I went to Kansas State and like you, was interested in the chess team, which was touted to be pretty good in the Big12. Turns out, they stunk. It was a hodgepodge of guys who didn't know how to socialize or interact with people they didn't know. There where only a couple guys who where decent club level players and nobody even close to a lifetime title.
All this to say I think your day to day experience within a club will depend almost entirely of the people in said club. If you are going to a big city, you might also consider local clubs.
I'm going into my senior year of high school so my curiousity about the college chess system is understandable. Is it run by the NCAA, USCF, or another organization? At what level is it played?