Make the most of your time at Tulane University and get involved outside of the classroom. In addition to relevant education, internships and job experiences, US employers also value well-rounded students with extracurricular activities and leadership experiences. Getting involved can result in gaining transferable skills that you can use in your career field of interest.
As you explore various ways to get involved, consider the Top 10 Qualities Employers Seek in Job Candidates and see which ones you would like to develop and which activities would give you opportunities to grow in those areas:
Top 10 Qualities Employers Seek in Job Candidates*
- Leadership skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Problem-solving skills
- Communication skills (verbal)
- Strong work ethic
- Initiative
- Analytical/quantitative skills
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Technical skills
*Source: National Association of Colleges & Employers Job Outlook 2016 Survey
Be intentional about the activities you become involved with and remember that quality is more important than quantity. For example, holding a leadership position in 1 or 2 activities may be more valuable than being a general member in several different groups.
Tulane Student Organizations - There are 100's of student organizations at Tulane, focused on areas in academics, professional development, hobbies, sports, music, culture, etc.
Read more on our Introduction to Internationally-Focused Student Groups page!
Volunteering is a great way for international students to gain skills, experience and give back to the community. Develop transferable skills by becoming an OISS International Student Advisory Board Member (Links to an external site.). Consider becoming a TUPal (Links to an external site.)to support new international students.
Getting involved in professional associations is a fantastic way to learn more about career fields, find out about employment opportunities and network with other students and professionals in the field. There are many professional associations out there and a Google search may yield many.
Tulane’s 200+ student organizations (Links to an external site.) have educational, military, multicultural, performance, pre-professional, political, Greek, media, religious and service focuses that allow students to find organizations that are tailored to what they are most passionate about. These organizations give Tulanians an opportunity to not only meet others who have similar interests, but can help them cultivate new passions that will expand their worldview. With an incredible breadth of student organizations, everyone can find an activity that they will be excited to get involved with. Students can find most recognized student groups here on Tulane Wavesync. (Links to an external site.)
Below is a list of recommened student organizations.
International Students Advisory Board (ISAB)
Established in 2014, the goal of the ISAB (Links to an external site.) is to represent the needs and concerns of international students at Tulane and to work towards improving the Tulane experience for all international students.
The ISAB advises OISS on international student needs and concerns, participates in the development of new initiatives, interacts with the wider University community to raise the visibility of international students, and develops international student leadership.
Tulane International Society (TIS)
TIS (Links to an external site.) is a student organization that hosts events for anyone interested in international cultures and meeting new people, some of the events we host include student-faculty dinner, languages of love student panel, and we even bring students to pelicans games.
Tulane International Society focuses on bridging the gap between the international community and the rest of campus and bringing an awareness of global affairs to Tulane. TIS members serve as a forum for the exchange of culturally and intellectually stimulating ideas, discussions, and projects.
Tulane Chinese Students and Scholars Association (TCSSA)
TCSSA is a student-run organization whose mission is to broaden the channels of communication between the Tulane Chinese community and various other cultural, academic, and professional communities in the Ground New Orleans Area. As representatives of the Tulane Chinese community, TCSSA also seeks to foster a unique appreciation of Chinese culture and provide information on the academic and professional opportunities there to all Tulane community members. Besides, TCSSA will do its best to help incoming Chinese students and scholars settle into the New Orleans environment by providing practical services.
Asian American Student Union (AASU)
Asian American Student Union (AASU) (Links to an external site.)’s mission is to promote and support the xx d-American community identity on campus by both celebrating and facilitating an open environment for a conversation about the diversity of cultures here at Tulane.
Throughout the year we host various events where students can socialize, experience various Asian cultures, and get involved in the community. While past years have focused on putting on many social events, we are looking to expand by reaching out into the community and really providing meaningful experiences to our students in some form. Our events are not limited to East Asia, and AASU is not Asian members only. Anyone with an interest in learning about AASU and our community is welcome!
We strive to make AASU a welcoming and enriching organization so please feel free to submit any questions or concerns.
India Association of Tulane University (IATU)
India Association of Tulane University (IATU) (Links to an external site.) is an undergraduate club comprised of members of all backgrounds and cultures. We are a community of multicultural students that have united to preserve and increase awareness of Indian and Indian-American heritage on campus through the ideals of culture and social awareness. We hold multiple events throughout the fall and spring semesters ranging from formal to professional to casual.
