<p>One of the best things about college is the wide array of student organizations, often numbering hundreds and hundreds. From talking to current students, the feeling of wanting to join everything can be overwhelming; thus, I've spent some time skimming through my college's website, narrowing my choices beforehand...I got down to 5. This thread is for all students (incoming, current, undergrad, grad, etc.) to discuss their experiences with/thoughts about college activities. How many organizations have you joined? How did you balance them with your academics? Pros/cons? Any specific ones you recommend? Please share. :)</p>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman and there are three main organizations that appeal to me right now (based on looking at the website). I’ve been trying to pick things that relate to interests I’ve had for a while rather than on a whim, because then I’d want to be in everything and I can’t do that, but on some level I want to try things I’ve never tried before.</p>
<p>I’ve only actually joined two clubs–a Kpop-related club and a Japanese American club (I’m not Japanese, but it was the closest to a Japanese Language & Culture Club at my university). There were some other clubs I checked out and went to their first meeting, but I didn’t really become a member of those clubs. Within those two clubs I joined, I became part of the Kpop club’s singing sub-group and the Japanese American club’s Yosakoi dance group. </p>
<p>I have the opposite problem. My campus has a small number of clubs, and most are ethnicity based, major based, religion based, or volunteering clubs, and none of those appeal to me.</p>
<p>I have never been a person who joins clubs (probably the only person in CC who never seriously did ECs in high school), so it doesn’t bother me.</p>
<p>I would like to join some sort of club related to my major, but it’d unlikely to happen.</p>
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Yay! I always thought I was the only one.</p>
<p>Haha where I grew up, schools don’t have sports/clubs/etc. sooo it was kind of a culture shock when I moved to the US. I didn’t even know EC’s counted for college apps until junior year lol</p>
<p>"I’ve been trying to pick things that relate to interests I’ve had for a while rather than on a whim, because then I’d want to be in everything and I can’t do that, but on some level I want to try things I’ve never tried before. "</p>
<p>Saaame. There’s just so many possible combinations, but I know I’ll end up sticking only to the stuff I really like (my religion, my sport, and something music-related). :P</p>
<p>I’m an incoming freshman and I think I’ll do 3 clubs and an intramural sport. It really just comes down to what you want to do and to make sure that they’re not major commitments where it will affect the academic side. That’s why I’ve decided/prioritized my club choices to things I wouldn’t mind if I had to drop and a couple I’ll stick with and try to persevere through stressful periods. I’m basically doing a couple engineering clubs because they are with my major and so I will probably enjoy then the most and put the most work in. Then I have a club and intramural that are more for relaxation and if things start getting to hectic I could just drop them and gain some extra time for academic work. The main thing like I said earlier is knowing the commitment going in. If you rush a frat/sorority then expect entire days taken out just to working on that and know that once you leave it you may not get a second chance to come back.</p>
<p>I graduated from college last month so here is my take on this topic.</p>
<p>For me, I joined an aviation club at my college called the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), which is a national organization for airport management personnel. They have college student chapters in colleges with aviation programs across the U.S. I was president of my student chapter for a year and we planned field trips to major airports in the area like JFK for example, and we invited guest speakers from the local airports and even the FAA. We discuss topics pertaining to aviation, specifically focusing on airports and the aviation government (like the FAA). The biggest accomplishment that I have done as president with the AAAE is organizing and attending a trip for the club to the 2013 AAAE Annual Conference in Reno, NV.</p>
<p>That was pretty much the only club I joined in college. I did attend an Asian Cultural Society meeting one time but that was all. Plus my friends kept making me wanting to join the Human vs. Zombies club and I reluctantly did but never participated in any of their games. </p>
<p>The other club that I wished I could have joined was a college flight team, where pilots and non-pilots can compete in flying and non-flying competitions. I would have joined the flight team if I were not busy with my studies and running the AAAE club. </p>
<p>The first few weeks of college, I attended as much first meetings of clubs that gave free food. However, I ended up being an active member to some of them. Socially: I joined a few Asian culture clubs out of curiosity, and I joined my school’s gamer club, TeSPA. I actually joined a pre-pharmacy association, and I somewhat regret I wasn’t more active in it.
Regarding academics, I dedicated my afternoons and nights to my class work. I only attended a club meeting if I feeling burned out from working/wanted a study break. Friday and Saturday were kind of prioritized to club activities, haha. </p>
<p>I’ve experimented with different clubs over time. The ones pertaining to my major (pre-vet) weren’t all that appealing to me, so I ventured into other areas. I enjoy focusing on one or two clubs I’m particularly passionate about and dedicating my time to them rather than hopping around to several clubs at once. One of the clubs I joined, I enjoyed so much that I made sure every semester to mold my schedule so I’d be able to make it to the meetings every week. Now, I’m an officer, have developed a few leadership skills, and I’ve made a lot of new friends. 
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