For New MIDS Students: Next Steps After Accepting the Admissions Offer

Now that you’ve accepted your offer of admission, here are the next steps as you prepare to start the MIDS program.

Please bookmark this page and work through the items below to prepare for your start in the MIDS program. Be sure to reach out to the Student Success team at (855) 679-6437 or studentsupport@datascience.berkeley.edu if you have questions or concerns.

You can also save a copy of this checklist with an account cheat sheet and the orientation slides.

If you haven’t yet accepted the offer of admission, click here and follow these steps first.

Important Dates

The MIDS program follows a different calendar than other programs at UC Berkeley. The dates listed on CalCentral often do not apply to MIDS students. Be sure to consult the MIDS Academic Calendar for important dates.

Orientation

Meet with your Student Success Advisor

Your Student Success Advisor (SSA) will reach out to introduce themselves as we approach the start of term. The Student Success team for the MIDS Program is here to help you prepare for your time at UC Berkeley, assist you with academic planning and registration, and be your first point of contact for questions as you move through the program. Your SSA will email a link to schedule an introduction call.

Attend Webinars and Orientation

We have organized several events to help you prepare for the MIDS program:

MIDS Admitted Student Webinars are primarily for students still deciding to attend the program. You will hear from current students on their experience in the MIDS program. These events are optional and will be recorded.

New Student Orientation Webinar will be held one or two weeks before registration by the Student Affairs team. This webinar will introduce program expectations and requirements, advice from the Head Graduate Advisor, Career Services information, and a guide to the registration process. You are strongly encouraged to attend this session and this session will be recorded.

Registration Webinars will be hosted the week before registration by the Student Success team. This session provides an opportunity to walk through the registration process. An email will be sent with session information. You are strongly encouraged to attend this session and this session will not be recorded.

See Events for New MIDS Students for orientation and registration webinar dates and details

Required Tasks

Required Tasks in CalCentral

Log into your CalCentral dashboard and complete all of the assigned tasks, including:

• Complete the Sexual Assault Prevention Training for Graduate Students. (MIDS students are exempt from completing the live prevention education session.)
• Sign the Student Financial Agreement, when available.
• Complete any other assigned tasks.

Health Insurance Waiver

All registered students, including international students, will automatically be enrolled in the Berkeley Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and charged the health insurance fee on their CalCentral account. Students who wish to opt out of SHIP must have other medical health insurance that meets all of the waiver criteria and must complete an online waiver application.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) FAQ for MIDS and MICS Students

Diagnostic Placement Exam

Review information on the Diagnostic Placement Exam sent by your admissions counselor and plan to complete the DPE by the deadline listed in “Important Dates.” We strongly encourage all students, even those who are not interested in waiving any of the three courses covered, to attempt all questions on the diagnostic exam. If you have questions or require support related to your submission, please email mids-placement@ischool.berkeley.edu.

Finalize Funding Plan

• Review tuition information and plan your finances accordingly. (If you do not have Intranet access yet, you can review tuition information here.) Options for paying tuition can be found on the Student Billing Office’s website.
• Tuition for the term is due in full on the tuition due date unless students enroll in the Fee Payment Plan.
• Make sure you have completed your financial aid application for the correct academic year if applicable, which includes submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to UC Berkeley (institution code 001312). Contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office if you have questions.
• If applicable, initiate Veterans Affairs Benefits by following the Checklist for Initiating Benefits at UC Berkeley.
• Set up UCB Direct Deposit (for US-based bank accounts) to allow any refunds or reimbursements you are due to be deposited directly to the account of your choosing.
• UC Berkeley provides various resources for fellowships and scholarships that can be found here:
  • I School Fellowships
  • Scholarship Opportunities
  • Graduate Fellowships and Awards
  • National Fellowship Databases

Deferral to a Later Semester

The deadline to defer to a later semester is listed above under “Important Dates.”

If you can no longer continue or start the program after this deadline there may be financial and other implications. Review the MIDS Deferral Policy and email Student Success immediately!

For Students with Disabilities

If applicable, register with the Disabled Students’ Program for letters of accommodation.

Setting Up Accounts and Getting Connected

UC Berkeley CalNet Account

You should already have set up your CalNet username and passphrase and two-factor authentication. These will be your primary login credentials at UC Berkeley. You will use your CalNet credentials to log in to:

• bCourses, UC Berkeley’s learning management system, where you will find all of your online courses
• The School of Information website
• Your bMail email account and other Google services (see below)
• CalCentral, the online platform for your student records, class registration, billing, and other administrative tasks
• Your Berkeley Zoom account (see below)

(Some systems may not grant you access until you are fully registered as a student.)

bMail Email Account

Once you have paid your deposit through CalCentral, you must activate your bConnected account and set up your Berkeley email account (bMail) once available (usually 24–48 hours after your deposit has been processed). Important updates will be sent to your bMail address throughout your time in the program, so check this inbox regularly.

I School Account & Email Address

After you have completed the Statement of Intent to Register and set up your bMail account, you will receive an email to set up your I School account. This will give you login access to the I School website.

We will also create an I School email address for you (username@ischool.berkeley.edu). This address will be an additional address for your same Berkeley bMail account; messages addressed to both your @berkeley.edu address and your new @ischool.berkeley.edu address will be delivered to the same bMail account. 

Slack

Sign up for a Slack account using your I School email address.

After you create your account:

• Introduce yourself in the #introductions channel.
• Join the #mids-announcements and #mids channels.
• Look for other relevant channels to join, including channels for your geographic region, hobbies, career interests, or demographic communities.

More information about the I School Slack workspace

Zoom

UC Berkeley provides free licensed Zoom accounts to all students. You should use your Berkeley Zoom account to connect to your live (synchronous) class sessions and other online MIDS events.

Visit berkeley.zoom.us and log in with your CalNet credentials to access your Zoom account. (Your account will be created the first time you log in.)

Getting started with Zoom.

Study.net

Create an account with Study.net. Before the start of term, you will receive an email with information on required materials to purchase through Study.net

Set Up the Berkeley VPN

Download Berkeley’s bSecure Remote Access VPN. You will need the VPN to access some class readings from the UC Berkeley library.

Update your Profile

Browse the directory of other incoming MIDS students and current MIDS students. We added you to our incoming MIDS student directory when your account was created.

Please update your profile with a photo and more information about yourself. Incoming student profiles are private until you begin classes; update your privacy settings if you want information to remain private.

Computer Recommendations

You are able to use either a Mac or Windows OS for the program; however, many students in the program primarily use a Mac. The program does not require any specific minimum hardware, but the following specs can serve as a guide if you are looking for a new computer: 4 cores, 8 GB of RAM, 30 GB of disk space. In general, if you purchased a new laptop within the last three years, it should be sufficient to power the program, since much of the classwork will be cloud based. You will also need admin access to your machine for some courses. 

UC Berkeley students can take advantage of Student Discounts on Technology.

Preparing for MIDS

Review the MIDS Student Handbook for all program and degree requirements. Plan to attend a future Immersion to complete this degree requirement.

Academic Preparation

Below are various resources to help you prepare for the MIDS program. It is in your best interest to ensure you are familiar with the academic principles covered in the program prior to beginning your first term. Your preparation is your responsibility.

• Third party classes
• Calculus and linear algebra self study
• Bridge courses are made available to you through bCourses. You will receive an email with enrollment instructions for these courses.

Prepare for Registration

Prepare for registration by thoroughly reading the MIDS Class Registration page.

MIDS students register for classes via CalCentral, with enrollment appointment priority based on units completed. The registration date for new MIDS students is listed in the MIDS Academic Calendar.

Classroom Expectations

Students will access all of their MIDS courses using bCourses. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the platform now, so you’re ready when classes start. You will receive access to your class material approximately two weeks before the start of term.

Most MIDS classes have two main components: asynchronous material and synchronous (live) sessions.

Asynchronous Material

This material can include readings, pre-recorded lecture content, problem sets and/or knowledge checks. Each week, you will be expected to complete material prior to attending your live session.

Live Sessions

Live sessions are held once per week on Zoom and are 90 minutes in length. For your first term, you are required to take two classes, so you will have two live sessions per week (90 minutes each).

• You are expected to attend your live session each week throughout the term at the day and time you register for.  
• Be prepared to be on webcam and participate in discussion each week.
• Find a quiet, professional location to attend live sessions.
• Maintain strong internet access.
• Use headphones with a noise canceling microphone.
• Convert your local time zone to Pacific Time and account for Daylight Saving Time (if applicable) to make sure you attend your live session on time.