Ask the Gav: How To Get Involved On Campus

Written by Rob Lee, Joel Iglesias, Sarah Park and Kylie Pardalis

“Ask the Gav” is a series geared towards new students and underclassmen here on the Heights, declassifying everything from BC-specific lingo to course recommendations. We hope to be a warm, helping hand as you adjust to a new environment and a new school year. If you have any topics or questions you’d like to be answered, feel free to reach out to us on our Instagram @bcgavel or email us bcgavel@gmail.com.

Dear Incoming Eagles,

Finding the “right” club to join is a key stressor for many incoming students. We encourage you to attend the Student Involvement Fair, which will take place on Friday, August 29th from 10AM – 3PM. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with 300+ student organizations and academic departments. It may seem overwhelming at first to weave through the dozens of rows of eager students calling you over to their club’s table. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite involvements that we recommend new students to check out!

For conversation & mentorship:

An integral part of the Boston College experience is retreats. The Center for Student Formation offers many programs for anyone and everyone to embark on retreats of respite, new connections, and meaningful reflection.

Ascend is a program for first-year female-identifying students to make new friends under the guidance of two female upperclassmen leads who create a safe, inclusive space for students to discuss their time at Boston College in an open and supporting manner. The application opens during the Fall semester. Freshmen League provides this opportunity for first-year male-identifying students. 48 Hours is a retreat-only opportunity for first-year students to learn more about and engage in BC’s intellectual, social, and spiritual resources.

Core is a program specifically designed for first-year students to engage in from their respective residence halls. Sophomore, junior, and senior Core facilitators will host monthly programs in first-year residential areas, creating spaces for meaningful conversations and reflection on identity and community membership. Sarah Park, MCAS ‘26 says of the program: “I applied to be a Core Facilitator because it gives first-years the opportunity to meet new people while engaging in meaningful conversations about identity. I like that it gives room for students to talk about intersectionality in a low-stakes environment rather than in a formal seminar, and you get to have snacks while participating!

For the volunteers:

Joel Iglesias Lopez (LSEHD ‘27) points to VSLC and BCNC: “I’d like to highlight two wonderful volunteer-tutoring programs that BC offers. Through the BC Neighborhood Center you can volunteer to tutor once a week either via zoom or in person, and you’ll be matched with a student (K-12) from the Brighton area. If you prefer working with adults, the BC Volunteer Service and Learning Center offers an English as a second language tutoring program that matches undergrads with BC staff members — you do not need to know a second language to volunteer! Both of these programs have been formative in my BC experience and have allowed me to connect with members of our community in meaningful ways. It is truly beautiful and empowering to see how much you and those you work with grow in the tutoring relationship.”

Kylie Pardalis (MCAS ‘28) is a volunteer with BC’s own Campus School. “The Campus School is an incredible place right on BCs campus where students ages 3 to 22 with extensive support needs are educated. I have had the opportunity to have a buddy at the Campus School and it is the most rewarding experience. For a few hours each week I get to go into the Campus School to hang out with my buddy. You can also be a part of the Campus School in different ways. The Campus School Volunteers have different committees that are each very important. One of those committees is putting on the annual Run N’ Roll on Saturday October 4th and I highly recommend that everyone signs up! The Campus School truly is an amazing place where you can form close relationships and have a positive impact on the community.”

For the politically inclined:

The Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) provides an amazing opportunity for first-years to run to be elected to one of the five available first-year representative seats in the Senate, which is the legislative body of UGBC. You can also apply to be involved in their divisions such as Communications, the Council for Students with Disabilities (CSD), and more.

The Gavel (that’s us!) is the progressive student-run newspaper on campus. Don’t panic– we’re not a club solely for seasoned writers. We’re made up of teams contributing in various ways, such as our Business team that plans fundraising events, the Creative team that creates awesome graphics to pair with our articles, and the Copy team which has a crucial and keen eye for grammatical and stylistic formatting.

You can also find political clubs, including but not limited to the College Democrats of Boston College, the Boston College Republicans, and the Marxist Platypus Affiliated Society.

For career and academics:

For pre-professional programs like Pre-Health or Pre-Law, programs such as the STEM and Health Organization for AHANA (SHOfA), the Bellarmine Law Society, and the Pre-Dental Society provide volunteer opportunities and advice from professors and professionals. Many of these clubs offer freshman-exclusive positions, and are often advertised via their newsletters and Instagram accounts.

There are selective programs such as the Jenks Leadership Program and Fulton Leadership Society under the Carroll School of Management or the Boston College Investment Banking Association that provide guidance in breaking into competitive fields highly sought by CSOM students. Applications are already open for some of these programs with deadlines in coming weeks, so be sure to submit your applications!

For the physically active:

The Boston College Intramural Program is a fun way to play a sport with fellow students in a more relaxed, but still competitive environment. There are a total of 18 intramural sports, and each league starts at different seasons throughout the school year. Rob Lee (LSEHD ‘27) said, “Last spring my friends and I joined a co-ed intramural flag football league. Even though we went 0-2 and (predictably) missed the playoffs, once lost by mercy rule before halftime, and scored a total of one touchdown across two games, it’s one of my favorite memories from my time at BC. Do some teams take it too seriously and pull up to games wearing cleats and kneepads? Absolutely. Should we have taken it more seriously? Perhaps, even though we once practiced in literal rain and mud. But playing without pressure made a sport most of us had never played before a lot more fun, and I recommend it to all!”

Keep an eye on the Intramurals page for dates, as spots can go quick!

If none of these appeal to you, don’t hesitate to check out the Student Involvement fair where you will find an abundance of unique and welcoming clubs to join. There are endless ways to find community at Boston College: all you have to do is maintain an open mind and welcome the unexpected!