Once you've been accepted to Rivet School, your next step is Onboarding, a six-week introduction to our program.
Rivet School partners with Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to help you earn your college degree through a flexible, self-paced learning experience. Instead of traditional lectures or exams, you'll complete projects that demonstrate what you've learned, with support from your dedicated College Coach along the way.
Onboarding is a free, no-commitment trial of the program designed to help you get comfortable with how learning at Rivet works before you officially enroll in college. During these six weeks, you'll complete projects that count toward your degree, work with your College Coach, and complete your financial planning. You'll use this time to learn what the program requires and decide with your coach whether you're ready to continue. If you choose to move forward, you'll officially enroll at SNHU and continue working toward your degree.
Here's what to expect during your six weeks:
1. Understanding your Onboarding commitments
Onboarding is a chance to practice the habits you'll need to succeed in a self-paced program. During your six weeks, you'll be expected to:
- Attend every weekly coaching session using your laptop.
- Complete one project each week, setting aside 5–10 hours per week.
- Complete your Onboarding checklist by each deadline.
- Finish financial planning on time. Lorena, our financial planning specialist, will reach out to help.
- Respond to messages from Admissions or your coach within 24–48 hours.
2. Meeting your College Coach
Your College Coach will help you set goals, navigate projects, build study habits, and connect with resources. You'll meet virtually once a week to discuss your progress, ask questions, and plan your next steps.
Tips for working with your coach:
- Attend your weekly coaching session and come prepared with questions.
- Communicate early if you need help or need to reschedule.
- Allow time for your coach to respond, as they support multiple Fellows.
3. Setting up your SNHU Account
During Onboarding, SNHU will email you a single sign-on username when your account is ready. You'll use your account to view your financial aid award letter, check your account balance, and submit projects.
To get started:
- Wait for an email from SNHU with the subject line: [ADD HERE]
- Visit my.snhu.edu and select “Use this link to create/reset your password.”
- Save your username and password somewhere secure.
- When logging in, select CFA or Stride Students, not Online or Campus Students.
Need help? Call the SNHU IT Service Desk at 1-855-877-9919 or contact Rivet.
4. Completing Projects During Onboarding
You'll start by completing assignments in Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Forms before transitioning to your SNHU portal.
Follow these steps for every project:
- Read the competencies to understand what you're expected to learn.
- Review the scenario and directions to understand the assignment.
- Use the rubric to check that your work meets the requirements before submitting.
Remember: Your Onboarding projects count toward your degree, so take your time and follow the instructions carefully. If you're new to these tools or haven't done schoolwork in a while, that's okay! Your coach is there to help.
Questions? We're here to help!
You don't have to navigate Onboarding alone. If you have questions about your application, your next steps, or getting started, reach out to our Admissions team.
Call or text: 510-727-5484
Email: admissions@rivetschool.org
Save these contact details in your phone and contacts so you can easily reach us and recognize our messages. Your College Coach's contact information will also be included in your Onboarding email.
We're here to support you every step of the way. Welcome to Rivet!