Is joining a club on campus worth it? I mean, really worth the time and energy put into them? A lot of students just write them off immediately after setting foot on campus. But if you are one of those students who are questioning joining a non-greek organization, maybe make a pros and cons list. Oh look, here’s one now. (For the sake of objectivity, as I’ve never been involved in Greek life, this article will avoid discussion of Greek societies, aka fraternities and sororities.)
Cons:
Clubs take up too much time:
Some students come onto a college campus with the intention to focus on their studies. Still others need to get a part-time job to pay for the essentials of life, like food that isn’t from your food court. Going to meetings and events can really drain a student’s small reserve of free time.
You're not interested in taking on a leadership role:
A real “danger” of joining clubs is ending up getting pushed into a leadership position of the group, both officially and just nominally. Some students just don’t want that much responsibility when they’re trying to develop skills needed for their future careers.
Clubs aren’t taken seriously:
Most students won’t put the clubs that they’re members of on their resumes after college. They rationalize it as, unless it’s a professional fraternity or one such that is dedicated to the field they apply in, interviewers will discount any clubs a person was in.
Pros:
Clubs take up extra time:
Let’s face it, the same old campus routine can get monotonous. And often times students find themselves with tons of free time and nothing to do. Activities with clubs are a great way to add excitement in the week and, of course, meet new people who could become new friends.
You get to have a leadership role:
-The fact is leading a club on campus can be a lot of fun. You get to inject your own ideas into the club and lead it in whatever direction you desire. And, from experience, leading a club really isn’t that hard. With a solid executive board, a club can do just about anything and don’t you want to be able to say you got something real accomplished while having fun?
Clubs ARE taken seriously:
-Especially the clubs specializing in something that will offer you a marketable skill in the future. For example, when choosing between two criminal justice majors for an internship, an interviewer may notice one is a member of the school newspaper. This experience in writing and editing may make that candidate more favorable for the position. And of course, taking an executive role in a club shows leadership and teamwork skills and is most definitely a resume building block.
From my experience, since sophomore year of college, I’ve been an active member of 3 clubs, a student-faculty committee on campus and the school newspaper. I was elected Treasurer of two of those clubs, served as secretary for a year, and was appointed features editor of the newspaper. I can say they take up a lot of my time. Even as I write this article I have 4 other chores that need to be done for the organizations on top of my homework.
But if I wasn’t on assignment for the clubs I’d just be sitting in my apartment eating ice cream and playing video games. The enjoyment and experiences I’ve gleaned from my time in these campus clubs have altered my life on campus for the better. I implore you, before discounting joining a club, just try it. You can always quit if you find it’s not for you. Above everything, try to enjoy college life! It’s the last time you get to really let loose and be a kid before entering the big bad professional world.
