Best Clubs to Join in High School to Make Friends

7 min read · Aura

The best clubs to join in high school to make friends are the ones where you do something together every week: theater, robotics, sports teams, band, Model UN, and anything with a shared project or trip. Clubs where you mostly sit and listen (like an assembly-style meeting) are worse for friendships than clubs with teams, rehearsals or a goal. Pick one club that excites you and one that's a bit social, show up every week, and friendships come from the repetition.

If you're the kind of person who walks into a new club and instantly shrinks into the back row, that's a fixable aura leak, and Aura shows you which one it is and how to fix it with one small move a day. Find my aura leak

Why clubs are the easiest way to make friends

Most "best clubs to join in high school" lists are written for college applications. They're about what looks impressive. This one is about what actually gets you a group to sit with at lunch.

Clubs work because they give you three things that friendships need:

• Repetition. You see the same faces every week without having to arrange it.
• Something to talk about. No awkward "so... what's up?" when you're both arguing about the robot's wheel design.
• A shared goal. A show, a match, a competition. Working toward something together bonds people fast.

That's also why a lot of advice on Reddit about clubs says the same thing: don't join ten. Join a couple, go every time, and help out with the boring stuff (setting up chairs, posters, carrying equipment). That's where the real conversations happen.

How the clubs stack up for making friends

Best clubs for introverts

Being an introvert doesn't mean you don't want friends. It means you want fewer, deeper ones, ideally with a task to hide behind at the start.

1. Robotics or coding club. You talk about the problem, not yourself. Friendships happen sideways.
2. Book club or creative writing club. Small group, structured discussion, very low pressure.
3. Art club. You can work quietly next to someone for weeks before talking, and that's fine.
4. Chess club. One-on-one, quiet, and the post-game chat is natural.
5. Stage crew (not acting). All the theater bonding, none of the spotlight.
6. Gardening or environment club. Outdoors, hands busy, easy small talk.

Tip: as an introvert, aim to say one thing to one person each meeting. That's it. Over a term, that adds up.

Best clubs for outgoing people

If you get energy from people, go for clubs with lots of them and lots of events.

1. Theater or musical. The cast becomes a family by opening night.
2. Student council. You'll meet people from every year and friend group.
3. Sports teams, including intramurals. Intramurals (in-school leagues) are great if you're not good enough for varsity yet.
4. Model UN or debate. Weekend conferences and overnight trips are friendship accelerators.
5. Event-planning or spirit committee. Prom, homecoming, charity days. You'll know everyone.
6. Improv club. Laughing together is a shortcut to liking each other.

Outgoing people still get nervous walking into a room full of strangers. If you want to know how to show up confident on day one, it helps to work out what you do with your body and eyes when you walk in.

Walking into a club where everyone already knows each other is the hardest part. Aura's plan includes moves like "Pause at the door" for exactly that moment, and a one-tap check-in each night so you can track whether it's getting easier. Find my aura leak

Best clubs for creatives

Creative clubs leave you with things to show and people who get you.

1. Film or photography club. Shoots need crews, and crews become friends.
2. Yearbook. You meet half the school and get access everywhere.
3. School newspaper, magazine or podcast.
4. Music production or band.
5. Fashion or sewing club. Thrift trips are basically hangouts.
6. Animation or digital art club.

Creative clubs also double as hobbies that make you more interesting to talk to. If you want more ideas like that, check out our list of hobbies that make you interesting.

Best clubs that look good for college (and still make friends)

Okay, colleges and universities do care what you do outside class. The good news: the clubs that look good and the clubs that make friends overlap a lot. What admissions readers tend to value is commitment and leadership over a long list.

Good overlap picks:

• Debate or Model UN — skills plus a tight team
• Robotics or science olympiad — competitions and teamwork
• Volunteering or service club — real-world impact, friendly people
• Student council — leadership, plus you meet everyone
• Any club where you end up running something — see our guide on how to be a leader in a group project, because the same skills apply

How many clubs should I join in high school?

Two or three is a solid range for most people. One you love, one social one, maybe one that stretches you. It's better to go deep in a couple than show up twice to eight. In the UK, sixth form clubs and uni societies (at freshers' fair) work the same way: sign up for lots, then keep going to the two or three that feel right.

How to start a club (the best clubs to start in high school)

Can't find your people? Start the club yourself. Founders make friends fastest because everyone who joins is there for the thing you love.

1. Pick something specific. "Anime club" is fine. "Studio Ghibli watch club" gets people curious.
2. Find a teacher sponsor. Ask a teacher who already likes the topic. (Need help? Here's how to ask a teacher for help.)
3. Check your school's rules. Most schools need a form, a sponsor and a minimum number of members.
4. Get three founding members. Your friends count. A room with four people feels like a club; a room with one doesn't.
5. Make the first meeting fun, not admin. Snacks, a game or a screening. Save the rules for meeting two.
6. Post about it. Posters, morning announcements, a class group chat.

Easy clubs to start: board game club, cooking club, K-pop dance club, sneaker club, crochet club, a film club, or a mental health awareness club.

Show up like you belong there

Picking the best clubs to join in high school to make friends is step one. Walking in, holding eye contact and actually being heard is step two, and that's what Aura works on. Answer 16 questions in the next minute, get your aura tier and a 14-move plan, with a one-time payment and nothing to cancel.

Find my aura leak

FAQ

What clubs should I join in high school if I have no friends?

Start with clubs built around small teams or projects, like robotics, stage crew, yearbook or a sports team. These give you a reason to talk to people without needing to be the life of the party. Go every week; friendships build from showing up.

What are good clubs to join in high school for introverts?

Good picks are book club, art club, chess, coding or robotics, and stage crew. They're smaller, quieter and give you something to do with your hands while conversations happen naturally.

How many clubs should I join in high school?

Two or three is plenty for most students. Depth matters more than a long list, both for making friends and for college applications. You can always try more at the start of the year and drop the ones that don't click.

What are the best clubs to start in high school?

Clubs with a clear, fun hook are easiest to start: board games, cooking, film nights, K-pop dance, crochet or a niche fandom club. You'll need a teacher sponsor and a few founding members, and your first meeting should be fun, not paperwork.

Do clubs actually help you make friends?

Yes, because they give you repeated time with the same people and a shared goal, which is what most friendships are built on. The clubs that work best involve doing things together, like rehearsing, competing or building.