College is where many couples meet. It doesn’t matter if you’re an undergrad in the humanities department or a graduate student seeking a masters degree in negotiation, college doesn’t have to be just about coursework and exams—but you shouldn’t let schoolwork fall by the wayside, either. Whether you’re living on campus or simply taking online courses, you might want to know how to meet new people and juggle dating with your college coursework.

1. Participate in Campus Activities

If you’re looking to meet other college students in a social setting, there’s no better way than through a student group or other campus activity. If you’re able to get on campus, sign up for a group that does community service or promotes friendship among people with similar interests and hobbies. Attend special campus events, such as a guest lecture on a topic of interest. If you’re taking classes online, join the college’s online social media website, or look for students from your college on popular national social media websites.

If you get to know your fellow students with the initial intention of making friends, then you’ll enjoy the time you’re spending looking for a date and making connections. Even if you don’t wind up dating someone in your group, they may know someone else whothey think will be suited to you and can arrange a date.

2. Take It Slow

Once you do find a date and you think there’s a real connection, just remember to take it slow. If you’ve been anxious to find a boyfriend or girlfriend for a long time, it can be tempting to jump into the relationship, especially if it’s your first time living on your own. If you’re serious about looking for a potentially long-term relationship, though, it’s important that you get to know your significant other before you get too intimate or too attached to each other.

Remember, your schoolwork still needs to take up the bulk of your days while school is in session, so you don’t want to get distracted. A slowly building relationship can be a positive part of your life, not a stressful, obsessive distraction.

3. Finish Schoolwork First

Since you’re enrolled in college in order to pass your classes and earn a degree, it’s important that you finish your schoolwork and get your studying done before you socialize. This can be especially hard if your relationship is just starting—and even harder if you’re both on campus—but since you’re aiming to take the relationship slowly, the two of you should be understanding of each other’s studies.

You and your boyfriend or girlfriend should set similar schedules for getting schoolwork done and meet up when it’s time for a break, such as during meals. Don’t study together, as you’re likely to get distracted.

4. Date on Weekends and Off-Days

Your dates shouldn’t take you off campus if you’ve got a project due or a test coming up. Focus on studying on weeknights. You can still meet your significant other for short, relaxing dates at the campus cafeteria, the fitness center or in each other’s rooms to watch a movie or TV show after you’ve spent several hours studying. However, only go on lengthy daytime dates during weekends and on days you have off. Besides, knowing you have those big dates to look forward to after a week of hard work can help motivate you to study harder.

5. Stick to Your Own Goals

When you’re in love and in college, it can be tempting to want to spend as much time as possible with your significant other. However, there’s no guarantee that your love will last, and besides, you should be supporting one another’s goals for the future. Don’t enroll in a class with your boyfriend or girlfriend, especially if it’s not even a class you would otherwise take for your major or general requisites. It’s distracting and a waste of your tuition money.

Whether you’re studying for an IT masters degree onlineor takingliberal arts classes on campus, there are numerous opportunities for you to meet people, such as participating in campus activities and online forums. Once you do start to date, though, be sure to balance your love life with your education by taking the relationship at a slow pace, going on dates during weekends or off-days, finishing schoolwork before dating, and not losing sight of your overall career goals.

About the Author: Emanuel Kallenberger is a contributing writer and journalism undergrad. He writes for his university’s online newspaper, and his articles on college life have appeared on multiple college websites across the globe.