It is still “cuffing season” – the time of year that people start and want to be in new relationships because of the cold weather; benefits of relationships such as these include cuddling, being close to someone and extra warmth. However, some people in relationships may miss out on these benefits because of the distance.

According to Huffington Post, a study done by Cornell University found that between 20 and 50 percent of college students are currently in a long-distance relationship.

Now, you may frown upon the idea of being in a relationship where you can’t see the other person every day and think to yourself, “What’s the point?” However, being in a long distance relationship does have its perks.

Even though you can’t be with your significant other every day, studies by Cornell University also show that those in long-distance versus normal relationships tend to have more meaningful and longer conversations. Couples away from each other also tend to treasure the time they have to talk to each other, rather than take it for granted, and really listen as well. This makes the intimacy between them even stronger than couples who saw and talked to each other on a daily basis.

Stephanie Miller, a freshman at Quinnipiac, is a strong believer in long-distance relationships. She and her boyfriend, Chris, who goes to school in Philadelphia, have been together for four years now. Despite the distance, they have made it work.

“We visit each other every other weekend, and alternate on who goes to see who,” Miller said. “And time flies in between for when we get to see each other. It’s like you’re so hopeful about when you will see them next so it goes by very quick.”

Miller says she can’t begin to imagine being with anyone else and is close with her boyfriend dispite the distance.

The Cornell study found that long distance relationships with a significant other allows the relationship to become more than just physical. In other words, an emotional attachment is key.

According to Long Distance Relationship Statistics website, 75 percent of couples in long-distance relationships eventually become engaged to be married.

Senior Alex Mazzone is a prime example of someone who has managed to make it work throughout college. He and his girlfriend, Lauren Bleau, are separated by more than 130 miles. However, Mazzone says distance doesn’t stop them.

Mazzone says he knew his girlfriend was “the one” even before they left for college.

“There’s lots of things I love about Lauren, and I really can’t pick one thing,” Mazzone said, smiling. “She’s so easy to talk to.”

Mazzone has done everything in his power throughout his college career to make sure their relationship works, and to do this, he visits her mostly every weekend at Northeastern University, where she attends school. He travels to her by Megabus.

“Megabus” is a transportation system by bus that, according to the Megabus website, offers “safe, convenient, low cost, daily express bus service in the US and Canada.”

“Megabus is great – it’s only a dollar each way, so it’s really cheap, and the fact that it is has helped us stay together because I can easily visit her almost every weekend,” Mazzone said.

Mazzone also reveals his trick to making their relationship last throughout college.

“Communication is key,” Mazzone said. “Certain aspects of our relationship are hard to describe, but there’s a lot of honesty and trust between us.”

The happy couple plan to get married soon after Mazzone’s graduation in August, and he owes all of this to being able to visit her often through the bus company’s budget-friendly rates.

Miller and Mazzone are living proof that long-distance relationships can work, but only if you’re patient and ready to put some work in to make it last.