Your first priority at WashU will be academics, but how you choose to spend your time outside the classroom — whether that is participating in a student group, engaging in undergraduate research or working on campus — is also important.
Co-curricular involvement is a great way to make peer connections and friendships, build skills that complement your classroom learning and explore interests beyond the classroom. We encourage you to get involved in at least one co-curricular opportunity.
Arts on Campus
WashU enjoys a vibrant array of public arts offerings available to community and campus audiences alike. Opportunities range from world-class professional performances and exhibitions to concerts, plays, art shows and writing workshops that give students a chance to hone their talents.
Athletics & Recreation
The WashU Department of Athletics competes in Division III of the NCAA with 24 NCAA team championships, 262 Conference Titles, and 218 Academic All-Americans. Intramural and club sports are a fun, engaging way to find a sense of belonging on campus as well as practice healthy excellence.
Campus Life
Campus Life empowers students to discover and define themselves and their communities through advising, programs, and resources. Campus Life supports leadership development, student group involvement, student engagement, and sorority and fraternity life.
Center for Career Engagement
During your time at WashU, the Center for Career Engagement will help you discover future possibilities, connect with employers and alumni, and explore meaningful professional experiences. Set up your Handshake account to find Center for Career Engagement workshops, career fairs, internship opportunities, and jobs (including on-campus jobs).
Civic & Community Engagement
The university offers many opportunities, including St. Louis neighborhood immersions, civic learning, dialogue and leadership programs, community-engaged courses, voter engagement, civically focused student groups, and grant funds for St. Louis impact efforts, among others.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) fosters welcoming spaces for all WashU students, with a focus on those from underserved and minoritized communities, to build a sense of belonging, engage in transformative dialogue, and develop skills to navigate our intricate global community.
Taylor Family Center for Student Success
The Taylor Family Center for Student Success provides first-generation (first in their family to attend college) and limited-income (defined as Pell-eligible) college students with comprehensive programming, personalized mentorship, resources, and support that bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement through academic excellence, accessibility, leadership development, self-efficacy, and social impact.
Entrepreneurship
The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship is the hub of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship at WashU. Their initiatives serve students, faculty, staff and alumni from all levels and disciplines — because everyone can be entrepreneurial.
Student Government
Student Union is WashU’s governing undergraduate student body. Its primary mission is to advocate for students, allocate funding for student groups and organize events for all students. Congress of the South 40 is the representative and programming body for the residential communities.
Student Organizations
WashU hosts more than 450 student organizations. At the Activities Fair, which is held at the beginning of each semester, you can learn more about student groups that align with your interests and goals.
WashU Army ROTC
WashU Army ROTC is an elective curriculum taken alongside required college classes, preparing students with the tools, training, and experiences that will help them succeed in any competitive environment.
Before You Arrive Checklist
Check out the steps to complete the summer before you arrive to be prepared to get involved at WashU.