First Semester Checklist for Berklee Online Degree Students

Leading up to your first semester at Berklee Online, it’s completely understandable to feel stressed and overwhelmed, as well as excited. It can be difficult to keep track of all the communications that start coming through, which is why we’re providing one handy place to keep track of all of the important benchmarks and items to check off on your to-do list leading up to the first day of classes. You’re going to be great, and we look forward to helping you start your educational journey with Berklee Online!

Schedule a Call with Your Advisor

Your Academic Advisor is available to help you every step of the way throughout your time at Berklee Online, from submitting your application to graduation. Before the first day of class, set up a call with your Advisor so that you can discuss your goals and learn how to make the most of your time in your program. Additionally, your Advisor can help you answer any questions you have about the other items on this checklist. You can contact your Advisor at 1-866-BERKLEE (US), +1-617-747-2146 (INTL) or advisors@online.berklee.edu. 

Review Important Policies and Dates

At the beginning of each new semester, you will receive an email reminder about important policies and dates. This will include information about the add/drop period (when you can make adjustments to your course schedule), participation and attendance requirements to remain enrolled in a course, and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) which tracks successful completion of coursework to maintain eligibility for student aid and remain in good academic standing. You can get a head start and review Berklee Online’s Undergraduate Degree Policies and Graduate Degree Policies now. 

Pay Your Tuition

Before attending any classes, you will need to pay your tuition and fees for the semester by the due date. If you have an unpaid balance that appears on your account, you will be notified via email or your student portal. Paying your tuition balance before the tuition deadline will avoid a $150 late payment fee. You can view instructions on how to access your online statement or make payments for your tuition by watching the Degree Student Payments Tutorial. Additionally, you can review information about Financial Aid for undergrads and grads.

Buy Your Materials

Once you know your course schedule, you’ll need to buy the required materials to successfully complete your course. Course materials typically include textbooks, hardware, and software. You can view your required materials once you receive your login credentials by visiting Berklee Online’s My Home page. You can also look up your course in our catalog and scroll down to the “Requirements” section. Be sure to check out our Student Deals page for discounts exclusive to Berklee Online students. 

Complete Your Orientation Course

Leading up to your first semester, you will receive an email about taking your degree orientation course. We’ve designed this short course for all incoming students to provide tips for success, an in-depth look at the online course learning environment, and other helpful information. The course can only be completed once you receive your credentials, and once you have, you can access your orientation by logging in to your Berklee Online My Home page. 

Bookmark the Knowledge Base

Our new Knowledge Base is a one-stop shop for any questions that you may have about your Berklee Online course experience, accounts, audio technologies, and more. With dozens of helpful articles written by Berklee Online’s Student Support team, you’ll find the answers that you need quickly and easily. We recommend bookmarking the Knowledge Base so you’ll always be able to access it easily. If you do run into any questions or issues that can’t be answered in the Knowledge Base, you can contact Berklee Online’s Student Support team at 1-866-BERKLEE, Ext. 3 (Intl +1-617-747-2146, Ext. 3) or support@online.berklee.edu.

Sign Up for Free Teletherapy

Degree students receive free access to teletherapy through Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness service for colleges and students. Uwill provides an immediate, secure, and convenient way to receive online counseling with a licensed therapist. Once you register for courses, you can sign up for your Uwill account using your berklee.edu email address. 

Know How to Access Your Courses 

This is less of a checklist item and more of a heads up about accessing your course on the first day of the semester. On the first day of class, you will receive an email by 6 PM ET letting you know that your course is open. If you’ve registered after the semester start date, then this email will arrive within a few hours of finalizing your enrollment. Once you receive a notification that your course is available, you can log in to your Berklee Online My Home page and access the first lesson of that course. To make sure that you have the best online experience, we recommend using Google Chrome.

Follow Us on Social Media

One way to stay connected to the Berklee Online community is to follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok. Additionally, share on LinkedIn that you’re starting your Berklee Online degree program and update your connections along the way! If you post in any of the aforementioned channels about something you’re working on in your degree program, be sure to tag us so that we see it. We may even reshare it!

Subscribe to Take Note

Take Note—which is the site you’re on right now!—is Berklee Online’s flagship digital magazine where you can find more helpful information like this, read about Berklee Online students and faculty, and learn about music industry trends. When you subscribe, you’ll receive a monthly digest of articles so that you don’t miss a thing! If you have a story idea for Take Note, provide your Academic Advisor with a detailed written description and they can pass it along to the Take Note editorial team.