International Student Orientation
Your first semester as a university student in the United States presents you with exciting opportunities and new challenges. International Student Orientation helps degree-seeking and exchange students adjust to their new academic and social environment.
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International Student Orientation (ISO) is required for all new international students. During orientation, students will have time before classes begin to settle into life on campus and in the US, learn about their requirements for maintaining valid immigration status, acquaint themselves with the American academic and cultural environment, and be introduced to DePauw international student health insurance and American health care system.
New international students are expected to report to DePauw's campus on Tuesday, August 13 for for International Student Orientation (August 13-August 16) for the 2024-25 Academic Year. International students will also participate in "all student" orientation beginning on Saturday, August 17th.
ISO is also an opportunity to connect with other students, staff, and faculty, and to learn about useful resources on campus. Events and topics covered during International Student Orientation include:
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Welcome Celebration reception
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Academic culture and expectations
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Immigration information session
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Health resources and insurance orientation
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Introduction to American culture
These days also promise fun with social activities put together by International Student Affairs and our upper level peer mentors: the International Student Ambassadors. By the end of the ISO and the following All-University Orientation, international students will be ready to begin their first semester as DePauw students.
Note: A small fee of $75 plus additional fees will be charged to students participating in International Student Orientation which goes toward programming, events, meals, and transportation.
International Student Orientation
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International Student Orientation (ISO): Tuesday, August 13 (arrival and check-in) through Friday, August 16, 2024. ISO includes all incoming international students, including international transfer students, exchange students, and international student athletes.
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International Transfer Students (entering as F-1 Sophomores): Students are expected to arrive for in-person orientation on Tuesday, August 13.
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International Exchange Students (entering in the Fall 2024 semester): Students are expected to arrive for in-person orientation on Tuesday, August 13.
Note: ISO for spring 2025 arrivals will be posted at a later date, in the fall semester.
How to prepare for arrival
Transportation to Campus
Incoming international students generally travel to DePauw through the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) after a connection through another airport in the US where they will go through immigration. Chicago should not be your final destination as it is too far away for travel to campus.
We encourage students to plan to arrive to the Indianapolis Airport in the morning through afternoon (between 8-5 PM) of the first day of orientation (August 13 2024) so they can take one of the DePauw shuttles to campus. Students arriving earlier will not be able to check into housing early so should make their own lodging and transportation arrangements until arrival day.
Students arriving outside of shuttle times are also expected to arrange their own transportation to campus. Updated taxi information will be shared with students over the summer prior to arrival.
For Arrival 2024, shuttles are scheduled to depart the airport at 11 AM, 3 PM, and 6 PM on August 13.
Who to contact for issues during travel
If any problems or delays occur during travel to Indianapolis or DePauw University, please contact the Office of International Student Affairs at (001) 765 658 4850 or (001) 765 658 4368 or, via email, at intlstudents@depauw.edu.
Students may also contact the DePauw Police (open all days and hours which will contact ISA staff outside of 8 AM-5 PM, Monday through Friday) at (001) 765 658 5555.
EARLY ARRIVALS (BEFORE ORIENTATION)
Students may choose to arrive prior to the August 13 start date of orientation and mandatory check-in day.
For students (and families) who do, they will need to arrange their own accommodations (housing) and transportation to campus. Students interested in arriving to campus early should reach out to Housing (housing@depauw.edu) or International Student Affairs (intlstudents@depauw.edu)
Some students and families choose who arrive prior to the mandatory check-in day may decide to stay at the Inn at DePauw or other local hotels.
For more information on booking the Inn at DePauw (the hotel adjacent to campus), visit the Inn at DePauw website.