Saturday, August 23, through Saturday, August 30

mingus the jazz cat with students

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.

On This Page

Orientation Overview

Each entering student will be placed in a cohort with about 25 other new Berklee students, and each cohort will meet daily during orientation. These groups will be led by community connectors and orientation leaders; these undergraduate student leaders 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, 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: Black Scholars Initiative (BSI) Pre-Orientation, MIND@Berklee Neurodivergent Program Pre-Orientation, and SOMOS Latinx Pre-Orientation.

Learn More

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 and exploring the Boston campus.

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 June after you receive your Berklee OnePass credentials; your family will also be able to take the course by creating a guest login. 

Registration for the Cadence Orientation App

Throughout orientation, you will use the Cadence 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 8, 2025. Registration will open soon.

Pre-Arrival Events and Resources

The New Student and Family Programs 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 below.

Webinars

You and your family are invited to join us for webinars where you’ll learn about how to prepare for your first semester 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 2025 semester, beginning in August.

Fall 2025 Welcome Webinar

Monday, June 2, 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

This webinar provides an overview of what our new students and their families can anticipate over the next few months before their arrival on campus. This also includes learning more about what the Center for Campus Life and New Student and Family Programs have to offer to students and their families. 

Berklee College of Music: Next Steps Webinar

Friday, June 6, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

This webinar provides insights for students and their families who will be starting at the Berklee College of Music for the Fall 2025 semester. The session includes information regarding entering student placement exams and assessments due prior to a student's arrival at Berklee. 

Next Steps: Enrolling at Boston Conservatory at Berklee

The same session will be held twice (attend one session):

Join admissions representatives virtually to discuss enrollment next steps for new students. 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 24, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

This webinar features our partners in International Student Services discussing important aspects of the visa process for incoming international students. The conversation highlights a range of important information, including arrival dates, what to expect from customs, and application information.  

Health and Wellness Webinar

Thursday, July 17, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

Learn how Health and Wellness supports new Berklee students through medical and mental health services, wellness programs, and resources for a smooth transition to college life. This webinar will also cover important steps for clearing health restrictions before the semester begins. Join us to meet the team and get your questions answered. 

One Stop Student Services Webinar

Thursday, July 24, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

Join us for an overview of One Stop Student Services, your go-to resource for financial aid, billing, registration, and student records at Berklee. Learn how our team supports students throughout their journey, from understanding financial aid and course registration to staying on top of important deadlines. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered and set yourself up for success at Berklee. 

Student Success Advising Webinar

Wednesday, July 30, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

Learn how Student Success Advising helps new Berklee students transition to college life with personalized support. This webinar will cover resources for academic planning, course selection, and connecting with campus services to ensure a smooth start. Join us to meet the team and get your questions answered. 

Housing and Move-In Webinar

Thursday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Register here(Opens in a new window)

Join the Berklee College of Music Housing and Residential Education team for an informative webinar designed for entering students and their families. We’ll cover key details about the move-in process, what to bring (and what to leave at home), life in the residence halls, and how to prepare for a smooth transition to campus. Our team will also be available to answer your questions live. 

Virtual Drop-In Q&A Sessions

We will 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 two-hour sessions and we will be ready to support you. Some of these sessions are hosted only by our New Student and Family Programs team, while others will have campus partners available to meet one-on-one in Zoom breakout rooms. These partners include Health and Wellness, Housing and Residential Education, International Student Services, Accessibility Resources for Students, One Stop Student Services, and Student Success Advising. All session times are listed in Eastern Time.

Virtual Student Socials

We host virtual student socials in June and July, leading up to orientation. Join us on Zoom to meet other new students entering Berklee in August, as well as current upper-semester student leaders at Berklee who can answer any questions you may have. These socials are open to entering students at both the college and Conservatory.

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. More information about this exciting opportunity will be arriving in your email shortly! 

Pre-Arrival Onboarding Tasks

Check the "Next Steps" section of the application portal(Opens in a new window) 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 June 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(Opens in a new window) 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!