Waivers and Purchase Eligibility

• Important computer eligibility information
• Applying for a purchase waiver
• Can the BLPP package be optionally purchased?
• I have an older MacBook Pro, the aluminum body, can that be waived?
• I have some the programs listed in the package already, can I waive those?
• Can Berklee alumni purchase the Berklee Laptop Package?
• What are the minimum specifications for a computer to be waived?

Important computer eligibility information

In most cases, if you already own an Apple laptop that meets or exceeds the college's minimum standards (as described in the Overview section), you may apply for a waiver from the Berklee Laptop Purchase Program ("BLPP") required of entering students. It should be noted that waivers are granted or denied at the college's discretion on a case-by-case basis after a student arrives at Berklee and presents their computer for review prior to the start of classes. Note that in almost every case students will end up paying more money than by buying the Berklee Laptop Package.

PLEASE NOTE: Apple's MacBook computer is not eligible for a waiver (not to be confused with the MacBook Pro). The MacBook's memory architecture shares its video memory with the computer's main memory. This design can severely constrain the computer's performance when running the intensive software applications used at Berklee. Also note that Apple recently introduced an extension of their MacBook Pro line of laptops, including 13" models and a 15" model that shares its video memory with the computer's main memory. These laptop models are not eligible for a waiver.

About laptop screen size -- the minimum laptop screen size sactioned for use at Berklee is fifteen inches (15"). In selecting this size, Berklee is ensuring a uniform computing workspace for students, faculty and staff. In addition, many applications in the curriculum, such as those for music notation, sequencing and recording, and video editing, are cumbersome to work with on screens smaller than fifteen inches.

About operating systems -- Berklee currently supports Apple's Mac OS X Snow Leopard. If you are planning on waiving with a laptop that is newer than the one offered in the BLPP, please note, it may have a newer operating system. Apple is planning the release for their next operating system, Mac OS X Lion, which will come standard on their laptops in the fall. Berklee's at this time standard will still be Mac OS X Snow Leopard. This is to ensure compatibility with the extensive list of music programs the college uses. Mac OS X Lion is currently being tested and evaluated before being rolled out into the BLPP, and is not fully supported at the college.

Applying for a purchase waiver

If you already own an Apple laptop (desktop computers are ineligible) that meets or exceeds the College's minimum standards (as described in the Overview section), you may apply for a waiver from the Berklee Laptop Purchase Program ("BLPP") required of entering students. If you consider applying for a waiver, please take into consideration the fact that, even if your waiver application is approved, your computer may have limited warranty remaining on the machine, and also may not be a current model. This could significantly impact your computer's performance over time, and also the cost of any repairs, especially those that would have been under warranty on a newer computer.

Waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis. If you have financial questions about the package, please contact the Bursar's office, Financial Aid, or Admissions.

To apply for a waiver, you must bring your computer to the Student Computer Support Center prior to the start of the semester's classes (typically during Orientation Week) and have the machine inspected. Your serial# will be logged (you cannot have purchased a computer from an enrolled Berklee student), and if your ownership of the hardware is accepted and your computer meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of the college, a waiver from purchasing a laptop through the Berklee Laptop Purchase Program may be granted. To prevent fraud or abuse, we cannot commit to, nor approve waivers in advance.

As part of the BLPP, Berklee provides certain software products, including updates, to students while enrolled at Berklee. Please review the Package Contents section for more information. In order to be granted a waiver from the BLPP, a Software Charge must be paid which covers these applications. This charge must be paid prior to having a waiver approved. This is required even if you already own any of applications in the package.

• $1,300.00 + sales tax (for students who already own an external keyboard controller with functionality consistent with the M-Audio Oxygen 8 that comes with the BLPP package), OR
• $1,400.00 + sales tax (for students who choose to purchase either an M-Audio Oxygen 25 keyboard from Berklee, or a Line 6 POD Studio UX2 audio interface from Berklee), OR
• $1,500.00 + sales tax (for students who choose to purchase both an M-Audio Oxygen 25 keyboard from Berklee, and a Line 6 POD Studio UX2 audio interface from Berklee)

If a waiver is granted, the Bursars office will be duly contacted and the laptop package charge will be removed from your tuition and fee bill within a reasonable timeframe. Please note that the removal of this charge is not immediate, and may take at least one business day to be processed.

Additional considerations when applying for a waiver:

• Students who wish to apply for a purchase waiver must do so BEFORE signing-for and picking up a laptop package at the main computer distribution. If a student has already picked up their Berklee Laptop Package, waivers will not be considered after-the-fact.
• Students must physically present a laptop prior to the start of classes. Do not come to Berklee and say "I ordered a computer that has not arrived yet…" Your waiver application will not be processed.
• Please review your computer's warranty to ensure you have sufficient warranty coverage. Repairs for non-warranty items are extremely expensive. Students need their laptop as an essential part of their coursework. If you cannot afford non-warranty repairs, your classwork may suffer.
• Support services (including loaner laptops, and some types of repairs) are limited for computers not purchased through the BLPP. Warranty repairs performed at Berklee may incur labor charges.

Can the BLPP package be optionally purchased?

Please contact the Student Computer Support Center to inquire on availability.

I have an older MacBook Pro, the aluminum body, can that be waived?

No. The older aluminum body MacBook Pro (without a black keyboard) can no longer be used to be granted a waiver. The reason being, is that Apple released this model in late 2007, early 2008. While this is still a great notebook for word processing, email, and internet browsing, the computer is simply outdated and will not be sufficient enough for a 4 year education at Berklee.

I have some the programs listed in the package already, can I waive those?

No. Berklee issues the same version of each program to every student. This is to ensure everyone is obtaining the same updates from the college. This also helps keep seamless transition if students wish to share files with one another. Once a computer is waived, a software package must be purchased in it's entirety.

Can Berklee alumni purchase the BLPP Package?

No. Only currently enrolled students at Berklee qualify to purchase the Berklee Laptop Package. The college is not a retailer of computer hardware and software, but only facilitates providing the Laptop Package and Major Bundles that are designed to support the curriculum for enrolled students.

What are the minimum specifications for a computer to be waived?

The minimum computer specifications required of Entering students (including first-semester transfer students) for the 2011-2012 academic year are:

• Apple Macintosh MacBook Pro computer with 15.4" display (Model MB470LL/A), 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 250GB hard disk, 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, two USB ports, AirPort card built-in.