~~~What to expect for weather~~~

If you are coming to school near the beginning of the Fall semester you will have time to adjust to Minnesota ’s cool fall temperatures.  If you are coming to school at the beginning of Spring semester you could possibly be surprised at our cold temperatures...as January is our coldest month in Minnesota .

The seasons in Minnesota are as follows:
Spring - March 21 to June 20, average temperature is 58F (15C)
Summer – June 21 to September 22, average temperature is 72F (22C)
Fall – September 23 to December 20, average temperature is 34F (1C)
Winter – December 21 to March 20, average temperature is 16F (-9C)

We can help you buy the proper jackets, hats, gloves, and boots you will need for walking to class and being outside in the winter.

 
~~~Hosting related~~~

You should expect an ISO host family to...

…be friendly, polite, and respectful…they will consider and treat you as one of their own family members and ask that you would consider and treat them the same.

…be very helpful

…include you in their everyday lives

…invite you to be a part of their family activities

…offer suggestions on what you should try to accomplish and when you should try to accomplish it.

…give you a ride to campus in the morning and pick you up from the campus in the evening, or whenever times arranged.

…continue to offer you help and answer questions over your whole time on campus

…be a life-long friend!


An ISO Host Family expects you to...

...be friendly, polite, and respectful (as most international students are)

…be a part of their family routines and activities

…ask them ANY question you might have...no matter how simple they might seem.

…not be afraid to talk to them...even if you don't think your English is that good...they understand.

…communicate with them what you want to accomplish and when you want to accomplish it.

…during the course of the school year let them know how you are doing.

…let them know when you are graduating or leaving the campus so they can say goodbye!
 

~~~Cell phones~~~

Most cell phones in the USA are “locked” which means they can only be used by the carrier which locked them.  For instance, a T-Mobile locked phone can only be used with the carrier T-Mobile and their service plans.

The following is a list of popular cell phone carriers:
ATT
Sprint
T-Mobile
Verizon Wireless

Each carrier sells their own “locked” phones and also service plans.  If you purchase a service plan, you can usually get a cell phone free or at a significantly reduced rate.

Most international students choose a monthly pre-pay cell phone plan.

 
~~~Getting around on your own~~~

The quickest way to get between St.Paul and Minneapolis campus is the Campus Connector.  It is a free bus that runs multiple times throughout the morning, day, and evening.  Further Campus Connector information can be found here:
http://www1.umn.edu/pts/busing/index.html

City Buses run throughout the metro area and are very helpful for getting you to places off campus and around the city.
The city bus website can be found here:
http://metrotransit.org/

Most international students like purchasing a city bus pass.  With a city buss pass you can get unlimited rides anywhere in the city.  The price for the city bus pass is $84 per semester and can be purchased here:
http://www1.umn.edu/pts/busing/passes.html#up

Some international students also like biking around campus.  Campus is very biker-friendly as a lot of students drive bike on campus.