As important as extracurricular activities are in high school, they are far more crucial at the college level. Why then do many undergraduate students ignore them? The simplest explanation is that they don’t appreciate the myriad opportunities these organizations provide. No, they won’t guarantee you a job after graduation, but they could make you a far more attractive applicant.
How can they help?
If there’s one thing recruiters want to see on a resume, it’s that you are active in your chosen field of study. This lets them know that you are a team player who is eager to learn from others. Meeting classmates with similar interests is also a great way to network and make new friends. And if you need assistance with a challenging subject or assignment, fellow members will surely provide it.
Another obvious advantage of college clubs is that they give members the ability to take what they learned in the classroom and use it in a real-world setting. If it works out, students will know for certain that they learned something valuable. But if it does not, they can speak to their instructor and both might gain valuable insight from the experiment.
Student Organizations at Kaplan University
We believe that student clubs, groups, and honors societies help our students enhance their educations in numerous ways. First, they help them expand their network by adding classmates, peers, and potential employers who are all interested and involved in their area of study. Second, it gives them the opportunity to develop leadership skills, which are difficult to teach in a classroom, but can be learned in a real-world environment. Third, it gives them access to the resources offered by each student organization when it comes time to look for a job.
At present, Kaplan University offers over 34 different student organizations that have a total membership of nearly ten thousand active students. They belong to student clubs, professional groups, and honors societies based on interest and academic performance.*
When to join?
Here at Kaplan University, we believe that students should get involved in groups and clubs as soon as possible, because we recognize that not all learning occurs in a classroom. In many instances, learning experiences may not even involve a professor. Groups and clubs give students the opportunity to learn from each other, which we actively encourage because it helps them grow. Many members report that they have acquired better organizational and time management skills through participation in these organizations.
How to join?
Simply log into the KU Campus website and go to the Community Center and click on the Student Life Page. From there, you can sign up for any club, professional group, or honor society we offer. If you are having trouble finding the page, you can also access it via Facebook by searching for “Kaplan University Student Life.”
