When I say there are a million clubs, that isn’t an overstatement.

I am going to say this with complete confidence: Activities Day will be the single most overwhelming experience of your life. Imagine tables upon tables upon tables of students desperately trying to get you to sign up for their email lists. Everything from music groups to pre-professional networking clubs to news publications (shoutout Bwog). On top of that, chances are it’s going to either be raining or be so hot you can’t think straight as you navigate the thousands of people gathered between Butler and Low.

If you go into Activities Day blind, it’s definitely going to be a lot to take in, and that’s not even considering the fact that you have to make choices about which clubs to actually join. Different clubs have different time commitments, different processes to join, and different purposes and vibes. Going into my first year, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, so here’s the advice I wish someone had told me.

1. Instagram stalking will be your best friend.

Most clubs have Instagram accounts where they post announcements about events and meetings, do special promotions, and talk about recruitment at the beginning of each semester. Scrolling through their feed is a great way to gauge the club’s energy and decide if it’s the kind of group you want to be a part of. 

As the semester creeps closer, a lot of clubs are starting to think about recruitment. Many of them may have their members start doing story takeovers, where they show a little bit about their lives and answer questions. If you have any questions about the type of stuff a club does, how members have like it so far, or what steps you need to take to join, this is your chance to get them answered!

2. Balance is key.

Clubs span any and every topic you can think of. You may want to join everything just because of the sheer number of options you have. And you should go outside your comfort zone and try new things. That being said, it’s important that you don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s also important to think about how the clubs you join will serve you, both now and in the future. 

The way I like to break things down for myself is simple: a 50/50 split between fun and academic/career oriented clubs. Fun clubs are important, especially if they help you continue a hobby or passion that you thought you might have to leave behind when you came to college. They are a great way to make friends and meet people with similar interests to you. On the other hand, academic or pre-professional clubs are also important and can still be really fulfilling. 

Academic clubs may include mock trial, the debate team, or one of the many undergraduate journals and magazines that publish research and student work every semester. From math club to slam poetry, you have countless opportunities to find clubs that align with your major and to explore other academic disciplines. Pre-professional clubs are a good way to get a foot in the door with whatever career path you might be interested in. Talks from prominent people in a given industry, networking opportunities, volunteer events, and general advice from upperclassmen and alumni will be helpful when navigating the crazy world of internships and job applications.

Of course, you don’t need to have your career path all figured out. In fact, most people don’t. That’s why I lump academic and pre-professional clubs together. Join clubs that interest you and excite you. The most important thing is that you feel good about dedicating time and effort into the clubs you are in. 

3. Not everything is guaranteed, stay the course.

Whether it be through an audition process, application, or just filling out a form, every club has a different way of accepting new members. I won’t sugarcoat it, some club applications are competitive, but that shouldn’t deter you from applying. Some clubs may reject you and it sucks. I’ve been there (multiple times). You might feel that it’s over. That being rejected was so deeply embarrassing, you don’t want to join any more clubs to spare yourself the trouble. 

That’s the easier option, sure. But joining clubs and experiencing the community that comes with them is worth trying again. Re-applying or auditioning for a group the next semester is always an option. Freshman fall won’t be your only opportunity. If you decide that the club you didn’t get into isn’t the one for you after all, there are a hundred other options right in front of you. For every club that is ridiculously difficult to get into (which isn’t that many of them), there’s another for which you can walk into a general body meeting and join on the spot. Changing direction and reconfiguring your original plans isn’t a bad thing. Ultimately, you will end up where you need to be.

Image via Bwog archives