Getting Involved in Organizations at UAlbany Helps Freshmen Socialize
by Mamin Khan | September 21, 2026
Students and campus leaders offer advice for newcomers looking to make connections and find their place at UAlbany.
For many University at Albany freshmen, joining a campus organization can be a way to meet people and find a sense of community. For students who are shy or unsure where to start, however, getting involved can feel intimidating.
UAlbany has more than 250 recognized student organizations ranging from cultural and religious groups, to sports, dance teams, interest-based clubs, hobbies, and career-related organizations, according to Lizzy Doyle, Associate Director for Student Engagement and Belonging at UAlbany.
One of the biggest opportunities for freshmen to get involved and learn about different organizations is UAlbany’s annual Block Party. Doyle said more than 200 student organizations typically participate by setting up tables on the academic podium of UAlbany and providing freshmen with opportunities to meet members and learn about different groups and organizations.
Students who missed Block Party can still attend events hosted by Student Engagement and Belonging throughout the semester.
Doyle said freshmen should explore organizations based on their interests, identity, culture, career goals, and hobbies. She also said students do not need to join several organizations immediately, but they can start with one group that interests them.
“The first is the hardest,” Doyle said.
Doyle encourages freshmen to attend Block Party and other Welcome Week activities because they give students an opportunity to meet people and discover organizations in one place. For students who find large events overwhelming, she said her office of Student Engagement and Belonging also hosts programs throughout the semester, including Friday and Saturday events that are listed on MyInvolvement.
“You don't have to join five clubs by your second month,” Doyle said. “Things can happen naturally over time.”
Student Association President Ava-Rae Calloway said freshmen can experience similar feelings because of the number of organizations and opportunities available.
“This campus, although it has a lot of different organizations and it has a lot of great opportunities to get involved, it can feel really overwhelming, especially when you don’t know where to start.” Calloway said.
Calloway said freshmen may also feel nervous about approaching new people, especially if they do not have a naturally outgoing personality. She recommends that freshmen students bring a friend to events if they are nervous about attending an event alone. She also said organizations can make new students feel more comfortable through built-in buddy programs or programs like big brother, big sister with these programs the organizations try to make new freshmen comfortable in joining them.
“You can always bring a buddy to go with you,” Calloway said.
For some freshmen, taking that first step can be difficult.
Maya Cohen, a freshman majoring in political science and pre-law, said joining organizations can feel intimidating at first, but shared interests make it easier to connect with others. Cohen has attended sorority interest meetings and is considering joining the Taekwondo Club and an intramural sport.
"You're in an environment with people who like the same things you do," Cohen said.
Cohen has used Instagram and UAlbany’s website to discover organizations she said she looks at organizations that upperclassmen are involved in and uses that information to find groups she may want to join.
Another freshman, Paola Centeno De Jesus, majoring in social welfare, said one of the biggest challenges is attending events without someone she already knows.
“The feeling of doing something alone that isn’t with like a friend you already have, a suite mate or a roommate, makes it more intimidating,” De Jesus said.
Centeno De Jesus joined Club Cheer, which she described as a low-pressure way to meet other students. She is also interested in volunteering, wellness organizations, and groups connected to education, psychology, and counselling.
She said the number of opportunities on campus can also make it difficult to know where to begin. “There’s so much going on, which is a wonderful thing,” De Jesus said. “But then it’s like, where do I start?”
For freshmen who are too shy to approach a club table, Doyle recommends students reaching organizations through My Involvement and contacting them by email or social media.
Cohen said freshmen should never be afraid to start conversations with people they do not know. “Put yourself out there, go talk to random people,” Cohen said.
Izabella Garcia, a freshman majoring in communications, said getting involved has helped her make friends because it gives her opportunities to interact with other students. Gracia is involved with Great Dane Hospitality’s marketing team and dining committee and also interns for Students Association President Calloway.
“It’s definitely been easier to make friends, because you’re kind of forced to interact with people in a way,” Garcia said.
For the freshmen still trying to find their places or community, getting involved does not mean you have to immediately joining a club. It can begin with attending Block Party, going to an interest meeting, talking to another student, or trying activity that sparks students interest. For students who feel nervous about taking the first step, UAlbany offers plenty of opportunities to start small, meet people with similar interests, and gradually find a community on campus.
For more information about student organizations, upcoming events, or getting involved on campus, visit UAlbany’s Student Engagement and Belonging office or search organizations and events through My Involvement.
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