Family Orientation

In addition to student orientation events, Berklee offers a family orientation program specifically for parents and families of incoming students. You'll have opportunities to experience Berklee through the perspective of a student, to discover resources available, and to learn how you can support your student through this transition. We look forward to welcoming our newest Berklee families to our community!

Family orientation takes place three times a year: in January for spring semester entering families, in May for summer semester entering families, and in August for fall semester entering families. We know not all families are able to join us in person in Boston, so our educational content is delivered online via webinars, virtual drop-in question-and-answer sessions, our Family Guide, and family email newsletters leading up to each entering semester. For those joining us in Boston when your student arrives for orientation, we will offer opportunities to connect with other new family members and explore campus and the Boston area; however, there will be limited informational sessions as content will be delivered in advance. If you have any questions, please email f amilies@berklee.edu.

To be added to our Fall 2024 (August) New Family Newsletter, sign up here.

Summer (May) 2024 Family Welcome Celebration

For families in Boston helping their students arrive on campus, we are hosting a few in-person events and opportunities to connect. As a reminder, no new information will be delivered at the family welcome celebration events—these are social opportunities while you're in Boston that are optional to attend.

Families planning to join us in person for our summer new family welcome celebration should plan to be at Berklee starting on the morning of Wednesday, May 22, and wrapping up by early evening on Thursday, May 23.

Summer 2024 Family Welcome Celebration Tentative Schedule

Wednesday, May 22

New Student and Family Welcome Center 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Looking for a place to rest after move-in or a snack and refreshment break? Stop by our new student and family welcome event to pick up some Berklee family swag, meet our team, and ask questions. Commuter students can also pick up student IDs from our welcome event. We look forward to meeting you!
Campus Tour 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Take a one-hour outdoor walking tour of the Berklee campus, led by our student leaders, and learn more about the resources that your student has access to as a Berklee student. This tour is entirely outside, so please dress accordingly.
Family Welcome Reception 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
- Join us for a welcome reception to meet other entering Berklee family members. Welcome remarks from Berklee leadership will be shared and light refreshments will be provided.
Faculty Jam Session 8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
- This event is open to new students to participate and jam with other students and four members of Berklee's faculty! Family members are invited to watch the jam session.

Thursday, May 23

Orientation Kickoff Event 10:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m.
- Join our high-energy welcome event, along with your student, to learn about the orientation week ahead and what your student has to look forward to as new members of the Berklee family!
Supporting Your Berklee Student 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Hear from and engage in dialogue with Associate Dean for Student Life Rosemary Shadow as they share wisdom around your role as a family member in supporting your Berklee student. Learn more about resources available to you as a Berklee family member.
Lunch for Families 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
- Enjoy a complimentary meal in the Berklee caf as a visiting family member. When you arrive, let the desk staff know you are a visiting family member here for orientation.
Life of a Berklee Student Panel 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Interested in hearing about the student experience from current students? Join a panel
  discussion, featuring a range of our student leaders, sharing their experience and answering your questions.
Berklee Bridge Resource Fair 2:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Swing by the campus resource fair to meet campus representatives including: Campus Life, Housing and Residential Education, Health and Wellness, the Career Center, Stan Getz and Albert Alphin Libraries, Public Safety, Core Music Tutoring, Dining Services, and more!
Parting Ways: Supporting Your Student's Journey 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Join us to wrap up your family welcome celebration and have a champagne toast to your family’s new journey as a part of our Berklee family! Remarks will be shared and light refreshments provided.

Note: the above summer family welcome celebration schedule is subject to change and families will receive a final schedule, including locations, a few weeks before the event.

Families planning to join us in person for our fall new family welcome celebration should plan to be at Berklee starting on the morning of Saturday, August 24, and wrapping up by early evening on Sunday, August 25.

If you plan to join us in person, please visit our Family Welcome Celebration Registration Form. More schedule information will be posted here and shared with registrants soon.

Summer (May) 2024 Upcoming Virtual Opportunities

The below virtual events are intended for summer 2024 new students and family members joining Berklee in May 2024. Families joining Berklee in August 2024 will have event details posted here soon.

Welcome Webinar: Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. ET - Register

This webinar will provide an overview of Berklee and what to expect for new student orientation and our family welcome celebration. A recording will be posted after the event here.

Virtual Drop-In Question and Answer Session: Thursday, April 18, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. ET - Register

This informal Zoom session is available for new students and families. You can join us any time during the two hours and ask any questions related to orientation, Berklee, move-in, and more!

Virtual Drop-In Question and Answer Session: Monday, April 29, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. ET - Register

This informal Zoom session is available for new students and families. You can join us any time during the two hours and ask any questions related to orientation, Berklee, move-in, and more!

Housing and Move-In Webinar: Wednesday, May 15, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. ET - Register

The webinar will discuss logistics around on-campus housing and what students and families can expect on move-in day.

Virtual Drop-In Question and Answer Session: Friday, May 17, 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET - Register

This informal Zoom session is available for new students and families. You can join us any time during the two hours and ask any questions related to orientation, Berklee, move-in, and more!

Fall (August) 2024 Pre-Arrival 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 entering students feel ready and excited to join us at the end of August. Find out more about these programs below.

Webinars

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 2024 semester, beginning in August.

New Student and Family Welcome Webinar: Wednesday, May 29 - 9:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. - Register Here
Berklee College of Music First Semester: How to Prepare Webinar: Friday June 7 - 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. - Registration Info Coming Soon
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Next Steps Webinar: Date, Time, and Registration Info Coming Soon
Student Success Programs Webinar: Tuesday, June 11 - 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. - Register Here
International Student and Family Webinar: Tuesday, June 25 - 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. - Register Here
One Stop Student Services Webinar: Thursday, July 18 - 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. - Register Here
Success Advising Webinar: Wednesday, July 31 - 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. - Register Here
Housing and Move-In Webinar: Thursday, August 8 - 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. - Register Here

Virtual Drop-In Q&A Sessions

We will be hosting 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.

Drop-In Q&A Hours #1 (with various campus offices present): Thursday, June 6 - 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. - Register Here
Drop In Q&A Hours #2 (Campus Life team only): Tuesday, June 18 - 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. - Register Here
Drop In Q&A Hours #3 (with various campus offices present): Wednesday, July 10 - 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. - Register Here
Drop In Q&A Hours #4 (Campus Life team only): Monday, July 22 - 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. - Register Here
Drop In Q&A Hours #5 (with various campus offices present): Friday, August 9 - 2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. - Register Here

Hotel Accommodations

We have a number of nearby hotels we partner with during move-in and orientation. These hotels offer a discounted rate for Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee students and families. Discounts range from 10 to 15 percent off. Visit our Hotels and Accommodations page for more information.

Virtual Tours

To learn more about Berklee's physical campus, including our state-of-the-art facilities, classrooms, and performance spaces, we encourage you to take a virtual tour.

Connect

Interested in connecting with other Berklee parents and families? Join the Berklee Parents and Families Facebook group to stay engaged and receive updates.

View additional resources and events offered to Berklee families throughout the year.