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Orientation and New Student Programs

Congratulations and welcome to MassBay!

You have applied and been admitted. We’re looking forward to seeing you in class, and we have planned some important steps to help you get ready to start. We are trying to keep things as simple as possible while still making sure you have the tools to be as successful as possible.

 

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Next Steps

MassBay Identity Verification Policy

New Student On-Boarding Steps: Ready, Set, Enroll!

See the important steps below:

STEP 1: Acceptance & Placement:

Complete and submit the MassBay Application.  

Placement in the right level of English and math for you is an important foundational start. You can meet this requirement in a few different ways:

  • If you graduated from a US high school or earned a GED or HiSET certificate within the last 10 years with a gpa of 2.7 or higher send your final transcript to admissions@massbay.edu for placement waivers
  • If  you happened to have taken the SAT or ACT within the last 10 years (we don’t require those!) we can use your scores for placement. Please have your official scores sent to us, or email your complete copy to admissions@massbay.edu
  • If you scored a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, please have your official scores sent to us or email your copy to admissions@massbay.edu
  • If you have passed college-level English or math at a different college please have that school send an official copy of your transcript to admissions@massbay.edu

Visit the Placement Requirements page for complete details.

All students entering an Associate Degree program, and any student entering a certificate program that has a math or English requirement must satisfy the placement requirement.

If you would benefit from accommodations, such as extended time or a reduced-distraction location, please email arc@massbay.edu 

Once you have completed your admissions paperwork, you should receive an email to your personal email address from our Office of Information Technology (helpdesk@massbay.edu) with your credentials and instructions for activating your account in OneLogin. Make sure to check you junk mail folder. For help or questions with this process, please contact the IT Help Desk: helpdesk@massbay.edu or 781-239-2440

Once you receive your acceptance letter, share the news with your family and friends! Get to know the MassBay community by following us on Facebook
and on Instagram.

Sign up to visit campus during an Open House or Information Session today.

Note:  Students entering the following programs must attend a program-specific orientation and should check with Admissions at 781-239-2500 or admissions@massbay.edu before signing up for Orientation: Automotive Technology, Central Processing Technology, Computed Tomography, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedicine and Phlebotomy. Students pursuing Nursing/Practical Nursing, Surgical Technology or Radiologic Technology should attend an Info Session only if they will be taking pre-requisite courses at MassBay.

  • All full-time students coming to campus who are under 30 years of age need to provide proof of certain vaccinations to the College. Please visit our immunization page for additional information.
  • Payment is due when you register for classes. Payment may be made online through your student account or you may set up a payment plan.
  • Take care of your health insurance. If you register for nine or more credits, you will be charged for health insurance at MassBay. This fee may be waived if you are covered under another health insurance plan.
  • Find all of your MassBay computer and online tools in the Student Technology Tutorial.
  • Check your MassBay email frequently for updates.
  • Plan to purchase text books for your classes.
  • If you don't have a computer to access the internet for meetings, classes or the library, please visit the MassBay library to borrow a Chromebook.

STEP 2: Apply for Financial Aid (if applicable)

Important: This is REQUIRED to qualify for the Free Community College programs!

Need Help with your FAFSA application? Text “MassBay” to 857-309-2942 to our uAspire partners for help over text, zoom, or phone call!

Financial Resources available to students

STEP 3: Ready2Register Session

The Ready2Register Session is a one-hour session that grants you access to Academic Advising and class registration.

Ready2Register Sessions are held in person, with limited virtual options available. Email invitations will be automatically sent to your personal email address when you are eligible to attend a session.

Who Is Required to Attend a Ready2Register Session

  • All new, readmit, or transfer students seeking a degree or certificate
  • Students enrolling in prerequisites for Nursing, Practical Nursing, Radiological Technology, or Surgical Technology

Guest students are highly encouraged to participate in orientation to learn about current MassBay processes, services, and resources. An online orientation course is also available for this population.

Program-Specific Requirements

If you are pursuing a seat in any of the following programs, please contact the Office of Admissions at 781-239-2500 to learn more about the specific requirements:

Automotive Programs: BMW, Chrysler, General Motors, Toyota
Health Science Programs: Central Processing, Computed Tomography, Emergency Medicine, Nursing/Practical Nursing, Paramedicine, Phlebotomy, Radiological Technology, Surgical Technology

After Steps 1 & 2, you should get an email invite to sign-up for a Ready2Register Session!

Once you have completed Application and Placement Requirement(s), email invites will automatically be sent to your PERSONAL email address (NOT massbay.edu) The subject line is “Next Step: Sign up for a Ready2Register!” and comes from orientation@massbay.edu. Please check junk mail if you do not see it. These sessions will be offered on both the Framingham and Wellesley Campuses as well as some limited virtual options.

At the Ready2Register session, we will review all the informatio necessary for you to meet with an advisor and register for classes.  

The following information will be covered:

  • Review of the on-boarding process
  • Preparing for the meeting with your academic advisor
  • Setting-up and utilizing MassBay Technology
  • Work/school/personal life balance

At your Ready2Register Session, you will find out who your assigned Academic Advisor is and we will help you to schedule an appointment with them at a time and location that works best for you.

For students starting in Fall Semesters (September - December):

  • Ready to Register Sessions are held in May June, July & August
  • Email invites to sign-up start going out in late April.

For students starting in Spring Semesters (January - May):

  • Ready to Register Sessions are held in November, December, & January
  • Email invites to sign-up start going out in early November.

For students starting in Summer Sessions (May - August):

  • Ready to Register Sessions will be held in March, April & May
  • Email invites to sign-up start going out in early March. 

For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations in order to fully participate in this event, please contact an Accessibility Specialist, at 781-239-2234, between 9m and 5pm, Monday through Friday. If you get a voicemail, please leave your name and number slowly and clearly. A specialist will call you back. Please know requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the event.

If you are attending a virtual Ready2Register from outside the US, you will not have access to Bay Navigator. However, you can gain access to it through the use of a Personal VPN that will show you as a US based address. Many providers offer free trials which can cover your use for Ready2Register session.

STEP 4: Register for Classes & Prepare for Success

During your appointment with your advisor you will have the opportunity to talk about your goals, create an academic plan, and register for classes.

MassBay provides equal access for each student who self-discloses a disability and requests accommodations through the Accessibility Resources Center for learning, testing, and other areas of need. Accommodations are provided in accordance with the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

Once enrolled in class, you can look up your required textbooks.  

Additional Resources & Services

STEP 5: Orientation Kickoff

THE ORIENTATION KICKOFF EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE ONE TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN!

New Student Orientation is an essential learning experience to start your first year off right.

  • First-time college students are required to participate in orientation to help ensure their academic success.
  • Transfer and returning students are highly encouraged to participate in orientation to learn about MassBay processes, services and resources.
  • To register for pre-requisites for Nursing, Practical Nursing, Radiological Technology, or Surgical Technology, please attend an Orientation kickoff event.
  • New students pursuing seats in selective Automotive or Health Science programs have special requirements, if you are pursuing any of the following programs, please contact the Office of Admissions at 781-239-2500 regarding orientation requirements for your program: BMW, Chrysler, General Motors, Toyota, Central Processing, Computed Tomography, Emergency Medicine, Nursing/Practical Nursing, Paramedicine, Phlebotomy, Radiological Technology, or Surgical Technology.

At the New Student Orientation, you will:

  • Meet and socialize with fellow NEW MassBay students as well as current MassBay students, faculty, and staff;
  • Learn about MassBay's technology during a hands-on session in our computer labs, including your student email and classroom tools;
  • Get your Student ID;
  • Have a campus tour;
  • Get your campus parking pass;
  • Learn about the extracurricular and leadership opportunities available to you;
  • Receive tips for academic success;
  • Attend a resource fair where you will meet staff and be introduced to a wide range of support services and resources

You can use this resource, launch point to learn more about MassBay or refresh what you already know at any point!

Immunization Requirements

Don’t forget to gather your immunization documents! All students coming to campus who are under 30 years of age and taking 12 or more credits need to provide proof of certain vaccinations to the College. The easiest way to do this is to have your medical provider complete the Immunization Record Form.