There are plenty of ways to get involved in campus life and lots of things to do outside of class. Not everyone finds those opportunities right away. As a student, if you'd like to be more involved or if you have found it hard to make connections with other students, don't worry. You are not alone. Here are 10 ways to get involved and what some of your fellow students have to say about them. You will likely find many more ways to get involved and make friends as you explore these options. 

1. Join a Club

Find and join a club in HogSync. Get matched with an RSO based on your interests and needs. Complete the RSO interest form.

"Student Organization Outreach and Involvement Experience (SOOIE) has helped me find community here at the University of Arkansas. SOOIE connects students to over 300 organizations on campus that match their interests and helps them to get involved. Becoming involved in RSOs through the help of SOOIE has allowed me to meet many people, make lots of friends and find my place on campus!" — Olivia Giamanco, junior, majoring in advertising and public relations from Colleyville, Texas.

2. Participate in student government

"I chose to get involved with the Associated Student Government because of the impact this organization has on the lives of students on this campus. I've always known that I wanted to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, and the Associated Student Government provided me with that opportunity and so much more. Through this organization, I found my passion and made lifelong friends, both of which have shaped my time as a college student into an unforgettable experience!" — Teia Anderson, senior, political science major from Russellville.

3. Become an undergraduate researcher 

"I came to the realization that in order to be successful and take advantage of research-based opportunities at UARK, I had to develop an extroverted personality and not be intimidated by professors, graduate students and other upperclassmen students. Through advice from important individuals in my life, I got the courage to send emails to professors, go to their office hours and stop to talk to them after class. These skills are critical for any student to develop their unique identity in class in the professor's eyes. Showing genuine interest will make someone on the other side more likely to help you. For me, I started to do those things my freshman year, and professors in the Biomedical Engineering Department here at UARK were able to help connect with me other students, as well as suggest opportunities that I might find interesting. By repetitively doing this with faculty on campus, as well as reaching out to individuals at other universities, I have successfully been able to build my network, which is critical in creating long lasting relationships. This skill is not something learned overnight, but a process which can take time. However, by just putting yourself out there and being intentional with who you interact with can go a long way. Though meaningful conversations with professors on their research, I was able to join a lab early on in my undergraduate career (led by Dr. Narasimhan Rajaram) and taken part in research opportunities at Yale, UC San Diego, Vanderbilt and the NIH. While there, I was able to make friends with the people at those institutions who connected me to other people in their network who could also guide me. This aspect of networking and being open to meet people from different backgrounds has introduced me to new ideas and perspectives that I previously did not think of. Through research, I have not only been able to grow in the science realm, but also as a man and instill life skills that I could not have learned elsewhere." — Sani Tripathi, senior, majoring in biomedical engineering from Conway.

4. Attend an Event

Go to an event funded by the Student Activity Fee or apply to be a student representative on one of the many committees — Distinguished Lectures Committee, Headliners Concert Committee and University Programs. 

"The first couple of meetings and events I attended on campus, I was terrified. I was scared because I didn't know anyone or what to expect, but I just showed up. I realized everyone was there to make friends and get involved, just like me. All you need to do is just show up; don't be scared!" — Fernanda Alcantara, senior, political science and psychology major from Rogers.  

"Joining Headliners has been one of the highlights of my college career. You are able to work closely with a small, tight-knit, committee to plan music events that engage with thousands of students each year. Through Headliners, I have been able to get real experience in the music industry, meet industry professionals and bring joy to my community through music." Collin Petigna, senior, graphic design major from Shawnee, Kansas. 

"Getting involved with the Distinguished Lectures Committee has not only sharpened my skills as a leader and communicator, but has helped me build relationships with some of my closest friends in college. I currently live with people I met through DLC and other campus organizations, and together we encourage each other to keep pursuing our goals and checking in with our self-care. The memories I have made with my friends inside and outside of our student organizations honestly highlight my academic career." Michael Fuhrman, senior, history and psychology major from Bryant. 

5. Take a Hike or Run or Swim or Climb

Get fit with UREC and participate in club sports, intramural sports, group fitness and outdoor programs. 

"Finding UREC Outdoors my freshman year has been paramount to both my success as a student and socially while I've been a student at the University of Arkansas. While I did make friends outside of UREC through my dorm and classes, my deepest and longest lasting connections have surely come from sitting on the crash pad couches at the downstairs bouldering wall. I have met genuine people who strive to better themselves through fitness, as well as bettering the world through various degrees and career paths. From engineers to philosophy majors, UREC Outdoors has given me a chance to connect and bond with minds spanning any field you can think of that would normally be limited by class divisions. I have gotten to climb, camp, hike and just live life with some of the coolest and most genuine people I have ever met." — Willem Rios, junior, environmental science major from Houston, Texas.

"Intramural Sports has been a great way for me to stay active, meet new friends and spend time outdoors." — Cade Nelson, freshman, international business major from Fayetteville.

6. Worship with fellow Razorbacks

"Christ on Campus has helped me find a sense of self — of who I want to be and where I want to be. When I moved here, I really didn't know anyone and wasn't a Christian, but one Sunday my roommate and I decided to walk to church, and my life had completely changed. I now have constant people around me to look up to and show me what it means to believe in Christ and have met some of my closest friends." — Corinn Guemmer, junior, agricultural communications major from Blue Spring, Missouri.

"Hillel gave me a diverse group of people who still shared my culture and some of my experiences. A community is what I was looking for, but it was friends that I found." — Andrew Bristow, senior, special education major from St. Louis, Missouri.

"Growing up as a Muslim in Arkansas, it was quite difficult to find people who shared the same faith as me. The Muslim community is scattered unevenly across the state, so I didn't really run into other Muslims that often. The greatest thing about the Muslim Student Assoication to me is that it provides a center of communication and socialization for Muslims on campus. It allowed me to befriend people who share many of the same struggles as I do and constantly reminds me that I'm not alone and have an incredibly supportive community that is always there for me." — Sherjeel Naeem, sophomore, biology and anthropology majors from Greenwood.

7. Work on campus

Go to the U of A Human Resources career page to begin searching for a position. 

"My freshman year was hard. I'm a quiet person, so it was difficult to make friends, and then the pandemic happened. It wasn't until my sophomore year when I was hired at UREC Outdoors that I found a group of people who truly wanted to get to know me. I was surprised to find a group of people at the place I worked, but I'm so thankful that I did." — Shealynn Lander, junior, exercise science major from Fayetteville.

"Being an RA has been the most influential experience in terms of my involvement on campus. Living on campus and holding an RA position has helped me be involved in so many ways. It has provided me with the kind of college experience I always dreamed about or saw in movies. There is always something to do, friends to hang out with, events to go to and volunteer for and so much more. The RA position has connected me with other offices on campus and provided me with so many valuable opportunities for involvement outside of housing. I also love the connection that my position offers me as it relates to the first-year students on campus. I love being able to experience college through their eyes. They keep me excited about events, and it's so fun to get to be a part of their college experience as well. I can't imagine anyone being any more connected or involved on campus than an RA!" — Anna Kate Dooly, senior, majoring in history and French from Fort Smith.

"Student Media has been a great place to meet friends. I started out here volunteering after transferring in to the university and have formed some of my closest friendships to date. Everyone is always friendly, and I've always felt welcome in the newsroom!" — Ben Sawyers, senior, advertising and public relations major from Memphis.

8. Hang out at the Multicultural Center

"Through the MC I have made friends, attended fun events and found a safe space on campus. As a new member of the LGBTQIA+ community, finding safe spaces is harder than I thought. Lucky for me and any student in a marginalized community, the Multicultural Center exists. People at the MC are welcoming, and they want students to succeed. There's no feeling of being left out or not seen; here I know that I can be myself without limits." — Abigail Windholtz, senior, anthropology major from Panama City, Florida.

9. Give your time and talent with service

Find an opportunity at the Volunteer Action Center.  

"I did not know anybody at the U of A as an incoming freshman. In an effort to meet people, I signed up to volunteer with the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry before I even left Louisiana. Now, I am an intern for the VAC and a large percentage of my close friends are people I met through the organization!" — Creighton France, junior, majoring in computer science from Benton, Louisiana.

10. Get to know your neighbors

Meet people in the residence hall, apartment complex or Greek house. 

"At the University of Arkansas, you are in the presence of greatness. As a first-year student, getting involved can be intimidating on such a large campus, but always know that you have a place here. Seize every opportunity around you; the possibilities are endless. All you have to do is take the first step. There is not a step that is too small, so knock on a fellow neighbor's door or ask someone to come eat with you, because there is always a way to find a lasting community on campus and beyond." --  Haley Shover, sophomore, majoring in communication sciences and disorders from Bentonville.