Finding Your People on the Hill: Navigating Tufts Student Orgs
I remember standing in the middle of the Student Organizations' Fair during my first week on the Hill. It was loud and chaotic, but most importantly, it felt like everyone was looking for the same thing as me — community. With over 350 student organizations at Tufts, the sheer volume of sign-up sheets can feel like a fever dream in your first week here.
But here’s the secret: you don’t need to join everything. In fact, if you try, you’ll burn out by midterms. The beauty of Tufts isn't just the number of clubs but rather, it’s how easy it is to actually find a group that feels like a home rather than just another line on your resume.
How-to get involved
If you are just getting your bearings, don't sweat it. These are some helpful tips to maximize your time in student organizations at Tufts
1. JumboLife is your best friend: Think of JumboLife as the digital front door to campus life. It’s the official portal where you can browse every registered student organization, see their contact info, and often see upcoming events. If you're curious about a club, search for them here first.
2. Show up to the General Interest Meetings: All clubs at Tufts are incredibly welcoming. If a club’s page says “Open to All, No Application or Commitment,” they mean it. You rarely need a formal application or an audition. Just show up.
3. The Club Activity Fair Map: Keep an eye out for the map of the fair grounds. It’s usually color-coded by interest area, which helps you narrow down where to focus your energy so you aren't sprinting from a sports booth to a political advocacy table. The Student Organization fair is the best way to get a feel for the campus vibe.
A few pieces of advice
1. Instead of joining a club because it sounds prestigious or it’s good for grad school, join the one where you gel the most with the people. Whether it's the Quidditch team or a deep-dive political discussion group, the community is what brings you joy throughout your years here.
2. It’s okay to test drive! You aren't signing a lifelong oath when you join a club’s email list. Go to one meeting. If the vibe is off, or if you realize you don’t have time, it’s completely okay to step back.
3. Start your own club! If you look through JumboLife and find that your specific obsession (e.g., a club dedicated to niche board games or specific types of music) doesn't exist, start it. The Office for Campus Life and the Tufts Community Union has an easy process that makes it possible to get a new group recognized and funded.
Tufts is the kind of place where people are genuinely interested in what you have to say. Don't worry about finding your people on day one — just pick one thing that sounds interesting, show up, and see what happens.