At SJSU you don't have to limit your education to the classroom. Often it's the cocurricular experiences that students remember for a lifetime and say best prepared them for their future. Our advice is to make the most of your time at SJSU by focusing not only on academics, but getting involved in other aspects of college life as well.

12 Reasons for Getting Involved

Students who get involved are more likely to be satisfied with their college experience and persist to graduation.
Getting involved makes a student population of 30,000 seem much smaller and more manageable.
Four or five years of college gets boring without new friends and new experiences!
Getting involved provides you a sense of connection that you won't have if you hurry from class, to your job, to your off-campus residence.
Getting involved outside of the classroom reinforces the learning that happens inside the classroom.
Students who get involved don't think of SJSU as a commuter campus.
Students who get involved get to make a difference because they learn how to get things done.
SJSU graduates who are former student leaders are known all over Silicon Valley, you too can be part of this group of doers.
Students who don't get involved until they are close to graduating regret they didn't do it sooner.
Students who get involved learn important life skills and grow in ways that they weren't expecting.
Employers want to hire people who know how to work with others.
It's true, you will get out of SJSU and your college experience what you put into it!

Getting involved is easy and fun!

You will find countless opportunities for involvement at SJSU, but taking the first step can be difficult. In the beginning why not make it easy for yourself by pursuing interests you are already familiar with. Do you enjoy celebrating your culture or immersing in another? Have you served on student government, participated in sports, or joined service or academic clubs? Do you gravitate towards social friendship groups? All of these outlets for involvement and more exist at SJSU. Before you know it you will find yourself exploring other new areas of interest - once you join one group, you will quickly find out about others. Several of the programs listed below are facilitated by Student Involvement. The links will also guide you to other campus departments that offer significant opportunities to participate in university life.

12 Easy Ways to Get Involved

Attend Orientation and get to know your student orientation leader.
Get the names and phone numbers of at least 7 other new students at Orientation or at TIP (Transfer Information Program) .
Stop by at least 5 tables at the fall or spring Student Organization Faire. Student organization leaders sincerely want to meet you and get to know you.
Attend the Fall Welcome Days - Welcome Convocation.
Don't automatically accept TV stereotypes about fraternities and sororities. Form your own opinions by checking out their fall recruitment activities or getting to know members individually.
Join at least one student club or organization your first semester. (Don't wait until later - it will always be easier not to do anything!)
Make a difference. Serve your community and others through Service Learning.
Check out living in University Housing.
Sign up for Emerging Leaders or Leadership U - two opportunities to learn new leadership skills and form a leadership community.
If you meet someone in class who you find interesting, introduce yourself, ask what they're involved in, and find out more!
Check out the student programs and friendly atmosphere at the MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center .
Find ways to stay on campus, get a campus job (no matter what it is!), play on an intramural team, join a club, check out Associated Students .
Get more information about Student Involvement's programs online or you can stop by our office located on the first floor of Clark Hall. Our staff would be glad to assist you!