Inexplicable cliques that embody the worst of university drinking culture, or groups that provide opportunities to develop CVs, fitness and personal lives? Marcus Jones, a student at UEA, tells you what to expect from clubs and societies at university.

During the first week of term, universities will almost certainly run an event with a catchy title like, ‘Freshers’ fair’ or ‘SocMart’, where you will have the opportunity to sign yourself up to a plethora of societies and sport clubs. Whatever university you are at, the choice you face will probably be huge, so it’s always a good idea to try and get hold of a list of the options beforehand. You can then go through said list with a handy highlighter and work out a handful of groups that tickle your fancy. That way you have some focus and direction before taking on what will probably be a packed hall, full of wild-eyed, sleep deprived first years each trying to sign random bits of paper that entitles them to membership of the Creative Writing society or Hockey club.

After the dust has settled, what will you end up with for your money (and you will have to pay money to join 90% of the groups)? Firstly, sport clubs are often more expensive, but you arguably get more for your cash (or rather the student loan company’s cash), as you often have to pay for some form of insurance and your money will probably go someway to providing for equipment and maybe even coaching.

The major sport clubs (football, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis) are often the ones that are labelled for being arrogant, alcohol guzzling yobs and, as the old adage goes, there is often no smoke without fire. There is a drinking culture connected to many of these sport clubs, with the traditional initiation ceremonies earning particular notoriety. Evidently, for many members, this adds to their sense of enjoyment and camaraderie, but a well run club should not be dependent upon beer and wine to fuel good times. Indeed, it is probably written down in some constitution that provision must be made for those who don’t wish to drink. Cue paint-balling, group golfing and quiz nights. If you are quite clear in your desire not to join the drinking brigade you should be met with respect and in no way ought it to detract from your sporting experience.

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Your sporting experience could well be as productive as that experienced by Jemma Thake, an English Literature student who has been a member of the University of East Anglia's (UEA) athletic club for all of her three years. As well as a host of friends and the fitness benefits, she has learnt First Aid and how to drive a minibus – “and who doesn’t need those sort of skills?” Quite true Jemma, quite true.

What societies (non-sporty clubs) don’t exist at most universities are really probably not worth contemplating. For example, UEA, a university of a little over 14,000 students, offers over 60 societies ranging from Debating and Deviant societies to Pirate and Photo socs. Many groups also offer fantastic opportunities to do volunteer and charity work, so if you join Make Poverty History you can not only make lifelong friends and enjoy yourself, but do so safe in the knowledge that you are really making a difference to people in need.

You can really make a difference to your CV as well with some shrewd societal choices. Joining the university paper or radio station, Nightline (student support helpline) or Links (the university branch of St. John’s Ambulance) will all potentially give you that extra boost when employers start riffling through your application forms.

However, this does not mean that your choices should simply be made out of some crazed CV hoarding desire. Whatever group you choose should be one you know you will enjoy and can contribute to in full. In fact, a future employer is likely to be as impressed by you organising trips and guest speakers for the History society, or being in charge of the squash club’s finances, as he will be by a few articles you’ve written for the uni magazine.

It isn’t all sporting fun and society sweetness though; a natural side effect from all these groups being run by students (many of whom have little or no previous experience of such responsibility) is poor organisation and accusations of favouritism. It is particularly in sport clubs, where team selections need to be made, that labels can be attached to those who only seem to pick their mates. While this sort of policy is not unheard of, it is by no means common. After all, those in charge of the basketball team achieve nothing by selecting their mates if they do not win games, so it is in their interests to choose the best players on offer. It is the law of averages that some people get overlooked, but if you know you’re good enough and show enough commitment, second trial days often take place to give a chance to those that missed out first time round.

Sometimes clubs and societies are run poorly and in the short term, this is harder to rectify. However, the hierarchy of most organisations changes rapidly each year as students move on, so you can always be patient and wait for that incompetent president to finish his degree. Alternatively, if you and enough others demonstrate your own organisational skills, you can probably set up your own group… or even conduct some sort of military coup to topple the corrupt leadership of a particular society!

Personally, I don’t think it is possible to have a true university experience if you are not involved in a club or society. You may have course friends and house-mates, but the individuals you meet in a group you have chosen to join will add a whole new dimension to your time at uni. The things you can achieve together, whether it be in the sporting arena, or raising money for a good cause, will bring a fantastic sense of achievement and fulfilment and provide you with memories and experiences that will last for many a year.

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