First-Year Student Advising Program

Berklee's First-Year Student Advising Program (FYSAP) comprises peer advisors, faculty/staff advisors, a staff coordinator, and student employees. The program is overseen by a small group of faculty, staff, and administrators who make key decisions. There is also a FYSAP advisory board of staff and faculty members. FYSAP's home is in the Counseling and Advising Center.

The FYSAP team is here to assist entering students and help them succeed academically and socially during their transition to Berklee. Every entering student, whether a freshman or a transfer student, is assigned a peer advisor and a faculty or staff advisor. The program has proven to be effective at building friendships and fostering a sense of community.

Who are peer advisors?

• Upper-semester Berklee students in good academic and social standing
• Supervised, responsible, and trained mentors able to assist, guide, and refer
• First contacts for various academic and social questions or issues
• A diverse group of respectful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable student leaders

Who Are Faculty and Staff Advisors?

• A diverse group of full-time faculty and staff members who volunteer for the role
• Supportive, Trained, responsible, and knowledgeable leaders, mentors, and educators
• Valuable contacts, usually sought out by an advisee after consulting with a peer advisor

How does the program work?

• Peer advisors email their entering student advisees at their Berklee email accounts several weeks before Orientation to welcome them and answer any questions they may have before arriving at the college.
• During Orientation, entering students meet in a group with their assigned peer advisor and that person's other advisees. The students' peer advising group can be their first chance to network and make social connections at Berklee. At that time, the peer advisor will arrange a one-on-one meeting with each advisee to get better acquainted and answer individual questions.
• Each peer advisor introduces their advisees to their faculty or staff advisor during Orientation. The two advisors work together throughout the semester to help guide their group. Each pair is responsible for assisting 15–20 entering students, depending on the size of the entering class.
• Throughout their first semester, entering students can contact their peer advisor via email with any questions. Some peer advisors choose to give out their phone numbers as well. Entering students can also email their faculty or staff advisor if they feel their peer advisor cannot answer their question fully, or if the need is specific to the faculty or staff advisor.
• Each peer advisor arranges various group events throughout the semester. Some are social events; others assist students with class scheduling and academic planning.
• Advisees can request individual meetings with their advisors throughout their first semester as needed.

Why is FYSAP important?

Studies have shown that entering students' success at college depends heavily on establishing friendships and important connections to students, faculty, and staff during the first few weeks of enrollment. At Berklee, we care very much about each student's adjustment and want to help them feel that the Berklee environment is comfortable, safe, and manageable.

In a recent survey, 94% of entering students reported they felt some degree of anxiety before arriving at Berklee. FYSAP enables an entering student to connect with one specific, continuing student mentor to alleviate those anxieties. In the same survey, 91% of entering students reported they found their peer advisor helpful or very helpful.

Parent Information

The FYSAP team is happy to answer questions regarding the program and how we can help each student succeed. However, we ask that parents respect the confidentiality of the advisor/advisee relationship and not contact their student's peer advisor or faculty/staff advisor directly. Read more information for parents.

Contact Us

For further information about the First-Year Student Advising Program, please contact:

Beth Woodcome, First-Year Advising Coordinator
Counseling and Advising Center
617 747-2349
peeradvising@berklee.net

The Counseling and Advising Center is located on the second floor of 939 Boylston Street. To access it, please enter the Uchida Building at 921 Boylston and head to the third floor for the connection to the 939 building.