Advice On Joining University Clubs or Teams

Entering university is entering a whole new world. You have to get used to new surroundings new routines, and most importantly, make new friends. Two of the best ways to make a new place for yourself at university is to join clubs and teams.

Joining University Clubs

Clubs are open to all interested students at university. There are almost never any sort of try-outs, and as long as you commit to being an active member (and possibly pay fees or for outings), you're in!

Most universities offer an array of clubs that meet regularly and offer social, emotional and even physical benefits to their members. The start of every term is a great time to commit to a new club, though most clubs will advertise their meetings and adventures throughout the year. If you want to get out and about, meet new people and try new things, then find a club that suits your interests or be radical and try something that you’ve never even thought of before. See if your university offers clubs for:

• Rock climbing.
• Jogging.
• Crafts.
• Debate.
• Drama.
• Cooking.
• Music.
• Films.
• Theatre.
• Sailing.
• Cycling.
• Yoga.
• Meditation.
• Hillwalking/hiking.
• Canoeing.
• Volunteering.

Joining University Teams

Joining sports teams at university is usually much harder than joining clubs. Sports teams are competitive entities and many athletes will not be up to the required standards. This can be devastating for student athletes who put their heart and soul into their sports, but for students who fail to make the team there are always multiple clubs to join and work off their energy with these activities.

If you are one of the students who is lucky enough to be invited onto a university sports team, life can become a hectic rush. You must juggle lectures, studying and socialising with the added pressures of practice and even travelling to matches. Life can become very stressful when you overextend yourself, so if you are a student athlete remember to stay on an even keel by:

• Investing in an academic diary and entering all of your academic deadlines the minute they are assigned. Enter all lecture times as well so that you won’t double book yourself later. You are a student athlete now, but you won’t be any kind of athlete if you fail your degree.

• Keeping your body in peak condition by following a healthy diet, drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day and sleeping for at least 8 hours per evening. This may require planning your weekly meals and shopping in advance, carrying a water bottle with you at all times or giving up your favourite TV programme in favour of extra time to sleep, but when you shine out there on the pitch it will all be worth it.

• Declaring at least one evening per week as “dead time.” Don’t open the books and don’t think about your sports team. Use this time to relax and recharge, and spend some time with friends or family just hanging out and having fun.

Joining clubs and teams at university is a great way to meet new people and try new things. Just don’t overstretch your schedule and overwhelm yourself with all of your exciting new opportunities!