5 Ways to Get Involved on Campus

I know firsthand that getting involved with clubs and organizations can be difficult, especially if you do not live on your college campus. That’s why I’m here to share a few tips that helped me get involved at my university.

1. Look for fliers all over campus.

When organizations want to advertise a new-member recruiting event or an open meeting, they will likely use fliers to get their message to as many students as possible. As you walk to your classes or to your dorm room, pay attention to the fliers on the walls and see if anything piques your interest.

At many schools, philanthropic organizations are some of the biggest distributors of fliers. Why? They want as many people as possible to help out at their events. So, if you are hoping to join community service clubs, taking a look at fliers will likely point you in the right direction.

2. Check your college email for invitations to participate in organizations.

For many national or online organizations, email is the only way to recruit new members. Reading all of your college email is not only a good tactic for academic reasons, but also for involvement opportunities with these organizations. While online organizations may not allow for opportunities to meet new people in person, they are still great resume builders and can give you tips on life at your college or university from an outsider’s perspective.

3. Take time to analyze your interests.

If the only subject you enjoy is creative writing, you may not want to join your school’s HOSA chapter. If you despise math with a passion, you probably shouldn’t join the math club. These examples sound straightforward enough, but what if your interests aren’t so clear-cut?

In these situations, you should take some time to figure out the kinds of activities you would enjoy and consider what type of students you would relate to most. This will leave you with a pretty good idea of what organizations you should join.

4. Ask other students about getting involved.

If you are not a social butterfly, this tip may be difficult for you, but it is still doable! Ask a few of your classmates if they are involved in any clubs. If they list a few that sound interesting, ask them how you can get involved. They may even invite you to go to the next meeting.

Oftentimes talking directly to a member of an organization you’re interested in is the best way to find out if the organization is right for you. Even if you’re unsure about the organization at first, sitting in on one meeting will be a great indicator of what being a member is like.

5. Check out your school’s website.

Most college websites offer a list of campus organizations, and some will even list contact persons for each organization. This will be especially helpful if you are an off-campus student who is unsure of what organizations are offered at your school.

Taking a look at this catalog of organizations and getting a good contact list together may be one of the easiest ways to learn more about an organization and get involved.

I used all of these tips at least once when I started getting involved at my school, and I am now a member of several organizations, both on-campus and online.

I encourage all of you to immerse yourselves in at least a few organizations during your college careers. Your time in school is short, so make the most of it!