Nurture Your Interests with Clubs at Berkeley
Jump in! Joining clubs and student organizations during your first semester at UC Berkeley is a great way to feel integrated into the university community. It’s also so important to carve out time for extracurriculars that help balance out your academic life. Consider these tips for finding and joining your next club as a transfer student. Getting involved right away helped me gain a sense of belonging early on as a transfer student at Berkeley.
Do Preliminary Research
Before you begin your first semester, I recommend browsing CalLink for student organizations that pique your interest. You could get a head start on contacting the club with any questions you may have before the application process begins at the beginning of the semester. Plus, it adds to the excitement of what you want to be involved in when you transfer in.
Reminder: The Blue Heart Initiative is a feature on CalLink identifying registered student organizations that are classified as “open membership.” Look for a blue heart [💙] as you explore organizations to join.
Head to Calapalooza
Calapalooza is an event at the start of each semester that showcases a variety of student organizations. This is a fantastic opportunity to talk to current members of the clubs that catch your eye. You could also learn about a club that wouldn’t typically be what you go for but might end up becoming a new passion of yours. This interactive event is a great way to discover new clubs and kickstart the joining process.
Student performances at Upper Sproul Plaza during Cal Day 2024.
Ask Friends About Their Clubs
Sometimes the tried and true word-of-mouth method is a great way to learn about what it’s like to be in a club. One of the clubs that I joined was recommended to me by a friend and her insight gave me an accurate idea of what it was like to be in it. Ask other students about the activities they are involved in. Ask club members about the social culture, the typical responsibilities, and their favorite parts of being in the club so that you can have a good idea of what to expect if you consider joining.
Try Something New
Cast your net wide; it can lead to surprising new interests. Joining a club or student org about something you wouldn’t normally go for could be exactly what you need to find some new inspiration. College is a great time to explore new things. Reach out to that club that sounds far-fetched for you and give it a go.
Student club members playing music on campus.
Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Resume building is important during your collegiate years, but I encourage you to prioritize extracurriculars that you simply love to do. If those two overlap, perfect. Whatever you do, try to consider what feels right to you and what would fulfill rather than drain you during your time at Berkeley. Take the leap, and try something you’ve always wanted to do!
Preslee Vanlandingham (Class of 2024) majored in English and minored in Creative Writing.
Want More?
- Discover where to begin with student clubs and orgs.
- Explore a few Calapalooza clubs.
- Learn more about sustainable clubs on campus.
- Get advice on how to Find Success as a Transfer.