Spending time and making friends with like-minded people is just one of the benefits of the college experience. Without a doubt, some of your best college memories will be the nights you spend gaming with a group of friends, taking a road trip across the city, or even just chatting between classes. What some students don’t realize is that Columbia’s Student Organizations provide all these opportunities along with the added benefit of resources and experienced professionals, taking your group or club to the next level with the help of the Student Organizations and Leadership Office.

There are a number of incredibly popular clubs and organizations already established, providing opportunities for students with similar interests to spend time together and work towards common goals. Some of the most popular organizations at Columbia are designed around embracing personal identities and creating a sense of unity while putting together events to educate and celebrate.

There are multitudes of clubs that already cover the interests of many students. Here are just a few of some of the groups you might see across campus:

AAF Ad Club – The Ad Club looks to connect a variety of students from all majors to produce high quality work in the context of personal and professional portfolios. This club is about networking between students and the different pathways of professional developments, like events, competitions, and agency representation.

Columbia College Chicago DJ Club – CCCDJ is a club looking to bring together the DJ talent on campus. They help students network with each other and give them time to practice their craft and perform at dance events, DJ battles, DJ Showcases, and other events all over campus.

Muggles Association of Columbia – The Muggles Association of Columbia brings the magical world of Harry Potter and other fandoms to life through in-depth discussions, debates, activities, and community events relevant to topics in literature and entertainment, including an annual student-run convention.

AlphaLab – AlphaLab is a club designed for game makers. Whether you want to collaborate with other students or try an idea outside of your concentration, AlphaLab provides students with the development help they need. They host workshops and events to help any student get started.

Illustration Student Group – ISG works to connect the Columbia’s Illustration curriculum to the professional industry while giving students an outlet for their creative work. ISG helps students develop personal aesthetics and skills while emphasizing career-focused experience.

But this is just the beginning. The Cult Cinema Club helps students explore bizarre, lesser-known films. Improv Club helps students practice and showcase their growing comedy skills. There are currently over 70 recognized Student Organizations, so there is a club out there for you. And if there isn’t, you can make one.

You might be wondering why would you join or start a student organization when it is easier to lounge in a common area or just chill at a coffee shop. Where student organizations shine is the overlap of entertainment and common interests crossing over with the development of important life skills in a very hands-on way.

Student Organizations tend to become self-reliant through making their own opportunities for students, allowing their own members to effectively apply their strengths in a community effort and contribute to a greater whole while building real skills. And if you are not sure of how to overcome your next challenge, the Student Organizations and Leadership Office along with the Student Organization Council (SOC) provide personal guidance along with resources to develop these groups.

If all this sounds great to you and you want to start your own student organization, here is what you have to do. First, make sure you have at least seven students who are interested in being in the organization, three of which are willing to take on the responsibilities of the executive board. Members must maintain a 2.0 GPA, while executives need a 2.5 GPA. Student organizations also need a staff or faculty member willing to sponsor them. The club needs a formal constitution and a proposal of possible events. One member must attend monthly SOC meetings, as well as have a one-on-one meeting with the SOC Executive Board to check-in with the organization and provide and necessary updates. You must also submit a recognition packet on a regular basis to maintain the organization’s status. The submission deadline for recognition in the Spring semester is March 9^th, while applications for the 2018-19 academic year open in April.

For a comprehensive list of all the organizations you can join, visit this link. There, you can also find links to the different forms needed to create your own club.