Getting Involved

When picking a University, it is important to find one at which you will be able to easily get involved. I have never been a student at a state school, but I have heard time and time again that getting involved at a state school is extremely difficult; although there are many organizations, each one has tons of students. At the University of Rochester, there are tons of students organizations, and I think some specific things stand out about them.

1. UR organizations come in a variety of sizes, so if you want to join a big group, you can. Some students, like myself, like to look for a smaller group so we can really get to know those around us. That’s why I tried out for the Rochester Bhangra team. The group itself is usually never larger than 20 to 25 students, which was exactly what I was looking for.
2. The organizations allow for responsibility and leadership. The culture and the U of R is not one based on cut-throat competition for a few leadership positions in organizations, but rather, ample opportunities to lead in an organization, teach new members, and organize important campus events.
3. If you still want to create your own organization that does not already exist, you can! The campus provides you with amazing resources to help you fill out paperwork and organize for your first meeting. It’s a great opportunity to share with others a particular interest you may have, all at our beautiful university campus.

In my experience, I wanted to try things I had never done before. I have already mentioned Rochester Bhangra, a traditional Indian dance team. (I have more detailed blog posts about the Bhangra team written in previous months). After joining Bhangra, I later decided to join Greek Life. Again, Greek organizations at the University of Rochester are incredibly warm and welcoming. They're nothing like you see on TV and in movies. Most recently, I became a part of the Student Alumni Ambassadors group through the Office of Alumni Relations. Basically, we are a group of about 25 students who were selected to represent the undergraduate experience at Alumni events including Meliora Weekend. I love that I have the opportunity to mingle with alumni and learn more about how the University of Rochester helped them succeed in what they do. I hope to write a future blog post about my experiences with alumni, stay tuned!