Be sure to complete all applicable steps before your arrival at Macalester and before any deadline required by specific Macalester offices. If you do not plan to attend Macalester, email International Student Programs (ISP) immediately.
Contact ISP with any additional questions isp@macalester.edu or call +1 (651) 696-6992.
Applying for Visa (and I-20)
- Note: if you will be studying in the U.S. in a visa category other than F or J , please contact ISP immediately to discuss your situation.
- ✓ Obtain a valid passport
- Passport must be valid 6 months beyond your period of stay in the U.S. If it will expire while you are at Macalester, you should renew it 6 months before it expires.
- If you intend to graduate from Macalester, your passport should be valid 6 months beyond the program end date on your I-20.
- For exchange students, passports should be valid 6 months beyond the program end date on your I-20 (or DS-2019).
- ✓ Obtain your I-20
- Degree-seeking students should follow instructions from Admissions for submitting required documents to obtain an I-20 for visa application. Non-ISEP exchange students will receive instructions from ISP.
- Necessary documents include, but are not limited to, copy of passport, and copies of recent bank/financial statements and International Student Certification of Finance (CoF) form that are no more than 6-month old.
- ISEP exchange students should communicate with their ISEP program coordinator for their DS-2019 and J-1 visa.
- ✓ Apply for a student (F-1) or exchange visitor (J-1) visa from a U.S. embassy/consulate
- Note: students from Canada and the Bahamas generally do not need to apply for a visa, but must present the I-20 (or a DS-2019 for the J-1 visa category) in order to enter the United States.
- After receiving I-20, pay required I-901 SEVIS fee and print payment receipt required before interview (unless instructed differently by Macalester Admissions).
- Learn about Visa Appointment & Processing Wait Times at specific U.S. embassies and consulates.
- Learn about how to apply for your visa and prepare for your interview with these 10 tips. Bring any supporting documents with you, including acceptance letter, Macalester financial aid award (if you are have aid), bank and other financial statements, academic records, etc.
Everything Else to Consider
- ✓ If you attended a school in the United States immediately prior to Macalester, fill out the SEVIS Transfer Form. If you will attend a summer program in the U.S. before coming to Macalester, please email ISP immediately so we can discuss your visa situation.
- ✓ Bring copies of your admission letter, financial documents, previous school transcripts, and medical prescriptions.
- ✓ Complete a payment through wire transfer or other method for any tuition and room and board balance.
- ✓ Submit the student employment application form, which will be sent to you from Macalester’s Employment Services Office. This application is only for students with employment awards in their financial aid package. Consult the Student Employment Services Website for more information.
- ✓ Submit your registration form on the Orientation website.
- ✓ Obtain visitor (B-2) visas for family members coming with you.
- ✓ Check out our family travel page for more visa application information and accommodation suggestions.
- ✓ Get a physical exam and complete your Health and Medical Forms through your Macalester Patient Portal by specific date.
- ✓ Finalize your travel plans and finish your Arrival Form for PO4IS/Ametrica.
- ✓ Read the information on the Host Family Program and, if you wish to join, complete the application form. (ISP has made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone pairing new students and hosts until Fall 2021.)
- ✓ Read the information on the Ametrica Program and, if you wish to join, applications will be available in the near future. (Ametrica program has now completed for 2020. Applications for Fall 2021 will be available late spring/early summer 2021 in the New Student Portal.)
- ✓ Download and read ISP’s International Student Handbook before you arrive.
Incoming students are welcome to mail luggage or packages to ISP prior to departure after mid-August. We will hold it for you until you arrive. Simply address your package in the following format:
Your Name
Macalester College
International Student Programs
C/O: Aaron Colhapp
1600 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105 USA
You are strongly encouraged to take flights that arrive between 8 am and 5 pm. If you arrive after 5 pm, we will pick you up based on availability. Please inform ISP if your flight will be delayed.
ISP offers airport pickups to all incoming international students and Ametrica participants. We shuttle several Macalester vans to and from the MSP airport during Pre-Orientation for International Students (PO4IS). To be eligible for a pickup, you must arrive within the designated date and preferably during the day, allowing you more time to settle in. Please submit the Arrival Form by Aug 1, 2021.
There are numerous factors to take into account when deciding to purchase a cell phone and/or a cellular plan, including but not limited to cost, carrier, reception, compatibility and minutes/texting/data options. The guide to buying a phone in the US, as well as this guide to phone carriers or networks and SIM cards can help you make these decisions. Like many things related to technology service and cost mentioned are subject to change.
Students will have an opportunity during Pre-Orientation for International Students (PO4IS) to open a bank account with U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. For more information about these banks, refer to our Banking in the US Guide.
Most international students choose to take the Macalester sponsored insurance plan, United HealthCare Student Resources. If students decide to opt out of this health insurance plan, they must demonstrate that their personal plan meets Macalester’s standards. More information about health insurance can be found at the Health and Wellness Center (HWC) website.
Health care and insurance in the U.S. will be vastly different from what is offered in your country. Macalester’s HWC has created a portal for international students on information regarding medical care, health insurance, mental and sexual health; also view this video on basics of US health insurance.
Your dorm room comes equipped with a bed, mattress, desk, chair, dresser, and closet. You will need to bring/purchase your own pillow, bed sheets/beddings, hangers, laundry basket, shower caddy, lamp, amongst other things. During Pre-Orientation for International Students (PO4IS), ISP will offer a shuttle service to Target, a department store which sells a wide range of goods – this is not offered due to COVID restrictions. We strongly recommend you to purchase things online before you arrive. You can also shop at Target and Amazon and have them mailed to the following address:
Your Name
Macalester College
International Student Programs
C/O: Aaron Colhapp
1600 Grand Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55105 USA
Thankfully, Minnesota’s summer and fall are quite mild, so you don’t need to worry too much about cold weather for the first month. For more information on different places where you can purchase winter clothes, with a wide range of prices, check out ISP’s Winter Clothes Shopping Destination guide. Here are some links to dress warmly for Minnesota winter: How to dress for Minnesota Winter & How to dress for Winter.