PRE-DEPARTURE Q&A FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WELCOME TO KNOX! - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
PRE-DEPARTURE Q&A FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WELCOME TO KNOX! Your Panelists Office of International Student Services: Joshua Ferchau, Director jferchau@knox.edu Rebecca Eckart, Associate Director rreckart@knox.edu Student: Swarup
PRE-DEPARTURE Q&A FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Your Panelists Office of International Student Services:
Joshua Ferchau, Director ⎟ jferchau@knox.edu Rebecca Eckart, Associate Director ⎟ rreckart@knox.edu
Student:
Swarup Behera ‘20, International Ambassador
Moderator:
Joel Willison ‘20, Orientation Leader
WELCOME TO KNOX!
Arrival Day is September 5th (August 20 for IELP students) Shuttle service is available from:
Reserve a shuttle through the Arrival form on your student portal.
Watch for an email in August with your shuttle information. We’re excited to greet you, whether you come by yourself or with your parents!!
ARRIVAL DAYS & SHUTTLES
Immigration documents (in your carry-on bag):
You’ll go through Customs and Immigration at the first airport you enter in the U.S., even if you have another flight after that. You need to take your luggage through Customs, and recheck it afterwards. Check your immigration stamp. Be sure the immigration officer gives you an F-1, D/S (Duration of Status stamp).
*If you also have a visitor visa to the U.S., present your F-1 visa (NOT your B-2 visa) to the immigration officer.
If you have any trouble, contact Rebecca:
CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION FOR F-1 STUDENTS
Suggested Packing List:
space)
We’ll go shopping during IPOP. If you plan to buy items for your dorm
room, consider buying them here—save your luggage space for things from home or things you can’t get here.
Room furnishings: Your room will have a bed, desk, closet, and
drawers.
WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU
Galesburg has four seasons:
Summer tends to be humid. June – mid Sep.
but can be as low as 0°F (-18°C). Dec. – Feb.
Dressing for the weather:
jackets to layer and clothes for fall. Cooler weather will begin in late September.
boots; hat; gloves or mittens; scarf
fleece jackets, sweatshirts, etc.); pants, thick tights, etc.
WEATHER IN GALESBURG
WINTER CLOTHING
If you already have winter clothes, bring them! If you don’t—you can get winter clothes in Galesburg, Chicago,
*Packing advice: Don’t worry if you can’t fit everything you
here.
Health & Counseling Center on campus (open weekdays) Your fees include a health services & accident insurance fee. Health & counseling records are private. You might experience culture shock as you transition to living and learning in the U.S. We’ll talk more about this during
to help! Learn more about health and counseling at Knox.
HEALTH & COUNSELING SERVICES
U.S. healthcare is high quality, but can be expensive. We strongly encourage you to have comprehensive health insurance. Learn more about healthcare and insurance in the U.S. For F-1 students, we recommend a plan through iNext. U.S. citizens can search for an appropriate plan at http://www.knoxstudentinsurance.com. Dental & Vision Care: Most insurance plans cover injuries to teeth and eyes, but do not cover routine dental or vision care. Visit your dentist and eye doctor before you come to the U.S.
INSURANCE AND HEALTHCARE IN THE U.S.
iNext INSURANCE – FOR F-1 STUDENTS
hospitals in-network.
Select “Travel to the U.S.” for the F visa to see plan
details available here.
iNext INSURANCE – FOR F-1 STUDENTS
against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Meningococcal Disease.
with an English translation and submit through your admission portal
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not covered by insurance. Try to get your immunizations before coming to Knox.
IMMUNIZATIONS
PNC Bank will be on-campus during IPOP. You can open a bank account with your passport and I-20. PNC offers receipt of one free wire transfer per month for Knox students (there might still be originating fees for parents). There’s a PNC ATM on campus, as well as numerous banks in downtown Galesburg (Wells Fargo, F&M Bank, and others).
SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT
Don’t carry a lot of cash with you while traveling. Plan to access money through a credit/debit card or a wire transfer to your new bank account. In the U.S., most people carry less than $100 in cash. You don’t need a lot of cash when you arrive. You might need money for:
$100
and get a SIM card here. More if you buy a phone.)
MONEY SAFETY & IMMEDIATE EXPENSES
During orientation, you can sign up for payroll and learn about how to apply for campus jobs. There are lots of campus jobs—but sometimes it can take a few weeks to find one. Apply for any job that you’re interested in and talk with OISS for advice. You might have a campus employment award as part of your financial aid. The money you earn will be direct deposited into your U.S. bank account. Use for personal needs, books, travel expenses, or tuition payment—it’s up to you. After you get a job, you’ll need to apply for your Social Security Number (SSN). OISS will help you with that.
GETTING A CAMPUS JOB
Two options for paying your bill:
Learn more about student billing and payment methods. View your bill online at my.knox.edu, through the Business Office app. You can add your parents as an authorized user here. Payment methods:
Scholarships and financial aid are applied to your account before you are billed
PAYING YOUR BILL
KNOX STUDENT ACCOUNT CENTER
Or submit payment directly through Flywire: Specify funds in USD. Create a Flywire account. You’ll need to know your student ID number.
https://www.flywire.com/pay/knox
During IPOP, you’ll have time to set up a cell phone. Bringing an unlocked phone: You can get a SIM card through AT&T and purchase a monthly plan. Check your phone in advance for compatibility. Note: AT&T will be on campus during IPOP to put SIM cards in unlocked phones. Buying a phone in the U.S.: You will likely need a no-contract plan, which requires purchase of a phone. Some options include:
U.S. citizens and students who have an SSN can get a contract cell phone.
Note: You can buy a SIM card or phone during IPOP.
Learn more about cell phones in the U.S. Wifi is available throughout campus (so you might not need a lot of data). You can also get an inexpensive basic phone if you don’t want or need a smartphone.
SETTING UP A U.S. CELL PHONE
Knox operates on a trimester schedule. We have three terms each year—fall, winter, and spring. View our 2018 – 19 academic calendar. Classes at Knox are rigorous. Classes at Knox are worth 1.0 or 0.5 credits, and 2.5 – 3.5 credits/term is a full courseload. Three classes/term is typical. We have lots of academic support! Make sure you use it
CLASSES AT KNOX
Expect to voice your thoughts in class. You’ll learn a lot from your classmates, and your classmates will learn from you. Share your thoughts and opinions! The grading scale might be different from what you experienced in high school. Our grading scale is A, B, C, D, F. An “A” is
means that work is satisfactory. If you do your work and utilize academic resources, you’ll do fine. Always, always, always ask for help when you have questions or don’t understand. Teachers want to hear your questions! If you took A levels or IBs, have your final exam results sent to Knox for credit evaluation. Learn more here.
ACADEMIC CULTURE IN THE U.S.
About the Knox student body:
As a first-year, you’ll live in a suite.
suite and helps you in your transition to college
THE KNOX STUDENT BODY & FIRST-YEAR SUITES
There are 100+ student clubs and organizations at Knox. Joining a club is a great way to make friends outside of your classes and suite! Clubs and organizations span a breadth of interests—including:
Get involved, but remember to have a good balance between academics and co-curriculars.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Knox has three meal plans you can choose from. Learn more here.
Meal plans are $1614 per term (included with your fees), but you can choose the number of meals and dining dollars you get.
Meals are available in the Hard Knox Café or Oak Room, and are buffet-style. Dining Dollars can be used at the Gizmo or the Out Post (C-Store). Choose your meal plan and submit your dining contract through your student portal. You can change your meal plan at the beginning of each term. Learn more about dining at Knox.
MEAL PLANS
Housing is available for international students free of charge during winter and spring break—but you should plan for your
Housing is available during summer vacation for a modest monthly fee. Shuttles to and from local airports (Peoria – PIA and Moline – MLI) are available at the end and beginning of each academic
VACATION PERIODS
Find local hotels. Transportation:
Champaign, Bloomington Normal, and Chicago in IL; and
each academic term: View the shuttle schedule here.
ACCOMMODATIONS & TRANSPORTATION
Downtown restaurants and shopping: Downtown Galesburg,
with restaurants and shopping, is walkable from campus. View a downtown visitor’s map here.
Local medical facilities:
During IPOP, we’ll discuss the different types of medical facilities and when/how to use them.
Learn more about Galesburg at http://www.visitgalesburg.com
LOCAL RESOURCES
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!