How to Find Community on Campus by Joining In

When I first committed to Princeton, I was terrified for many reasons: I was the first in my family to move out of state for college, I had never set foot on the Princeton campus before my acceptance (credit to the pandemic), and I was simply unsure if I would fit in. In my hometown, I was known as a student who thrived doing extracurricular activities. At the time, I had yet to think about how many extracurriculars I would like to continue, or to what degree I would want to expand my activities. 

Over the past three years, I have taken every opportunity to learn about the diverse student groups and experiences offered to Princeton students. This has led me to learn so much about the school itself and build a personal community. I hope that all those coming to Princeton can experience the campus spirit in the way I was able to, by finding their niche and joining in.

Think about what you want to do on campus

It can be overwhelming to think about what activities you want to do on campus. Start by thinking about different categories of clubs and organizations you’ve enjoyed, or ones you’ve never tried. For example, I’ve been a dancer for about 15 years and knew I would want to join a group, so I kept my eyes peeled for news about dance groups and performing arts at Princeton by checking out clubs on social media or looking at websites ahead of time. Princeton has almost every activity as a club, so thinking about what you want to do with your time is a great start.

Use campus resources

Princeton has many resources you can use to learn more about groups on campus, like the annual Student Activities Fair in Dillon Gym, club flyers around campus, and posts on their listservs over email to push club events. Going to open houses and signing up on interest forms connects you to club opportunities, even if you decide not to commit. Word-of-mouth resources work, too, so talk to your RCA and other students about groups on campus.

Did you know that there are many campus-based opportunities to engage with clubs? 

• Take advantage of the Student Activities Fair
• Pay attention to listserv emails and emails from interest forms
• Check out flyers around campus!
• Word of mouth, ask other students about clubs they have joined!

Push out of your comfort zone

When I first joined the Undergraduate Student Government, I was unsure if I would fit in since it was unlike any other club I had done. I started as a Committee member but found my niche in working to represent the student body. While the entire experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone — particularly running for leadership positions through elections and working with various administrators — it’s been a rewarding experience. Clubs can seem daunting, especially when you may not have experience, but I’ve learned that joining unexpected groups often pays off.

Try narrowing your scope

In freshman year, Princeton students often join as many groups as possible to experience it all. While this can be exciting, and support learning about different parts of the campus community, it’s important to balance extracurriculars with other time commitments to take care of yourself while being an avid participant. Leadership roles are a great way to invest your time back into a group, and I’ve enjoyed climbing the ladder of leadership in different groups. As an upperclassman, I value the chance to help incoming students experience the same type of community I felt in my clubs when I first joined.

Remember what you have to offer to the Princeton community

All this to say, you are a wealth of knowledge, interests and experiences that are truly so important to the Princeton community. Whether or not you realize it, you have so much to give to others. Joining clubs and organizations can be daunting, but your participation in them is valuable — and makes the Princeton campus a better place for all.