This is part of a series of columns written by Arts & Sciences Student Ambassadors.
As an Arts & Sciences ambassador, I often get questions from students and parents about club culture here at Cornell. Pre-professional clubs are such a great way to make friends, gain leadership experience and learn about different fields you may be interested in going into after graduation.
In my freshman spring, I joined a women’s pre-professional club called Forté Campus at Cornell. During The new member education I learned important professional skills like networking and writing cover letters, as well as using tools like PowerPoint and Excel. Being part of such a supportive community while getting introduced to new skills helped me so much when I started applying for summer internships and exploring future career opportunities.
But the best part about joining any club on campus is, of course, the community. Through Forté, I’ve become part of an incredibly tight-knit group and participated in end-of-semester galas, afternoons at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market and dinners where new members cook for their mentors.
Like many pre-professional clubs, Forté also hosts trips to New York City, where we visit offices of major companies such as Deloitte and J.P. Morgan. The community activities and networking opportunities make these pre-professional clubs a benefit for students looking to go into just about any industry.
I’ve also been involved with a variety of other on-campus organizations during my time at Cornell. I found a passion for copyright law by joining the Cornell Intellectual Property and Ethics Club, and I’ve been able to make a difference on campus through helping out with The Wardrobe, a club that makes business attire accessible to all students.
Whether you’re thinking of joining a club because you want to make friends, learn more about an industry, or help you determine what you want to do after graduation— Cornell’s pre-professional clubs will have something for you. Cornell offers everything from business clubs, pre-law organizations, pre-med fraternities, and even clubs like The Wardrobe or A Seat at the Table that work toward equitable professional environments for all.
Coming to a new school can be super scary, but with pre-professional clubs, you can find your community on campus while preparing for just about any career after graduation.
Auman is a government and philosophy major in The College of Arts & Sciences.
