Join the Club!

If there's one thing I regret about my undergraduate experience, it's that I didn't join more clubs. So, now that I'm in graduate school, I've decided to make a bigger effort to get involved with some student groups. So far I've attended kickoff meetings for the Net Impact Club and the Marketing Society. Later today I'm going to a meeting of the National Association of Women MBAs. Next week, I'll learn more about the Consulting Club and the Entrepreneurship Club.

What I've learned so far about the benefit of getting involved with graduate business clubs is that they . . .

• Focus on specific interests
  
• Provide a good way to meet people
• Foster community involvement
  
• Enrich the academic experience
• Offer a great networking opportunity

These benefits also apply to group participation beyond b-school. You don't have to be a student to join a community organization or professional association, and you never know who you might meet or what you might gain from getting involved.