There you were, standing in front of your dorm, telling your parents your last goodbyes before they went back home after helping you move in. And just like that, everything you knew for the past 18 years immediately changed. You began to feel excited, yet unsure of what the next four years would bring. Some have their eyes on a 4.0; others look to make a difference no matter what sacrifice that may require. However, most freshmen want to find a balance between the two. No matter what it is that you are hoping to do in the next four years, there are endless opportunities to get involved at JSOM and in the UT Dallas community. Freshman year is the year for making mistakes, exploring different opportunities and fields, and finding out how we can use our talents and passions to leave our mark at UT Dallas.
Freshman year is not only the year that we are most unsure about our life goals but may also be the year that we are the least busy. Thus, it is vital that you take advantage of your free time to join clubs that spark your interest. Even if you are unsure of what you want in your life career-wise, join a major-related or career-oriented club. Doing so will help you find out what you want to do. Many organizations on campus do not recruit juniors and seniors (when we tell ourselves that we’ll have a better idea of what we want to do), but they recruit freshman. It will be easier to join them this year, find out what your true passions are, find out what your true passions are and make a strong commitment to those that suit you best.
UT Dallas has more than 300 student organizations, and trying to pick one or two that are right for you can seem like a very daunting task. A general rule of thumb to use when picking what to get involved with is to pick one in your major’s field and one that is something you simply enjoy doing. Most of the organizations that you find in JSOM are going to be major- or career-oriented clubs.
Below is a list of a few Jindal School student organizations.
Dean’s Council
The Dean’s Council is an organization for undergraduate and graduate students in the Jindal School who are interested in developing their leadership skills. Throughout the year, members meet with school deans to provide a student’s perspective on issues within the school. Undergrad council members focus their efforts on creating better connections and experiences for their fellow undergrads. Potential members must meet eligibility requirements, and members are admitted on a competitive basis.
DECA
DECA is in its third year at UT Dallas. It is part of a large international organization created to train students to be future business leaders. The organization has many service opportunities and professional development events throughout the year, and the campus chapter participates in state and international competitions in the spring semester.
More information including dues, event dates, etc. can be found at DECA’s website.
Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club)
E-Club is an organization that is open to all majors at UT Dallas. It was created to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship at the University. E-Club hosts many guest speakers, workshops and networking events to educate students on how to start, run and grow a business.
JSOM Toastmasters
Toastmasters is an organization created to develop communication skills in learn-by-doing meetings. The organization is split into two chapters, Tuesday Toastmasters and Friday Toastmasters.
While it is very important that you participate in an organization designed for your major, it is also very important that you find something that you simply enjoy doing. Outside JSOM, UT Dallas offers more than 300 other organizations on campus. Whether you’re interested in dance, badminton, chess or anything else you can think of, UTD probably has it. To easily browse through a complete list of all these organizations, log into OrgSync with your NetID and password. Go to the Student Organizations Web page and hit the “Explore Organizations” button in the Quick Links list.
After graduation, hopefully all of your hard work will bring you a job. However, when you have a job, you’re not just going to be going to work, you’ll be doing other things outside work. Getting involved in the University outside class is not only important for professional development and career help, it is it also is necessary to keep your personal interests and social connections positive and energized.
