UCL Union - Societies Thread!

a) How many societies is it reasonable to join as I have my eye on quite a few. I am assuming the meet ups all happen on the same day

There really is no definitive answer for this and I think £ and time is the main decider for this. You all get a 2-week feel of the societies free of charge and this usually narrow down the number of socieites you join. I was thinking of joining 5+ but chose only 3/4 in the end due to limits (i.e. football and rowing is on the same day) and after a week at UCL you end up losing a bit of cash (mainly due to accomodation deposits/rents and course costs) and this too will restrict you.

I am a bit worried about the overall social aspect thing. It would be good to meet people across the board at UCL and not just freshers/first years. How easy is it to meet other UCLers regardless of what year or stage of their degree they are in? And how?

It certainly isin't a problem here at UCL. The UCL socieites doesn't operate a year group system so you will mix with 2nd to 6th years (medics I think) Also if you could select modules as part of your course then you may be able to meet students from different years and colleges again (like I do as I'm a history student). Also most importantly you are in a very large city based university not a campus, I mean as a result when you go out you not only meet students from freshers but students from other years, universities such as Imperial to Kingston and the other 6 million inhabitants of London!

Although as a result there is less of a 'UCL freshers community' in my opinion.

Also good idea onearmedbandit! I'm really sick of numerous threads being started when they can all be answered in one thread like my accomdation one.....although some annoying buggers are still intent on starting new threads accomodation related.

Reply 5

OP

NickkO

How big do societies get? In the Netherlands we usually have up to three dominant societies, and 75% of the uni is member of one of them. They're usually stereotypical - the rahs, the jocks and the 'normal' people. And the 'weirdos' stick to themselves/ join a smaller society.

So how's this at UCL? Do all societies have a purpose, as in fencing or debating, or are there some societies just for fun? Guess you could compare it to frat/sorority thing in the States.

Societies (at UCL at least) tend to have a bit more of an actual purpose than US-style fraternities. Yep there are fencing and debating societies. The societies don't tend to get as large as the ones you seem to have. The largest ones are probably things like the Football Club and the Drama Society - neither of which have more than a few hundred members I'd imagine.

There aren't really any societies which are purely for fun. I don't think the Union would allow a society to exist unless it features a particular interest. That said, many societies have social events which are put on just for fun - the jazz society have many non-jazz events for example :biggrin:

Reply 6

username138327

1

Is there a cider-appreciation society?

Reply 7

Master Polhem

15

Any OTC members? ....... *GOOD ONE POLHEM, GOOD ONE*

Reply 8

^^ I hear there is an ale related society though I don't know if it stretches to cider and beer.

Reply 9

OP

Rokit

a) How many societies is it reasonable to join as I have my eye on quite a few. I am assuming the meet ups all happen on the same day

There is a Freshers' Fayre which takes place later in the first week. It goes on for 2 days to give you a fair chance to get around all the stalls. You'll probably find yourself talked into giving your e-mail address to about 10-15 :p:

and you'll be invited to a few events to see if you think that particular society is one you want to join. You won't have to commit your money for a few weeks after that so you'll have some time to think about what you really want to join :smile:

To be fair, societies generally don't cost that much - I'd say about £6 on average.

It'll be difficult to be active in more than about 4 societies and keep up with all your degree work and non-society socialising! Then again, that depends on which societies you join. Some are more time-consuming than others. If you want to play football or rugby then this'll take up at least 12 hours a week - 2 games per week including travel time plus training once a week.

Which societies do you have your eye on?

b) I am a bit worried about the overall social aspect thing. It would be good to meet people across the board at UCL and not just freshers/first years. How easy is it to meet other UCLers regardless of what year or stage of their degree they are in? And how?

As someone pointed out up there, you won't have a problem meeting non-freshers. There's not really any superiority complex amongst the higher years, so nobody's going to not be your friend because you're a fresher :p:

You'll make friends from your course, your halls, and societies and you'll end up with a lot of friends from all years. Probably too many after the first month or so!

Reply 10

OP

Fellas1990

Is there a cider-appreciation society?

Not yet. I'm pretty sure there's a drinking-related society, but not one specially for cider. You're perfectly entitled to start a cider loving society if you want :p:

I might join!

Reply 11

Zeronic

Sounds really good :biggrin:

Just out of interest, how many different football and rugby teams are there in UCL ? i.e. would you have to be one of the 11 best football players at UCL to be able to play for the team or are there quite a few teams?

Reply 12

~Ally~

Onearmedbandit

Not yet. I'm pretty sure there's a drinking-related society, but not one specially for cider. You're perfectly entitled to start a cider loving society if you want :p:

I might join!

Oh yeah, that society known as university? :wink:

Reply 13

Just out of interest, how many different football and rugby teams are there in UCL ? i.e. would you have to be one of the 11 best football players at UCL to be able to play for the team or are there quite a few teams?

About 7 UCL teams and then theres the medic's team plus the SSEES one.

Reply 14

OP

7 football teams for UCLU, and 3 for RUMS (I think). There are also equivalent womens' teams, but I don't know if there are as many.

There are also a few faculty-specific teams, such as law and economics, but they don't play in leagues as far as I know

Not sure about rugby but I would imagine it's a similar situation to the football.

Reply 15

7 football teams for UCLU, and 3 for RUMS (I think).

I'm curious about this actually. Why do the medics have their own team which allows them to compete separately from UCL in the UoL football league??? I mean the SSEES has one simply because it was a separate institution before 1999.

Reply 16

President_Ben

15

Onearmedbandit

Societies (at UCL at least) tend to have a bit more of an actual purpose than US-style fraternities. Yep there are fencing and debating societies. The societies don't tend to get as large as the ones you seem to have. The largest ones are probably things like the Football Club and the Drama Society - neither of which have more than a few hundred members I'd imagine.

Economics and Finance Society is the largest at UCL and has been for years. Generally been around the largest for years too.

Currently, near to 500 members.

Reply 17

OP

President_Ben

Economics and Finance Society is the largest at UCL and has been for years. Generally been around the largest for years too.

Currently, near to 500 members.

Is that affiliated with the union? The Law Society must have a membership rate near to this too, but that's simply because 99% of lawyers sign up to it when they start their course. The Law Society is not, however, affiliated with UCLU.

Reply 18

President_Ben

15

Onearmedbandit

Is that affiliated with the union?

Yes. Well, it is for now anyway... the Union is pretty dire at the best of times. Thankfully, there's enough money to operate for years without receiving income but it'd be quite nice if UCLU would be so efficient and generous as to actually give money owed this year... and some from last year.

The Law Society must have a membership rate near to this too, but that's simply because 99% of lawyers sign up to it when they start their course. The Law Society is not, however, affiliated with UCLU.

Indeed. The Law Society is however, relatively closed as a result. It's not so much a 'society' as, a loose arrangement by and for the department.

Reply 19

OP