College is what you make of it. You could easily schedule your classes to be three days a week, just come for those select classes then go right home or right back to your dorm after. What is the fun in that? College classes are set up for you to have free time (work and life obligations aside), they typically only meet 1-3 days a week for 50 minutes-3 hours. There have been times where I take online courses and only have 3-4 in person courses spread throughout three days, meaning I am only busy with class for about two hours each day. As a commuter I could have just gone home, but I knew I wanted to make new friends and try new things. I’m going to give you a few reasons why getting involved is so important.
- Making Friends: if you are on a campus where you know pretty much no one, it can be hard to make friends. Joining club can make it easier and feel less awkward. Clearly you all have a similar interest, so you can find people you can click with easily. I was lucky and had a few friends from high school attend the same college as me, but we still decided to join clubs and expand our friendship to other people. As a side note for commuters: it may be harder to make friends if you are not living on campus, but getting involved is an easy way to do so.
- Networking: by joining clubs or Greek life, or even just an on campus job, there is a huge opportunity to expand your network. You may find an upperclassman, a boss, or faculty member that inspires you. They may have an internship you’re interested in or a job you aspire to do, and they can be a very helpful point of contact to have. They may help you find scholarship opportunities, give you advice, or connect you with others who can help you reach your goals.
- Fun Activities: When you join different clubs, you have the opportunity to host or attend fun gatherings. For example, as a Raptor Ambassador, our biggest event is Admitted Students Day and it is a lot of fun with food trucks, games, photobooths, and more. All of the clubs and organizations on campus hold fun activities for students!
- Resume Building: although this should not be the main reason you join clubs, a lot of them end up being great resume boosters and talking points in interviews for future internships or jobs. Plus, being involved tends to look good to employers because it shows that you can time manage by balancing school/work/clubs.
These are just a few reasons to get involved while on campus. Luckily, at Rutgers there is something for everyone! Even if you do not find a club that suits your interests, you can always create one. Rutgers has a variety of ways to be involved including sororities/fraternities, honors societies, cultural clubs, major-related clubs, and more. Get out there and make the most of these college years!
Written by Alexis K., a former Rutgers—Camden Undergraduate Student and Raptor Ambassador.