With over 500 student clubs and organizations on campus there is an abundance of extracurricular activities that will allow you to continue your existing hobbies and passions as well as build new ones. Orgs and clubs provide fantastic opportunities to form new friendships and be a part of a community of others who share your interests, values, and passions.

Being a part of a group can not only be fun but it can boost your mental health by strengthening your identity and self-confidence, as well as provide you with a network of support—a home away from home-- when you need it.

Check out all the orgs that UCSB has to offer by visiting OrgSync (use your regular UCSB login to gain access).

For many students the trickiest thing is simply finding the courage and making the time to try out the different flavors of clubs that this campus has to offer.

Our campus is like an ice cream shop. There are lots of flavors of ways to get involved—from clubs, sports, or other social organizations at UCSB to volunteering in the community.  In an ice cream shop some flavors are going to sound appealing while others not so much.  And just like the ice cream shop, some clubs or organizations will seem appealing while others won’t be.  You have the opportunity to sample the flavors of this campus and the community---go out to clubs or orgs that sound interesting and try them out. Perhaps volunteer in the community, such as a pet shelter or a group into protecting and preserving the environment.

• Start with the activities that you already love and feel confident engaging in. Your comfort with the activity will allow you to not worry so much about meeting new people…your shared interests in the activity will make it easier to start building friendships.

• Start a new adventure.  Always wanted to try surfing? You can do that here. Want to be more involved in social justice causes? There are many passionate people here that fit that bill.  The point is that this is a time to try new things and see what new interests and passions might emerge for you.

Remember, just like tasting ice cream, some of the flavors that you thought sounded appealing might be less so when you try them. But chances are, by trying out new things, you are going to find ones that you really love.