> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.learnterms.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Join your cohort

> Use your join code, confirm the right cohort, and get into the correct LearnTerms study space.

## What this step actually does

Joining a cohort is not just account setup. It is how LearnTerms decides which **classes**, **modules**, documents, badges, and admin tools belong to you.

If you join the wrong cohort, the rest of the app will feel wrong because LearnTerms scopes nearly everything to that cohort.

## When you need this

You need the join flow when:

* you just created your account
* you were invited into a new cohort
* you signed in and were sent straight to `/join-class`

If you already see your classes in `/classes`, you are past this step.

## What you need before you start

You need one thing: the cohort join code.

That code usually comes from your class organizer, admin, or contributor team. LearnTerms calls it a class code in the UI, but it is really a code for the cohort you are joining.

## How to join

1. Open the join flow at `/join-class`.
2. Enter your code in **Enter your class code...**.
3. Select **Join Class**.
4. Review the confirmation screen carefully.
5. Select **Confirm & Join**.

The confirmation screen shows the cohort name, school, academic year, and sometimes a description. Treat that screen as your last check before you attach your account to the cohort.

## What to verify on the confirmation screen

Before you confirm, check:

* the cohort name matches your class year or group
* the school name is correct
* the academic year range looks right
* the description matches what you expected, if one is shown

If any of that looks off, stop there and ask for a new code. It is much easier to fix a wrong code before you join than after you start using the wrong study space.

## What happens after you confirm

When you confirm, LearnTerms saves the cohort on your user record and sends you to `/classes`.

From that point on:

* your dashboard is filtered to the cohort you joined
* your available classes come from that cohort
* your custom tests only use that cohort's class content
* your badges and cohort board activity are tied to that group
* admin and contributor tools, if your role allows them, operate inside that cohort

This is why onboarding matters more in LearnTerms than in a generic study app. The platform is built around a shared academic structure, not a personal folder system.

## If you are sent to the join flow automatically

LearnTerms does this on purpose in two common cases:

1. Your account exists in Clerk, but you do not have a LearnTerms user record yet.
2. Your LearnTerms user record exists, but it does not have a `cohortId`.

In both cases, the app blocks the normal class dashboard until the cohort is set.

## Common errors and what they usually mean

### "Please enter a class code"

You tried to submit an empty field. Paste or type the full code and try again.

### "Invalid class code. Please check and try again."

The code does not match a live cohort record. Usually that means:

* the code was typed incorrectly
* the wrong code was shared
* the cohort has not been configured yet

### "Failed to join class. Please try again."

The code was valid, but LearnTerms could not attach your account to the cohort. This is usually a temporary issue or a sign that your user setup needs attention.

## Best practices

* Keep the code exactly as it was shared.
* Read the confirmation screen instead of clicking through it.
* Join first, then worry about classes and modules.
* If your classmate sees different classes than you do, confirm you both joined the same cohort.

## What to do next

After you join successfully, your next pages are usually:

* [Classes and modules](/students/classes-and-modules)
* [Dashboard and recent activity](/students/dashboard-and-recent-activity)
* [Studying a module](/students/study-flow)