Alternative Breaks Spring Participant Application

Questions? Contact us at berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com!
All current UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students with any documentation status are welcome to apply.


Update as of September 2024 — At this time, Alternative Breaks is planning for in-person spring break trips in March 2025. We are following public health guidelines and assessing the needs of the communities we serve. We will provide updates to any changes on this website. If you have any questions, please contact Rosa Enriquez at RosaLeeEnriquez@berkeley.edu and berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com.

Application Deadline

  • Priority Deadline: Oct. 23, 2024
  • Final Deadline: Oct. 26, 2024

Time Commitments

  • Enroll in 2 unit in-person Spring DeCal; Wednesdays from 6-8pm PST. If you cannot attend the DeCal from 6-8pm on Wednesdays, you cannot participate in the service learning trip.
  • Attend All-Community Meetings (more details provided upon acceptance)
  • Participate in spring break service trip, Saturday, March 22 – Saturday, March 29, 2025. *Exact dates may vary depending on the location.

Personal Commitments

  • Maintain a sense of curiosity to learn and collaborate with community partners and fellow peers — understanding that we come with different knowledge, experiences, and privileges
  • Agree and adhere to trip guidelines and participant agreements, including final decisions made by student Break Leaders.
  • Uphold No Alcohol and No Substance Use policy for all activities related to Alternative Breaks.
  • Complete and turn in all trip safety and liability forms.
  • While on the service trip, all participants are expected to adhere to guidelines, participant agreements, and Break Leader decisions

Financial Commitments

  • Pay a participant fee of $375. This fee covers housing, transportation, and food for the entire week. An initial non-refundable deposit of $100 will be due at the first All-Community Meeting. PLEASE NOTE: Participant fees are non-refundable.
  • All participants are required to participate in all fundraising activities to make trips possible.
  • Participants on the Puerto Rico trip are responsible for purchasing their own plane tickets.
  • We seek to make Alternative Breaks as accessible as possible. Although we have limited funds, we will offer a small stipend for students with financial need. Application will be made available after you are part of the program. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Finance Director at finance.altbreaks@gmail.com

Questions? Need more information?
E-mail us at berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com


Please DO NOT click “submit” until the entire application is complete!
Incomplete applications will NOT be read!


I. Personal Information

(as it appears on your identification)

 

(as it appears on your identification)

 

 
 

 
 
The Public Service Center is committed to raising funds for those who need it.
Please share your financial aid status with us to help us make this happen. (Please check all that apply.)
Note: 65% of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid

Not Eligible for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Eligible
Work-Study Eligible
Pell Grant Eligible

 

II. Position Preference Information

Alternative Breaks Program Information

Are you a returning applicant? Are you a past program participant?

Trip Preferences

Preference #1 How interested are you in preference #1? (On a scale of 1-5, one being the lowest, five being the highest; include your reasoning)

 
Preference #2 How interested are you in preference #2? (On a scale of 1-5, one being the lowest, five being the highest; include your reasoning)

 
Preference #3 How interested are you in preference #3? (On a scale of 1-5, one being the lowest, five being the highest; include your reasoning)

 
 

If you marked Puerto Rico as a trip preference, do you have a government-issued photo ID (for airplane transport information, either driver’s license or passport)?

III. Personal Statement

 
 

 
 

 
 

If you are interested in the Alternative Breaks experience and would like to go on a trip regardless of your preference, please check this box:

I have read all participant responsibilities and agree to these conditions if selected for a spring Alternative Breaks trip.

I have completed all required fields and answered all questions in the personal statement.
 

Before you submit your application, make sure all required fields have been completed. We will NOT review applications that are incomplete. Questions can be directed to berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com.