Entering grad school can seem very daunting at first. You might feel uncertain if you will have the time to do anything outside of studying. However, rest assured that most first-year students end up having plenty of time to engage in their own hobbies as well as become active in various clubs on campus. Joining clubs can be a great way to learn more about a specific interest, volunteer, make new friends, and apply your knowledge and skills outside of MBKU.
With there being so many clubs on campus, you might be wondering which clubs you should actually join! There are various ways to learn more about all the clubs on campus. The full list of clubs is listed on the website, Presence. The Student Government Association (SGA) Student Relations Committee also hosts a Club Info Night, where student club leaders will explain more about what their club does and answer any questions you may have. Club Info Night can occur as early as the first week of school! Most clubs are specific to a certain program (SCCO, COP, or SPAS). However, there are several clubs that are open to all programs, such as OC MBKU Lions Club, Future Christian Health Professionals (FCHP), and Queer Health Professionals.
When it came to joining clubs, I personally was worried that being a member of a club would be too much of a time commitment for me. However, I soon learned that the most active clubs on campus meet up to once a month, while other clubs only meet once a quarter. The meetings are much less frequent and time-consuming compared to undergrad student organizations, which is great for a busy graduate student. Additionally, most clubs provide free dinner to club members who attend their meeting. Thus, I believe it is a great use of your time!
I encourage you to explore your interests and not be afraid of joining clubs. As a first-year, I joined 6 clubs: National Optometric Student Association (NOSA), OC MBKU Lions Club, Omega Delta, Private Practice Club, Spanish Optometric Society, and Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH). If you are still unsure of whether you want to join a club or not, most clubs will do an introductory meeting open to everyone before you will need to pay their membership fee to become a member of their club. Thus, there is no harm in going to their introductory meeting before making a commitment to joining a club.
As a member of the Student Relations Committee, who will be planning Club Info Night, I can’t wait to see you at the event at the start of the school year! Make sure to follow @weareMBKU on Instagram for updates on the latest Student Government events throughout the school year!