Getting Involved On Campus

Every year thousands of new students come to the University of Alabama to start their college career. Each student is typically overwhelmed with the idea of living on their own, starting a new life, and meeting new friends. However, another important part of college is getting involved in activities and organizations. New students usually become flustered at the beginning of the school year and forget to sign up for these organizations, or simply do not even know where to go. Luckily, the University of Alabama has created many different ways to get students involved and ready for their future. So what do you do to get involved?

Well, the first thing to do is check out the University of Alabama website, it is a great way to look at all the different clubs and organizations the school has to offer. The link is: http://studentorgs.ua.edu/ this link will take students directly to the list of all the organizations and clubs with a brief description of each type of organization or club. Clicking on any link will enable students to get a greater idea of what the organization is like, allowing them to learn more about the organization or club before entering the school year. Getting involved is a great way to meet new people, so it is important to be around people who you like and have similar interests. There is a huge selection of organizations and clubs that just about every individual could find a place in at least one, if not numerous. Even those students who did not participate in clubs or activities in high school should look into joining a club. College is a completely different experience than high school and it is an important time for people to develop their own identities, therefore trying new things is always beneficial.

Another way to learn more about these organizations is the “get on board” fair which takes place at the Ferguson Center for one day during the first couple weeks of school. At this event hundreds of organizations and clubs put out information booths, which give students the opportunity to interact with members of the clubs personally to get a better understanding of what they are all about. During this fair, students can put their names on the e-mail lists for the clubs in order to receive notifications about meetings. No student is required to commit to every club they sign up for, it’s important to sign up for numerous clubs even if you do not think you will stay in them, in order to try new things.

Although it is not for everyone, Greek life is another fantastic way to get involved. The University of Alabama has a strong Greek system, which is open to all students to join. There are many diverse fraternity and sororities on campus, which allows many students to find their place at the University. Within each fraternity and sorority, most members are either strongly encouraged or even required to get involved in other organizations on campus. This enables all members to keep a diverse surrounding, while creating some of the strongest friendships and relationships they will have for the rest of their lives. However, the Greek population at the University of Alabama is only about 25% of the entire student body, so students are certainly able to find their place in other areas, around campus.

The University of Alabama strives to get their students involved, and being a new student it is hard to feel comfortable. However, there are thousands of people in the same situation, looking for their place in such a huge university. Putting yourself out there is the best way to find the perfect way to make the most out of your college experience, so we suggest taking the time to try something new. You never know how far that might take you! Get involved!