Sometimes all you have to do to get involved on campus is hang out at the hotspots. Bring your lunch out to the campus courtyard and sit with people you don’t know, buy someone’s coffee at the Starbucks in the library, or join a game of ultimate frisbee on the lawn. This the most informal (and fun) way to meet people, so take advantage!
Joining an intramural team allows you to meet people from all over campus, and it gives you plenty of exercise to work off those late-night chalupas. You don’t have to be a star to play intramurals because it’s more about the fun and community rather than winning, so if you’ve always wanted to try out volleyball, give it a shot!
Navigating the transition into college can be tough, but it’s easier if you have a trusted mentor by your side. This person can be a sibling, friend, or simply an older student in your major. Talk to them about your dreams and goals, and they’ll be more than happy to give you advice or simply listen, if that’s what you need.
The student government on campus has quite a bit of power when it comes to making decisions that affect the students. Even if you don’t want to run for student government, you can still attend the meetings and learn firsthand what’s happening on campus. You can voice your support or lack of support for certain issues, and your reps will take your input into account.
There are several reasons why you should make a point of going to your professor’s office hours at least a couple times a semester. First, you can get clarification on lectures that you didn’t quite understand, but even more importantly, you can develop a lasting relationship with your professor. This will come in handy when you need recommendation letters for grad school!
Most campuses have a tutoring lab you can go to if you need homework help, which means they need people to become tutors. If you're skilled at math, science, writing, history, or practically any other subject, you can apply to become a tutor. You'll be able to meet new people, help them, and get paid for it!
If you have a great idea for a club that doesn’t exist yet, start it yourself! Take a survey of your fellow students to see if they would be interested in joining, and if there's enough interest, file the paperwork and become a registered student organization. Then you can do charity work, fundraising, camping trips, or whatever else you desire. The sky’s the limit!
Greek life is much more inclusive than a typical on-campus club. Here, you will have the opportunity to meet hundreds of people who share the same interests as you. Pay your dues, attend as many social events as you can, and you’ll soon find that your Greek friends are some of the best friends you could ever hope for.
Want to earn a little extra spending money without even leaving campus? Find yourself an on-campus job! You can usually apply to work at the cafeteria, the library, or even as a student worker in various offices. The pay is typically minimum wage, but for how little work you’re probably going to be doing, it’s more than worth it.
