Societies are one of the best bits about going to a university. They let you meet loads of new people while trying new things or continuing something you already love.
At school, you might have had a limited number of clubs related to sport, music or reading. University expands your options a lot. At York, there are over 200 societies to try – including clubs devoted to Taylor Swift, beekeeping, hacking, memes and more.
How to join societies
At the end of your first week is the mind-blowing Freshers’ Fair. This is a huge event where you can walk around the campus getting cool freebies (like Domino’s Pizza) and discover new societies to join. This is a great chance to talk to the leaders of these societies and see if they’re a good fit for you.
If you don’t find any you like at Freshers’ Fair, there are also ‘Give it a go’ sessions. Each term, you can get a free taster of societies, projects and volunteering opportunities. Whether you’re interested in Dungeons & Dragons or Women’s Rugby, there are always lots of things to try out.
Cost of joining societies
Societies do require you to pay a membership fee. Most are just a few pounds a year, but sports societies (or things which need specialist equipment) might be a bit more. This all goes to support the society and will ultimately make your experience better.
My societies
The societies that I’ve joined are: University Choir, Chamber Choir and Tennis.
Studying Music for a degree, the choirs are a fun way for me to keep up my skills whilst meeting people similar to me.
The level required for different musical societies varies a lot. If you want a challenge, Chamber Choir is for you. If not, anyone is welcome to have some fun at University Choir.
Tennis is also a love of mine. I started playing a few years ago (and somehow I’m still not very good at it). Like many sport societies, tennis has beginner, intermediate and advanced sessions, meaning you can find the right level.
College sport versus university sport
When it comes to sport, there are loads of college groups such as netball or rugby that you can join if you just want to do it for fun. A few friends of mine are in the Alcuin Badminton Society and they love playing against other colleges every week. If you want to play at a higher level then the University team is the one for you. Or both of course!
Get stuck in
Throw yourself into as many societies as you feel comfortable. The more you’re part of, the more people you meet and the more you will get out of your university experience. I highly recommend picking a sport as one of them too. It helps you to stay healthy (in your mind and body) and gives you a challenge other than studying each week.
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