2013 Undergraduate International Student Orientation

2013 Undergraduate International Student Orientation (ISO2013) - September 12–16, 2013
 The International Office is excited to welcome the Class of 2017! The 2013 International Student Orientation (ISO2013) is a four-night/five-day program specifically designed for new or transferring international students, exchange students, and U.S. citizens who grew up overseas.

ISO2013 will take place September 12-16, 2013. An orientation for our ISO parents/families will be held on Friday, September 13, 2013.

REGISTER NOW for ISO2013

ISO BASICS

  • ISO is FREE! Students may need money for certain meals, snacks, and other items.
  • Move-in EARLY! Students attending ISO are allowed to move into their campus rooms on the first day of ISO (09/12/2013).
  • ISO will begin on Thursday, September 12, at 10:00AM (see below: Arrival & Check-In).
  • ISO ends on Monday, September 16 in time for students to join Wildcat Welcome!
  • ISO participants are assigned an International Peer Advisor (IPA) who is an excellent resource for questions!
  • for Parents & Families: Friday, September 13, 2013.

ARRIVAl & CHeck-in

If you need information on getting from the airport to campus, check it out HERE. ISO Check-In will be held at Foster-Walker Complex, beginning at 10AM.

Foster-Walker Complex
650 Foster Street
Evanston, IL 60208
Click here for map.

ISO Check-In at Foster-Walker will be available from 10:00–18:00 (10am-6pm); but what if…

…your flight is delayed and you arrive late on September 12? If you arrive for ISO check-in after 6pm on Sept 12, you should still go to Foster-Walker to check-in. 

…you arrive on September 13, 14, or 15th due to flight delays/cancellations? If you arrive for ISO on Friday/Saturday/Sunday/Monday, then you should plan to check-in for ISO at your assigned residence hall. Since you will have the schedule before you actually leave home, you will be able to catch-up with the group once you’ve dropped your bags, gotten settled, and have a chance to figure out your next step.

When registering for ISO, be sure to tell us your travel plans so we know when to expect you! Please try hard to arrive on the first day for check-in and to meet other new students and meet your IPA’s!

international peer Advisors (IPAs)

ISO is facilitated by the tireless efforts and enthusiasm of our group of dedicated International Peer Advisors (IPAs)! IPA’s are current Northwestern students—many are international, but some are American, and each and every one of you has been assigned an IPA-led group. By early-June, you should know who your IPA’s are—they will likely be sending you information over summer, chatting with you via email, Skype, an ISO2013 Blog, Facebook Group, and other methods. Your IPAs will also be with you through ISO2013 on-campus and have a TON of fun planned for you! Who knows, you may even meet-up with an IPA in your home city before you even get on a plane headed for Chicago!

The International Orientation Coordinator (IOC) for ISO2013 is “Dom” (Dominic) Makepeace (WCAS ’14, United Kingdom) – Dom leads the IPA group and you will see him a lot during ISO. If you have questions, get in touch!

IPA List & Biographies
IPA Resource Guide
ISO2013 Blog
ISO2013 Facebook Group

Housing & ISO

Students participating in ISO are being granted early move-in to their permanent (or academic year) residence halls on the first day of ISO (09/12/2013). There is no additional fee for this, and you will not require a move-in permit. Your meals during ISO will either be planned by The International Office or by your IPAs, and occasionally may require cash.

Can I stay with my parents in their hotel? We will leave this up to you, but encourage you to fully participate in ISO. Your parent(s)/guardian(s) will likely be interested in helping you set-up your room on-campus, and if it’s not ready for you to sleep in, go on and stay in the hotel!date you will be arriving to campus.

ISO2013 Schedule

The ISO schedule has been created with you in mind! Each day will have something new, informative, and exciting to see and experience. We encourage you to participate in all of the activities that have been planned, and don’t worry—we’ve planned a bit for your parents as well!

Check out this year’s ISO Schedule HERE. (COMING SOON!)

Plans are being made now, and tentative ISO activities include:

  • Official University Welcome
  • Informative Sessions re: Campus Life, Academics, US Classroom Culture, etc.
  • Downtown Evanston and Campus Tours
  • Downtown Chicago Trip
  • Northwestern Football Game
  • Bonfire and S'mores on the beach!
  • Paining the Rock (a Northwestern tradition!)
  • Beach time
  • Shopping trips in Evanston and surrounding areas (to include: Target, BestBuy, etc.)
  • Other fun planned by your IPAs!

ISO2013 will end on Monday, Sept 16, in time for students to have a quick rest and then join Wildcat Welcome—Northwestern’s ALL NEW STUDENT orientation program! 

iSO Parents & Families

Parents and families are encouraged to attend ISO, and the schedule is flexible to the point of allowing ample time to spend with your student. Our ISO Parents are invited to a formal orientation on Friday, September 13, 2013. Parents and students will kick-off orientation together, and then separate sessions have been planned with the parents in mind. Come join in the fun, and be sure that your student has indicated that you are attending when he/she registers for ISO2013!

ISO2013 Parent Newsletter (COMING SOON!)

Visitor/Tourist Visas for ISO Parents

While we cannot help you secure a B-1/B-2 visa for entry into the U.S., upon successful registration for ISO2013, your son/daughter will receive an emailed confirmation with an attached letter inviting you to attend ISO. This letter may be useful in securing a visa if you require one for entry into the U.S.

Fore more information, check out the link above to the ISO2013 Parent Newsletter.