Saturday, August 22, through Saturday, August 29
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 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.
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 go through the course by creating a guest login at the link above.
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 7, 2026.
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.
The schedule of webinars for Fall 2026 will be available early April 2026.
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.
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.
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 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 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!