Going to college is a scary transition from high school, new friends, new professors, new life style, and a new chapter of your life. Whether incoming freshmen or super seniors, there is something for everyone on campus and in surrounding campuses to discover.

To start, Radford University boasts many organizations and generally offers something free to do on a Friday night. At the beginning of every year, all the clubs and organizations on campus gather together for the club fair. New and returning students come out to see what there is to get involved with and sign up for activities of interest.

For sports fans who don’t have the time to join the team for their sport, intramural teams might be what you’re looking for. These teams only compete against each other and not only is it a great way to keep in shape, it’s also a great way to make friends. For nature lovers, RU Outdoors goes on weekend trips camping, rock climbing, caving, and many other excursions.

Once a month the game room in the Bonnie hosts Rock-n-Bowl, offering free bowling and billiards from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Any other time students want to go to the game room, the rates are very cheap. Also in the Bonnie, CAB/BAP hosts a new movie every weekend. Some of the upcoming films in the fall include The Dark Knight, and Get Smart. AP/BAP also hosts weekly craft events such as build-a-bear or message-in-a-bottle for a small fee.

For the media savvy, there are several ways to build up your resume. Exit 109, the Tartan, Whim, Beehive, SMADS, ROC TV, and Radio Free Radford are the campus media outlets. From writing short stories and poetry for Exit 109, to producing news feeds for ROC TV, every section of media is covered on campus.

Performing arts lovers can enjoy the talent RU has to offer in several ways. From student-directed plays and fashion shows to plays and dance performances there is something for everyone to enjoy.

For a great workout, Peters Hall has a gym with weights, cycles, treadmills, and more. The Dedmon Center is temporarily closed for renovations.

When those of legal age travel off-campus, BT’s, Riley’s Main Street Lounge, and Sharky’s Wing and Rib Joint are some of the popular bars in Radford. Restaurants such as Macado’s, BT’s, Applebee’s, and Mi Puerto dot the east end, while on the west end, you’ll find El Charro, Sonic, and Sal’s. There are also plenty of shopping opportunities downtown. The coffee shops host bluegrass jams and musical events in which local acts come out to show off their talent.

As for Virginia Tech there are just as many opportunities to get involved with campus and make new friends. Virginia Tech also has intramural sports teams for those who don’t want to join a team. There are also various gyms around campus to keep in shape and relieve stress.

The campus also has over 600 clubs to choose from. If for some reason you can’t find the club that fits you perfectly, it is easy to get your own club started. And of course there are also everyone’s favorite Hokies. Tech students aren’t the only ones who can enjoy the Hokie football games every fall.

There are also many ways to get involved with the performing arts side of VT. The Marching Virginians, dance company, drama, and Highty Tighties, are just a few of the ways to get involved. The different bands and the dance company and drama are great ways to get involved, make new friends, and enjoy your passion. If you are a lover of the performing arts but would rather be watching instead of performing there are various professional shows and student shows throughout the year.

There are also movies on the drill field. Students come out and enjoy some of the recent popular movies. There is also a game room called breakZONE with many pool tables and bowling lanes students come out and enjoy a night or afternoon of billiards or bowling.

For outdoor lovers, Venture Out also goes on trips over the weekends horseback riding, rock climbing, camping and many more outdoor activities.

The downtown Blacksburg area offers many restaurants to choose from as well as shops to go exploring in. From Mad Dog to the Matrix Gallery to Mish Mish there is something to grab everyone’s interest. Also for the students that are of legal age there are various bars to go to, and if you are underage there are several clubs to go to and go dancing with your friends.

Lastly New River Community College currently has quite a few clubs, including Virginia 21, a non-partisan politics club, as well as clubs for photographers and practitioners of sign language. The New River Community College’s Fiddle, Banjo, and Dance Club Jamboree takes place monthly and brings in bluegrass and old-time musicians from all over the region. NRCC also hosts tournaments for chess and horseshoe pitching, as well as athletic teams for baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. The college has locations in Dublin and at the New River Valley Mall, both fairly close to RU and VT, so they can also benefit from the many opportunities those schools have to offer.

These are just a few of the many things there are to do on nearby campuses. Getting involved and making new friends are a big step into transitioning into college life. Have a great year!

Anna Keffer is a Media Studies student at Radford University and an intern for the New River Voice.