Obviously, you're at university to further your education and get that all-important qualification that will help you on your dream career path. However, there’s so much more to your university experience than studying.
Check out our reasons why joining a society is the best way to ensure that your university years are ones to remember.
Enjoy acting? You’ll know that members of your university’s theatre society will also be passionate about amateur dramatics, and this common ground is a great start to any budding friendship. Plus, if you’re an introvert then joining a society means you won’t have to go out of your way to meet new people – they’ll already be there, doing the same activities that you enjoy! Check out our guide to making friends as an introvert at uni.
Whether you love debating or dream of captaining the university football team, there is bound to be a society that lets you pursue your passion. Or maybe you’re an international student who is missing home? Country-based societies (e.g. Chinese student societies) offer you the chance to chat with other people about your culture and bring a bit of home to your university city.
Joining a society at university is a great opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone. There are seemingly endless options, from hockey to knitting to beekeeping. Many members will also be beginners; the beauty of a university society is that you can join with no experience and leave with a brand new skill!
Society meetups are an excellent way to switch off from studying. Other members will often not be on your course. This means you’re unlikely to end up chatting about impending deadlines or who is doing which part of the group project. University can be overwhelming at times, especially if you're dealing with homesickness, so it’s important to have something else to focus on besides your studies. Another perk of joining a society is the sense of achievement it can bring – especially if it centres around an activity or sport.
Your degree isn’t the only addition to your CV that you can obtain at university. Employers look for versatile people, and joining a society shows that you have interests outside of your studies. Societies can also offer you the opportunity to nurture key skills and you could even take on a committee role, such as society president, to show off your budding leadership talents. Think how impressive that would look on your CV!
Already living with us? Speak to your property team about how you can use your accommodation’s facilities for your society meetups.