When I came to Rice, I wasn’t sure which clubs I should join. Should I join academic clubs to help further explore my academic areas of interest, or should I join more recreational clubs? Ultimately, I decided to do both! Joining professional organizations like the Rice Undergraduate Investment Fund (RUIF) and the Rice Business Society (RBS) alongside social groups like the South Asian Society (SAS) and the Long Distance Squad let me strike a balance and define my college experience. 

Joining the Rice Business Society was a natural first step toward finance, providing a "boots-on-the-ground" perspective through networking with investment banks and consulting firms. These connections proved invaluable when I began recruiting sophomore year. More importantly, the RBS mentorship program paired me with an upperclassman who provided candid, real-world advice I couldn’t find in a syllabus.

The Rice Undergraduate Investment Fund has been my most impactful academic pursuit. In RUIF, students specialize in a sector and pitch stocks to the Rice Management Company. Rotating through the Financials and Energy sectors allowed me to broaden my expertise before settling on Energy as my primary interest. While classroom analysis is useful, I found additional value in applying those teachings in real-world scenarios like RUIF.

However, my time at Rice isn’t defined solely by stock pitches and networking. I joined recreational clubs to pursue non-academic interests and build community. The South Asian Society has allowed me to celebrate the festivals I grew up with while gaining an appreciation for new traditions. It’s been a fantastic way to meet people from every residential college and major!

To round it out, I joined the Long Distance Squad. Every Sunday, a group hits the Rice Outer Loop for a three-mile run. I look forward to these mornings as a consistent way to stay active and connect with people I might never have met in my classes.
 

Looking back, clubs have been an essential part of my Rice experience. Whether you’re pursuing professional interests or looking for a group to run with, I can’t recommend joining clubs enough!

-Anirudh, Weiss ‘26 (Published on 2/10/26)