Pre-Arrival Information
When to Arrive
What to Bring
Residence Halls and Housing
Getting to Oneonta
Academic Breaks
Summer Storage
Telephone Service
Medical Forms and Insurance
Banking and Finances
Payment of Tuition and Fees
Mail Service
Advisors at Hartwick College
English Language and Computer Skills
Shopping
Weather and Climate
WHEN TO ARRIVE
You should plan to arrive at Hartwick College a few days before the start of classes and in time for New Student and International Student Orientations. You will need to check schedules and mailings that you receive from Hartwick in order to get exact dates for these Orientations. Hartwick generally admits new students at the beginning of Fall Term in late August, and at the start of Spring Term in early February.
WHAT TO BRING:
Luggage
You should place identification tags with your name and Hartwick address on all of your luggage. This way your luggage can be traced if it is lost in transit and it will come to you at Hartwick rather than being sent back home. Also, place some form of identification (other than your passport) inside each piece of luggage (a copy of an ID or a piece of paper with your contact information and address would be sufficient). Please note, you should carry your passport with you at all times in a safe pocket where it will not be easily lost or stolen.
Many domestic U.S. airlines have bag weight limits, so be sure to inquire with your specific airline. Additionally, there are restrictions on carry-on bags in the U.S.. For example, beverages, matches, and lighters cannot be carried onto the aircraft. Please see this Web site for comprehensive information about what you can bring on board airplanes: http://www.tsa.gov/.
Clothing
Since clothing in the U.S. can be expensive, you may want to bring most of the personal clothing that you will need with you. You will need winter boots or heavy shoes, a hat and pair of gloves, some sort of waterproof raincoat, and a heavy outer coat or jacket for winter. In general, students dress in very casual attire. Most students wear sneakers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, blue jeans, slacks, and casual skirts and dresses. You should bring one outfit suitable for giving presentations or for formal occasions. If you would like, you should also bring some traditional clothing for festive and cultural occasions. Additionally, there is a swimming pool on campus, so you may want to bring a bathing suit. You will have opportunities to visit local stores in Oneonta to shop for clothes, and the International Club typically takes a trip to Albany each semester to do some clothes shopping.
Personal Items
If you have any special medical needs, you may want to bring your medication with you since specialized medicines in the U.S. are only issued if one has a prescription for them written by a doctor. Other items you may want to consider bringing with you include: a journal, a camera, a portable music player, a few of your favorite CDs or cassettes, and textbooks if you know they will be useful in your coursework (textbooks can be purchased on campus after arrival). Additionally, you may find it helpful to bring traditional items such as examples of arts, crafts, traditional dress, and photographs of family and home. You may want to bring items you use regularly that may not be readily available, or may be more expensive, in the United States--for example, eyeglasses, cameras, watches, or portable radios. You may also have the opportunity to visit a duty-free port where such items may be purchased at a reduced cost.
(There will be opportunities throughout the year for you to share information about your culture with other students and/or faculty, staff, and members of the community. Remember Americans will be interested in seeing pictures of your daily life as well as those of museums and important landmarks.) Additional packing tips are available online .
Things to Leave at Home
You can obtain a booklet on customs regulations at the consulate or embassy where you acquire your visa. Prohibited items include some foodstuffs, narcotics, and items for resale. For more information, visit the Web site of the U.S. Customs Service at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/.
Since students are expected to buy required textbooks for all courses, and supplemental reading materials for review and research are available in libraries, you need not bring any books used in previous study. It is best to purchase electrical appliances after you arrive: appliances manufactured outside the U.S. may not be compatible with the power supply or may not be allowed inside the residence halls. You also may want to order power adapters for things like MP3 players or other electronic devices that you want to bring but that have different voltages and socket adapters.
Electricity
Electricity in the U.S. is 120 volts, 60 cycles. Outlets accommodate plugs with two flat blades and/or plugs with two flat blades and an adapter pin. If you bring an electric appliance (such as an electric razor or hair dryer) be sure that it will operate on U.S. current. You may need to purchase an adapter plug.
Copy of Documents
You should make a photocopy of all important documents (e.g., I-20, passport, visa, credit cards, health insurance card, and plane ticket) in case you lose them. You should keep one set of copies with you in your carry-on luggage and leave the other set of copies with a family member at home.
Shipping Excess Baggage
Coordinating the arrival of shipped trunks and other baggage is very complicated. It is also expensive and should be avoided if at all possible. If you must ship baggage to the U.S., and if you travel by plane, there are several methods for doing so. Regardless of which method you choose, it is recommended that you insure your baggage.
The preferred method for shipping excess clothing is to mail packages to yourself by international parcel post instead of shipping them by boat. Check with your local post office for details.
Such packages should be addressed to:
Your Name
ATT: Physical Plant Drive
Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY 13820
Mark your actual package/box: "Used Clothing for International Student." This will help you avoid paying duty on your own items.
Another possibility is to contact a shipping and forwarding agency and arrange to send your heavy or “excess” baggage by boat to the Port of Entry (POE). These arrangements should be made well in advance so that the baggage will be at the customs office when you arrive.
One more option to consider is airfreight. Most airlines will allow you to send a trunk or extra suitcases to the U.S. but the cost can be high. Use this option only if you are traveling by plane to the U.S. and can arrange to have your shipped items arrive at the same airport, either a day or two before or the same day you arrive.
You most likely will be housed in a double or triple room on campus, which you will share with one or two roommates. If you encounter serious difficulties with a roommate, room re-assignment is possible, but only after every effort is made to settle differences without making room changes.
All rooms have beds, closets, desks, and clothes drawer space. You will need to provide a lamp, alarm clock, bed linens (sheets and blankets), and a pillow as well as your own bath towels.The linen for your beds should be for 80-inch long beds (extra-long sheets). If you cannot find this size of sheets at home, you can purchase them here. There will be time to go shopping in the first few days of your arrival. It may very well be easier to purchase the items listed above once you arrive rather than transporting them from home. You will be expected to keep your room clean. A vacuum can be borrowed from the maintenance department when needed. More information about Residence Life is available online.
The closest airports to Oneonta, NY are located in Binghamton, NY (airport code BGM) and Albany, NY (airport code ALB). However, major Ports of Entry (arrival locations for most international incoming flights) on the East Coast are New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.
Please note, if you are flying into Binghamton or Albany, Hartwick staff from the Center for Interdependence can pick you up at the airport and provide transportation to Hartwick College. However, you MUST FILL OUT the Arrival Information Form and send it back to the Center for Interdependence well in advance.If you are flying into another airport, you will need to arrange for transportation to either Albany or Binghamton airports for pick-up, or you will need to arrange transportation to Hartwick College on your own.
By Plane
Planes from your arrival Port of Entry to Albany, NY or Binghamton, NY also are available. You could then request pick-up from Hartwick at Albany or Binghamton, or you could choose to take a bus or taxi to Oneonta, NY on your own. Please note, if you decline Hartwick transportation from Binghamton or Albany, you are responsible for transportation costs.
By Bus
From most Ports of Entry (including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC), you can travel to Oneonta by bus. Greyhound and Adirondack Trailways are two major bus companies that service the Northeast. Information, schedules, and tickets can be obtained at a Greyhound Bus Terminal by accessing http://www.greyhound.com/home.asp or at an Adirondack Trailways Bus Terminal by accessing http://www.trailwaysny.com/index.asp. This is the least expensive way to travel.
Taxi
Taxis are available only from Binghamton and Albany airports, but should be arranged in advance. The phone number is 607-432-0100 and the cost is about $125 from either Binghamton or Albany. A 10-20% tip is also generally given to the driver of the taxi in addition to the service fare.
Getting to Hartwick College
If you take a bus to Oneonta from your Port of Entry, you still will need to get to Hartwick’s campus. The easiest way to do this would be to telephone the International Student Advisor and arrange a pick-up, or to take a taxi. Taxi services that run in Oneonta are:
Hill City Taxi – tel: 607-433-2227
ACE Taxi – tel: 607-432-8294
A & D Taxi – tel: 607-433-1726
Taxi service should cost around $10 to get to campus. Call to arrange a pick-up. Please be aware that regardless of the method of transportation you choose, being on time is critical. There are limited numbers of flights to upstate NY and buses to Oneonta each day from these areas. There are hotels near all the airports if you are unable to make travel arrangements to Oneonta on the day you arrive.
Please do not hitchhike (accept rides from strangers) anywhere in the United States. Not only is it dangerous, it also is illegal on many highways and in some states.
Every year there will be a number of academic breaks and vacations of varying lengths. During the winter holiday break from mid-December to early January, all Hartwick residence halls and food services close and students are required to leave campus.
Students also are expected to leave campus by the middle of May each spring semester unless summer housing arrangements have been made. Most students travel or go home during this time. During other College breaks, the College remains open with minimal food service available.
If you must stay in Oneonta during the winter holiday break, we may be able to find faculty, staff, and community members who would enjoy having you stay with them. If you need such accommodations, you should notify the Center for Interdependence as soon as possible.
Academic calendar for the 2010-11 year.
During the week-long academic breaks at the end of J Term and during the March “Spring Break,” international students are encouraged to travel and see other parts of the country. Bus travel is the best option, though car rental also is an option to those who have a driver’s license. Places like New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC all are within reasonable driving distance and provide nearly endless opportunities for tourism. If you wish to visit warmer climates during these breaks, flights to the southern United States also are easily accessed through Albany and Binghamton.
Hartwick will provide some space for international students to store their belongings over the summer break between academic years. Please contact the Center for Interdependence for more information about storing items over the summer.
While living in the residence halls, you automatically will be assigned a Hartwick telephone number, though it will be your own responsibility to provide the phone. From this number you will be able to make free local calls, use a calling card for long-distance calls, or make long-distance calls through Hartwick’s long-distance provider. If you have questions about this service, please contact Hartwick’s Telecommunications Office by phone (607-431-4985) or by e-mail: telecom@hartwick.edu.
While many students take advantage of the telephone service provided by the College, most of Hartwick’s students also choose to purchase a mobile cellular phone and service plan from one of the many private companies that serve Oneonta. These companies include Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T, and U.S. Cellular. Check the company Web sites for more information on their specific plans and coverage around Oneonta. This is by no means necessary, though you will find that most students use their cell phones all the time.
Specific information regarding your health and immunization records will be provided by Hartwick upon your acceptance, and it is very important that you send required health forms and records of your immunizations to Hartwick College before you arrive. If you do not send this information to the College, you will be required to get several different series of immunizations so the College is assured of your health safety.
It will be YOUR responsibility to pay for these immunizations if you need to get them. Please bring your immunization records. It does not matter if you already have had some of these immunizations if there is no record to verify it. New York State has regulations that the College is required, by law, to adhere to, and having students up-to-date on immunizations is a major concern.
It is required that you have medical insurance through Hartwick College. The cost of your insurance is included in the tuition and fees listed on your I-20. You will be covered for medical emergencies or any illnesses you may experience while you are here. Also, there is an on-campus Health Center (Perrella Wellness Center) for your convenience. More information about the Hartwick College insurance plan is available online.
While Traveling
While planning for your time in the United States, be sure to have sufficient funds to cover incidentals such as food, toiletries, vacation travel, or for unexpected expenses that may arise. Be advised, it may be difficult to have money sent to you here from your country or to have it transferred quickly. Accordingly, you may want to bring as much money as you think you will need with you. The safest and most convenient way of carrying funds is by traveler’s checks in U.S. dollars. Traveler's checks, obtained at banks or travel offices, can be cashed by banks and most businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and airports.
It would be wise to bring at least $500 with you for the first few weeks. It also is a good idea to have an international credit card such as MasterCard or Visa. When you arrive in the U.S., you should have at least $100 U.S. currency. Some part of this should be in small bills and change in the event that you need to make a telephone call. Phone cards can be purchased at airports or most hotels. Once you arrive on campus, you will be able to make local banking arrangements in town. The lower denominations of U.S. paper money are: $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills; coins are 1 cent, (penny, $.01), 5 cents (nickel, $.05), 10 cents (dime, $.10), 25 cents (quarter, $.25), 50 cents (half-dollar, $.50) and 1 dollar ($1).
Here are some average prices of common items obtained by college students in the U.S.:
Travel Accommodations
Hotel room = $50-$250 (per night)
Motel room = $40-$100 (per night)
Academic Expenses
Textbooks = $20-$300 per textbook (science & math textbooks are especially expensive)
Notebooks = $1-$8
Pens = $1-$5
Pencils =$1-$4
Clothing Expenses
T-shirts = $5-$30
Jeans = $20-$80
Sneakers = $20-$150
Winter coat = $30- $250
Winter boots = $20-$100
Gloves = $5-$30
Daily Expenses
Cup of Coffee = $1-$5
Bottle of Soda = $1.50
Daily Newspaper = $1.25
Dorm Expenses
Blankets = $30-$80
Sheets = $15-$60 for a twin size
Pillow = $5-$25 for a twin size
Estimated laundry costs = $3.50 per week
Alarm Clock = $10-$40
Desk Lamp = $10-$20
Bath Towels =$3-$10
Hygiene Expenses
Toothbrush = $0.70-$2.60
Toothpaste = $2-$5
Soap = $0.75-$2.60
Shampoo = $2-$6
Haircut for a woman = $16-$60
Haircut for a man = $10-$25
Miscellaneous Expenses
Music CD = $10-$20
Movie Admission Ticket = $5.50-$10
Meal at a fast food restaurant = $5-$10 per person
Meal at a good restaurant = $15-$30 per person
Banking
It is recommended that you purchase Traveler's Checks in U.S. currency prior to arriving in the United States. These checks can be used for any expenses in the U.S., are replaceable if lost or stolen, and can be deposited into a bank account if you choose to open one. Also, if you have a debit card, you should inquire to see if it will work in Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) in the U.S. (It is quite likely your debit card will work, which will allow you to have quick access to money in the U.S.)
If you want to open a bank account in Oneonta, there are two banks located near campus that can process international transactions: Wilber National Bank/Community Bank and Key Bank. International bank transactions can take 2-3 days to process, so plan ahead. Please note, you must have a local account in order to wire transfer funds internationally.
Wilber National Bank/Community Banks, N.A.
245 Main Street
Oneonta, NY 13820
800-374-7980
http://www.wilberbank.com/
Key Bank Eastern
202 Main Street
Oneonta, NY 13820
800-539-2968
http://www.key.com/
You should contact these banks if you wish to arrange an international wire transfer.
Payment of tuition, fees, and other charges is due prior to registration (when you enroll for classes). Payment may be made by cash, check, or credit card. However, Hartwick College does not take VISA. Internet payments using a credit card can be made by clicking HERE.
If you cannot make full payment at the time payment is due, you must make special payment arrangements with the Student Accounts Office. If you fail to do so, you will be charged a late fee.
Until you receive a Hartwick College mailbox assignment, all of your mail should be addressed to:
Your Name
Global Education
Golisano Hall
Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY 13820
You will receive a mailbox assignment sometime this summer. Upon receiving this information, you should have people address mail to you in the manner that follows:
Your Name
Box *XXX
Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY 13820 USA
*XXX is not your actual mailbox number. This is where you would insert your box number.
ADVISORS AT HARTWICK
Academic Advisor
After your arrival, you should schedule a meeting with your academic advisor in order to establish a relationship and discuss your academic future. Academic advisors want to get to know you and help you as much as possible. Meet the advisors here...
International Student Advisor
Hartwick’s International Student Advisor's office is located on the 1st Floor of Golisano Hall on Hartwick’s campus. Jenifer Chambers is the Director of Global Education, her office is located in the same location. Both can assist you with any immigration and adjustment-related questions you may have while you are a student at Hartwick College.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER SKILLS
Practice your English (through conversation, correspondence, and reading) as much as possible before you leave home. All lectures and coursework will be in English except for upper level foreign language classes. There is no special English as a Second Language class at Hartwick College. If you experience difficulty understanding the course material, you should discuss any hardships you are encountering with the instructor/professor, visit The Loft to arrange for tutoring or un-timed testing, and/or contact the Writing Center for language and grammar assistance. Also, much of the work you will be required to complete for classes will be done on a computer. It will be helpful if you are familiar with computers and are able to type before you arrive.
Shopping in Oneonta is limited. There is a Walmart, where everyday items, school supplies, inexpensive clothing, and food can be purchased, as well as a small shopping mall with a variety of clothing stores, a movie theatre, and various other stores. These stores are not within easy walking distance of the Hartwick campus, however, so it will be necessary to get a ride from a friend, take a taxi, or take the city bus to get out to them.
A much more extensive shopping selection can be found in Albany and Binghamton, though it is more difficult to get to these places if you do not have a friend with a car. Bus service is available, as noted above. The International Club also typically plans a shopping trip at least once a semester to go shopping in Albany.
Oneonta experiences great seasonal variations in weather.
Summer: (Early June through mid-September) Temperatures range from 55 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 33 degrees Celsius). The air may be dry or humid depending on the day. There may be some hot days when you first arrive. The nights in September will most likely be cool, calling for a sweatshirt and/or light jacket. Rainfall is less frequent during this time of the year, though it still may rain heavily at times.
Autumn: (Mid-September through November) Daily temperatures vary, ranging from 20 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to 13 degrees Celsius). Days may be warm or cool and crisp. Rainfall may be more frequent, and snow is possible in November. A sweatshirt and heavier jacket may be required for these cold days.
Winter: (November through February) Temperatures are cold, ranging from -20 degrees to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 to 5 degrees Celsius). Snow storms can bring anywhere from less than an inch to 4 feet of snow. Winter clothes are necessary during these months: heavy jacket, stocking hat, gloves, and snow boots.
Spring: (March through Early June) Temperatures typically range from 32-70 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 21 degrees Celsius). There usually are many moderate-temperature days during this time of year. Weather conditions vary greatly, and may be rainy, cloudy, sunny, or unseasonably warm. It would be useful to have an umbrella or raincoat for these months, as well as sweatshirts and a lighter jacket.
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