Get more information about government studies graduate degrees from the top-ranked colleges and universities listed below.

Graduate students tend to become insulated by the walls of academia, surrounded by ideals and theories and learning. While it's good to focus on earning your degree and contributing to academic knowledge, there should also be time for interactions outside classroom walls.

GovLoop.com is an active social networking community with a plethora of resources for graduate students. Read dozens of bloggers discussing a wide range of topics. Get information on the GovLoop mentoring program. Find out about Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA) scholarships. Get job seeking information. You may even be able to find a job, if you put in a little time and effort.

Even if you're not planning to apply for a job with the government, if you're interested in public management, nonprofit administration, political science, sociology, urban affairs, criminal justice and legal studies, or any one of hundreds of other fields, GovLoop.com has something to offer.

The government is made up of thousands of individual personalities, and some of those personalities have formed groups that graduate students can join. From somewhat silly and fun groups like the Disciples of Hermes Conrad to the serious Department of Defense group, there's room for you. Wouldn't it be nice to bounce ideas off someone outside your graduate degree program?

Visit the GovLoop.com website to see what's going on in the real world of government employees. And make time to visit at least once a week. Graduate school shouldn't occupy every minute of your life—have some fun and interact with others about topics in government and public administration.

By the way, this social networking website is perfect for government studies students who are earning their graduate degrees online—expand your network and get some new ideas!

Read more about what you'll get out of an internship in public service, or get some excellent advice on finding internship opportunities in government and public administration.

Request as many college admissions packages as possible from our top-ranked master's degree and doctoral programs listed below.