We’re counting down the days until Fall Clubs Fair 2023! Whether you are a new student joining us on campus for the first time, or a returning student looking to add something new to your schedule this year, we encourage everyone to come check out Clubs Fair—there are tons of benefits!
Discovering Your (New) Niche
With over 450 student groups on campus, it can be overwhelming to find the right one for you, especially if you’re trying to do it on your own. That’s why coming to Clubs Fair is a fantastic idea; you’ll get to meet a smaller selection of the groups on campus, and talk with them directly! Clubs Fair gives you a great opportunity to meet club executives and members, decide what interests you, and figure out what you have time to commit to.
Clubs Fair is also a great opportunity to discover new interests beyond what you might arrive with. Joining a club outside of your comfort zone can be exciting and a fun change of pace, especially for upper year students with set routines. If you come by Clubs Fair and still can’t find something that fits, you can always check out the full list of groups on BearsDen, or ask a Student Group Services staff member for advice!
Finding Your (New) Crew
With over 37,000 students, the university campus can feel enormous compared to one individual student. The best way to feel more connected is by joining student clubs! You can form your own little community on campus and meet people with similar interests. Lots of folks are still struggling to make friends if they began university online, so joining student groups will be a great way to make new friends. This is also a fun chance to expand beyond your academic bubble and get a break from the weekly school grind. Let’s be honest—university can be incredibly stressful. Ease this struggle by joining a student group!
Honing Your (new) Skills
Aside from the social benefits, clubs are also an excellent opportunity to set your future up for success! A lot of student groups include volunteer opportunities which can give you a chance to build skills in a real life setting. Volunteering is also a great addition to your resume and can help you stand out when applying for jobs. Many clubs on campus also provide opportunities for networking within different fields, which can help you connect with folks in certain industries and possibly even secure a job after graduation!
Whatever group you choose to join, you will have the chance to take on leadership roles if you want. Student groups are just that—groups led by students. What better way is there to try your hand at social media management or budgeting in an environment that is supportive and fun? And while you learn new soft skills like leading meetings, planning events, or even conflict management, you’ll be supporting the rest of the group and paving the way for other people to succeed in the future.
The student groups at the University of Alberta are excited to meet you at both New Student Orientation and Week of Welcome, so be sure to come out and say hi! If you want to stay up to date with any new information being released about the fair, be sure to check out the SGS website.