Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation Program

Your journey begins before the semester even starts.

The Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation Program is an immersive learning experience designed to help you begin your Berklee education by developing artistic confidence and exploring the artistic traditions that shape contemporary creative practice. Throughout the week, you will begin building relationships with peers, faculty, and mentors while gaining academic understanding that will support your success at Berklee.

By the end of the program, you will have a stronger foundation for navigating campus, collaborating creatively, and making the most of your Berklee experience.

Register

Registration for the 2026 Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation Program opens on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Incoming students interested in participating should register online:

What to Expect

The pre-orientation framework is anchored in two scholar tracks:

Arts of the African Diaspora
Arts of Latin America

These tracks examine artistic traditions that have helped shape Berklee's curriculum, contemporary performance, and creative practice around the world.

As a participating scholar, your days will be filled with collaborative and creative learning experiences:

Morning Keynote Presentations	Creative and Applied Sessions	Community Connections	Culminating Showcase	Campus Orientation
Hear from faculty, guest artists, alumni, and current students as they explore artistic traditions, creative careers, and strategies for thriving at Berklee.	Explore how artistic traditions continue to shape contemporary music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary creative practice.	Begin building meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and peers across Berklee’s artistic community.	Begin your Berklee performance journey with a collaborative showcase at the Berklee Performance Center alongside faculty and fellow scholars.	Explore campus, locate key academic resources, and become familiar with the people and places that will support your success throughout your Berklee experience.

Each day builds on the last, helping students develop relationships, deepen their artistic and historical understanding, and apply that learning through collaborative creative experiences.

This is a not-for-credit program. All Berklee community members are welcome to attend and participate.

FAQ

Housing and Accommodations

Housing

All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and housing during the Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation Program will be provided. Confirmed program participants will move into the residence halls on Sunday, August, 16, 2026. There are no alternative move-in dates for program participants.

Participants with on-campus housing for the academic year (confirmed by the Housing Office): You will move into the room assigned to you by the Housing Office for the academic year.
Participants who do not have on-campus housing for the academic year: You will be permitted to live in the residence halls for the duration of the Pre-Orientation Program; however, you must move out of the residence halls by 9:00 am on Saturday, August 22. There will be no exceptions.

Accommodations

Students who require accommodations based on a disability to participate in the Berklee Scholars 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.

Information for Families

Families are invited to attend the Berklee Scholars Family Welcome Reception on Sunday, August 16. This reception will not cover information shared during the Berklee-wide Fall Family Orientation, so we strongly encourage families to be aware of this when planning travel to Boston.

Families will also have the opportunity to attend the Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation Program Ensemble Showcase on Friday, August 21 at 7:30 pm.

Plan Ahead for Fall Check-in

Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation participants should be prepared to check in for the fall semester by Friday, August 14, 2026. 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 our pre-orientation.

General Orientation Information

Following the conclusion of the Berklee Scholars Pre-Orientation Program on Saturday, August 22, 2026, you will begin Orientation Week alongside the rest of the incoming student body.

For additional details regarding Orientation, the First-Year Experience, and the various resources available to new undergraduate students and their families, please visit the Orientation page.