Meet new friends and open your mind in college societies

Wine reception! Free beer! Parties! How could any self-respecting fresher possibly resist such temptation?

Such enticements as these you'll encounter during freshers' week or on clubs' and societies' day, as maniacal second and third-years scramble over themselves in search of your autograph for their sign up sheet.

It's great to be so popular and in so much demand but should you fall for the hype and sign your soul away to life in a college club or society?

John Joe O'Dowd is a TCD mature student and seasoned veteran on the societies' front who recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to all things social. He is an ardent supporter of the mind-broadening effect of meeting new friends with different opinions: "When doing your Leaving Cert you're forced to absorb certain facts and ideas. At college you have a wonderful opportunity to discuss, engage and expand your thinking and experience. Many societies invite speakers who are internationally renowned in their field. Make an effort to get involved and you'll discover knowledge, capabilities and skills you never even knew you had," he advises.

Richard Butler is Societies Officer in UCD and explains: "Clubs and societies play a hugely important role, perhaps even more so in a big college, because they help you to get to know more people and socialise. It is always good to develop an interest or begin a new activity and college is the ideal time and place." One good reason to take up a new activity in college is that you will probably have access to resources that you wouldn't ordinarily have. If you want to take up a new sport - rock climbing, rowing or scuba-diving, for example, you'll find clubs which welcome all levels of expertise, have equipment to help you get started, and have experienced club members who can teach and encourage.

If you want to get involved in a society - to try your hand at something like theatre production, setting up a website or standing in front of crowds of your peers to enlighten them with your world view - you'll find like-minded individuals to show you what to do and to have a laugh with along the way.

Vanessa Berman is secretary of the Central Societies Committee (CSC) in TCD and is very involved in Players, the drama society.

She explains how membership of a society provides you with a great social base in college: "It helps to make you feel more involved and when you are doing a project with a group you can feel a real sense of achievement."

One of the most popular events of the Players' year is the Freshers' Co-op. This is a pantomime-type performance which anyone new to Players can be involved in. You don't even need to be a wildly accomplished thespian type because there are countless other things involved in putting together a performance. "It's really great fun and we have a big party at the end," said Vanessa.

Thomas Randles is the outgoing vice-president of the Mountaineering Club in UCC. "I have been involved in the club right the way through from first year. It gives you a real group of friends from every area of college - freshers, postgrads, Erasmus students. And, of course, every different faculty is represented," he says.

The club has a hike or climb organised every Sunday during term and frequently meets on a Wednesday to talk over the escapades of the previous weekend's outing. Regular trips to the Alps apart, the club is looking forward to a brand new climbing wall, which should be in place in the new UCC sports centre by Spring 2001. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) issued figures this year showing that only 24 per cent of students are "involved" in college clubs and societies. John Joe O'Dowd says it depends what involved means - if one-in-four students is involved in a committee or subcommittee capacity then the figures are very encouraging. If you're off to college soon, bear in mind the following:

Don't try and join 20 societies, no matter what the incentives, as the costs soon add up. Decide where your interests lie - try websites or SU's for info beforehand.

Consider the health benefits - even if a bottle of Red Bull down the SU bar seems like an easier option, clubs and societies really do stimulate the body and mind.

Involvement peps up your CV. Richard Butler advises: "Employers are most impressed with applicants who show themselves to have interests in life alongside their academic achievements. If you have made it onto a team or committee - that shows commitment. However, the most important thing is to get involved and the payback you'll receive in terms of a sense of fulfilment is enormous."

If you're an altruist, you can get involved in some of the many charitable societies or charitable fund-raising club events.

With a little bit of self-confidence and the determination to get involved, you can have friends and experiences that will stay with you for life. It's worth remembering that the "all work and no play" thing has a lot of truth in it.

For a pick of the best club websites try UCC mountaineering www.ucc.ie/students/socs/climbers; the Trinity "best website" winners Netsoc www.netsoc.tcd.ie; University of Limerick has some great sites www.ul.ie/Leisure/welcome.html.