Getting Involved in College: Resources

Getting involved in organizations and clubs on campus is no doubt highly acclaimed, but sometimes it is easier said than done.  Thinking about joining a group can be surprisingly overwhelming for students, especially if they are not at all sure where to begin.  The best thing to do when starting this process is to utilize resources and understand that groups are eager for new members! 

The following are tactics that I think are beneficial to explore when actively searching for organization information. I have used some of these throughout my college time and they have helped me get involved in organizations that I am currently a part of. 

Resources: 

Attend an organization and club fair.  This is pretty self-explanatory; Most colleges will hold these events at the beginning of new semesters and periodically throughout peek times of the year. 

Never overlook the knowledge of your professors and advisers.  They actually know stuff going on around campus (yes, even your biology professor whose only interest in life seems to be the nature of goldfish he’s culturing in your lab class) Talk to these people, they often run or supervise organizations. 

This is an example of a kiosk...If you still
didn't know what I was talking about!

Kiosks (you know, those structures on campus that are always plastered with fliers) and bulletin boards.  There are always organizations posting information, dates, and times of their meetings on these more traditional forms of advertising which can sometimes be overlooked. 

Turn your listening ears on.  Listen for announcements and other student’s buzz about these things.  Word of mouth spreads news of campus organizations. 

Keep in mind the power of the Internet!  The campus website will have a list of campus organizations and contacts.  Also, some groups may even have their own website (and I’m sure more often than not, they will have their own social media sites as well!)

If even one of these resources is put to use, the search for a group of interest should be made easier!  Good luck and happy searching!