Saturday, August 22, through Sunday, August 30, 2026
Join us for undergraduate orientation, held the week before the fall semester begins, where you will start to build your social and artistic connections at Berklee. All entering Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students are required to attend.
Orientation Overview
Each entering student will be placed in a cohort with about 15-20 other new Berklee students, and each cohort will meet daily during orientation. These groups will be led by orientation leaders; undergraduate student leaders who connect new students to Berklee resources and facilitate social connections during the transition to Berklee.
During orientation, you will attend resource fairs, open houses, specialized sessions and workshops, learn how to navigate campus and the city of Boston, and a variety of social events to help launch your Berklee experience and make sure you’re informed and connected with your peers.
You will also participate in a placement audition that will determine your course levels for your first semester. You will receive your fall semester course schedule by the end of the week.
Pre-Orientation Programs
All students are invited to attend one of our free pre-orientation programs that take place before the campus-wide fall orientation for entering students. We will share more information shortly.
Orientation Onboarding Course
To help you get started on the right foot, you will complete an Orientation Onboarding Course with information tailored to you and your family. This online course, your guide for starting your Berklee journey, is divided into these student-led modules:
- Welcome to Berklee
- Academics
- Student Support
- Life on Campus
- Careers
- Paying for College
- Campus Policies and Safety
We strongly encourage you and your family to complete the course before arriving at Berklee so you can focus on what matters during orientation week: making friends, exploring the Boston campus, and navigating Boston.
This free, non-credit-bearing online course takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and is self-paced, meaning you may take breaks anytime and resume where you left off. While the course can be viewed on a mobile phone, we recommend using a laptop for the best experience.
Note: You will receive details about the course in May after you receive your Berklee OnePass credentials; your family will also be able to go through the course by creating a guest login at the link above.
Registration for the Orientation App
Throughout orientation, you will use an app to view the full orientation and welcome week schedule, a live feed where you can introduce yourself to other new Berklee students, campus resources, competitions, and more. Note: You will receive a welcome email with instructions on how to access the app when the content goes live on Friday, August 7, 2026.
Pre-Arrival Events and Resources
The Orientation and First-Year Experience team puts together a series of webinars, virtual question-and-answer sessions, and virtual student socials to make sure you feel prepared and excited to join us at the end of August. Find out more about these programs and register below.
Webinar Series
You and your family are invited to join us for our webinars series where you’ll learn about how to prepare for your first year and connect with resources and support. Please note: All webinars are in Eastern Time and will be recorded. Webinar recordings will be posted and available on our Recorded Webinars page within three business days of the webinar date. Webinars are open to all new students and family members joining Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee for the fall 2026 semester, beginning in August. Click on the link below to register:
New Student and Family Welcome Webinar
Thursday, May 7th 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET
Our team will detail what to expect from Fall Orientation, while representatives from Housing, Admissions, and One Stop will cover essential next steps regarding move-in, enrollment steps, and financial requirements, and more!
Berklee College of Music Next Steps Webinar
Friday, June 5th 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
You will hear from various core music departments to learn more about how to get ready for a successful enrollment; meet with your instrumental department chair; and find out how to prepare for your Entering Student Placement Assessments (ESPA), which enables Berklee to determine whether advanced levels of arranging, harmony, and ear training are right for you and to place you in classes with students of similar musical knowledge.
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Next Steps Webinar
Monday, June 8th 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
This webinar will cover the items in the "Next Steps" tab of the admissions portal, where to locate financial aid information, health and immunizations information, details about the private teacher preference form (for select majors), the I-20/F-1 visa application, and more.
International Student Services Webinar
Tuesday, June 16th 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
This webinar provides a comprehensive roadmap for navigating the visa process, pre-arrival logistics, and the transition to campus life. Our International Student Service advisors will break down the latest immigration requirements and health protocols to ensure you arrive prepared and confident for the start of the semester.
Student Success Programs Webinar
Wednesday, July 8th 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
This session focuses on the specific tasks necessary to access our support systems, including registering with Accessibility Resources, connecting with Identity-Based Programs, and understanding how to utilize Success Advising and Core Music Tutoring. We will also outline the essential health forms and insurance requirements managed by Health and Wellness.
Life on Campus Webinar
Tuesday, August 4th 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Join Campus Life and Housing & Residential Education for a preview of your upcoming transition to Berklee. We will break down the must-know move-in logistics, including arrival windows and packing tips, to ensure a seamless transition into your new home. We will also share ways to get involved on campus and learn exactly what to expect during our comprehensive student and family orientation programs.
Virtual Question & Answer Sessions
In addition to our webinar series support, we also offer and host a series of virtual question-and answer sessions to make sure you feel fully confident and connected to us at Berklee. Drop in any time during the one and a half hour sessions and we will be ready to support you one-on-one. These sessions will feature our campus partners from a variety of offices. The offices represented include: Admissions, Health and Wellness, Campus Life, Housing and Residential Education, International Student Services, One Stop Student Services, Student Success Advising, and Accessibility Resources for Students. Register below:
Wednesday, May 13th 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM. Register Here
Tuesday, June 9th 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM. Register Here
Tuesday, June 23rd 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Register Here
Tuesday, July 28th 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM. Register Here
Tuesday, August 11th 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. Register Here
Virtual Socials
For students looking to meet other incoming students, join us for a virtual social led by some of our upper-semester students! Register below:
Monday, May 18th at 8:00 PM. Register Here
Thursday, June 18th at 8:00 PM. Register Here.
Tuesday, July 21st at 8:00 PM.
Berklee College of Music Student Registration
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Registration
My First Berklee Project
The My First Berklee Project is your first creative endeavor as a newly enrolled Berklee student. This is an optional collaborative performance project launched within your incoming class. As a group, you will be creating art to be shared with the wider Berklee community. This can be dance, music, theater, and everything in between. Projects are completed virtually, before arrival to Berklee, and this opportunity is available for both incoming college and Conservatory students.
Sign up here before June 12th!
Pre-Arrival Onboarding Tasks
Check the "Next Steps" section of the application portal and clear any restrictions listed on your account. Next steps include important tasks, such as paying the tuition bill, submitting required immunization paperwork, and submitting a final high school transcript.
You will receive login information in May to set up your Berklee email/OnePass account, which is required to complete tasks in the next steps for the enrollment checklist. You will use your OnePass to access your Berklee email account, which is where you will receive all official school communications and access important resources on Berklee's internal sites (berklee.edu, bostonconservatory.berklee.edu, college.berklee.edu).
Connecting
Follow the Center for Campus Life on Instagram to learn about upcoming events and activities. Students can reach out to us with questions at campuslife@berklee.edu, and families are welcome to reach out to families@berklee.edu. We look forward to connecting with you!