Is it too late to join societies?
heyy! I’m a first year & Im about a month in and I’ve already made some rlly nice friends on my course but I’m still v much open to meeting new people especially if they’re closer to where I live (I’m only abt an hour from my main campus so I can still travel up but it would be a lot easier if I only had to travel abt 30 mins if going out!) but I was wondering if it was a bit too late to join societies even tho I’ve only been at uni for a month
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
Reply 1
Hi there,
It's definitely not too late to join societies! You can join them at any point during the year - most uni's even have a re-freshers fair at the start of second semester to showcase societies again in case students want to join a bit later
The only time it might be too late is if you were looking at joining a sports team, as they probably have determined their teams for the year at this point. However, if you wanted to join for training and not be on the competitive team (as you've said) then that should be fine! I'd definitely contact the netball team via their social media just to check though, as they can also give you more information on things like days for training and social events.
You're still only just over a month into uni, so you may have only missed about 4 sessions for each society, if they tend to do weekly meet ups. When I was in my second year, I joined a society in about February and everything was fine! I still go there now as a Masters student and have never felt out of place, so hopefully the same will happen with you
Your uni's SU should have information on all the societies and sports teams available for you, so you should definitely check them out and maybe try a couple of different ones to see which you enjoy the most/are most accessible for you. Most of the sports have a bit of a pricey membership cost to cover insurance and equipment, so I'd have a look and see if that's worth it for you before paying. Usually, societies are either free or have a much lower membership cost - at this point in the year most free taster sessions would be over so you'd have to pay to attend. However, I recommend contacting the societies that interest you and have membership costs, just to ask if you could maybe come to one as a taster before committing to paying - you'll never know if you don't ask!
I hope that makes sense and is helpful? Please don't be concerned about not fitting in or being awkward - meeting new people is always a little awkward at first as I'm guessing you found when you started your course! Give it a session or two and you should be grand
Jorja (LJMU Student Rep)
It's definitely not too late to join societies! You can join them at any point during the year - most uni's even have a re-freshers fair at the start of second semester to showcase societies again in case students want to join a bit later
The only time it might be too late is if you were looking at joining a sports team, as they probably have determined their teams for the year at this point. However, if you wanted to join for training and not be on the competitive team (as you've said) then that should be fine! I'd definitely contact the netball team via their social media just to check though, as they can also give you more information on things like days for training and social events.
You're still only just over a month into uni, so you may have only missed about 4 sessions for each society, if they tend to do weekly meet ups. When I was in my second year, I joined a society in about February and everything was fine! I still go there now as a Masters student and have never felt out of place, so hopefully the same will happen with you
Your uni's SU should have information on all the societies and sports teams available for you, so you should definitely check them out and maybe try a couple of different ones to see which you enjoy the most/are most accessible for you. Most of the sports have a bit of a pricey membership cost to cover insurance and equipment, so I'd have a look and see if that's worth it for you before paying. Usually, societies are either free or have a much lower membership cost - at this point in the year most free taster sessions would be over so you'd have to pay to attend. However, I recommend contacting the societies that interest you and have membership costs, just to ask if you could maybe come to one as a taster before committing to paying - you'll never know if you don't ask!
I hope that makes sense and is helpful? Please don't be concerned about not fitting in or being awkward - meeting new people is always a little awkward at first as I'm guessing you found when you started your course! Give it a session or two and you should be grand
Jorja (LJMU Student Rep)
Reply 2
Hi there!
I would say its never too late to join a new club or society. Many people don't join until second or third year. Its really good that you enjoyed the book club 🙂 I had a friend who didn't go to Literature Society at bath until halfway through first year, and she still made some really good friends there, even ended up on the committee in year 2!
I do not think you will feel out of place - the huge majority of people and groups will be very happy and open to meet new people and welcome them, so I'd say if there's something you want to join then absolutely go for it 🙂
Hope this help and good luck!
I would say its never too late to join a new club or society. Many people don't join until second or third year. Its really good that you enjoyed the book club 🙂 I had a friend who didn't go to Literature Society at bath until halfway through first year, and she still made some really good friends there, even ended up on the committee in year 2!
I do not think you will feel out of place - the huge majority of people and groups will be very happy and open to meet new people and welcome them, so I'd say if there's something you want to join then absolutely go for it 🙂
Hope this help and good luck!
Reply 3
Hi there!
It’s not to late to join societies at all!
A lot of people don’t join till second or even third year and some try out a different one, it’s a great way to make friends and some societies may even offer a free taster!
I would certainly have a look for a society that matches your interest or try out for something different!
I certainly joined different societies at different times throughout my uni life so far.
If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this thread and I’ll answer them.
Kind Regards,
Sid
- UoR Student Ambassador
- LLB Law w/ International Business (Yr1)
- Business Management (Foundation)
my working day is: thursday
It’s not to late to join societies at all!
A lot of people don’t join till second or even third year and some try out a different one, it’s a great way to make friends and some societies may even offer a free taster!
I would certainly have a look for a society that matches your interest or try out for something different!
I certainly joined different societies at different times throughout my uni life so far.
If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this thread and I’ll answer them.
Kind Regards,
Sid
- UoR Student Ambassador
- LLB Law w/ International Business (Yr1)
- Business Management (Foundation)
my working day is: thursday
Reply 4
Original post
by ribbed-pearheyy! I’m a first year & Im about a month in and I’ve already made some rlly nice friends on my course but I’m still v much open to meeting new people especially if they’re closer to where I live (I’m only abt an hour from my main campus so I can still travel up but it would be a lot easier if I only had to travel abt 30 mins if going out!) but I was wondering if it was a bit too late to join societies even tho I’ve only been at uni for a month
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
Hi there,
It's definitely never too late to join a society. I myself am the treasurer for my university's Japan Society, and we go by the motto of 'the more the merrier' and truly mean that. For the netball society, just check in with them whether tryouts for the team have already taken place, since they may have upcoming inter-university games. Don't be afraid to contact societies via their respective social media accounts, such as Instagram or have a 1-on-1 conversation with a committee member in person.
Good luck, and hope you have fun with whichever society/ies you join.
Hope that gives you some reassurance 😊,
SOAS Student Rep
BA Global Liberal Arts
Reply 5
Original post
by ribbed-pearheyy! I’m a first year & Im about a month in and I’ve already made some rlly nice friends on my course but I’m still v much open to meeting new people especially if they’re closer to where I live (I’m only abt an hour from my main campus so I can still travel up but it would be a lot easier if I only had to travel abt 30 mins if going out!) but I was wondering if it was a bit too late to join societies even tho I’ve only been at uni for a month
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
Hey,
That's awesome that you've already made some friends!
No, it is never too late to join societies.
Societies expect new people to join throughout the semester. Honestly, students join societies in their second, third, and even final years; it genuinely doesn't matter.
The Book Club sounds like a great low-pressure win (awkwardness is totally normal at first, don’t worry, I get that😅), and you should absolutely go for the Netball Social Team! You have nothing to lose by just attending the next session. Go for it! 😊
Rachel
(Third Year)
Undergraduate Multimedia Journalism
Reply 6
Original post
by ribbed-pearheyy! I’m a first year & Im about a month in and I’ve already made some rlly nice friends on my course but I’m still v much open to meeting new people especially if they’re closer to where I live (I’m only abt an hour from my main campus so I can still travel up but it would be a lot easier if I only had to travel abt 30 mins if going out!) but I was wondering if it was a bit too late to join societies even tho I’ve only been at uni for a month
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
yesterday I went to book club and it was actually rlly good and welcoming so I think I might keep going to that one even tho it was a bit awks at first
I’ve been thinking abt potentially joining the netball society on the social team potentially but I’m not too sure if there’s like an unsaid time where it’s a bit too late to join and I wouldn’t want to feel like out of place
I was just hoping to hear anyone’s thoughts & some guidance 😆🙏
Hiya! 😊
First of all, HUGE well done for already getting stuck in during your first month — it takes a lot of confidence to try out new things, and it’s great to hear you’ve already made some lovely course friends and enjoyed your first book club session!
To answer your question: it’s absolutely not too late to join societies. Most societies continue welcoming new members throughout the whole of first term, and a lot are still open even in the second term. Students join at all different times of the year for all sorts of reasons, so you definitely wouldn’t be the odd one out.
For netball specifically, the social teams tend to be really relaxed and open, so even if you missed the initial welcome events, you can still pop along and give it a try. It would be great to contact them on their social media to know more!
It also makes total sense that you’d like to meet people who live a bit closer to you. Lots of students end up doing the same once they realise how much easier it is to make plans when travelling isn’t a mission! Joining societies is actually a great way to meet people from different accommodation areas, so you might find a good mix.
If you enjoyed book club, definitely keep going — the first session of anything can feel a bit awkward, but it always gets more comfortable once you recognise faces.
Hope this helps!
— Leena
Official UoN Student Rep
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