Whether you are a high school student who wants to study communications in college, or you are a current college student, you may want to look at the extracurricular activities that are beneficial for communications majors. Extracurricular activities refer to the clubs, programs and activities that you participate in during and after school. High school students should join clubs that help them develop stronger communications skills. College students can look into programs and clubs in their schools that help them meet and work with others in their major.
Debate Team
Many high schools and colleges have a debate team that offers communications students the chance to develop better argumentative skills. Most of these clubs rehearse for weeks or months before attending conferences where students compete against one another. You’ll have the chance to select a topic, conduct research on that topic and then create a speech that highlights your position. You’ll also learn how to compare your own position against the other side. Most conferences require that students speak in front of large groups, which can help you get over any public speaking fears you might have.
Drama Club
If you love the idea of talking with others and communicating at various levels but have a hard time speaking in front of crowds, consider signing up for the drama club. Even if your school doesn’t have its own drama club, it may put on plays or musicals and need students willing to try out for lead roles and smaller parts. Drama clubs can really help you conquer your fears because you’ll work among your own peers and gain confidence on the stage before you perform in front of a larger audience.
Student Government
One of the more popular extracurricular activities that communications majors take part in is student government. High schools often have officers who represent each grade level and then a smaller student government that represents the entire school. You will have the chance to improve your communication and public speaking skills through debates that you take part in and your campaign speeches. Any roles held in student government will look great on your college application too. Even if you don’t win a spot in the student government, you might take on a leadership role in one of your favorite clubs.
Professional Clubs
USA Today College recommends that students look for extracurricular activities that relate directly to their majors. One of the extracurricular activities that are beneficial for communications majors is Lambda Pi Eta, which is the communications honor society that has branches at most major colleges. This club requires that members have a grade point average of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.2 or higher in all their communications classes. Members have the chance to attend exclusive conferences, submit papers for publication in the Lambda Pi Eta journal and gain volunteer and professional experience through various activities available every year. Lambda Pi Eta also has a large network of former members who help current students find their first jobs.
Communications majors often take classes that teach them how to communicate with others more effectively through writing and other methods. Whether you’re in high school or college, now is a great time to look at some of the extracurricular activities that are beneficial for communications majors, including participation in the debate team and student government.
For more information on pursuing a degree in communications, please see: Top 10 Best Online Communications Degree Programs.