Benefits of joining a club for your major

Everyone knows school can be hectic.  And it certainly doesn’t help trying to manage schoolwork with friends, family, and “me” time.  So when the Club Involvement Fair, formally known as Club Rush, comes around, many think, “How can I even think about trying to squeeze one more thing into my already crazy schedule?”  

Well, while this may be a difficulty, there are endless benefits to joining clubs, especially those related to your major.  These “career clubs” can open up many avenues, especially to students unsure about what they want to do with their degrees.

Take Katie Melvin for example, a sophomore biology major here at Behrend.  Melvin is in the Scrub Club, a career club dedicated to jobs within the medical field.  This club brings in speakers to talk about different healthcare professions and offers free MCAT practice (an exam much like the GREs that students must take to get into medical school).  Melvin joined Scrubs her freshman year after Club Rush.  

“I thought it would be good for my major and would give me the opportunity to further explore the medical field,” she said.  

“It really has, too.  Not only do I have the chance to get in touch with other students in my major, but I have the ability to listen to speakers already in the medical field.  It has really helped me find out what I need to do to get where I want to go.”

Career clubs don’t get too caught up in the career aspect, though.  The clubs often have fun events for their members.  

    Scrub Club also has off-campus trips, philanthropies, and fundraisers.  One fundraiser even had members selling pens that resembled syringes to raise money for the club.      These clubs not only help students find out more about majors and career choices, but it allows interaction with others whom might have similar interests.  

“I recommend joining a club that relates to your major.  It helps to give you a better look into what you’re getting yourself into.  You also get the opportunity to get a closer look into sub-fields you may never have thought of,” Melvin said.

While students may be reluctant to dedicate more of their free time, these clubs have a myriad of benefits.  

These clubs exist for many different majors, too.  English majors can join the Roundtable Society, psychology majors can join the Psych Club; There’s also Accounting Club, Marketing Club, Communication Club, Student PSEA;  the list goes on and on.  

Joining other clubs that you have an interest in or are related to your major in some way also make you marketable as well.

These clubs look great on a resume, can give you experience and can even help get you in touch with professionals in your field who may be inclined to help you if you show initiative and interest.  

The next time you find yourself with nothing to do, consider joining a career club.  You may find that it can change not only your perspective on your major, but  your future career as well.