It’s already the fourth quarter, and as summer quickly approaches, so does the time for seniors to begin their transition to college. For many, a crucial part of this new experience is the participation in Greek life. These chapters or organizations can be a great way for you to get involved in life at your new home. Depending on your college, there could be anywhere from just a few, to over 70 different Greek life opportunities. It’s important to remember Greek life isn’t just limited to the stereotypical frat boys that most people think of. Different colleges may have various subdivisions of Greek life. Some of these chapters include Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Panhellenic Councils, and Panhellenic  Councils. More importantly, each chapter has their own unique purpose and mission. The goals of different Sororities and Fraternities can range anywhere from being academically centered, to being service based, religious, or more. While it may feel that almost everyone you know is looking to be / currently involved in Greek life, only about 20-30% of students on average are active participants. With that being said, if a more socially centered chapter is not your style, there are still plenty of other ways you can be involved in life on campus.

Along with Greek life, most colleges have a variety of different clubs or groups available for students to participate in. These clubs can include anything from fishing, to rock climbing, or specialized crafts like woodworking and pottery. Another fun opportunity at most colleges is Intramural or club sports teams. Although these are not nationally recognized like the actual school sports teams, there are plenty of talented athletes who aren’t playing for their school who play club instead. If you are used to playing on a club team and looking for the same routine, college club teams are similar in terms of travelling and having a set practice schedule. However, if you are more interested in staying active or just enjoy playing your sport without too much commitment, intramural may be the route for you. Intramural teams are typically grouped by skill, allowing for both competitive and more recreational play. Intramural may also be co-ed, meaning both girls and boys can play together on the same team, giving students the opportunity to play with all different kinds of people.

Another great way to be involved and have fun on campus is by taking personal enrichment or “just for fun” classes. You could take a class on all sorts of things, like line dancing for example, or if you want to be outside- try kayaking. The option to take these elective classes becomes available when students have taken AP classes and received college credit for said classes. So, if you do well on your AP exams, you may be giving yourself the opportunity to take a more interesting class in place of these required classes. While this can be rewarding for your hard work, only some colleges accept passing scores on exams. Others may have stipulations, such as only counting credit if a student received above a 4. Either way, there are likely a few classes you’ve taken in which you will receive credit, allowing you to fill these required classes with something a little less rigorous. In the event that you haven’t taken any APs, then you may be able to add these classes onto your schedule without replacing any core classes. Overall, Regardless of your interests or previous completed classes, there is very likely a place or a group for you at your new school for you to stay involved with.