Here are some brief answers to common questions about housing and related matters. We strongly suggest that you also read the detailed information in the Residence Hall Housing web pages and in the packet with your housing application.

Am I required to live on campus? Is residence hall housing guaranteed to entering students?
No one is required to live on campus. In fact, the college's residence hall space is limited. Not everyone who wants to live in the residence halls is able to do so. Most students at the college, including many entering students, live in private apartments in the neighborhoods near the college. Residence hall housing is not guaranteed.

When and how can I apply for housing?
In order to be eligible to apply for residence hall housing, you must be accepted to the college and must have confirmed your intention to enroll by submitting an admissions tuition deposit. Because residence hall space is limited, not all accepted and confirmed students can be offered housing. Each semester the college's Housing Office and Admissions Office determine which entering students will be mailed housing applications, based on such criteria as the date of the student's tuition deposit confirmation and whether the student was originally accepted to enter the college for a previous semester but was unable to do so.

For Fall Semester, we start mailing housing applications in early February. For Spring Semester, we mail housing applications in October. For Summer Term, housing applications are mailed in March.

What should I /can I bring?
Some of the things we strongly recommend you bring with you are...

• Bedding, including pillows, sheets, blankets, etc. (beds are extra long twin size - 36" x 80")
• Towels
• Toiletries
• Small trash barrel
• Land line telephone (no answering machine needed - voice mail is provided)

Other things you may want to consider bringing, but which are optional, are...

• Refrigerator (of 4 cubic feet or less)
• Microwave (of one cubic foot or less)
• Stereo (with headphones)
• TV/antenna (no cable access)
• Alarm clock
• Desk lamp
• Fun Tack type mounting putty
• Laundry/cleaning supplies
• Iron and ironing board
• Power strips/extension cords
• Clothes hangers
• School/writing supplies
• Plates, mugs, silverware, etc.
• Prescription/first aid needs
• Flashlight
• Umbrella

What can't I (or don't I need to) bring?

• Cooking appliances other than a microwave (such as hot pots, coffee makers, toaster ovens, grills, immersion coils, and popcorn makers, etc.)
• Air conditioners
• Bicycles
• Futons, chairs, couches, waterbeds, or any other non-approved furniture
• Wall hangings (requiring nails)
• Pets (including fish)
• Candles/incense
• Toilet paper (available from your RA office)
• Vacuum (available to borrow from your RA office)

Can I sign up without meals?
Not at first. To keep the food cost as reasonable as possible, and because we can't risk the fire and sanitation hazards associated with students cooking in their rooms, all first-year residents are required to be on the full meal plan. It isn't possible to contract for residence hall housing without meals in your first year (or first semester for those entering in spring). In subsequent semesters you'll have more choices depending on where you choose to live.

Can I get meals without a room?
Yes. It's possible for some students living off campus to purchase meals directly from Berklee Dining Services. For more details about this you should contact the managers of the dining hall at (617) 747-2510 or see the meal plans section of this website.

Can I get a single room?
Not in your first semester on campus. There are a very small number of single rooms spread through all of the residence hall buildings. These rooms are taken by continuing students, and you won't be able to get one as an entering student. After some time on campus, when you have more seniority, you'll have a chance for one in our room selection lottery.

What size are the rooms?
Room sizes vary considerably, and there's no one answer to this question. The best rooms will always be taken by those students here the semester before you (single rooms and the larger double rooms).

What does a room look like?
Again, the makeup of a room can vary greatly, there are some things which will be the same in every room.

• They are all carpeted
• They all have windows with blinds or shades
• They all contain a desk, chair, dresser, and bed for each student
• They will all have shared closet space
• There are two phone jacks in each room (with voicemail access)
• There is a computer network connection for each student

Some things which will be different from room to room are...

• The room size and shape
• The view (overlooking the street, into a courtyard, towards the building next door, etc.)
• The bathroom location (either in the room or shared in the hallway)

Are there computer network connections in the residence hall rooms?
Yes, there is a connection to Berklee's computer network for each resident in each room. An Ethernet cable is required. Internet access and e-mail are provided through the network.

How does the phone system work?
There is one true phone line into each room, with two jacks to plug phones into. If one phone is in use, the other can't be used and will not ring.

But each student in each room has a personal phone number. That way, if the line is busy or no one answers, the call will be directed to a voice mail box for whichever student was called.

The phone line, voice mailbox, and unlimited local calling in the immediate Boston area are included in the housing charge, with no additional charges for usage. You can receive any incoming call except collect calls. You need to provide your own land-line telephone.

What about long distance calls?
The college does not provide long distance service, but you can dial toll free numbers (800, 888, 877, etc.) for access to calling card, credit card, and prepaid phone card long distance services.

Are there practice rooms in the residence halls?
Yes, in addition the the common practice rooms in the 150 Massachusetts Ave. and 136 Massachusetts Ave. buildings, each residence hall has practice rooms of its own. Only those who live on campus have access to these rooms, and they are open all day, every day.

Are instrument lockers available?
A limited number of lockers are available to rent for drummers, percussionists, and acoustic bass players. There are no book lockers or lockers for other instrument principals.

Is insurance for my room available?
There is no room insurance available through the college, and it is difficult to find insurers who will provide coverage to residence halls. Many apartment and homeowner policies extend coverage to children attending college, so you should investigate if your belongings are covered by a parent's policy.

You may also want to check with music stores in your area about insuring your instruments before you come to Berklee. They may be able to refer you to companies in the area which can provide coverage.

Where would I do my laundry?
All of the residence halls have coin-operated washers and dryers. In the 150 Massachusetts Avenue building, laundry machines are on each floor. In the smaller buildings, the laundry machines are on the basement level.

Is it possible to keep a car or bike at the college?
Because of the lack of storage space and the amount of traffic in our elevators and stairways, bicycles can't be allowed.

Berklee has no parking of its own, and the City of Boston doesn't issue on-street parking permits to resident students (which would be required to keep automobiles on the streets in the area). Long-term parking in nearby garages is extremely expensive; upwards of $200 or $300 a month. We strongly suggest that you not plan to keep a car here.

Fortunately, walking and the subway and buses will get you just about anywhere you'll want to go in Boston. You'll also find that rollerblades, skateboards and scooters are popular ways to get around Berklee and the city in general.

Is smoking allowed?
No, smoking is not allowed anywhere in the residence halls. All residence hall rooms and public areas are nonsmoking areas.

Where will I be assigned?
Your room assignment will depend on several factors, including your age and how early you apply for space. Entering students could be assigned to any of our three residence halls during the academic year. Because of the smaller number of residents during the Summer Term, all summer continuing and entering residents stay in the same building.

When will I get my room assignment and roommates' names?
Those people entering in the fall semester who contract for housing get their room assignments in mid-August. At that time you will find out which building and room you will live in, as well as the names and phone numbers of your future roommates.

Since room assignments are not done until very close to the beginning of the spring and summer semesters, students entering then will not get their room or roommate information in advance. You will find out your room assignment and roommates' names when you check into housing at the beginning of the semester.

Can I room with my friend?
Yes. If you and your friend(s) wish to room together, here's what you'll need to do...

You each need to apply for and receive housing. This has become more of an issue over the last few years as housing fills so quickly.

You each need to request the other(s) along with your housing application. We'll need that advance notice before we begin assigning people in order to place you together. We can confirm your requests, but we won't be able to say for sure that you'll be together until after the room assignments are complete (see above for when that will be).

Are the buildings co-ed?
Yes. All of the residence halls house both men and women. In the 150 Massachusetts Avenue building, where each room has its own bathroom, gender will vary from room to room. In the buildings where bathrooms are shared, a bathroom will be designated male or female. The rooms surrounding that bathroom will be assigned to men or women accordingly.

How does moving into the residence halls work? How do I get my belongings to Berklee?
At the begining of each semester there are specific days and times designated as the move-in period. At these times you can pick up your keys and begin moving things into your room. Specific information about when this takes place for each semester will be provided to you once your housing application has been received.

While moving in, you can pull vehicles up in front of your assigned building long enough to unload, and then move on to find a permanent parking space. During the busier move-in times, Boston Police details are on duty and the front of the buildings are kept clear for student move-in.

Some students bring their belongings in family cars or rented trucks. Other choose to mail items to the Student Mail Center and pick them up once they arrive. Please check with the Student Mail Center if you have any questions about how much you can ship and how early you can send packages.

How do I get mail or receive packages?
All student mail, letter or package, goes to the student mail center at 168 Massachusetts Ave. regardless of which building in which residents live. Mail sent to you should be addressed to:

Your Name
Box # *
Student Mail Center
168 Massachusetts Ave.
Boston, MA 02115

* Students will get a box number during registration at the beginning of their first semester. Packages can still be sent before you have the box number, but with delays in processing.