I took the question to mean extracurricular groups, while Adams' advice was to avoid English or sociology as courses of study. Hanging out with the atheists at a weekly club meeting, and essentially living in a toxic intellectual environment for four years, are different things.
Ironicaly, from my perspective, I have an English degree. I enjoyed my schooling immensely. I would do it again. Except that I wouldn't: 20 years ago my profs valued open discussion and diversity of opinion, but it appears that the intellectual climate on campus has chilled considerably since the mid-1990s.
I also have an English degree and went to college about the same time. My hardest-core Commie professor was fair enough that, if you could strongly support your point of view, she would give a good grade even if she disagreed with your premise/conclusion. Today she teaches Queer Studies and dresses as a man. I don’t know if she is still as fair as 20 years ago.