It’s Never too Late to Get Involved!

Perhaps you’re a new student and you made it through the hustle and bustle of Orientation, Welcome Week, and your first couple months of classes. However, in the midst of all the craziness, you had hoped to get involved in some type of club or organization, but it got away from you. Now you’re thinking: It’s too late. I missed the club fair. The clubs have already been formed. The members have already gotten to know one another and are busy with their activities, right?

Or perhaps you are an upperclass student who has been here a couple years without getting involved on campus because you were busy with classes, work, internships, etc. You would like to get some campus involvement on your resume, but you’re thinking: I probably needed to join something my first year. It’s too late for me to join a club this late in my college career, right?

Wrong on both counts. Whether you’re a new student or have been at Hofstra for a couple years, it’s never too late to get involved. Clubs are always looking for new members to bring new energy and ideas to their group.

Okay, so we’ve established that any time is a good time to join a club. But now you’re thinking: The club fair was back in September. How can I learn about ways to get involved? Well, I’m glad you asked, because there are numerous ways to learn about opportunities for involvement.

1) Collegiate Link: Hofstra currently has 186 active clubs and organizations, including academic, pre-professional, cultural, religious, sports and recreation, performance, media, social, politically/socially active, and fraternities and sororities. One of the easiest ways to explore these organizations is through Collegiate Link, an on-line program (similar to Facebook) that allows you to search for and browse through club pages. You can access Collegiate Link from the comfort of your own home through the Hofstra portal by clicking on “my apps.” From there, a wealth of information is at your fingertips, including club mission statements, events, meeting times and locations, pictures, and club leaders and their contact information. If you see a club you’d like to join, shoot an email off to the president and let him or her know you’d like to attend their next meeting. If they don’t meet for a while, ask how you might get involved with them in the meantime.

2) Meet with an Advisor: Hofstra’s clubs are advised by the following offices: Student Leadership and Activities (osla@hofstra.edu), Multicultural and International Student Programs (international@hofstra.edu) and Recreation and Intramural Sports (recreation@hofstra.edu). You are encouraged to stop by any one of these offices and meet with one of the many advisors who can talk to you about the variety of different ways to get involved, as well as which opportunities might best fit your interests.

3) Atrium Tables: How many times a day do you swing through the Student Center atrium? You probably notice that there are clubs there every day promoting their events and activities. Stop by. Say hello. Check out what they’re doing and ask how you might get involved. It’s a great opportunity for some in-person browsing.

4) Attend Student Club Events: Almost every club event is open to all Hofstra students. See a program that interests you? Stop by and check it out. While you’re there, introduce yourself to other club members and see if it’s a group you’d like to connect with further.

Not only are clubs a great way to connect with other Hofstra students with similar interests, but they are also a great way to gain skills and experiences that will come in handy for the old resume and interview process. And did you know students who are more involved tend to be more satisfied with their college experience and more successful as students?

It’s a no-brainer then. Ready, set, get involved!