Shaylene's Tip of the Week: Get Involved on Campus!

When I first toured UMass, I was intimated by the sheer size of the campus and had doubts about attending a large school. However, I remember my tour guide saying, "You can always make a big school feel smaller, but you can never make a small school feel bigger." That was a big part of what sold me on coming to UMass and it is absolutely true! Make the most out of the campus and take advantages of all the opportunities and activities that are offered. It's a great way to make friends and find hobbies that suit your interests. Here are some tips for getting involved on campus:

1. Check Campus Pulse! 
Campus Pulse is one of the best ways to find cool events on campus, and trust me, there is always something to go to, no matter what day of the week. On the home page of Campus Pulse, there is an event board that lists the upcoming events around campus. Check it out! There is everything from late night movies to UMass Got Talent. Plus, it is always being updated with new events!

2. Look at the UMass Calendar of Events
Similar to Campus Pulse, the UMass Calender of Events lists all of the happenings around campus. Instead of just listing mostly social events, the calendar of events includes art exhibits, sporting events, recitals, and so much more. Take advantage of them! I have attended a number of fantastic lectures, seen some beautiful art exhibits, and have had a great time cheering on UMass at various sports events. I even took a self defense class once and it was one of the coolest events I've gone to here on campus. It is absolutely worth it to scan the events page and see what is happening throughout the month. There are a lot of very interesting people and programs that come to UMass.

3. Join clubs!
I cannot stress this one enough! Joining clubs on campus is one of the best ways to meet and connect with people who share similar interests. If you're looking for a club to join, check out campus pulse! The website has a list of all of the organizations offered on campus and there is certainly something for everyone. Find a club that focuses on what you're interested in or even take a risk and try a new club because the description seemed interesting. It is certainly one of the many ways to get involved with a small community on campus!

4. Attend Floor Events and Events in Your Building
It is easy to see the signs for floor or building events and brush them off, but go to some of them! Your RA or House council is putting on these events specifically for you and they're almost always free! Plus, it's right in your building. It doesn't get much better than that. It's a great way to meet people on your floor or in your building, while attending a fun event!

I can't stress it enough when I say take advantage of all the amazing opportunities offered on campus! It's a great way to get involved, meet new people, and ultimate make the campus feel a lot more like home. Don't wait, get involved today!