Starting college can be both exciting and nerve-wrecking, especially when you’re trying to figure out how to get more involved on campus and how to make the most out of your college experience. At University of Rochester, there are plenty of way to get involved on campus— whether you’re passionate about academics, research, leadership, hobbies or just finding your kind of people. I’ll be listing out a few ways you can get involved on campus below:
Join a Club or Organization
The University of Rochester has over 275 student organizations ranging from academic and cultural clubs to arts, advocacy and gaming groups. There’s something to love for everyone here, and you’ll surely find like-minded people in the clubs that interest you. Being part of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, I can assure you that it’s such a rewarding experience and it’s super fun! You get to make so many beautiful memories and meet so many people you otherwise would have missed.
Get involved in Research
University of Rochester is a R1 university and it’s renowned for its research opportunities. Research here is not just limited to STEM majors (natural sciences)— anyone in any field can conduct research. You can reach out to the research lab or your professor directly if you are interested in conducting similar research or helping out with their projects as a Research Assistant. I’ve worked in two Psychology labs so far and it’s so nice to help out with studies that contribute positively to society— you can actually make a difference even as an undergraduate student!
Explore available resources
On campus, there are so many resources that can help you in developing professionally such as the Speaking Fellows who can help you out with presentations and public speaking, the Writing Fellows can help you out in refining your writing skills, and the Greene Center for Career Education and Connections can help you develop your professional identity through polishing your resume/CV and cover letters, as well as enhancing your interview skills. They also rent out nice formal clothes if you have any interviews coming up!
Get involved in athletics and recreation
If you’re good at any sport, then you’re in luck because there are so many different sports teams at University of Rochester that you could join such as the rugby team, the rowing team, the soccer team etc. For physical fitness, you could go and take advantage of the free gym on campus, or the swimming pool at the Goergen Athletic Center (GAC). I love playing badminton at the GAC occasionally with my friends. Even if you just want to try out a new sport, there are so many opportunities to do so and have fun while doing it!
Get an on-campus job
You could also get a job on campus and earn some money while you study. There are so many places that hire students such as the Admissions Office, International Student Office, any of the campus libraries, the IT center, the residential area offices etc. You could also become a tutor for any subject you’re good at and help other students as a Teaching Assistant through workshops, emails and office hours.
There’s definitely no one-size-fits-all way to get involved on campus. There are so many other ways of getting involved on campus other than the ones I listed above. There’s something for everyone here and it’s super easy to find something to do on campus. It may be hard in the beginning if you’re just starting college, but you should just trust the process. Don’t hesitate to take the leap— make the most out of your college experience. Come as you are and put yourself out there, Yellowjacket!
