If you’re starting your freshman year in college, one question that’ll bother you is, “How many clubs should you join in college?” Of course, there are so many clubs in college, but you can’t join all of them. You need to find the few that align with your goal and combine them efficiently with your academics. This is where knowing the right options for you comes in, and here’s an article that provides all the needed tips to help you. Read on to find out all you should know about college clubs.
5 Benefits of Joining Clubs in College
5 Benefits of Joining Clubs in CollegeStudying in college can be challenging. Loads of seminars, exams, classes, and lecture tutorials can be harsh and lonely. It’s worst if you’re starting, considering that it can take a while to feel comfortable with friends, social groups, and communities. These feelings can sometimes be so overwhelming that you’ll want to return home.
Fortunately, many students have found college clubs an easy way to navigate these challenges. Beyond allowing you to make new friends, it can be a fun distraction from the many activities that come with college life. That said, here are some of the benefits of joining a club in college. Consider these benefits as good reasons to seek out and join a club in college.
It can help boost your resume
These days, we often hear job seekers talk about how employers rarely ask about education. Instead, they focus their questions on the times you led or motivated students to do something useful for themselves and the community.
The lesson? Extracurriculars like clubs are an excellent way to stand out. Most employers ask these questions because they prefer candidates that were involved in campus life beyond classes.
It offers you an opportunity to meet new people
This one’s a no-brainer – college clubs and societies offer you an opportunity o meet people. No denying that you’ll see and meet people daily in your dorm; it’s easier to start conversations when you share interests. College clubs put you around people with the same interests and passions.
Beyond that, club meetings typically involve topics for members to discuss extensively.
It’s an opportunity to find a community you’ll be comfortable in
Like finding new friends, clubs allow you to find and belong to communities built around shared interests and passion. For example, you’ll love and follow football, enjoy business discussions, etc.
Clubs allow you to meet, network, practice, and hold other sessions with like-minded people. This is especially important for college newbies looking for an instant community of friend groups to belong to.
An excellent opportunity to develop/build on new skills
College clubs are known for helping students develop soft and hard skills. Since most clubs are centered around hard skills like salsa dancing, tech enthusiasm, etc., you’ll get to learn these skills during meetings and practice sessions. Notwithstanding, you’ll also develop communication and collaboration skills, both of which are sort after in today’s employment market.
It’s fun
Let’s take a break from all the serious talks and technical terms. Another reason to join a college club is the fun it comes with. We get your enthusiasm and desire to graduate college with top grades, but college is not only about business. Your college experience will not be complete if you fail to explore, try new things, and meet new people. Clubs and organizations provide perfect opportunities to do these things without going overboard.
What are Some of the Most Common Clubs in College?
Now that you know the benefits of joining a club in college, the next possible question is, “What club should you join?” The first step to choosing a club is knowing the available clubs. There are usually quite a number of them like the National Beta Club, Astronomy club, Black Students Union, Biology club, etc. Again, these clubs are classified into different categories. Here are the most common categories you should know
Sports clubs
College clubs are usually fun. If you’re a skilled sportsman, you probably should try out for a sports club in your school. They typically train in different sports like baseball, soccer, basketball, athletics, etc; hence, opening you to external opportunities to compete in your favorite sport.
Theatre and art
Are you a drama queen/king? Here’s a club you may fit into. The club typically allows gifted students to showcase their acting skills by participating in plays and other art-related events.
Academic clubs
Academic clubs are the most popular kind of clubs in most colleges. They are designed to build relationships and connections among students interested in similar professions/careers. Members of this club get updated information about their dream careers, including internship opportunities and employment possibilities. Examples of such clubs include biology clubs, mathematics clubs, Spanish clubs, literature clubs, etc.
Political clubs and debate groups
Although these clubs are mostly for political science students, they are typically open to anyone wanting to join. If you’re interested in politics or fancy advocating for different courses, this is the right place to belong. You’ll have like-minded people and a mentor community training you to improve.
Other common clubs in college include:
- Religious groups
- Cultural clubs and groups
- Community/public service clubs
How Many Clubs Should You Join in College?
The best way to think about how many clubs are good for college is to consider quality rather than quantity. At the end of the day, you want your resume to show you’ve participated in college clubs and that you’ve gone all the way to land a leadership role and accomplished important feats during your leadership.
Future employees want to hire proactive candidates, and one of the best ways to hire such candidates is to look at their active participation in extracurriculars while in college. While it’s possible to belong to many clubs simultaneously, we recommend being in just one or two. Why? Because it takes a lot of time and stress to be actively involved in each club. Thus, you won’t have time for the required superior level of involvement in all the activities.
Also, remember that it’s all about being able to balance your time. Your primary goal is to graduate college with flying colors, and you don’t want to jeopardize this. Therefore, it makes sense to know how to manage your time and balance everything, especially if you’re just starting. Some tips that can help you including:
- Prioritize academics
- Create a schedule
- Don’t jump on every activity
- Limit distractions
- Ask for help
- Leave some time for yourself
Remember, while college clubs and other extracurriculars are designed to enrich your social life and create experiences, they should not encroach your academics. They should also not affect your health, so finding the right balance is very important.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Club to Join in College
We’ve talked so much about the excitement of joining college clubs. But while the club experience is rewarding, looking for the right club to join can be stressful, especially with the many benefits of joining a club in college. Here are some criteria to look out for when choosing a college club.
Think about your favorite high school extracurriculars
The easiest way to find the best club is to think about activities that excite you in high school. Chances exist that these activities still excite you, so choosing a club that majors in such activities will be a win. This also often means you won’t need to start learning the skills from scratch.
Think about what you didn’t do in high school
If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the opportunity in high school, now’s a good opportunity to try it. Whether it’s dancing, sports, singing, or politics, you’ll find a club that can shape you into becoming better at these things. These clubs also typically have expert instructors, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re still a novice in the said activity; you’ll always find guidance.
Think about the kind of people you’ll meet in each club
Another factor to consider is the type of people you’ll meet. You want to meet with the right network to support your life aspirations. Therefore, it’s important to choose a club with such people. For example, if you want to become a politician, you’ll choose a political club because you’ll find other aspiring politicians who inspire you to dream big and become better.
In addition to the factors listed above, you want to also know how to choose the right clubs. Here are a few tips that can help you make the right choice.
Explore your options
You cannot experience all the clubs and organizations on campus. But you can certainly experience a few before choosing which clubs to join. Start by picking two or three in your skilled area and another two or three in the area you want to explore further. Attend expository events to learn more about their missions and requirements. You can always use the ideas from these events to make the right choice.
Don’t limit yourself
While choosing clubs based on your skills and experiences is okay, we typically recommend some flexibility. The clubs outside your comfort zone can offer you twice the fun and adventure. So don’t limit yourself to what you’re already familiar with.
Check your calendar
Different clubs have different time commitments. Yes, keeping busy can improve your time management skills, but there’s a limit to how far you can go. You need to ensure you’re not overloading yourself with activities. Choose clubs that leave room for completing tests, assignments, and other school works. Striking a balance helps you make the most out of your college career.
Wrapping Things Up: How Many Clubs Should You Join in College?
Choosing a club to join in college involves an exciting but difficult process. You have to find out what is best for you in terms of your background and study aims. Most people prefer to join and dedicate themselves to one club, while others can belong to more than one. In all these, you want to know how many clubs you should join in college. Here’s an article that explains everything you should know about college clubs, including how to decide which clubs you should join.
