Pre-Arrival Information
Pre-Arrival Information
Pre-Arrival Information
The International Center is excited to meet you and introduce you to your new home! We hope that your stay here will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you. We have put together some tips as you plan your trip to the U.S. Please contact us if you have further questions after reading this information.
To easily transition into life at Rowan University, all F-1 students should complete the Incoming F-1 Student Checklist as soon as possible prior to your arrival.
Click here to view the Incoming F-1 Student Checklist
Important Dates to Remember
Please continue to check back here as the semester approaches so you do not miss out on critical updates!
The earliest possible day you can enter the U.S. is 30 days before the program start date. For F-1 students, the “Earliest Admission Date” is located on the I-20 under “Program of Study”.
Fall 2026 Dates
- May 2, 2026: Earliest arrival date for pre-matriculated Osteopathic Medicine F-1 students
- June 6, 2026: Earliest arrival date for all remaining Osteopathic Medicine F-1 students
- July 26, 2026: Earliest arrival date for all remaining F-1 and J-1 students
- Date TBD: International Early Move-In Days
- Please check back around Summer 2026 for this information
- Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27, 2026: International Student Onboarding
- All new F-1 and J-1 students are required to attend. Click here for details on International Student Onboarding.
- Tuesday, September 1, 2026: Fall 2026 Semester Begins!
- First day of classes.
- Monday, September 7, 2026: Labor Day
- University closed – no classes.
Warnings:
- Please do not attempt to enter the U.S. before your earliest admission date! You will almost certainly be turned away at the border!
- Do not enter the U.S. on B-1/B-2 tourist/visitor status! That is considered fraudulent entry!
Pre-Arrival Webinars
All incoming students are expected to watch the International Student Success pre-arrival webinar series, which is recorded live every semester. Recordings for each webinar are found below.
Spring 2026 Pre-Arrival Webinars
International Student Success: Navigating Health, Wellness, and Residence Resources at Rowan University
Recorded Friday, November 14, 2025 | Link to Recording | Link to Presentation Slides
International Student Success: Testing, Advising, Registration, and Academic Success
Recorded Thursday, November 20, 2025 | Link to Recording | Link to Presentation Slides
International Student Success: Academic Resources for Master's and PhD Students
Recorded Friday, November 21, 2025 | Link to Recording | Link to Presentation Slides
International Student Success: Preparing for Your Arrival to the U.S.
Recorded Friday, December 5, 2025 | Link to Recording | Link to Presentation Slides
Fall 2026 Pre-Arrival Webinars
Please check back around Summer 2026 for information on the Fall 2026 webinars.What to Pack
Packing can be stressful – especially if you are moving to another country for school! As a helpful tip, create a checklist of all items you use on a day-to-day routine (such as skincare products, makeup, toothbrushes, etc.). Keep in mind that many things can be purchased within the U.S. such as school supplies, books, and clothing.
Clothing: New Jersey experiences all four seasons. We have very cold winters with periodic snowfalls, hot and humid summers, with some very pleasant periods in between. Warm jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, and boots are essential for winter and early spring (November-March). Waterproof outerwear and umbrellas are essential in rainy weather. If you do not have certain types of clothing, do not worry! There are many stores around Rowan University where you can purchase clothes for all types of weather. Also feel free to bring traditional clothing from your home country – the International Center has events each semester where you can show off your country’s traditional clothing!
Money: We recommend that you bring $300-$500 USD in cash in case of emergencies such as missed flight connections or flight delays. Cash is also useful to bring so you can tip your taxi/Uber/Lyft driver; in the U.S. you are expected to tip 20%! This is also true for many other services such as restaurants, salons/barbers, delivery services, etc. Most airports have currency conversion stations for this purpose, but some banks abroad offer currency conversaion as well.
Other items: You may also want to bring small personal items to personalize your new home, such as photographs, things that remind you of your home country, or other decorations. Keep in mind that residence halls have limited space. You should also bring a U.S. outlet adapter for laptop or phone chargers and other electronics. It is best to purchase most electrical appliances after you arrive in the U.S., as appliances manufactured outside the U.S. may not be compatible with the power supply.
Items to Bring on the Plane
Please have the following documents printed out prior to boarding the plane. Keep these documents in your carry-on, NOT in your checked luggage! You will need to show these documents to a Customs & Border Protection agent at the port of entry to the U.S. before you can get to baggage claim.
- I-20/DS-2019 for Rowan University with your signature at the bottom of page 1
- Valid passport
- Valid F-1/J-1 visa for Rowan University (unless you are Canadian)
- I-901 SEVIS fee receipt
- Financial support documents
- Admission letter from Rowan University
- Immunization records (with English translations)
- Medical records if you have any chronic medical conditions (with English translations)
- Airplane tickets/boarding passes
- $300-$500 USD in cash in case of emergencies
- Directions to and contact information for the International Center
Getting to Campus
We strongly recommend that you fly to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), as it is the closest airport to Rowan University. Some students choose to fly to Newark Library International Airport (EWR) or JFK, but that is not recommended as it is a 2-hour drive from our campuses and transportation can be very expensive.
Ride Share Apps: Students can use Uber or Lyft to reach our campuses. These services do not accept cash and are done only via mobile app.
Taxi Transit: Click for PHL taxi service information or EWR taxi service information. NOTE: There may be many different taxi companies at Taxi Services. Please confirm the cost of the trip before loading your bags into the taxi. Remember: in the U.S., it is customary to tip the driver 15-20% of the bill, especially if they help with your bags.
Public Transportation: We recommend using Google Maps to evaluate all public transportation (bus/train) options. Rowan’s Stratford and Camden campuses are accessible by the PATCO train line. There are various direct bus lines from Philadelphia to Glassboro.