STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
NEED HELP?
Contact the Student Life or Student Organizations staff on your campus for specific questions about student organizations.
Considerations Before Joining a Student Organization
Why do you want to join? There are many reasons to join organizations: academic support, networking, pursuing an interest or passion, learning something new, or meeting people. Knowing why you want to join an organization will help you choose the right group for you.
How much time can you give? Determine the amount of time you can give based on your school, work, family and other commitments. Be sure to know if you can fulfill the organization's expectations before joining.
What is the organization's purpose? Knowing the purpose will help determine if it is congruent with your reasons for joining. Also, if the organization is affiliated with an off-campus or national organization, research it for additional information.
What are your financial responsibilities? A number of organizations have dues or fees. Know how much money you are able to spend to participate.
Is the organization you are considering going to enhance your college experience? Being a part of an organization should not mean altering your values or becoming isolated from your family and non-member friends. Any organization you join should complement and develop you as a student and a person.
How to Get Started
1. Make friends. Finding other students who share your interests is a great way to make friends. Student groups often have upper-level students in them that may share your major and can be a great resource to you. You also meet students who have had very different experiences than you which helps you to gain perspective on a variety of cultures.
2. Discover new interests. With over 500 organizations you can gain explore a variety of interests and you may end up with an entirely different career path once you explore some new subjects and fields of study.
3. Strengthen your leadership skills and build your resume. There are opportunities to get involved on campus that can complement your degree and make you an attractive candidate to a future employer. As you become more involved with an organization you can complement your experience with leadership training provided by Leadership Programs.
4. Perform better academically. You enrolled at Georgia State to get an education, but a lot of important learning happens outside the classroom. Don’t pass up student engagement opportunities because you’re afraid they’ll take time away from your coursework and lower your grades. Several studies have shown a positive correlation between student engagement and academic success. Data shows it may even play a role in increasing your likelihood to graduate!
- Go to pin.gsu.edu
- Click on Sign In and use your CampusID and password
The Panther Involvement Network (PIN) lists upcoming events hosted by organizations and departments such as information sessions, trainings, workshops, retreats, service events and more. Events can also be filtered by campus, organization categories, perks, themes and keywords.
- Log into PIN at pin.gsu.edu
- Click on Organizations
- Search using names, keywords, or categories
- Click an organization and review their page
- Check the organization is located on your campus
- Contact the organization or attend an upcoming meeting/event to find out if it is right for you
PIN will create an Event History and a Co-Curricular Transcript of the various organizations you join, positions you hold and events you attend. You can access them by clicking on your profile image at the top right of the screen and selecting the appropriate menu item. These records are very useful as you look back at your experiences to create resumes and prepare for job interviews.
Almost all university events will require you to check in with either your Panther ID or your Panther Involvement Network (PIN) Event Pass. Be sure to save your event pass on your mobile device by visiting pin.gsu.edu/eventpass.