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One of the greatest opportunities to make your mark at The Ohio State University is to get involved with activities outside of the classroom. The best place to help you get involved is the Ohio Union. The Student Organization Resource Center (SOURCE) at the Ohio Union has an online directory of more than 900 student organizations at OSU, along with resources and funding to make your organization successful. Other good ways to find out about student organizations are to attend the Involvement Fair during Welcome Week, go to a meeting with a friend, and pay attention to flyers, emails, and listserv announcements. If you cannot find an organization that meets your interests, we will help you start one!
Every student’s experience is unique, so there is no best organization to join. Finding the balance among studying, attending class, work, personal life, and getting involved can be challenging. Your professor, your boss, your resident advisor, or your friend can all be mentors and good resources to ask for advice. However, every Ohio State student should have the time to get involved in at least one activity outside of class.
Student organizations offer important developmental opportunities for all members to prepare themselves for life after Ohio State. Students learn leadership skills, how to work with other members of a group, how to prioritize, and how to run meetings and plan events. This skill set will help set you apart from others when applying for your first job or graduate/professional school. Plus, student organizations can be an outlet for stress and a way to have fun and meet new people!
The benefits of getting involved are significant. Research shows that students who join student organizations tend to get better grades, have better time management skills, and feel more connected to their institution! The challenge is to not say yes to everything and become too overwhelmed or over-committed. Student organizations can be a support system for students both academically and socially, by organizing study groups or having a new circle of friends with whom you already share common interests.
Many students seek campus involvement as a way to fill out their resume, and while a resume bullet may look good and be helpful in getting an interview, it is the experiences you gain, the connections you make with faculty and staff members, and your ability to learn from your involvement that will set you apart. So be sure to take an active role in your organizations and activities. It’s never too early or too late to start to get involved!
For more information on getting involved and student organizations visit www.ohiounion.osu.edu or contact the SOURCE at source@osu.edu or 292-8763 or visit the Ohio Union at Ohio Stadium in between gates 22 & 24 of the Stadium.
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