span>accelerated degree programs<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>business schools.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

And remember,<\/span> Petersons.com<\/span><\/a> is always open and consistently updated with new resources and blog content. Whether you\u2019re looking for advice on crafting the perfect <\/span>personal statement<\/span><\/a>, or need help studying for the <\/span>SAT<\/span><\/a>, we\u2019ve got you covered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare for exams while you have the time to spare<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cAlthough the current situation is not ideal, it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to study for standardized tests such as the <\/span>SAT,<\/span><\/a> ACT<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>GRE,<\/span><\/a>\u201d said Kathy Staples, Peterson\u2019s E-Commerce Marketing Manager. \u201cMost testing centers have closed, but that doesn\u2019t mean you need to stop preparing for test day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Social distancing will require you to hunker down for the next few weeks. Consider using this time to prepare for upcoming exams. Peterson\u2019s provides digital <\/span>test prep<\/span><\/a> subscriptions that allow you to study where you want, when you want. Yes, even from your couch on your phone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take a <\/b>virtual<\/i><\/b> college tour<\/b><\/h2>\n

The spring semester is a popular time for high school students to tour college campuses. If your plans to visit colleges have been put on hold, try taking a free virtual tour of the school. YouVisit virtual college tours are an easy way to experience the sights and sounds of campus from the comfort of your couch while maintaining social distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

To begin, search for your school using Peterson\u2019s free <\/span>College Search<\/span><\/a> tool. Next, click on the school you\u2019re interested in touring. If a school has a virtual tour available, it will appear at the top of the page. A virtual campus tour guide will walk you through campus grounds, classrooms, dorm rooms, and dining halls so you can get a sense of what it\u2019s like to be a student studying at that school.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a few schools with YouVisit virtual tours available to check out:<\/span><\/p>\n

University of Arizona<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

University of California, Los Angeles<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Fordham University<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

University of Richmond<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Northcentral Technical College<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

For a complete list of participating schools listed by state, visit this YouVisit virtual tour <\/span>blog post.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Earn college credit through CLEP or DSST exams<\/b><\/h2>\n

Did you know you can earn college credit for subject areas you\u2019re already familiar with? Credit-by-exam programs <\/span>CLEP<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>DSST<\/span><\/a> are accepted by thousands of colleges and universities across the country. These programs are designed for independent study, which is ideal for social distancers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re looking to fortify your college credits, browse the available <\/span>CLEP<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>DSST<\/span><\/a> exams to see if your skills and existing knowledge align with any of the available tests. Passing a <\/span>CLEP<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>DSST<\/span><\/a> exam will enable you to earn college credit for topics you already know and save you an average of at least $900 in <\/span>college tuition<\/span><\/a> costs,” said Staples.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wondering why you should take a DSST or CLEP exam? Check out the video below:<\/span><\/p>\n