Congratulations on your admission! We are very excited and look forward to seeing you for orientation.
To help you efficiently plan for your arrival on campus and registration for your first classes, we have prepared a checklist for new students entering the U.S. to study at Shepherd University and a checklist for new students transferring from another U.S. school.
- Pre-arrival checklist for new international undergraduate and graduate students
- Pre-arrival-checklist_Transfer for new international undergraduate students transferring from one of Shepherd’s regional community college partners
Other things to consider:
- Credit or Debit Cards. It is very difficult for international students to be approved for a credit card from a U.S. bank. An alternative is to utilize a credit card issued by your home country bank. Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, and American Express Cards work with nearly all machines in North America. Cash cards (debit cards) from your home country bank will also work as long as they are part of a global network of ATMs (automatic teller machines), such as Cirrus or Plus. In both cases, please inform your bank that the card will be used during your studies in the United States.
- US Banking. You will be able to open a bank account in the United States after you arrive and with it, you can also apply for a cash (debit) card linked to that account.
- Clothing. This region in the eastern United States has four strong seasons. You will need light clothing for the summer and heavy, warm clothing for the winter. If you are coming from an area that does not have a hot summer or cold winter, you can easily purchase the appropriate clothing after arrival—there is no need to make an extra effort to bring them with you.
- Health records and medicines. In addition to the Health Status Review Form that you will bring with you and turn into the Health Center, you should bring a 2-3 month supply of prescription drugs you will need. With these, it is important that you also bring the doctor’s prescription. This will be needed when renewing the prescription after arriving in Shepherdstown and may be helpful at the U.S. port-of-entry when you need to clear U.S. Customs.
- Immunizations. If you will be living on-campus, the University requires you to have current immunizations for Mumps, Measles, and Rubella (MMR) and for spinal meningitis. In addition, you will need the results from a current Tuberculosis test. While you can get these done after arrival, it may be easier and less expensive to get these in your home country.
- Limited storage on campus. If you will be living in one of the on-campus residence halls, you will have very limited storage space. Traveling and arriving “lighter” and purchasing what you actually will need after arriving are advisable. If you are unsure on whether to bring an item, please email the Residence Life office or the International Student Affairs office.