Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to pay an application fee?
• When will I receive my DS 2019 for my visa?
• When do I need to plan to arrive at OSU?
• Will there be an orientation?
• Do you recommend a residence hall?
• Am I required to purchase a meal plan?
• Will someone pick me up from the airport?
• Is temporary housing available if I don’t know where I will live when I arrive?
• What do I need to do first, after I have arrived in Stillwater?
• Am I required to have health insurance?
• Am I required to have a bank account in the U.S.?
• How do I get enrolled in the courses I requested?
• Can I do an internship while on exchange at OSU?
• Can I work while on exchange at OSU?

Do I need to pay an application fee?

Because you are participating in a reciprocal exchange, your Admission application fee is paid. However, you will have to pay the Residence Hall application fee.

When will I receive my DS 2019 for my visa?

You will receive your DS 2019 when your admission has been completed and an acceptance packet has been sent to your home coordinator.

When do I need to plan to arrive at OSU?

You need to schedule your flight to arrive at the Oklahoma City Will Rogers Airport one to one and a half weeks prior to the beginning of classes. Please see the Academic Calendar to determine when classes begin for the semester of your arrival. Mandatory orientations will be held beginning the Monday before classes begin. You are required to be here no later than that date.

Will there be an orientation?

Yes. Mandatory orientations are held the week prior to the beginning of classes each semester. You will need to arrive before that date.

Do you recommend a residence hall?

No. One’s living space is very personal and solely dependent on one’s personal preferences and financial situation. You can compare the costs and even take a virtual tour at www.reslife.okstate.edu. To apply, please use the paper application downloadable in the Admission application packet and mail with the fee along with your Admission application.

Am I required to purchase a meal plan?

No. Because you are an exchange student, here for only one semester or two, you are not required to purchase a meal plan. If you are charged for a meal plan and did not want one or are charged for a plan larger than what you want, you will need to discuss this with a staff member in our office. We will help you get it sorted out with Residential Life.

Will someone pick me up from the airport?

Transportation from the airport to OSU/Stillwater is your responsibility. A “Greeter Service” is available for a limited number of days and times. This service requires an application which can be found at http://union.okstate.edu/iss/NewStudents/Pre-arrival.htm along with the dates and times the Greeter Service is available.

Is temporary housing available if I don’t know where I will live when I arrive?

Yes. Temporary housing is available in Scott Hall. Information about the dates the temporary housing is available can be found at http://union.okstate.edu/iss/NewStudents/Pre-arrival.htm#Transportation.

You can instruct your transportation from the airport to deliver you to Scott Hall, whether you need temporary housing or you simply arrive too late at night to go directly to your residence hall.

To Scott Hall from I-35

Take the Stillwater exit and go east about 15 miles until you enter Stillwater. Go to the third stoplight and turn left onto Monroe Street. Go to the next stoplight and turn left on University Ave. Stay in the right turn only lane and turn at the first right (Stout Hall will be on your right). Go past the next stop sign. Scott Hall will be on your left.

What do I need to do first, after I have arrived in Stillwater?

You need to check in with the Study Abroad Office. We are located in the basement of the Student Union in room 060 G. We will welcome you to campus and help you get started on the processes for checking in with International Students & Scholars for orientation, get your student ID, enroll in classes, find your housing, etc.

Be sure to bring your documents with you to our office. You need the following:

1. Passport,
2. DS 2019,
3. I-94 (small white card they will give you when you go through Customs upon entering the U.S. This is usually stapled into your passport. However, occasionally, it is not stapled and merely placed.) This document is far more vital than it seems. Do not lose it. It will cost more than $300 if you do;
4. Proof of health insurance, if you have it, and
5. Any other documents you did not submit prior to your arrival.

Am I required to have health insurance?

Yes. Your visa status requires you to be covered by health insurance. The insurance may be purchased in your home country or after you arrive in the U.S. We have some comparisons available on our website. This comparison was done with U.S. students in mind, so you will need to go to each providers website to determine cost and coverage for you as an international student studying in the U.S.

Am I required to have a bank account in the U.S.?

No. We provide you with information from one of the many banking institutions in Stillwater. Many students choose to open an account because it saves currency conversion fees and is more convenient overall. However, the choice is yours.

How do I get enrolled in the courses I requested?

If you have submitted your Course Preference Application and academic transcripts, we will work on getting you enrolled in courses. You will receive an email when your enrollment is complete.

Our university does not give priority enrollment to exchange students. Therefore, we cannot begin enrolling you until the enrollment is open to all students. Please check here for the dates.

Oftentimes, we have to request permission to enroll students in courses that are closed. Don't worry too much about the class if all the seats fill up. If we cannot get you in, you can always watch for a seat to open and enroll at that time. Students often change their schedules several times from the moment they first enroll through the first week of the semester. So, a class maybe full one day and open the next.

The process for enrolling is very time-consuming. We ask that you be patient with us and wait for us to notify you by email when we have you admitted.

Can I do an internship while on exchange at OSU?

To be eligible to do an internship while on exchange at OSU, the internship must be required of your degree plan at your home university. We will need written permission from your professor(s) or home coordinator stating that the internship is required. You will also need a letter from our office and a completed Internship Intent Form.

If you are thinking about doing an internship, you will need to complete an Internship Intent Form. This form does not bind you to participate in an internship. It merely lets us know that you may participate.

Finding an internship is your responsibility. You will work closely with the International Students & Scholars office to make certain your visa requirements remain current.

Can I work while on exchange at OSU?

Yes. You are permitted to work up to 20 hours on campus. You can learn more about this during the mandatory orientation sessions.