Freshman year is the time to explore the wealth of clubs and activities offered at your school. You'll find groups that meet the needs of just about everyone on campus, from the school newspaper to intramural sports. You'll also discover specialized clubs that are just right for you, such as pre-health societies. Becoming a member of these societies gives you the opportunity to get advice, experience, and even try out some leadership skills.

Extracurriculars can help you meet new people, create meaningful relationships, develop important social and professional skills, and encourage you to have an all-around good time. Here's your chance to dedicate yourself to a cause, play sports, or meet people with whom you share a common interest. Feel free to be different. Be daring. But just don't get too distracted.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Pre-Health societies
What's one of the best ways to realize that you're not alone? Hang out with people studying the same things you are! The fun part is, you're not in the classroom. Pre-health societies bring together individuals who plan on becoming future medical professionals. If anything, join a pre-health society for the sake of your resume; and while you're there, you can commiserate with fellow pre-meds—after all, they might be some of the few people who really know what you're going through.

Medical Corps
Many colleges teach students life-saving tactics, such as CPR, through a medical corps training program. You'll have the chance to aid fellow students and maybe save a few lives in the process. This is a perfect opportunity for a pre-med student—you'll get hands-on experience, be able to make a measurable contribution to your community, and pad your pre-med resume. And you might even get to drive an ambulance.

The Performing Arts
Love the theatre? You won't know until you try. Many great actors got their start on the college stage. If acting's not your thing, you can always help build sets, hang lights, direct a show... or maybe even write one! The performing arts are just one way to express your artistic side and to let out some stress, whether you choose to dance, design, or act out your emotions.

Student Government
If you aspire to be a leader, or just want to see some change on campus, student government is a great way to make an impact. Become a class representative, a student liaison with the faculty in your department, or one of many other positions. It's important to note that while many student government positions may require a substantial amount of your time, it's not an impossible task to handle your first year. This is a great way for you to really try out that political talent. Plus, it will give you invaluable experience for the interpersonal skills you'll need to develop as a doctor.

Intramurals
One of the healthiest mediums to relieve tension is athletics. Unfortunately, most of us will never become the next Michael Jordan. That's where intramural sports come in. You can create a league just for fun: This will give you the venue to continue (or start) to play a game you love, without the expectation to lead your school to athletic glory. Many schools allow you to form your own teams in almost any sport you can dream up (be it squash, volleyball, basketball, or even ping-pong).

Music
Whether it's singing, strumming, or the symphony, most colleges have some sort of music program where you can take part. If collegiate a cappella or the orchestra are not your thing, consider forming a band of your own.

Activities can be incredibly fun, and provide an excellent source to channel your energy, but they can also pose an undetected danger. It's easy to let your extracurriculars dominate your schedule. After all, they're fun, involving, and they can also be time-consuming. But if your grades start to suffer and your dream of getting into med school feels like it's slipping away, you'll definitely need to re-assess priorities. As a pre-med, classes (and grades) should always come first.