Check-In/Orientation FAQs
Orientation FAQs
- What are the dates of orientation?
- What do I need to do before I arrive for orientation?
- When I arrive on campus for orientation, what should I do first?
- What do I need to bring to check-in?
- I will be arriving late to orientation. Who should I notify?
- What is the orientation week schedule going to be like?
- When will I receive my course schedule?
- How can I review the policies for my Liberal Arts transfer credits before I check in?
- When can I pick up my laptop?
- When do I purchase books?
- Are practice rooms open during orientation week?
- If I or my parent/guardian/guest, require special assistance due to a medical, physical, or disability-related reason, will Berklee be able to provide me with the necessary assistance?
- Where do I stay during orientation?
- Is there parking during orientation week?
- What orientation week events are planned for parents, guardians, and guests?
- Where can parents, guardians, and guests stay during orientation?
- Can siblings attend orientation events?
What are the dates of orientation?
Please refer to the Academic Calendar or the orientation schedule for information regarding the fall, spring, or summer orientation week schedule.
What do I need to do before I arrive for orientation?
For information on steps to complete prior to arrival, please visit the Accepted Students page.
When I arrive on campus for orientation, what should I do first?
If you are living on campus, your first stop will be your assigned residence hall. After you have moved in, you can proceed to the Student Activities Center to check in.
If you are living off campus, you can check in at the Student Activities Center.
The Student Activities Center is located on the third floor of the 939 Boylston Street building, accessible through the 921 Boylston Street building.
What do I need to bring to check-in?
Prior to your arrival on campus you will receive a check-in email at your Berklee email address. Please print this check-in email and bring it with you to check-in at the Student Activities Center, as it contains critical information that will help you and us throughout orientation week.
If you are an international student, you should also bring your Form I-20, passport, and I-94 card. For more information on these, please review the Visa Information.
We recommend that you bring a notebook and a pen or pencil to take notes or write down questions throughout the week.
I will be arriving late to orientation. Who should I notify?
Although we encourage you to plan to arrive on the first day of orientation for check-in, we understand this sometimes is not possible. Please contact orientation@berklee.edu for information on the steps you will need to take if you check-in late.
What is the orientation week schedule going to be like?
The schedule we have provided on this site is not the full schedule and is intended only to give you an idea of when each day begins and ends. When you check in, you will receive a comprehensive schedule of the week's events, and we encourage you to participate in as many planned events as possible. In addition to placement exams and auditions, the week is filled with opportunities to interact with faculty, learn about Berklee programs and services, and connect with fellow entering students.
When will I receive my course schedule?
At the end of orientation week, you will receive your course schedule during a meeting with your peer advisor. You will receive this meeting time and location information when you check in.
How can I review the policies for my Liberal Arts transfer credits before I check in?
If you are seeking to transfer credit into Berklee, general information on policies and requirements can be found in the Transfer Credit Guide. For specific questions, please contact the Office of the Registrar directly at 617 747-2240 or registrar@berklee.edu.
When can I pick up my laptop?
After you have checked in at the Student Activities Center you will receive more information about where and when to pick up your laptop.
If you have a hold on you student account, you will have to take further action to have the hold cleared before you are able to pick up your laptop. To ensure you will be cleared when you check in, you can check your status ahead of time on my.berklee.net.
When do I purchase books?
After you receive your course schedule at the end of orientation week you can bring your schedule to the Berklee Bookstore, located at 1090 Boylston Street. To easily find your books, match the class call numbers with the numbers on your schedule.
Are practice rooms open during orientation week?
Yes. Information on locations, hours of operation, and rules and procedures for using practice rooms is available here. To access practice facilities, visit the front desk in the respective locations and provide your student ID.
If I or my parent/guardian/guest, require special assistance due to a medical, physical, or disability-related reason, will Berklee be able to provide me with the necessary assistance?
We are committed to welcoming and accommodating all entering students and their guests at our orientation week activities. As some accommodations take time to implement, participants who require special assistance in order to fully experience the week's events are encouraged to contact both the Counseling and Advising Center and the Student Activities Center well in advance, and together we will do our best to provide you with the appropriate assistance.
Where do I stay during orientation?
For on-campus students, residence halls will open on the first day of orientation week. If you will be living off campus and will not be ready to moved into your apartment or housing, please refer to our temporary housing information for locations in the Berklee area to stay.
Is there parking during orientation week?
No. There is no on-campus parking at Berklee College of Music. We recommend you use public transportation when possible during orientation. If you are driving, we suggest you use one of the many designated public parking garages throughout the Back Bay area or plan to park at a meter near campus.
What orientation week events are planned for parents, guardians, and guests?
On the first day of orientation we will be providing parents/guardians/guests with a complete list of sessions that are intended to cater to the needs, concerns, and interests of parents/guardians. Among the events scheduled, parents, guardians, and guests are specifically encouraged to attend Convocation, Parent and Family Orientation, and the Parents of Students with Disabilities session.
Please visit the Parent Orientation schedule for more specific date and time information.
Where can parents, guardians, and guests stay during orientation?
Because many area colleges and universities will be starting at the same time, we recommend that parents, guardians, and guests choosing to stay overnight in Boston make arrangements for accommodations prior to the first day of orientation week. There are a number of options for accommodations in the Berklee area.
Can siblings attend orientation events?
We recommend any siblings accompanying parents, guardians, and guests only attend parent/guardian/guest events. We leave this decision to the families, since our programming is geared towards guests with a guardian relationship to the entering student, and siblings may feel out of place, but they are certainly more than welcome to attend.