What I Wish I’d Known About Student Societies

About the author: My name is Sophie Layton, and I’m an MA International Public & Political Communication and BSc Biology graduate from the University of Sheffield. I am currently the Managing Editor of WILD Magazine, Editor of Ed Fringe Review, and Newsletter Editor for the Essex International Jamboree, as well as former Arts & Theatre Editor of Forge Press. I am also the Digital Media Officer for the Student Publication Association. I am a keen thespian with the Sheffield University Theatre Company, with interests in culture, LGBTQ+ issues and political science.

Societies are the fundamental bedrock of the university experience. Groups consisting of several students to several hundred come together in their free time to do a myriad of exciting and unique activities, making friends (and a difference!) everyday. But don’t let the teen movies of the early 2000s take over your mind completely – as someone who’s been in more societies than I can count, there’s a lot that I wish I had known before going to Freshers' Fairs for the first time!

Firstly, let's tackle a misconception I had walking in – not every society will be right for you. This may seem an obvious point to make, with there being hundreds of unique student groups. But even groups that share interests with you may not be quite the right fit for what you’re looking for. I distinctly remember going to a specific society’s events for the first few months of my undergraduate, and slowly discovering that it wasn’t quite what I’d had in mind.

But that’s okay! Even though it wasn’t what I was looking for, it’s a perfect group for others like me – and that’s the beauty of the vast diversity student societies have on offer! Whilst one group isn’t right, the next one might be, and the experience of giving so many groups a go to find the right one(s) for you is all part of the university experience! Societies are as much about the people as about the activity itself, and the process of finding the right crowds may take some trial-and-error, but is infinitely rewarding when it’s done. Research some societies before you arrive at university and try them out!

Another factor which is rarely discussed or mentioned, in traditional British style, is money; specifically, society membership fees. The vast majority of societies at university will have some form of membership, subscription or participation fee in order to enable students to take part. As someone who has sat on numerous society committees, these are so often unavoidable, but go towards making the group as fantastic as it can be. Whilst society fees are a necessary evil, they’re often not as much of a sting in the pocket as you may think; the majority of groups charge only a few pounds for a year’s worth of activities, with many societies even offering multi-year discounts!

If this still sounds a little bit steep, try looking out for free groups to join. Some groups are able to achieve funding by alternative means, which often correlates into lower, or non-existent, fees for you to join in. I, for one, currently sit on three student group committees, all of which I am very active in, creating theatre productions and printed newspapers. How much have I paid this year to do all three? £5 in total – and even that was pay-what-you-can! Student groups thrive on a variety of people being involved, and often do whatever they can to prevent fees being a barrier.

Finally, be prepared for your extracurricular society shenanigans to take up (a lot!) more time than you first anticipated. This one may just be a me problem, but I spend a significant amount of time doing society activities, to the point where it rivals my actual degree! This may have something to do with the fact that I am on many more committees than maybe I should be, but who’s counting? Regardless of whether you are a seasoned student or a new Fresher, when you find that perfect group for you, you will find yourself spending much more time there than you first anticipated!

The beauty of societies is that they allow you to branch out and find new communities of people you could never have hoped to meet back at home. By getting involved where your passions lie, or discovering new ones, you don’t just find a way to fill your evenings and weekends, you find your true people. My closest friends come not from my housemates or course friends, but from the people I choose to spend so much of my time with doing what we love.

What do I wish I’d known about societies? That they bring you to the people you’re meant to find.

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