There are many benefits to joining a student activity, and with nearly 600, Northeastern has something for everyone.
With nearly 600 recognized student organizations on the Boston campus alone, there is something for everyone when it comes to student activities at Northeastern. The university’s student organizations run the gamut from rocket-building with AeroSpaceNU to beekeeping with the Bee Society.
From noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2, students on the Boston campus will have a chance to explore some of the 582 student organizations Northeastern offers at the annual Fall Fest.
Fall Fest offers the chance for students to peruse tables with representatives from Northeastern student organizations, in addition to enjoying food, music and giveaways.
“Fall Fest is my favorite day of the year,” says Zoe Michals, a fourth-year industrial engineering student and president of AeroSpace NU. “That’s my Christmas. It’s like a choose your own adventure.”
This year’s Fall Fest will be bigger than ever, expanding through West Village quad so even more organizations can table, including ones new to the community, says Dylan Lee, Student Government Association executive vice president of student involvement.
Over the last year, Lee says 28 new student organizations were recognized by the SGA, including a new club for fans of bluegrass and fiddle music. Even more are going through the official recognition process.
“There have been a lot of applications,” says Lee. “At Northeastern, we have a really strong club culture. There are a lot of super dedicated students.”
Northeastern also launched a new student organization management system that offers a calendar of upcoming events from student orgs.
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These groups can be a great way for students to build on existing interests or discover new ones while getting firsthand experience.
When Michals joined AeroSpace NU during the first month of her freshman year, she knew nothing about rockets. But the group, which boasts over 200 active members, didn’t let that deter her.
Rather than keep her on the sidelines at her first meeting, her fellow club members handed her some tools and told her to try her hand at taking apart a rocket to learn how it works.
Now, Michals is the president of AeroSpace NU and helps oversee the group’s many projects, which span rocketry, drones, satellites and fixed-wing planes. Michals has stuck to the rocketry realm, working on different types of internal engine innovations.
“You can get very hands-on with material and be very collaborative, which is what the real world of engineering is like,” she says. “It really sets you up well for co-ops and real-world engineering opportunities.”
Northeastern activities offer more than just the chance for students to gain professional experiences. Some groups allow students to discover or explore their hobbies. For example, in addition to SGA, Lee is also a member of the tabletop role-playing club and the board game club.
“I’ve met my entire social circle from student organizations on campus,” Lee said. “That’s primarily where I’ve found friends and people to hang out with and that’s the benefit of student organizations at Northeastern. It’s not just about professional experience. It’s also about making friends and doing things you like.”
Erin Kayata is a Northeastern Global News reporter. Email her at e.kayata@northeastern.edu. Follow her on X/Twitter @erin_kayata.
