Getting involved key to deciding a major

Getting involved at USD is easy and well worth the time.

It all starts in the fall with the student activities fair, when many student organizations set up tables in the grassy area directly to the south of North Complex. At this fair, students can learn about the campus organizations at USD and decide which ones they would like to join.

Campus organizations are a great way to meet new people and build valuable connections. There are many things classes can’t teach you because of restrictions on time and resources.

For example, if you’re a Media & Journalism major, and you’re interested in radio, you can take many classes that relate to radio, but you can only produce an actual radio program if you join KAOR 91.1 FM, the student radio station. You can gain real world experience that will benefit you in your future career in the radio business and other businesses.

Joining student organizations can also help you decide on a major if you haven’t already decided on one, or are open to changing. If you’re not sure what you want to major in, joining a student organization will help you decide which one is the best fit for you.

Many student organizations are dominated by one major. For example,  sustainability club is composed of mostly sustainability majors. If you were undecided and you joined sustainability club, you would be able to get to know sustainability majors and learn more about what it’s like to major in sustainability. From this you may decide that you want to be a sustainability major. You may also decide that being a sustainability major isn’t for you.

Students who are part of a student organization have a much higher chance of staying in school to the end, according to Kimberly Grieve, the dean of student services. Those who are in student organizations also have a higher grade point average.

You  should consider joining a student organization because it will help you connect with other students, and might point you in a direction that you didn’t expect to go. Getting involved makes you a better student and a more effective member of this community and any community you become a part of in the future.

With 170 student organizations to choose from, USD can accommodate most interests and connect you with people like you.