Your teammates. Your future colleagues. Your best friends.
You can find all of these in the community that’s right for you at Cal — the community that takes you from Golden Bear Orientation (GBO) week to graduation, the club you call home. But how do you know if a club is the right fit? How do you know you’ll feel welcomed into the community a student organization provides, and interested in the experiences it holds in store? Fret not, because I’m going to show you how to peruse the over 1,200 clubs available at UC Berkeley, and how to find the right community for you.
Along the way, you’ll find student experiences with their four-year clubs, favorite organizations, and how they knew when they found their home away from home.
Where to start
At UC Berkeley, there’s abundant opportunities to meet campus organizations both online and in person. I like to use online databases to see what organizations and opportunities are available and eventually attend in-person events to have personal conversations and get to know each organization.
CalLink, an online resource: CalLink is the online central hub for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) at UC Berkeley. It is an organization search engine packed with all the information you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the clubs UC Berkeley has to offer. CalLink sorts organizations into 38 categories, ranging from sports clubs to service organizations to political and advocacy organizations. Once you’ve accessed the website and navigated to the “Events” tab, you can use these categories to filter for your interests and find clubs that might be fit for you.
From there, you can also find club websites and their social media accounts to see their recent activity. CalLink also lists the contact information for each organization’s campus advisor and club leadership. I found CalLink to be a handy starting point in my initial club search, and it was super helpful in compiling a list of clubs to keep my eye out for.
Calapalooza, an in-person campus event: Calapalooza, one of the many events held in the fall to connect you to the Cal community, is a student involvement fair during which members of UC Berkeley’s registered student organizations table on Upper Sproul Plaza, actively recruiting new members for the current semester. You can use this opportunity to ask current members questions you may have, or simply learn more about their organization. Think of Calapalooza as a chance to take the general information of clubs and organizations you found on CalLink, and turn them into more personal takes on your potential four- or two-year communities.
As Calapalooza tends to be a bustling, busy event packed with what seems to be the entire school, you may want to come prepared and use some of these Berkeley Life tips and tricks:
- Start with scanning your major and department websites — for me, this was the Philosophy Department. There, you’ll find a page dedicated to the student groups associated with your major, and likely at least one of your interests. This is an easy way to know what clubs to immediately look for at Calapalooza.
- Check out Blue Heart clubs, which are registered student organizations that are classified as “open membership.” That means that when it comes time for Calapalooza, you don’t need to ask any questions about how to get in — everyone is welcome to make Blue Heart clubs home!
The “Organizations” tab on CalLink, with a “Categories” filter for different purposes and interests.
Know your criteria
There’s no one “best” way to tell if a club is as good on the inside as it appears on the outside, nor if it’s the right fit for you. However, I can tell you that depending on what you are looking for, there are red and green flags, respectively, and incorporating this criteria into your club search might save you some time in the trial-and-error stage of finding your favorite college club.
Leadership structure: “What’s the ladder, and how do I climb it?” Your club’s organizational composition, leaders, and opportunities to become a part of leadership are some of the most important things to know if you want to be a part of a thriving, rather than tiring, community. I wouldn’t say your goal has to be taking on a leadership position, but the club’s leadership structure should be clear, and there should be opportunities to take on more responsibilities over time. This helps not only in keeping the club’s output — whether that’s articles, performances, or short films — efficient, but also in honoring the fairness that all clubs are obligated to uphold. Instead of having to ask who’s in charge or how to excel in your role, clear structure tells you your exact place, duties, and role.
People and purpose: When it comes to community, one of the most important factors is understanding why you want to join a club in the first place, and what kind of people make you feel like you belong. I can confidently say that when you find a club where the members are both likeminded and inviting for you, you will have found yourself a lasting community. So, ask yourself questions about people and purpose before committing your time to a club. Are you primarily seeking a tight-knit community to find your best friends and a home away from home? Are you focused on building your resume skills, gaining leadership experience, and networking for your professional future? Perhaps you are driven by a desire to contribute to public service, or other social causes. Clubs at Berkeley can offer all of these, but you’ll get the most out of your involvement if you choose a club that aligns with both the people you want to surround yourself with and the purpose you hope it will serve in your overall college experience.
Transparent communication: For some clubs, you can just show up to the first meeting; for others, there may be an application process. Throughout the recruitment, application, and orientation phases of joining a club, it’s important that you pay attention to your club’s transparency. Expectations should be clear, and you should have a clear understanding of your role and responsibilities within the club, as well as the time commitment expected of you. Allow me to be a cautionary tale of what could happen when transparency is subpar: In my first-year year club search, I participated in a multi-stage, multi-interview application process for a consulting club. After weeks of effort, I was accepted, and attended the club’s orientation, only to find out that I wasn’t just expected to attend one weekly meeting, but three meetings a week to fulfill my obligations; and to put it shortly, my schedule could not accommodate that time commitment.
UC Berkeley’s Reflejos del Sol Ballet Folklórico club performing at Homecoming.
How we found our favorite clubs
While I can’t attest to experience with all 1,200+ of Berkeley’s registered student organizations, I — along with six of my fellow student writers — will leave you with personal experiences about how we found the clubs and orgs that make us want to come to meetings, stay involved, and get closer to the community.
To help your club search, this list of clubs is organized by subject/interest, but anyone of any major or background is welcome in any of our clubs.
Arts: Danceworx
“When I came to Berkeley, I knew that I wanted to continue dancing, because it had been such an important part of my life for so long. I was drawn to Danceworx because of the range of styles that they offered, and the inclusive, welcoming energy that every member of the club showed me throughout the audition process. Throughout my first semester of college, Danceworx was instrumental in helping me find a sense of community — every week, I would go to rehearsal knowing that I could connect with a kind, enthusiastic group of people who shared my passion for dance. Performing in our end-of-semester showcases were highlights of my first year at Berkeley — it was so special to see everybody’s hard work come together to create something we were all proud of. I’m truly so grateful for Danceworx, and I cannot wait to keep working with them throughout college.” — Shae, Class of 2029, majoring in English
Journalism: The Daily Californian
“The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley’s independent student newspaper, was the first student-run organization I joined as a student. The Daily Cal is not technically a club at Berkeley, as it maintains the ability to report on the university in an unbiased manner as an independent non-profit newspaper. However, the process of joining was similar to any other club at UC Berkeley. I applied to be a sports reporter despite not having any formal writing or journalism experience and I found a community of students who love sports and writing in the same way I do. I have gotten to experience cool things like reporting on football and basketball games, going on the field during a game, and interviewing players and coaches in a variety of sports. I am most grateful for the leadership skills I learned and the people I got the pleasure of interacting with at Daily Cal social events.” — Ethan, Class of 2027, majoring in English and minoring in journalism
Politics: Berkeley Political Review
“When I joined the Berkeley Political Review (BPR), I figured it’d be a fitting club for someone interested in writing, politics, and writing about politics. Though this was true, I discovered over the course of my freshman year that BPR was, most importantly to me, an outlet. BPR gave me a platform to write about the topics and issues I care about, and space where I feel my passions are shared. I felt like I was seen, and doing something important. At our meetings, socials, and retreats, I could talk about anything from a difficult class to the happenings of Congress. Not only am I empowered as a writer, but I’m validated as a person just interested in politics and having someone to talk to about it — BPR’s leadership and membership make sure to provide both in abundance. I’m grateful for my editors who give up their own time to refine and improve my writing, for my fellow writers for making BPR such as a bright, insightful collective of students, and for our outgoing and incoming leadership, whose tireless effort to sustain Berkeley’s largest political journal has given me a community I can truly love.” — Joseph, Class of 2029, majoring in philosophy and minoring in journalism
Computer/Data Science: Women in Computing and Data Science
“I’ve been a part of UC Berkeley’s Women in Computing and Data Science club (WiCDS) for most of my time at Cal, and it has truly shaped the trajectory of my growth in so many ways. It was empowering to find a place in the tech community where I wasn’t constantly questioning whether I belonged there. Through WiCDS’s data science committee, I was able to develop foundational skills that made me more confident about taking advanced classes in data science, and eventually adding it as a major. By leading the machine learning committee, I got to give back to the most amazing community of women starting out in their tech journeys while also discovering a lot about my own interests and career goals in the process. Whether it’s through machine learning study sessions on the glade or project presentations at our final symposium, the technical growth I’ve experienced through WiCDS has allowed me to be more confident in how I discuss topics like AI, data science, and the future of tech because I’ve been exposed to a multitude of fresh perspectives while also being encouraged to spend time focusing on myself and expanding my own knowledge. This semester, I’m proud to continue to serve WiCDS as its co-president. I’m truly so grateful to have experienced the support, mentorship, and warm welcome that the WiCDS community extends to each of its members, and I hope to be able to grow this space even more – it’s without a doubt a club that you can’t help but be a part of for your whole two or four years as a Berkeley student.” — Reva, Class of 2027, majoring in data science and environmental economics and policy
Sciences: Undergraduate Astronomy Society
“I joined the Undergraduate Astronomy Society (UAS) sort of by accident. My mentor for another club happened to be the President of UAS in my first year and invited me to get telescope trained. I took her up on it, and applied to be an officer for the upcoming school year. Second year, I acted as the Website Development Officer, where I coded our new website and managed bi-weekly newsletters. I’ve had so much fun presenting to the club, coordinating events, and serving as a mentor to all the new faces this past year. I’m excited to see what this upcoming year will hold! I feel like I’ve found my people, gotten to explore my academic interests, and received guidance from upperclassmen that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else.” — Milana, Class of 2028, majoring in astrophysics and political science and minoring in creative writing
Theater: BareStage Productions
“BareStage Productions was the first club I joined in freshman year. I didn’t really know what I was doing; I looked up theater clubs on CalLink, saw they had a bunch of followers on Instagram, and assumed they were a decent-sized club. Ever since that first day, when a handful of confused freshmen and I were late to the general meeting searching for the hard-to-find theater space, I have done many things for the club. I performed Shakespeare, got to be in my favorite musical of all time, and discovered my passion for vocal direction. Though I stepped away from performance and tech opportunities last year, I still make a point of going to see the wonderful performances they put on at the end of the semester. The part I will always be most grateful for is that the first semester in the club introduced me to who would end up being my roommate of two years, and I still carry a lot of great memories with me.” — Nolan Zils, Class of 2027, majoring in media studies and minoring in journalism and creative writing
I’ll leave the rest to you!
Knowing yourself and what you’re looking for will take you a long way in the club search. Be confident in your identity, know your boundaries, and look out for those red flags. Be open to saying “yes,” but also be ready to dish out the necessary “no.” You don’t need to rush, but the university’s resources and your peers’ experiences can point you directly to your home away from home, to your friends for life. It might stick out to you on CalLink. Maybe you’ll resonate with Berkeley Life’s coverage of the Costume Department, the Carillon Guild, or the Prison Education Project. I love my four-year club, and regardless of your method or your time at Cal, I truly do hope you find your forever friends and favorite club.
Joseph Burney, Class of 2029, is majoring in philosophy and minoring in journalism. Cover photo courtesy of the Berkeley Gallery.
Want more?
- Check out and consider these Blue Heart clubs, communities open to everyone.
- Find a host of resources for your start at UC Berkeley.
- Read about Shae’s first year experience, tackling clubs, academics, and more.