As a freshman at the University of Maryland, I am constantly on the lookout for different ways to get involved. I love being a part of campus and keeping busy, and it was definitely easy to find different clubs here, but there are so many different choices it can be hard to figure out exactly what you want to do.
Club or intramural sports
From club field hockey to club wushu, there is a club sport for everyone. The intensity and commit levels vary by sport, but if you want something low-commitment, sign up for an intramural sport. Games are normally once a week and all players are welcome regardless of experience.
Fraternities or sororities
There are social sororities and fraternities with informal rush in the fall and formal rush in the spring. UMD has several "geek" life fraternities for academic interests or focuses on service. Many of these have rush in the fall, so if you want to meet new people earlier, try out one of these! You can join a social and an academic fraternity so both are great options for getting involved, making connections, and meeting new people.
Councils and student government
From SGA to individual councils for different schools and communities, there are endless ways to be actively involved on campus and to let your voice be heard. Some positions are more of a time commitment than others, so make sure to see how much time each group requires before signing up!
Service and advocacy
Terps Against Hunger is a major service organization which hosts meal packing events across the DC metro area, but there are so many others here because so many people at UMD love to serve! Terps Vote is another big organization that helps students register to vote and spreads awareness about the importance of voting.
Specific interests
Best Buddies, Maryland Model UN, Students Against Slavery, and of course, The Odyssey- these are only a few of the 800+ organizations on campuses. Look through OrgSync to find out more clubs related to your specific interests, and definitely check out the First Look Fair that hosts many different clubs at the beginning of the school year and gives students a chance to see what they want to do. There are often flyers for clubs and events posted in academic buildings and The Stamp, so be on the look out there, too.
Still not finding a club you're interested in? Start one! Getting involved is the best way to meet people and I can honestly say that joining clubs and organizations has already made my freshman year so much better. Even if you aren't sure if you'll like something, go to a meeting to try it out. You might end up loving it and it is so worth it to get involved!
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