Practical Information for Interested Students

What Our Students Say Conditional Undergraduate Admission TOEFL Linguistics/ TESL at Iowa Photo Gallery	PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR INTERESTED STUDENTS Printer-friendly version Costs and Finances: Living in the United States is expensive. The amount we quote on a form I-20 for living expenses is $8,150 (including tuition). Therefore, we recommend that you budget some additional money to cover any unforeseen expenses. *Please note: once a student is enrolled in the IIEP, tuition is non-refundable, and must be paid in full. Travel to Iowa City: Most students come to Iowa City by air. The airport serving Iowa City is located near the city of Cedar Rapids, about 20 miles from Iowa City. It is called the Eastern Iowa Airport. Your travel agent or airline office can give you information about the best route to follow to fly to Cedar Rapids. If you arrive in the United States and go through U.S. customs in Chicago, you will arrive at terminal 5 (terminal for all international flights). If you are taking United Airlines to Cedar Rapids/Iowa City you will go to terminal 1. A monorail (small subway system) operates between the terminals so that you will not have to walk a long distance. Click here to see what you can expect upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. An airport shuttle service provides transportation from the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids to Iowa City. Currently, the cost for a trip is $31. The limousine service is open for all arriving flights. You can guarantee transportation by making an advance reservation. Call (319) 337-2340. If you have not made any arrangements for a place to stay prior to your arrival, you should ask the driver to take you to the Iowa House (located in the Iowa Memorial Union, on the UI campus). You can stay there for a few nights until you find a place to live. Please tell the clerk at the desk that you are a student in the Iowa Intensive English Program (IIEP) so you will pay the student rate (about $30 per night for a shared room). To ensure a reservation with the Iowa House, you should call them at (319) 335-3513 or book a room online. Transportation in Iowa City: There is bus service Monday through Saturday within Iowa City and nearby Coralville areas. The cost is seventy-five cents ($0.75) one way. The University of Iowa operates a free campus bus system called CAMBUS. Housing: If you do not have housing, we recommend arriving early so that you have sufficient time to find a place to live. The IIEP does not find housing for students.* Residence Halls: The University of Iowa Housing Office takes applications on a first-come first-served basis. If you are planning to stay in a dormitory, you should send your housing application with the deposit as soon as possible to the Housing Office at the address on the application. The IIEP cannot guarantee a place on campus to any applicant. If you have applied for a residence hall room, contact the Housing Assignment Office, located in Burge Hall, at 335-3009 as soon as you arrive. If you have applied for a residence hall room and have not heard from the Housing Office before you leave home, you can call them at the number above or e-mail them at reshall-housing@uiowa.edu. If you are approved for campus housing, you will sign a contract for one academic year. (If you leave the U.S. after one or two semesters, you will not be obligated to pay for the rest of the year. However, if you sign a housing contract in the fall and you stay at the University until the spring or summer, you will have to pay for the housing whether or not you utilize it.) Off-Campus Housing: Many international students choose to live in off-campus rooms and apartments. Single rooms generally cost at least $400 per month. A small apartment will usually cost at least $500 per month and an apartment suitable for a family, $700. Utilities are not always included in the price of the apartment and can cost over $100 per month during the winter. Health Insurance: Since the cost of medical services in the United States is extremely high and there is no national health insurance system, all international students at The University of Iowa are required to have health and accident insurance. The University of Iowa offers a general student insurance plan at a moderate cost to students (there is also a plan available for married students with families). The cost of UI health insurance for a single student is currently $90 per month. Immunizations and Screening Requirements: When you receive your I-20, you will also receive an "Immunization Form for International Students," describing required and recommended immunizations and tests. The IIEP strongly encourages you to take the form to your doctor and meet the requirements in your home country, where health services are generally less expensive than they are in the United States. The University currently requires all international students to have had two measles immunizations since 1980. International students are also required to have a tuberculin skin test (PPD). The PPD tests done in your home country are accepted by the University only if the results are positive and accompanied by documentation validated by the signature and stamp/seal of a physician or authorized immunization official. A BCG vaccination should *not* be given prior to your departure. Vaccinations for hepatitis-B and meningitis are also highly recommended. Books and Supplies: The estimated cost for books per semester is $150-$200. You will be able to purchase books, school supplies and stationery at the Iowa Memorial Union Bookstore. At the time of your registration you will receive a student I.D. (identification) card with your name and photo on it. You can use your I.D. card to charge your books. Climate: The weather in Iowa City is characterized by marked seasonal changes. Summer weather is dominated by moist, warm air. Students who arrive in August (for fall) arrive during the hottest time of the year. During the winter, a prevailing northwest wind brings in cold, dry air from the north. There is less sunshine than in the summer, and the ground is often covered with snow. The result can be intensively cold weather. Students who arrive in January arrive during the coldest time of the year. During spring and fall, temperatures are more moderate and conditions are generally pleasant. Neither hurricanes nor earthquakes occur but tornadoes sometimes do. Mail: If you do not know where you will be living when you arrive in Iowa City, you may have letters addressed in your name, c/o 1112 University Capitol Centre, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. Be sure to change your address once you find local housing. Baggage and Packages: Baggage and packages containing general and household effects valued at less than $250 should be mailed rather than shipped. Mailing costs less and eliminates the need to go personally to the port of entry to clear your belongings through customs. If you ship your belongings rather than mail them, you should make sure they arrive in Des Moines, Iowa, which is the nearest customs port to Iowa City (Des Moines is 110 miles from Iowa City). You should save all written records of baggage or packages you mail or send in case some problems arise. Baggage or packages you mail or ship should be sent in your name c/o Campus Mail Room, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. Do not address packages to the IIEP Office. We strongly recommend that you check with a travel agent in your country about the best way to ship your belongings. Nationality Organizations: Students from many countries have formed nationality organizations (e.g., the Chinese Student Association, India Student Association, African Association). These organizations often help new students get settled in Iowa City. There is a list of these organizations at http://intl-programs.uiowa.edu/oiss/cultural_orgs.html. To ensure that your message reaches the appropriate person from a particular nationality group, you may e-mail the Office of International Students and Scholars at OISS@uiowa.edu. The OISS will forward your letter to the appropriate nationality group officer. Please be sure to include the name of the nationality organization in English so that they know which group your letter is to be sent to. You can find out more information from the International Programs homepage: www/uiowa.edu/~intl/. Further Information: If you need additional information before arriving in Iowa City, please write to the IIEP, 1112 University Capitol Centre, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. The telephone number is (319) 335-5630 and the fax number is (319) 335-6037. Our e-mail address is: iiep@uiowa.edu. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Iowa City and the IIEP. We hope that you will enjoy your intensive English study here and that your stay in Iowa will be a valuable experience! Click here to view a Pre-Departure Checklist

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR INTERESTED STUDENTS

Costs and Finances: Living in the United States is expensive. The amount we quote on a form I-20 for living expenses is $8,150 (including tuition). Therefore, we recommend that you budget some additional money to cover any unforeseen expenses. Please note: once a student is enrolled in the IIEP, tuition is non-refundable, and must be paid in full.

Travel to Iowa City: Most students come to Iowa City by air. The airport serving Iowa City is located near the city of Cedar Rapids, about 20 miles from Iowa City. It is called the Eastern Iowa Airport. Your travel agent or airline office can give you information about the best route to follow to fly to Cedar Rapids. If you arrive in the United States and go through U.S. customs in Chicago, you will arrive at terminal 5 (terminal for all international flights). If you are taking United Airlines to Cedar Rapids/Iowa City you will go to terminal 1. A monorail (small subway system) operates between the terminals so that you will not have to walk a long distance.

Click here to see what you can expect upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry.

An airport shuttle service provides transportation from the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids to Iowa City. Currently, the cost for a trip is $31. The limousine service is open for all arriving flights. You can guarantee transportation by making an advance reservation. Call (319) 337-2340.

If you have not made any arrangements for a place to stay prior to your arrival, you should ask the driver to take you to the Iowa House (located in the Iowa Memorial Union, on the UI campus). You can stay there for a few nights until you find a place to live. Please tell the clerk at the desk that you are a student in the Iowa Intensive English Program (IIEP) so you will pay the student rate (about $30 per night for a shared room). To ensure a reservation with the Iowa House, you should call them at (319) 335-3513 or book a room online.

Transportation in Iowa City: There is bus service Monday through Saturday within Iowa City and nearby Coralville areas. The cost is seventy-five cents ($0.75) one way. The University of Iowa operates a free campus bus system called CAMBUS.

Housing: If you do not have housing, we recommend arriving early so that you have sufficient time to find a place to live. The IIEP does not find housing for students.

Residence Halls: The University of Iowa Housing Office takes applications on a first-come first-served basis. If you are planning to stay in a dormitory, you should send your housing application with the deposit as soon as possible to the Housing Office at the address on the application. The IIEP cannot guarantee a place on campus to any applicant. If you have applied for a residence hall room, contact the Housing Assignment Office, located in Burge Hall, at 335-3009 as soon as you arrive. If you have applied for a residence hall room and have not heard from the Housing Office before you leave home, you can call them at the number above or e-mail them at reshall-housing@uiowa.edu. If you are approved for campus housing, you will sign a contract for one academic year. (If you leave the U.S. after one or two semesters, you will not be obligated to pay for the rest of the year. However, if you sign a housing contract in the fall and you stay at the University until the spring or summer, you will have to pay for the housing whether or not you utilize it.)

Off-Campus Housing: Many international students choose to live in off-campus rooms and apartments. Single rooms generally cost at least $400 per month. A small apartment will usually cost at least $500 per month and an apartment suitable for a family, $700. Utilities are not always included in the price of the apartment and can cost over $100 per month during the winter.

Health Insurance: Since the cost of medical services in the United States is extremely high and there is no national health insurance system, all international students at The University of Iowa are required to have health and accident insurance. The University of Iowa offers a general student insurance plan at a moderate cost to students (there is also a plan available for married students with families). The cost of UI health insurance for a single student is currently $90 per month.

Immunizations and Screening Requirements: When you receive your I-20, you will also receive an "Immunization Form for International Students," describing required and recommended immunizations and tests. The IIEP strongly encourages you to take the form to your doctor and meet the requirements in your home country, where health services are generally less expensive than they are in the United States. The University currently requires all international students to have had two measles immunizations since 1980. International students are also required to have a tuberculin skin test (PPD). The PPD tests done in your home country are accepted by the University only if the results are positive and accompanied by documentation validated by the signature and stamp/seal of a physician or authorized immunization official. A BCG vaccination should not be given prior to your departure. Vaccinations for hepatitis-B and meningitis are also highly recommended.

Books and Supplies: The estimated cost for books per semester is $150-$200. You will be able to purchase books, school supplies and stationery at the Iowa Memorial Union Bookstore. At the time of your registration you will receive a student I.D. (identification) card with your name and photo on it. You can use your I.D. card to charge your books.

Climate: The weather in Iowa City is characterized by marked seasonal changes. Summer weather is dominated by moist, warm air. Students who arrive in August (for fall) arrive during the hottest time of the year. During the winter, a prevailing northwest wind brings in cold, dry air from the north. There is less sunshine than in the summer, and the ground is often covered with snow. The result can be intensively cold weather. Students who arrive in January arrive during the coldest time of the year. During spring and fall, temperatures are more moderate and conditions are generally pleasant. Neither hurricanes nor earthquakes occur but tornadoes sometimes do.

Mail: If you do not know where you will be living when you arrive in Iowa City, you may have letters addressed in your name, c/o 1112 University Capitol Centre, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. Be sure to change your address once you find local housing.

Baggage and Packages: Baggage and packages containing general and household effects valued at less than $250 should be mailed rather than shipped. Mailing costs less and eliminates the need to go personally to the port of entry to clear your belongings through customs. If you ship your belongings rather than mail them, you should make sure they arrive in Des Moines, Iowa, which is the nearest customs port to Iowa City (Des Moines is 110 miles from Iowa City). You should save all written records of baggage or packages you mail or send in case some problems arise. Baggage or packages you mail or ship should be sent in your name c/o Campus Mail Room, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. Do not address packages to the IIEP Office. We strongly recommend that you check with a travel agent in your country about the best way to ship your belongings.

Nationality Organizations: Students from many countries have formed nationality organizations (e.g., the Chinese Student Association, India Student Association, African Association). These organizations often help new students get settled in Iowa City. There is a list of these organizations at http://intl-programs.uiowa.edu/oiss/cultural_orgs.html. To ensure that your message reaches the appropriate person from a particular nationality group, you may e-mail the Office of International Students and Scholars at OISS@uiowa.edu. The OISS will forward your letter to the appropriate nationality group officer. Please be sure to include the name of the nationality organization in English so that they know which group your letter is to be sent to. You can find out more information from the International Programs homepage: www/uiowa.edu/~intl/.

Further Information: If you need additional information before arriving in Iowa City, please write to the IIEP, 1112 University Capitol Centre, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. The telephone number is (319) 335-5630 and the fax number is (319) 335-6037. Our e-mail address is: iiep@uiowa.edu.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Iowa City and the IIEP. We hope that you will enjoy your intensive English study here and that your stay in Iowa will be a valuable experience!