Preparing to Arrive

Congratulations on your acceptance to DePauw University!  We look forward to meeting you soon.  To better plan for your DePauw experience, please take some time to explore the following topics:

Immigration
Pre-arrival check list
Insurance
Housing
Packing
Academics
Arrival

 

IMMIGRATION
Getting a Visa
Once you have been accepted and submitted all required documents and deposits, you will receive your Certificate of Eligibility, either a Form I-20 (for F-1, degree-seeking students) or DS-2019 (for J-1, visiting students). Your Certificate of Eligibility number will allow you to go online and obtain your SEVIS fee receipt.  To get the SEVIS fee receipt, you should use a credit card to pay your $100 SEVIS fee.  Be sure to print your receipt; you will NOT be able to go in the system and print it off later.

You should then schedule your visa interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country; at the interview, you will present your Certificate of Eligibility, acceptance letter, original bank statement showing fees to cover the expenses for the academic year, SEVIS fee receipt and passport.  When your visa application is approved, you will need to surrender your passport so that the appropriate visa stamp can be placed inside. 

Arrival in the U.S.
Please be aware that when you arrive in the U.S., you will be given a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record either on the airplane or in the immigration area of the airport; this small, but important document is also a part of your required immigration documentation.  You will need to know the address and phone number of where you will be living to complete this document.  This information is available to you on e-Services, so be sure to print this information out and bring it with you. 

You will need to pass through immigration at your first entry in the U.S.  You may encounter a long wait at immigration; please be patient and respectful.  Please see the Department of Homeland Security Fact Sheet so that you can know what to expect when you arrive at a U.S. port of entry.

INSURANCE
Health Insurance
DePauw operates a Wellness Center which provides routine physical and mental healthcare and information to students.  The treatment available at the Wellness Center is limited and the cost of treatment for any major injury or illness must be paid by the student; therefore medical insurance is required by DePauw.

Medical costs in the U.S. are high and continue to rise.  DePauw provides coverage for international students that protects them anywhere in the world except in their home countries; it also provides prescription reimbursement and maternity coverage. This policy is through the Lewer Agency, Inc and meets the J-1 insurance requirements.  Insurance will be automatically charged to your student’s account at the beginning of each semester.  The approximate cost is $875 for the entire year.

This coverage includes: 

  • Is valid in the United States
  • Is in effect throughout the entire year
  • Has a minimum dollar coverage of $50,000 per illness or injury
  • Includes maternity
  • Includes hospitalization
  • Includes outpatient care (doctor visit, outpatient surgery, etc.)
  • Includes at least $7,500 for repatriation of remains
  • Includes at least $10,000 for medical evacuation to home country
  • Includes a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
  • Indicates covered services as well as excluded services
  • Provides information on how to reach the insurance company in case of emergency (address and telephone number)

Students are highly encouraged to participate in the University-provided insurance policy.  However, if your student has his/her own medical coverage that meets the University’s requirements, a copy of this policy must be submitted, in English, by August 1.  No alternative policies will be accepted after this date. 

HOUSING
Signing up for Housing
Instructions on how to register for housing will be sent to you in your welcome packet.  After students have submitted their housing preferences online, they will be assigned to a room a few weeks later. Once that process is complete, the Office of Residence Life & Housing will send an email with directions on how to view your housing assignment and get information about your roommate.  Please keep in mind that most students will share a room since having a college roommate is part of the typical American university experience.

Housing Options
All first-year degree seeking students are placed into a residence hall based on the preferences they indicate. Students can choose between various residence hall options:  substance-free, same-sex, mixed-sex, and theme-based. 

Visiting students have the option of requesting to live in a residence hall or a University-owned apartment or house (UOAH); placement in the UOAH is based on availability.  Although apartments appeal to many students, living in a residence hall allows you to share space and surround yourself with American students.  If you are placed in an apartment, you may need to pursue additional opportunities to meet other students.

Deadline
The housing preferences form should be submitted online by May 17, 2008. 

PACKING
Airline Restrictions
Recently, airlines have changed their policies on what can be packed in carry-on luggage.  Please visit your carrier’s website to learn about its policies.  Also, look for information regarding baggage weights and limits.  Finally, you should not lock your luggage; if you do lock your luggage, your locks may be forced open and the locking mechanism will be broken.

Immigration Documents & Contact information
Please remember to keep all of your immigration documents with you. When entering the U.S, you will be required to present to a Customs and Border Protection(CBP) official the payment receipt of the Sevis I-901 fee, in addition to your passport and I-20 or DS2019. Do not pack these documents in your check-in luggage. If you need help,  contact Loutfi Jirari at (765) 658-4117 or Cell Phone (812) 360-5009, Aliza Frame at (765) 658-4368 or Public Safety at (765) 658-4261, you may need to call someone about changing flight plans or if there is an issue at immigration.

Clothing
You will want to have clothing for a variety of activities including going to class, exercising, and going to a concert or out to dinner.  Recently several international students at DePauw said that they were surprised that most DePauw students are fashionably dressed.  The students had been told before coming to America that students here dress very casually.  DePauw, like many smaller universities, is an exception to this general rule. However, you should dress as you are accustomed to and how you are most comfortable.

Although clothing can be relatively inexpensive in the U.S., local shopping is somewhat limited to a handful of smaller shops.  Many students shop online.  Most students go to larger, nearby cities to shop for more fashionable attire; these towns are approximately one hour’s drive from Greencastle.

If you have a native or national dress, please bring it with you.  There will be opportunities for you to wear your traditional clothes during international and cultural events.

Weather
It will be hot and humid when you first arrive, and in September, April and May as well.  You will need light clothing for this time.  20°C to 35°C (68°F to 95°F).
Students, especially from warm climates, may need to purchase winter clothing - a heavy coat, gloves, scarf and hat, and waterproof winter boots or heavy shoes.  You may buy these items in Greencastle if necessary.  The winters in Greencastle can get quite cold: -18°C to 5°C (0°F to 40°F).

Items from Home
To make you feel more at home, bring photos of your family and friends. You may also want to bring cultural artifacts so that others can learn about your culture.

ACADEMIC ISSUES
Advanced Preparation
To prepare yourself for courses in general, read as much material in English of an academic nature as you can.  Some faculty members make assignments for the first class; faculty members will normally email you at your DePauw email account to notify you of this. 

Selecting your Courses
Courses at the 100 level generally assume that students will have little or no background in the subject.  Courses at the 200 level may require students to complete prerequisites before taking this course.  All courses at the 300 and 400 level assume that the student has extensive knowledge in the subject matter.  Students should be mindful of this when they submit their course preferences.

It is not advisable to list courses from only one or two subject areas.  For example, it is rare that a student can get into more than two courses in economics or communications.  Please try to choose a variety or courses that are of interest.  If a course is absolutely necessary for you to transfer back to your home institution, please specify this; we will do our best to accommodate your request.

Students must enroll in at least three DePauw credits each semester.  Take care to review how much credit each course is worth; courses range from .25-1.00 DePauw credits.  Most students take between 3.5 and 4.0 credits each term.

Course Registration
Four-Year Degree Student
Four-year degree seeking students will receive instructions on making course requests via email at the end of May.  This email will include a link to your class website where you will find the information you need to request courses.  Using your e-Services account, you will submit your course preferences online, including rankings for your first-year seminar.  Course requests will be due in mid-July.

Visiting Students
Visiting students will need to submit course preferences to the international student adviser by June 1.  To see what courses are being offered for a particular semester:

  1. Go to e-Services. 
  2. Select the tab marked “Courses (SOC)” 
  3. Select the term that you are enrolling in (i.e., Fall or Spring)
  4. Find the section of “Departments and Interdisciplinary Studies” and choose “Change.” 
  5. Select each subject area that you are interested in then submit your choices. 
  6. You will see which classes are being offered in your chosen areas during that particular semester. 
  7. Click on the course number to see the course description and the prerequisites.  You can also see the instructor’s name, the number of seats available and the time the course is offered. 
  8. Email your top 10 courses to the international student adviser.

Note: Some courses will be full or “closed.”  This means that the course has attained full registration.  The University values interpersonal interaction and therefore tries to keep class size small.  Because some classes may become closed, this means that you may not get all of your preferences.  However, we will work to ensure that you find a schedule that meets your needs.  Visiting students are not eligible for a first-year seminar course.  

Schedules can be adjusted upon your arrival.  Some courses such as language classes require a placement test which can be taken during orientation.  All students must meet course prerequisites.

ARRIVAL
Airport Pick-Up
You should plan your travel so that you arrive in Indiana at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) on August 16, 2008 so that you can catch one of the four DePauw shuttles that will bring you to campus.  Once on campus, someone can help you get settled into your room.  If you do not arrive on August 16, you will be responsible for securing your transportation via taxi to the University and retrieving your key from Public Safety in the Union Building. 

There is no local bus service to Greencastle.   Taxi Service from the airport to Greencastle costs around $80 via taxi.   The Indianapolis Airport is approximately one hour's drive away.

Shuttles are planned for 1:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 11:00 pm.  They will depart promptly from the Ground Transportation area of the Indianapolis International Airport. 

Orientation
You are required to attend all segments of orientation.  International students are included in the DePauw Institute that commences on Sunday, August 17.  During DePauw Institute, you will meet other new DePauw students that are arriving early for special programs that help new students have successful experiences at DePauw.  International Student Orientation will occur during the middle through the end of the week.  The International Student Orientation will provide you an opportunity to learn about topics specific to new international students.  Students will take an English placement exam during International Student Orientation; if a student is found to need supplemental English assistance, the student will be required to enroll in English 110, College Writing for Non-native Speakers of English.  Finally, all new students will participate in the DePauw New Student Orientation that runs from Saturday, August 18-21, 2008.  During the DePauw New Student Orientation, students will take proficiency exams for other subject areas.  These mandatory orientation sessions will help you be prepared for the start of classes on Wednesday, August 27.