May 6, 2026

All About EOP

Internships & Jobs

By Nolan Zils
5 MINUTE READ
Post Views: 6

What is the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)?

Since the 1960s, the Educational Opportunity Program, also known by its acronym EOP, has been an integral part of the UC Berkeley campus, serving underrepresented students in areas such as academic advising and counseling. Centralized around a student-to-student communication style, EOP employs many students to execute their vision, many of whom were introduced to EOP after going to them for assistance.

We were lucky enough to get to sit down with three EOP members to ask about their experiences with the organization. From various specialities and focuses of study, these students all discussed what has made working for the EOP so fulfilling for them: senior Jannealle Brambila, junior Luis Fonseca, and senior Nicole Tsang.

How student staff got started with EOP

All three students got their start early in their Berkeley careers, joining EOP as underclassmen. Jannealle Brambila, a current Socials Lead Coordinator, learned about EOP before even setting foot on the UC Berkeley campus. 

“I joined EOP STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields) in December 2022, so since I was a freshman. I found out about EOP through my high school, because they really emphasize just getting into the EOP space. I remember I was looking on their Instagram, and I found out that they were hiring interns, specifically for the socials team that I’m on. I really enjoy planning and building community, so I thought it would be nice to meet more people who come from the same backgrounds as I do. It was nice.” — Jannealle Brambila, Class of 2026, electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) major

For EOP STEM scholar Luis Fonseca, the program’s support was so profound that he cited it as a significant reason for staying at Berkeley when he had been considering transferring. He also learned about EOP STEM in high school. 

“I also come from a low-income, underrepresented background. I come from South Central Los Angeles, and I learned about EOP STEM while in high school. We had a little EOP chapter in my high school that helped us out with the college applications. Then  when I got to the university, they were really helpful in navigating my first semester when I was thinking I would transfer out. My second semester, I really fell in love with just having a cool support system that I could rely on through all my semesters here.”  — Luis Fonseca, Class of 2027, aerospace engineering major

A look into EOP’s resources

The program is home to numerous programs run by students and staff that help underrepresented students succeed, from seminars for those experiencing academic difficulty, peer counseling, STEM support, and more. 

One highlight is the program’s network system, which helped mentor Nicole Tsang when she was looking for someone to proofread her graduate school essay. Through the network, she was able to email her advisor and get in touch with someone in a master’s program. Because she initially didn’t know anyone in the program who shared her major, the network was very helpful. She noted that even as a senior, it can be hard to find the right resources and the right people to answer questions. 

“We all share the same mindset, same vision, values, the same background as well, and I think that’s what makes EOP so valuable. I would say the network is definitely something I encourage new students to take advantage of.” — Nicole Tsang, Class of 2026, mechanical engineering major

The mentorship program works by pairing new students with another student or alumnus who participated in EOP and can help guide students through the first semesters at Berkeley. Social events are a great way for students to meet other members of the program. There are also more resource-focused events where topics such as taxes and study tips are covered. Notably, the Roads to Resilience program, or R2R, helps students with academic probation or other academic struggles through seminars that focus on time management, community building, and mental health. Study jams, where students are encouraged to get out of their academic bubbles and meet people outside their major and expertise, are a favorite every semester. 

Nicole and her mentee, Estela Jauregui (Class of 2029), accepting the award for “Most Active Pair” during last semester’s EOP mentorship program. (Photo credit: Nicole Tsang)

How EOP shaped their Berkeley experience

When Luis was considering transferring out of Berkeley in his first semester, he recalled something his EOP counselor said that changed his point of view: Be comfortable being uncomfortable. 

“It gave me this perspective of, yes, it’s hard being an underrepresented minority here at Berkeley when sometimes we don’t come from the same level playing field, but it shouldn’t always feel like someone’s targeting you, you know. So, it gave me this perspective of: I know who I am, and I’m still learning who I am, and it’s okay to expand.” — Luis Fonseca, Class of 2027, aerospace engineering major 

The students also said that EOP opened their eyes to how they can contribute to their own student communities, especially through mentorship and social coordination. While they all shared similar experiences of struggling to adjust to academics in the first few semesters, they all said going to events and getting involved in EOP helped make their classes seem less daunting. 

“It has really made the campus feel smaller, even though we’re surrounded by thousands of students. Just knowing one more person, or having these spaces where we have social events each month, like study jams that you constantly go to, and you see the same people. You grow with the people around you. I’ve hosted events where students come in not knowing anyone, and they leave getting contact information for other people.”  — Jannealle Brambila, Class of 2026, EECS major 

Balancing campus jobs and taking classes

“I’m still learning how to balance these things. You’d think after three and a half years, it comes easier, but there’s a lot of leadership changes. For instance I’m overseeing two new interns this school year, so I’m having to know that as a graduating senior, I’m gonna have to pass the torch down to them.” — Jannealle Brambila, Class of 2026, EECS major

The EOP students shared that though their respective jobs require a good amount of work, it doesn’t feel like work because they enjoy what they do: talking to people, hearing their stories, mentorship, planning social events, and so on. Additionally, they have gone on to continue using the time management and outreach skills they learned early on in their EOP experience in order to balance their EOP work, school, and other activities. What motivates them is knowing that the students they so often interact and work with are in the same positions they were once in: struggling in the first semester and looking for help. 

Caption: The mural in between the MLK Student Union and the Student Center, the latter being where EOP operates.

Check out EOP today!

Whether you are a new admit or continuing student, the Educational Opportunity Program has over 60 years of experience helping underrepresented students, and they are ready to help you! There is no competitive application needed in order to access the program and its benefits, and you can even find EOP representatives at various first-year and transfer receptions across the state. 

Come on down to the Student Center at UC Berkeley and see how the EOP team can help make your experience at UC Berkeley more successful, enjoyable, and fulfilling. Get ready to meet like-minded students, mentors, and peers along the way!

 

Nolan Zils, Class of 2027, is majoring in Media Studies and History and minoring in journalism and creative writing. Cover photo courtesy of Student Affairs Communications.

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