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How to Get Involved on Campus
By
Kayla Korzekwinski
Kayla Korzekwinski is a Scholarships360 content writer. She earned her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Advertising/PR, Rhetorical Communication, and Anthropology. Kayla has worked on communications for non-profits and student organizations. She loves to write and come up with new ways to express ideas.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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You’ve moved to campus, and now you’re wondering how to get involved in college. Or, maybe, you’re looking to expand your interests and involvement. There are so many different ways to get involved on campus, that it can be challenging to know where to start. Don’t worry! There’s a group for everyone. Keep reading to learn how to get involved on campus!
Benefits of campus involvement
Make friends
There are many reasons to get involved on your campus! First, it’s a great way to make new friends and connections. Being away from home can get lonely, but having friends to spend time with makes the college experience even better.
Grow your resumé
Second, campus involvement can help grow your resumé. Being involved in clubs and organizations can teach you many new skills such as leadership and teamwork. Being involved in extracurriculars also teaches you time management and offers opportunities to network.
Have some fun!
Lastly, campus organizations are a great way to reduce stress and have fun! School should be the priority, but it’s important to take a break when you need it. Clubs and other organizations can help you take a mental break.
Related: What are living learning communities?
Start by attending the campus activity fair
Activity fairs are a great place to start when discovering ways to get involved on campus. Many schools host a huge activity fair at the beginning of the year.
At these events, all the organizations on campus come together to encourage involvement. You can meet members of the organizations and chat with them about what it’s like to be a member. These events also give you a chance to share your contact information with the organizations so that you can receive updates about meetings and activities.
Opportunities to get involved
Clubs
Colleges offer all kinds of clubs for students. Clubs can be based on a variety of interests and activities. Joining a club is a great way to explore your interests and make new friends.
Many schools have a website that provides a list of clubs for students. On these websites, you can search clubs by interest. This is a great place to start!
If you don’t see a club that fits you, get a group of friends together and start your own. This can be a bit of a process depending on your school, but it’s a great way to get experience in establishing an organization and recruiting members.
Intramural sports
Intramural sports are great if you like to play, but don’t want to be extra competitive or commit to multiple practices per week. Intramurals can allow you to test out different sports to see if you like them.
There are intramural teams for all kinds of sports such as soccer, volleyball, and even Quidditch. You can start an intramural team with a group of friends, or join a team that is looking for more players.
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to get involved on campus and serve your community. It is also rewarding and can enhance your college experience.
International volunteer organizations such as Relay for Life often have a chapter on college campuses. Many campuses also have volunteer organizations that are specific to the campus or surrounding community. For example, if your campus is near a hospital, there may be an organization that regularly volunteers at the hospital.
See also: Community service scholarships
Greek life
Fraternities and sororities offer the opportunity to make friends, volunteer, hold leadership positions, and have fun. If you feel Greek life is a good fit for you, consider participating in the recruitment process. You can find information about recruitment on your school’s Interfraternity Council or Panhellenic sorority website.
There are also professional fraternities for a variety of majors and interests. For example, there are professional fraternities for business students, pre-med students, and pre-law students. These organizations are often called “fraternities,” but are co-ed.
Student government
Joining student government is a great way to get involved and make a difference on your campus. You don’t have to be the student body president to be involved in student government. At most schools, there are many positions in student government. For example, if you’re interested in communications, you can join the student government communications team. Or, if you’re interested in student life, you can join that team.
Student government can teach you skills like communicating effectively and working with a variety of people. It can also help you form connections with members of the school’s administration.
Campus media and performance
If you’re interested in newspapers or TV, you can get involved with your school’s student media. Campus media can help grow your portfolio while you’re in school. It can give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a field relevant to the career you’re pursuing.
Campuses also have a variety of performance groups that you can participate in. If you’re interested in singing, join an acapella group. If you play an instrument, join the band. Or, if you like theater, join the school’s theater company. These groups also can give you the chance to explore if performance may be something you’re interested in.
Campus events
There is always something going on at college campuses. If you’re looking to get involved or make friends, you can attend a campus event such as a concert, sports game, or play. You can meet people who share similar interests with you at these events. They’re also a great opportunity to invite a classmate you may want to get to know better outside of class.
Get involved!
There are so many ways to get involved on campus. Once you get your bearings, you can begin exploring different organizations and events. These types of activities can enhance your college experience and give you a great opportunity to make friends!
Other resources for college students
If you are currently in college, Scholarships360 has a host of resources available to help you get the most out of your experience. We can help you make a budget, save money, make money, and more. Try out our guides for finding an online job, a tutoring job, or a side hustle. We can also help you make housing choices and find a roommate. Finally, just because you are already in college, doesn’t mean you can’t find more scholarship money. Try out our scholarship directory to find opportunities custom-matched to your situation.
Frequently asked questions about how to get involved on campus
Does joining a college club cost money?
How do you make friends in college if you're shy?
