To be honest, I wasn’t too thrilled about attending Boston University when I matriculated into the school as a freshman. About two weeks into my first semester, my mother gave me the final ultimatum. I either needed to find things that I loved about BU or I needed to start looking into transfer applications. I dreaded the thought of filling out another college application, so I took out the large stack of flyers out of my desk that I accumulated from Splash. I started to sift through the colorful sheets of paper and emailed some of the students who were listed under the contact information. The rest is history. The clubs that I joined from Splash are the main reasons why I stayed at BU, and I am now a proponent of getting involved on campus. BU has almost 500 clubs and organizations out there wanting new members. We might be half way through second semester, but it is never too late to join an organization. If you are too busy right now, save this for the beginning of next year and ring in the new academic school year with new club opportunities.
Larger clubs provide connections to a wide array of people while you give back to your campus. These larger clubs sometimes don’t foster a community feel, but small niches start and relationships can be formed with specific individuals.
Resident Hall Association (RHA) – Each dorm and on-campus housing option has a RHA. There is an e-board for each RHA that plans events such as Towers “Towers of Terror” or study period “destress” fest activities. If you do not want to be on the executive board, each floor of the dorm needs a representative. This is still a leadership opportunity but has less responsibility. Being a part of the RHA allows you to shape the programming planned for your dorm and feel more connected to your home away from home. The contact information for your RHA can be found in the lobbies of your dorm or in the ResLife office.
Admissions Ambassadors – You probably know these people as the “tour guides who walk backwards.” However, this program is more than just giving tours. You learn great skills such as public speaking techniques, valuable information about the university you attend, and social programming such as sitting in Dean Elmore’s Snapple box at a BU hockey game. You must apply and interview to be an ambassador, so be on the lookout at the beginning of next year for the application. Email ambass@bu.edu to contact the student coordinators of this program.
If you are looking for a smaller community, these up-and-coming BU organizations are perfect for you.
Student Alumni Association – The Student Alumni Association (SAA) is the club who handed out the planners and free pizza coupons at Splash this past year. They tabled at the GSU Link with red velvet cupcakes to celebrate Rhett’s 90th birthday. SAA hosts not only these great programs but also a large networking opportunity in the spring with Boston-area BU alumni. SAA works directly with the Alumni Relations office, so participation within this club fosters great relationships with BU administrators. The upcoming year will be filled with a lot of growth and opportunities for new leadership. Membership within SAA is based on applications that are released at the beginning of each school year. Contact Molly Tobin (SAR ’15) at mtobin@bu.edu if you have any questions.
Global App Initiative – Do you have a passion for emerging technology or nonprofits? The Global App Initiative’s mission is to design, develop, and publish mobile apps for non-profit organizations that do not have the funds to hire an outside company to create a mobile app for them. Co-founded by Brian Nussbaum (ENG ’15) and Habib Khan (ENG ’14), Global App Initiative is currently creating four apps for different nonprofits.
“My favorite aspect of the club is that I am using the specialized skills I have learned at college to actually make an impact in other people’s lives,” said Nussbaum. “It just really excites me to know that I am helping the community in a way that not many people are able to.”
Nussbaum had limited programming experience when he first started the club, so do not be worry if you feel as if you are not knowledgeable enough. Global App Initiative runs workshops to teach members various design or programming skills that help empower members to design their own projects. Contact Brian Nussbaum at bnussbau@bu.edu if you have any questions.
Still need more inspiration to find the perfect club for you? Go to www.bu.edu/youdo. All the clubs are listed through SAO. I have been guilty of spending my study breaks to scroll through the long list. Do not be afraid to reach out the e-board members. You know as a BU student, everyone here is friendly and super passionate about what they are involved in. With that, I say go be involved at BU.
And of course there is always Her Campus BU! Email elyssasternberg@hercampus.com or sonalipatel@hercampus.com for more information!