Is it a good idea to join a club or organization as a college student?    

While most students attending college have the choice, they are often conflicted on whether or not it’s a good idea in the first place. 

Both options have pros and cons, which leaves many people struggling to decide.  

Students who believe that joining a club or organization isn’t a good idea argue that while it allows you to meet other people and gain different skills or knowledge, it also decreases the amount of free time a person has, which is something many college students lack between schoolwork, jobs, etc.  

On the other hand, students who believe that joining a club or organization is a good idea think that while you may have to sacrifice some free time, it is worth it to gain new opportunities to meet and interact with people who share similar interests as well as to gain valuable skills and knowledge. 

I find the latter argument more persuasive.  

For me, joining a club or organization during college is a better decision. On top of meeting people with similar interests, I form a connection with a community that can both help me grow as a person and serves as a safe space and support network during and after my academic career.  

There is also the potential to establish connections in the professional world which can help me find and/or get hired for a career in my field of study.  

In addition, I am granted new opportunities to develop existing skills and/or gain new skills.  

By joining a club or organization, I am given the opportunity to develop existing skills.  

For example, I can improve my communication skills through interacting with others or improve my skills as a writer through practice and collaborating with other writers. Moreover, I am also given the opportunity to gain new skills.  

For example, I can expand my skillset to include graphic design and editing by taking on new roles in the organization I am currently in or joining another that focuses on learning and developing those specific skills.   

While every college student is different, I encourage those who can join a club or organization to think about what they would gain from joining and weigh that against what they might have to give up which will determine if it would be a good idea for them personally.