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.