The Summer Opportunities Fair – In case you missed it
Are you currently planning your summer at UC Berkeley? In case you missed the Summer Opportunities Fair, here’s what you need to know!
Hosted by UC Berkeley Summer Sessions, dozens of departments set up their tables in the West Pauley Ballroom to provide information on their 2026 summer programs. Krista Meyer, the director of brand and content marketing for Summer Sessions at UC Berkeley, spoke on the details of this event. Running for over a decade, Meyer says the event has grown in size to an average of about a thousand attendees every year. As the name implies, many departments are offering their summer courses, minors, or certificates. One of her highlighted points was that these sessions vary in length. With this, Meyer says “You can do a summer minor, you can study abroad and still have some time to play during your summer.”
However, if you were interested in work or research opportunities, these options were fairly limited. With that being said, this event was primarily aimed at students still deciding what they’d like to pursue. If you’re in this position and not sure where to look, check out UC Berkeley Summer Sessions to explore their programs! If you already know what department you’re interested in, you can also look them up directly on Berkeley Class Schedule. However, if you’re like me, and already know what you want to do with your major, you’d benefit the most from their resources section.
Greeting you at the entrance held a cluster of housing opportunities. International House and UC Berkeley Housing offered their summer hosting programs. David Aung, a junior at Berkeley, found these organizations the most helpful as they offered specific housing for students intending to do research. Arguably the most important note from these departments was that housing for the summer session is on a first-come, first-serve basis. So, if you plan on living here over the summer, decide quickly and check out their website if you want campus housing!
Next up, and my personal favorite, The UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens is offering their summer positions for students. Whether or not you qualify for work study, they are hiring summer camp counselors to plan and lead educational workshops for children. If you’re interested in these positions, find out more at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley. You might not find the positions open till later, so get a headstart now and contact their office.
We also checked out Berkeley Career Engagement, a center for students looking to expand their professional portfolio. Located across campus on Bancroft, this organization offers career counseling, resume assistance, free professional headshots, and literally dozens more services all students and graduates can access using their Cal1 Card. If you are in need of any of these services, check out Berkeley Career Engagement to explore your options!
Finally, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office gave their advice for students intending to enroll in summer sessions. As stated by Meyer, this is one of the most significant factors when considering your time in the summer. Additionally, the most important dates are coming up soon! To receive an offer, you must submit your FAFSA and be enrolled in at least 6 credits for this summer. With that, you’ll hear back around the end of March. For more details, check out the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office!
Overall, the fair provided students with more than just insight into their summer. For students like Ashley Cervantes, this fair gave her possibilities, “not just for summer, but fall and spring.” With so many resources, many left the learning what else UC Berkeley has to offer to them right now. Of course, for students excited to continue their education over break, this event gave them plenty of resources to start planning. For those still on the fence, Meyer reminds us that “Bears don’t hibernate in the summer.”