Clubs are often low-key ways to obtain funds for events/hobbies. For instance, my DH (who definitely partied a lot) was in an "outdoor recreation" club which just meant they could use all the schools' camping equipment, reserve the boat house and canoes/kayaks as a group for free etc. They automatically got funds of $200 for food each year and could apply for funds for specialty activities like rock climbing or skiing. I was in a dance club that allowed us to reserve a large room/dj equipment + some food once a year (that seemed to be the extent of what the dance club was--planning and hosting a dance party each year--we couldn't use funds to purchase alcohol of course and there couldn't be official drinking at it, but that didn't really stop anyone who wanted to and there's no adults monitoring or anything since it's all student run)--the dance club also went in with a few other clubs to pick/host whatever band/music artist was invited each year by the school. Clubs recruit first year students because the more student members you have the more funds you can get. Plus, it's a good way to meet people interested in the same things. Schools like it because the clubs are run entirely by students and add to campus life without requiring much on their part. There were definitely clubs that were more earnest/time-intensive than ours--like acapella groups or political activist groups. But there were also ones that did even less--the video game club basically got to reserve good media rooms, food and got to choose and reserve the games in the "game library" for networked gaming events (this was pre large-scale on-line gaming). Students in clubs sometimes felt like they were scamming just to get money, but they actually were providing a service to the school.

Anonymous wrote:Are clubs really essential for college apps? Our junior absolutely refuses to join any.

No, not essential. They just should be doing something outside the classroom that interests them. I think people tend to use "club" as shorthand for school-based ECs. My kids were not in any "clubs" but DD was in symphonic and marching band for 4 years and volunteered with an outside-of-school organization. DS worked stage crew and volunteered at our church. Both also have personal hobbies they spend significant time on, which continued into college.

Why you care about others??
Do whatever suits you.
That's why there are variety of options.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t remember hearing about any clubs at all in college in the mid 90s. I was at a difficult school as an engineering major and studied hard. And partied hard. Later on I got a part time job. Maybe I was too busy drinking to notice the clubs.

Pretty much the same.

Anonymous wrote:It just means you were poor or MC OP. Nothing to brag about.

DP. That’s the dumbest thing. Fwiw, it seemed to be the opposite at my university. The wealthy already belonged and didn’t need to join anything.

I don’t remember hearing about any clubs at all in college in the mid 90s. I was at a difficult school as an engineering major and studied hard. And partied hard. Later on I got a part time job. Maybe I was too busy drinking to notice the clubs.

Anonymous wrote:I was under the impression it’s a new thing? When I was in college, I only had one friend in a club, and we all used to tease her!

What club was she in ?

Clubs weren’t a thing (other than sports) when I was in college.

I was in clubs in college. As an adult I also do things besides work and party, we just call them hobbies rather than clubs now.

To be fair though, OP would probably find me boring; I find parties boring and stressful. Isn’t it nice there are people who enjoy different things?

Clubs are for duds.

Are clubs really essential for college apps? Our junior absolutely refuses to join any.

Anonymous wrote:You're so stupid, OP. Post something more intelligent next time.

Most of the world's universities do not have clubs. Most students have no clubs to go to.

That was the point of the post. The actual subject header as college clubs are talked about constantly on here and people worry it’s too competitive to get in them in college.

Anonymous wrote:I was under the impression it’s a new thing? When I was in college, I only had one friend in a club, and we all used to tease her!

+1

I’m 53

You're so stupid, OP. Post something more intelligent next time.

Most of the world's universities do not have clubs. Most students have no clubs to go to.

Anonymous wrote:Went to a big state U -- I was in the college choir, which was like a club but technically a class. That was really the center of my social group. And went to the club for my major, didn't do much with it but it was a good way to hear about internships and they did some employer tours and speakers that were worthwhile.

Clubs can help you meet like-minded people if it doesn't happen organically in your dorm. And, ideally, the ECs you did in HS were things you actually enjoyed and cared about not just something you did to check a box to get into college so, yeah, those kids might actually want to continue them. The presence of EC's DD cared about was one of the factors in choosing where she went. But, I know it isn't important to everyone. DS wasn't a joiner in HS and doesn't do any clubs at college. I do think it's a missed opportunity to not at least have some involvement in clubs related to your major.

+1. I joined an affinity group and business club on campus. I didn’t have any close friends from my dorm but did make friends through the clubs.

It just means you were poor or MC OP. Nothing to brag about.