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Front Counter
The first place you'll stop on a visit to the Counseling & Advising Center is the front counter. You must check in with front counter staff in order to see a counselor or advisor, either on a walk-in or for an appointment. The front counter is also the place to take care of things that may not necessarily require consultation with a counselor or advisor, including notifying teachers of upcoming absences, withdrawing from classes, adding and dropping classes for first semester students, establishing part-time status for the summer semester (domestic students only), turning in your application to have your I-20 revalidated and turning in your Optional/Curricular Practical Training application.
Most importantly, the front counter staff is available to help make navigating your way through the Berklee experience easier. Employees at the front counter can answer many general questions regarding academics and Berklee-specific policy. In some cases, the front counter staff may determine that your question or concern would be better addressed with a counselor or advisor. If this is the case, someone out front will either direct you to a walk-in session with the appropriate counselor or advisor, or make an appointment for you to come back at a later time. Walk-in sessions, which are generally fifteen minutes each, require signing in at the front counter and waiting in the reception area for the next available counselor or advisor. Walk-ins are granted on a first-come-first-serve basis. The hours of academic and international walk-ins are displayed daily on the board by the C&AC entrance.
Appointments, on the other hand, are opportunities for students to have extended time with a counselor or advisor. They are made for thirty or sixty minute blocks, depending on the student's problem and the counselor/advisor's availability. Generally, appointments are not made for the same day. However, if there is an emergency we will always do our best to accommodate a student as quickly as possible.
Front counter staff can provide students with myriad hand-outs, covering such topics as addresses and numbers of consulates, information on local health clinics and hospitals, an overview of Berklee majors, and employment options for international students. There are also various brochures in our waiting area, touching on such topics as body image, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered issues. Important dates and deadlines are always posted on the bulletin boards in the waiting area.
The front counter staff is also available to assist students who might be experiencing personal crises. Staff are trained in screening and crisis intervention, and will do their best to quickly and supportively get Berklee students whatever personal assistance they might need.
In the end, it is always the goal of the front counter to make the C&AC a safe and helpful environment for all Berklee students.
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