After the stress of picking classes, buying books and starting school has settled, the call to join an org begins. “Orgs” (the super-cool nickname for student organizations), can be a great way to make new friends and get involved on campus. They can also be a huge stressor. UNH has 330 recognized student orgs, and tons more groups that aren’t affiliated with the school, and every group is dying to have you join. With flyers and booths and the daunting walk through U Day, the idea of getting involved can be pretty overwhelming. But you can rest easy, because here are some great tips and tricks to sifting through the madness and finding something you’ll really love.
Google it.
If you already know what you would love to do, the first and easiest step would be to Google it. Find your school’s webpage about orgs and look for one that matches your interests. The sooner you start looking, the better.
Talk to people in your class.
If you know that you want to get involved but don’t really have anything specific in mind, talk to the people around you. See if your floor mates want to join Hall Council with you. Look into any groups that pertain to the class you’re taking that you really love. Find out the interests of the people you hang out with and see if you’ve got something in common. Joining a new group is always less daunting with someone by your side, so if you can’t think of something then take an interest in your friends’ interests.
Reach out to the group.
Even though it feels like every group on campus has shoved a flyer in your face or coerced you into writing down your email, there are still tons of groups out there that you probably haven’t run into yet. Do some research and find the org you want to join, then reach out to them. This can also sidestep the issue of your info getting lost or forgotten.
Try out a few different things.
You don’t have to find the perfect org (or orgs) right away. If a few different groups sound interesting to you, stop by each of their meetings. In the beginning of the year so many new people join that there is really no pressure to stay with a group you’re not interested in. So even if the org sounds only kind of cool, check it out. You might stumble upon something that’s absolutely perfect for you.
Stick with it.
Now that you’ve found the group you want to join, make sure you keep at it. It’s not so much a big deal if you forget to go to a meeting once in a while, but don’t let it drop off your radar. Make sure that you attend the relevant meetings, info sessions and events. It’s true what they say: you get out of college what you put in. You can make the most of your four years here by creating a well-rounded college life.
