BSI Pre-Orientation
The 2025 Black Scholars Initiative Pre-Orientation program is scheduled to begin on Saturday, August 16, 2025, and will continue throughout the 2025 Fall orientation. Registration for BSI Pre-Orientation opens on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and closes on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
How to Register
Registration for BSI Pre-Orientation opens on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, and closes on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
The Black Scholars Initiative Pre-Orientation is a not-for-credit program, and currently there are no prerequisites prior to the start of the program.
BSI Pre-Orientation Activities
The 2025 BSI Pre-Orientation program schedule is currently under development and will be provided to registered program participants before the start of the program through the Cadence Orientation App, which will house the full pre-orientation schedule, a live feed for you to introduce yourself to other new Berklee students, campus resources, competitions, and more!
Sessions during the pre-orientation program include but are not limited to
- Academic preparation: develop an understanding of core concepts in music, dance, and theater
- History and musical tradition: develop an understanding of African diasporic historical tradition
- Community integration: develop strategies to navigate academic and extracurricular experiences
Past BSI Pre-Orientation sessions have included the following:
- Meet-and-greet events with campus partners, such as Health and Wellness and Africana Studies
- Breakout sessions to discuss and learn about jazz history, hip-hop in society, the African American/Afro-Caribbean connection, Africanist aesthetic in performance, and how to succeed at Berklee
- Panel discussions with College and Conservatory students, alumni, and faculty
- Interactive workshops that focus on core harmony, ear training, and personalized performance techniques through dance and theater led by College and Conservatory faculty
- Ensemble showcase and concert deeply rooted in the week-long experience. To view past concerts, visit the following links:
Housing and Accommodations
Housing
All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and housing during the Black Scholars Initiative Pre-Orientation program will be provided. Confirmed program participants will move into the residence halls on Saturday, August 16, 2025. There are no alternative move-in dates for registered program participants.
- Participants with on-campus housing for the academic year (confirmed by the Housing Office): You will move into the room assigned by the Housing Office for the academic year
Participants without on-campus housing for the academic year: You will be permitted to live in the residence halls for the duration of the program; however, you must move out of the residence halls on Saturday, August 23, 2025, by 9:00 a.m. There will be no exceptions.
Accommodations
Students who require accommodations based on a disability to participate in the Black Scholars Initiative Pre-Orientation program can request accommodations after being accepted into the program. Please email Accessibility Resources for Students at accessibilityresources@berklee.edu with your request. In the subject line of your email, please write “BSI Pre-Orientation Program.”
Information for Families
Families are invited to attend the BSI Family Welcome Reception on Saturday, August 16, 2025. This reception will not cover information shared during the college-wide Fall Family Orientation, so we highly encourage families to be aware of this when planning their travel to Boston.
At the end of the BSI Pre-Orientation week, families will have the opportunity to attend the ensemble showcase on Friday, August 22, 2025.
BSI Pre-Orientation participants should be prepared to check in for the fall semester by August 11, 2025. We encourage you to review any check-in restrictions you may have and contact the appropriate offices for assistance before arriving on campus so you can fully engage in BSI’s Pre-Orientation Program.
Where to get assistance:
- Scholarships, Financial Aid, Tuition, and Billing: contact the One Stop Office(Opens in a new window) at onestop@berklee.edu
- Immunizations: go to the Semester Check-In Information page, scroll down to “Missing Immunizations,” and follow the instructions.
- International students: you must meet all International Student Check-In Requirements. Contact International Student Services at iss@berklee.edu with any questions.
Meet the BSI Faculty, Staff, and Leadership
Students can visit the BSI Leadership Team page to learn more about the team planning your onboarding experience prior to Fall Orientation.
The Black Scholars Initiative (BSI) Pre-Orientation is a free, weeklong program held each fall semester before the campus-wide orientation. Rooted in uplifting students and cultivating community, the program also equips them with strategies for navigating academic and co-curricular experiences, along with essential skills for success at Berklee and beyond.