Clubs & Orgs for Everyone at UC Berkeley
At the beginning of each semester, Calapalooza is hosted on Sproul Plaza to showcase hundreds of clubs and student organizations. The event features performances from a variety of different clubs and tables for clubs to showcase who they are and what they do so potential new members—that’s you!—can learn about them.
Berkeley can feel overwhelmingly large sometimes, and joining a club is a great way to find your community and make it feel more like a small world. UC Berkeley is home to over 1,400 Registered Student Organizations (RSO) so there truly is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to play sports, get involved in the arts, connect with your cultural community, volunteer, dive deeper into your academic interests, or try a new hobby, the perfect club for you is out there.
Community & Culture
From right to left: Maanika, Maya, and Madhuri and fellow club members tabling for the Indian Student Association (ISA).
Cultural clubs allow students to connect with their communities on campus. They are an important part of making campus feel like home—helping students find comfort and joy in shared traditions and experiences.
The Indian Student Association (ISA) is one of these many clubs. ISA represents the South Asian Diaspora and the Indo-American community on UC Berkeley’s campus. They organize events spreading and celebrating South Asian culture that see thousands of people attending, including the largest “Green” Holi on the West coast, Diwali, and Raas-Garba. Additionally, they host cross-cultural conversations and mixers with the South Indian Society, Asian American Association, Pakistani Student Association, and more to expose members to a wide range of cultures on campus.
For Madhuri Suresh, a senior studying public health and data science, the cultural aspect of ISA is incredibly important as it allows her to tap into her culture and continue to carry on traditions. Beyond that, Madhuri shared that the social aspect was also equally important for her. Putting together events for ISA has allowed her to build community both within the club itself and with the broader Berkeley community: “It creates the most lasting friendships I’ve ever seen within a club at Berkeley.”
Public health and data science student Maya Bhandari agreed, sharing, “As a senior I cannot imagine my experience without ISA. I joined as a freshman and I made my best friends through this club.”
ISA’s celebrations for Raas-Garba will be held in mid-October (Oct. 19th, 2025) and Diwali will take place in early November (Nov. 7th, 2025). All information can be found on their Instagram (@isaberkeley).
Club Sports
Griffin Santa (right) tabling with Cal Club Triathlon.
For Griffin Santa, a sophomore studying industrial engineering, Cal Club Triathlon was actually one of the things that made him choose UC Berkeley when deciding where to go to college: “A big part of my college decision was based on Cal having a good triathlon team that was active, so I knew I was going to join… I only ran before this so trying swimming and biking was awesome, just something brand new.”
Each fall, (October 19th, 2025) Cal Triathlon hosts their annual Bearathlon race. This race takes place at the Berkeley Marina, and includes a sprint distance triathlon, multiple relay distances, and a 5k run, which is new to this year. Last year, the event had over 500 racers, and a bunch of awesome prizes for age group and collegiate winners. This race is a super fun event for any seasoned triathlete or newcomer to the sport trying to take on a challenge.
Sports clubs like Cal Triathlon are a great opportunity for athletes to continue doing the sports they love at a manageable level, or an opportunity to try something new! Additionally, intramural sports give students the opportunity to build their own teams and play with their friends.
Career Preparation
Michelle Chen (left) tabling with Cal Pre-Dental Society.
There are also many clubs designed to help students excel in their future careers and connect with others who share the same interests as them.
Michelle Chen, a senior studying microbial biology who joined Cal Pre-Dental Society her freshman year at Berkeley, talked about how PDS helped her with her dental school applications: “It’s definitely prepared me for my future career. I was able to ask people I know in PDS for advice when I was applying which helped alleviate stress,” she shared. Beyond that, joining the club helped her feel welcome at Berkeley and create lasting friendships: “I can definitely envision myself with these people after Berkeley in my life going forward.”
PDS is UC Berkeley’s premier pre-dental organization. Throughout the year, they host a variety of events aimed at supporting and preparing students for their dental school journey. These include professional development workshops and guest speaker events where students can connect with dental school admissions officers, practicing dentists, and current dental students. Outside of this and social meetings, PDS offers community service and dental education outreach events, where students can gain valuable, hands-on experience and strengthen their dental school applications.
Pursue Your Passions
Visud (left) and Chloe (right) tabling for Drawn to Scale.
UC Berkeley offers a wide variety of clubs for those interested in performing arts, as well as many niche communities and hobbies.
Drawn to Scale is one of UC Berkeley’s many a cappella groups. It is a competitive co-ed a cappella group that hosts concerts, performs around campus, and competes in the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA)—yes, that’s the same competition from the popular Pitch Perfect movies!
Chloe Chang, a senior studying data science, described the group as a tight-knit community of really talented musicians and performers: “It’s my very first home, my community, and all of my best friends are here.”
Visud Chang, a junior studying aerospace engineering, added, “My favorite part is feeling proud of everybody and seeing how much the group grows and learns to be immersed in the music. It’s really special to create music together.”
Chanda with her motorcycle at Calapalooza.
Meanwhile, Chanda is a part of a unique group on campus: Motorsport Mechanics of Berkeley, or MMOB. Chanda has been a part of this club since it was founded about three years ago and shares that what’s special about the group is that they are a predominantly female club. “We prioritize our female members in a male-dominated space. We want to highlight them and give them a safe space to exist.”
Find Your Perfect Fit
Check out all of the clubs this university has to offer or stop by a table next semester at Calapalooza! There are also many clubs that don’t require a formal application, making them easily accessible to all students. You can learn more about these clubs through the Blue Heart Initiative on CalLink, which indicates orgs without formal applications by placing a blue heart emoji next to their name.
No matter what you’re passionate about or what community you are a part of, UC Berkeley has a space for you.
Rachel Holmes, Class of 2026, is majoring in media studies and minoring in theater and performance studies. Cover photo by Rachel Holmes.
Want More?
- Check out some of the other clubs at Calapalooza.
- Discover how to join clubs as a Transfer student
- Start here if you’re considering joining a new club!