Physalis

Just out of curiosity, how many clubs and orgs are you guys involved in?

I'm a freshman computer engineering major. I'm not sure how many I can fit into my schedule since I also want to do research, but I plan on joining TESC/DECaF?, CSES, and that Regent Scholar's Society. Are there any other clubs that you'd recommend? What about a culture club like MASA? Or a more specific ethnic club?

I'm not really looking to party...just want to meet new people.

StanEda224

Everyone tells me of all the ethnic ones, NSU is the most fun.

OoPurestOo

If you are just signing up for as many clubs as possible to look good for grad/professional schools, you may be wasting your time and effort.

It's more so getting the officer positions in certain clubs and orgs that will appeal since they do most of the work anyway.

Otherwise, the social clubs are the exceptions to my statement.

Oyama

Grad schools don't care about orgs--even ones that seem relevant to your major.

If you're serious about grad school (mainly Ph.D.), focus on your courses and research, while building formidable relationships with professors.

Treat clubs like breaks from work. If you're going to join an org, try to make it something completely different from the rest of your work. Keep yourself sane and avoid burnout.

Physalis

Honestly, I haven't thought much about grad school. Like I said, I just want to meet people with similar interests who I can connect with.

So should I join clubs that don't necessarily pertain to my major? I want a more fulfilling college experience...one that doesn't consist of me studying all the time. I missed out on a lot of social events in high school, and I really want to make up for that if I still can.

subtle_overlord

Some good places to start would be the cultural clubs, co-ops, or greek societies. Nothing wrong with joining clubs pertaining to your major either, esp. if your main goal is to meet people. General rule is, the more you are involved, the closer you bond with fellow members. To check out other clubs, come see Fall Fest on the Green which is Friday Oct 9.

To answer your first question, I am officially part of the UCSD Food Co-op and Outreach Thru Art. I occasionally attend VSA (Vietnamese Student Organization) and CSSA (Cognitive Science Student Association) events/meetings but that's usually because I'm in it for the free food. If you have any questions regarding these orgs please let me know.

Oyama

I am or have been part of:

-UCSD Photo Club - Photography enthusiasts unite and go on quarterly trips to scenic locations to shoot
-Alpha Phi Omega (APO) - National co-ed service fraternity
-Nikkei Student Union (NSU) - Japanese-American culture club
-Foreign Film Society - Org that screens international films at PC for free!
-Public Health Brigades (now known as Project Nicaragua) - PH-based org advocating for the narrowing of health disparities in developing countries / volunteer abroad

-Psi Chi - Psychology Honors Society
-Omikron Delta Epsilon (ODE) - Economics Honors Society

-Undergraduate Investment Society (UIS) - Pre-Banking Org
-Actuarial Society - Pre-Actuary Org

The first five are/were great. The people who join, for the most part, are in there for fun and to meet people and I definitely recommend them to anyone if you want to just have a good time. Just look at StudentOrgList for an up-to-date list of REGISTERED orgs. Orgs have up until week 4 to register through SOLO as an official organization, so it's still getting more and more groups listed there daily. Find something that piques your interest and just go to a meeting or two and see if it's worth continuing. Orgs aren't mandatory and you don't have to make any commitment (except frats/orgs that have fees/dues).

The next two are Honors Societies; if you can get in them, they are of help for you socially and academically. Though graduate school (whether or not you're considering them at the moment) don't care so much that you're in them, but they do provide valuable resources to you as an undergraduate. Professors give informal talks or will advertise research opportunities with you first, as you're the supposed cream-of-the-crop of that department. There are student/faculty mixers where you get to know your professors outside the classroom--for ODE, there was a mixer at Porter's Pub with beer for those who were of age, for example. This is a fantastic way to start building relationships with faculty who can then speak of your personality and perhaps write letters of recommendations later on when you're ready to break into the workforce or apply for school.

The last two, being pre-professional orgs, contain a lot of people who really just go to boost their résumés it seems. They're a lot 'clique'ier than what I would have liked, with your ability to make friends being contingent on your alleged intelligence and/or work experience. Basically, if you're a scrub, it seems that no one will want to network with you.

All in all, you have your interests and I have mine, so definitely take my post with a grain of salt. I really highly recommend doing Photo Club, though. I'm friends with a few of the board members and it just sounds like mad fun. No expensive dSLRs are necessary, either! Some people just go to trips with a compact P&S camera

droobles91

thanks a lot for the info Oyama. I was wondering if there was a photo club on campus.

Oyama

Great! Here's some info about Photo Club's first GBM:

It's pretty informal and we'll just discuss where we'll be going next for a trip. Bring your camera if you have one. dSLRs recommended, but not required.

droobles91

thank you!

now I just wish I had my SLR with me .. oh well

subtle_overlord

I went to the photo club booth at FFOG and when I asked them how is it possible for members without a camera to participate, they told me "being with us without a camera is like going to class without a textbook" in a very elitist kind of way. End conversation. I hope you don't treat all potential new members this way. =/

Oyama

Sorry about that. Maybe it could be interpreted as it's highly recommended but not entirely necessary?

Anyway, I have a few backup cameras that you guys might be able to use in the meantime, but depending on the amount of people that come to GBM, I can't promise anything.

Physalis

The engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi, is invite only right? And only for juniors and up?
Also, would it look strange for me to join NSU if I'm not Japanese?

Oyama

The majority of NSU is NOT Japanese