Why it's worth joining societies at uni
Who you'll meet and what you'll learn

Discovering these will be one of the first things happening when you arrive at university. There will be a Freshers Fair, and it's going to be packed with stands representing all the various societies.
By signing up for a bunch of them, you can find out which ones you like and want to stick with. You'll also benefit from all this...
You'll get to meet more people
Uni’s full of chances to make friends. You're going to be mixing with new mates as soon as you walk into your new halls flat. And, once your course gets going, you're going to meet more people that way, too.Societies provide another – and quite different – way to make new friends. What's great about a society is that everyone else there is into the same stuff.
“The number of friends students make in a society is amazing,” says Sophie Matthews, Newcastle University athletic union officer. “Students are surrounded by people of similar interests and hobbies and it really is a place where you can make friends for life.”
You're making future contacts at the same time
Although you might not be focused on your future career while you’re windsurfing, netballing or Ultimate Frisbeeing, you could well be developing a whole new network to keep in touch with once you go into work.“Some societies may be linked to your course and so are a great way to meet people outside of your classes,” says Lydia Newton, recruitment manager, UEA.
“These societies might also run professional networking events. For example, a law society can be a great way to get involved with others on your course and offer help with applying for a training contract.”

You'll get to do more stuff
Moving to an unfamiliar place to go to uni is a big step into the unknown. While you’re getting settled, it’s a nice feeling to have a full social calendar.Getting involved with an interesting society or two sorts that right out – being part of one literally gives you an excuse to go out. It won’t all be drinking and dancing; the type of society you join has an obvious influence on the type of activities you’ll spend your time doing.
“Societies play a big part in students’ social lives with various fun as well as beneficial events,” says Indre Urbanaviciute, president of Dundee University Students’ Association.
“Aside from making friends, getting involved in a society will offer students the chance to travel, discover their talent, speak at/attend events they would otherwise not have attended, or give back to society, if taking part in a fundraiser, for example.”
You'll learn some key skills
Time management, leadership and organisation are all the kind of skills you can develop from being in a society.“Once you join a society, there’s a good chance that you’ll be asked to help run an event, join the committee or become the all-important social sec,” says Lydia. “All of these experiences help add to your time at university and build your transferable skills.”
Becoming a key part of a society can develop your skills beyond the academic. That could help you stand out once you’re looking for a job – as well as making you a more rounded person in general.
“Joining a society can make you more confident, sociable and well-rounded,” says Akila Shakir, junior common room president at Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford.
“Many students find that societies they joined in freshers become a platform for responsibility as they take on committee roles and learn valuable skills such as leadership, time management and organisation; giving students an edge when meeting employers.”

You'll build your CV
Adding skills to your CV alongside your degree gives you a useful edge in the job market. Your hobbies and interests can help you stand out against hundreds of other graduates with the same qualification.Showing that you bother to take part in extracurricular activities outside of binge-watching Netflix proves that you’re dedicated to bettering yourself, and that you’re passionate about whatever it is you do. If the society is linked to your course subject and future career too, even better.
“Joining a society improves your employability in a number of ways,” says Sophie. “You’re always involved in the organisation of upcoming events and social activities which looks great on your CV.
"You’ll also demonstrate that you can work as part of a team alongside others in your society and have good communicative skills.”
You can stay fit and healthy
The regular exercise you'd get by joining a sports society will help you stay healthy, improve your focus and even boost self confidence.Exercise is also great for reducing stress. So if you're revising, in the middle of dissertation madness or if the flat above is constantly loud then any kind of sporting action will help you to unwind.
Even if you're just trying a new hobby, joining a sports society can go a long way towards helping you live a healthy student experience.
Finding a uni with lots of societies
Societies are run by the university's student union (SU), so a uni with a strong SU is likely to have lots of societies to choose from.There are other reasons why a uni's SU matters, too. An active and healthy union will create a social and supportive atmosphere throughout the university, and will mean that the student voice is likely to be heard and acted upon. After all, the union is run by students – so they know what students need.
You can check out the SU of a university while you're deciding on where to apply. “Looking at the number of active sports clubs and societies is a great way to look at how active the Students’ Union is,” says Sophie.
“There’s also a number of reports published by the SU, like a little book of facts detailing the impact of the union over the year and how many students have engaged with activities, events and other things that go on in the SU.
“But the best way to judge a students’ union is to actually visit it! If you can get down on an open day, the students’ union is always a great place to visit to see the more relaxed side of university.”
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