Welcome back, folks.

As 46,000 Penn Staters descend upon Happy Valley to return for the spring semester, it can feel hard to find your place with so many students and organizations to choose from.

Whether you’re new to campus or aiming to get more involved, the Involvement Fair allows students the opportunity to learn more about the multitude of clubs available to them. The Involvement Fair is set to take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, and Wednesday, January 10, in the HUB’s Alumni and Heritage Halls.

As you get ready to hit the HUB to check out the university’s clubs and organizations, we compiled a few tips to make sure you’re ready to find your niche.

Plan Ahead

Compile your interests prior to attending. There are over 1,000 recognized student organizations at Penn State, and if you do your research ahead of time, you can make your trip to the Involvement Fair as efficient as possible. Whether you have an interest in a club sport, theatrical group, coffee club, or art club, make a note of looking for their table. Many clubs have social media accounts where you can find information about their specific table location. Additionally, use OrgCentral as a research tool to discover all of the university’s recognized organizations.

Come With Questions

Ask questions. The more you know about a club, the better off you’ll be. Find out what the representatives like and dislike about the club or if you could potentially hold a leadership position in the future. Maybe the club is more of a social or professional organization. You’ll never know unless you ask. Organization representatives are there to inform you, so take advantage of their knowledge.

Try Something New

The Involvement Fair is a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, and you can join as many clubs as you want. If you join a club’s GroupMe at the fair and later decide the club isn’t for you, you can always leave.

Nothing Piques Your Interest?

If nothing at the Involvement Fair catches your eye, that’s OK. Attending the Involvement Fair gives you a chance to see what’s available and could inspire you to start a club of your own here at Penn State.

Don’t forget Onward State is hiring later this week! Keep an eye out for more information to come.