University life is not just a dreary routine of sleeping, eating, and attending lectures (sometimes simultaneously.) It is not just sitting up all night writing that assignment you have been putting off all month. It can be so much more.
What are student societies?
Student societies are run and organized by students, for students. They meet regularly and provide a vast range of activities and events. There are mainly social societies, while others relate to academic studies and careers, politics, and some are based around faith groups.
Why join societies at university?
Your time at university is an amazing opportunity to explore your interests, what you believe in and what you really care about. You will learn about the world around you, and at the same time discover a lot about yourself and who you really are.
Student societies are one way for you to begin this exploration. If you have a very heavy workload on your course, or are a naturally shy person, you may not feel inclined to get involved in societies. The choice is yours, but you should really think about the benefits of getting involved.
Even with a heavy work load, it is perfectly possible to organize your time to include some extra-curricular activity. Some societies make more demands on your time than others. If you join a society and then feel it is not quite what you hoped for, or the time commitment is a bit heavy, you can always leave and try something else. You’ve nothing to lose.
How can societies help you?
In a society you will meet likeminded people with similar interests. It is a great way to make new friends and develop social skills.
Some societies may relate to your academic studies, and could actually help you as you progress through your degree course. You will have opportunities to engage in discussions with other students, or go to special lectures and workshops.
Getting involved in a society can help you develop ideas about your future career. Let’s say you are doing a foreign language degree, but have a keen interest in psychology. Joining the Psychology Society may lead you toward a career in clinical practice. A skilful amateur musician studying chemistry might join the Music Society and wind up becoming a professional musician.
Employability depends quite a bit on transferable skills, many of which can be developed by getting active in societies. Employers are likely to be more interested in you if you can show that you have done interesting things outside your academic studies. Societies can also be a great support network when things get tough.
So which ones should I join?
With a bewildering choice of societies available to you, you might be wondering how to choose the ones that are right for you. The student union has a list of all the societies at Chester University. Have a look and see what you fancy.
What are you interested in? What do you really care about? What skills do you want to develop? Are you mainly looking for friends who are not in your study group? Are you into politics? Do you care about the environment?
What societies are available?
If you have an interest in dietetics and nutrition, the Nutrition Society could be for you. They organize charity events, volunteering, social events and talks from professionals in the field.
Are you a video games addict? The Games Development Society is a great way to learn development skills. If this is your thing, you will doubtless have a lot of fun, and who knows, it could end up as a very lucrative career.
For musicians and music fans there is the Music and Indie Society, where you can learn about the music world and develop your skills.
The Chester Gardening Society is for those green-fingered types who want to do a bit of work growing tasty veggies and attractive flowers on the university allotment. After a hard slog in the library, digging the vegetable patch could provide some much-needed relief. A lot healthier, too, than watching movies on your sofa with a big bag of crisps…
At Bed Student Rentals, we provide student accommodation with bills included. If you are getting heavily involved in societies, you may be spending less time mooching about in your student digs, but you still need a comfortable and welcoming home to go back to.
Get in touch with us if you are looking for your home from home, and help you find the place that suits you best. And don’t forget, make the most of your time at university!
Written By
Henry