College students need to get involved in clubs

By Emily Petillon
Managing Editor

High school graduates often fail to take part in all of the opportunities available to them on their college campuses, and therefore need to take more steps to acquaint themselves with the clubs and organizations for a more fulfilling college experience.

Because college and high school are vastly different, many college freshmen have difficulty assimilating to their new surroundings. To cope with the stress of adjusting to a new environment, students should take advantage of college programs such as study abroad opportunities, undergraduate research, interdisciplinary programs and internships.

College counselor Gail Currey believes that being involved in these programs can enrich a student’s sense of community and allows students to develop their own passions. Currey also stated that students who participate in clubs are more engaged on their campuses and, thus, tend to do better in school. Participating in clubs allows students to have a more personalized, satisfying experience without sacrificing their traditional educational goals.

According to the Institute of Education Sciences, students at multiple “mid-sized public universities” who were involved in on-campus organizations reported greater development in moving through autonomy toward interdependence and establishing their post-education purpose. Uninvolved students had consistently lower developmental scores. Clearly, it is important for students to become involved in programs pertaining to their interests in college, both for their short and long-term happiness.

Just as extracurriculars are important in the college admission process, participating in clubs and other programs can also make students more attractive to employers and graduate schools. Students should begin building their resumé during their freshman year in order to clearly display their interests.

When students enter college, they are leaving their routine at home and often need help forging social connections. Especially at large universities, where individual students can get lost in the vast number of people, joining clubs is an effective way to make the college seem smaller and make personal connections.

One way that students can better avail themselves of the opportunities before them is through attending activity fairs, which many colleges provide for incoming students. At these fairs, clubs and activities recruit new members, and interested students can sign up to get information about upcoming events. Students should invest the time into attending these fairs in order to see the various organizations that their colleges have to offer.

Additionally, students can locate services and organizations unique to their college through the college’s website and social media pages.
By becoming more thoroughly involved in their campus community, students have the opportunity to enrich their college experience, build friendships and develop interests to carry with them into future endeavors.