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Welcome!
College of Science and Engineering
Exchange Info Session!
Please sign in and find your folder.
Grab free stuff too.
If you are not on the sign-in sheet, that is OK. Just add
your name.
Adam Pagel ● Susan Kubitschek
CSE International Program Team
115 Lind Hall (Next to Starbucks!)
Find Campus Maps here!
http://campusmaps.umn.edu/tc/
We are joined today by our Director of Advising, Amy
Gunter
CSE Academic Advising is also in Lind Hall, suite 105
We are also joined by current CSE students who can
provide advice
Today’s Meeting
• Introductions
• Details—getting into classes, tuition/fees
• Transcript Documentation
• Info on the College of Science and Engineering and other areas of campus
• Campus advice, fun!
• Answer questions
Today’s Meeting
• Let’s introduce ourselves
• Please give us your name, home country, and area of study
• Have you been in the United States before?
• When did you arrive in the US?
Today’s Meeting
• Folders—our office created folders for you. If there is not one here for you today, please let me know after the meeting
• These contain copies of your application documents, in case faculty members want to review your credentials
ISSS
• Has everyone completed their Immigration Check-in with ISSS?
Future Announcements
• Remember: check your official University of Minnesota email often!
• All future announcements, reminders, etc. from the University of Minnesota will be coming to that address
• Anything a professor or university official puts in email is considered “official”
University of Minnesota Minnesota:
225,181 km squared (just a bit
smaller than the UK)
5.3 million people (UK has more
than 60 million)
Lake Superior: 82,100 km squared
(about the size of Austria)
Campus Geography
• A big, but very nice campus (more than 50,000 people)
• 2 campuses:
– Minneapolis
– St Paul
• “West Bank”
• “East Bank”
– Minneapolis campus is separated by the Mississippi River
Campus Changes! • You have seen by
now, we have a new train running right through our campus
• One ticket will give you 2.5 hours of time to ride. This is a very nice way to explore the area
• Please be careful crossing the street!
• Also, the police will be active watching the public
You must have a ticket!
Campus
• Speaking of police…
• Alcohol cannot be consumed in public
• Campus is now “tobacco free” (no tobacco at all on campus) but I don’t think the police will be involved in this process—it is more of a social plan
Housing
• Does anyone still need housing?
• Contact Adam if you are still looking for a place to live and we will try to help
Housing
• If you are living in on-campus housing and will only spend Fall Semester here:
• During Fall, you should meet with your building’s business office and begin a “contract release” request
• You should start this process in October
Academic Advising College of Science and Engineering Academic Advising
105 Lind Hall
Walk-in Academic Advising is available
Tuesday, September 8th, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
All Fall Semester: Monday to Friday, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Get tweets and updates from our
advising office:
@UMNCSE #CSEAcAdv #CSEUG
https://cse.umn.edu/r/academic-
advising/
Getting Into Classes • Who is already registered for
at least one class?
• You must be registered for at least one class before September 8
Getting Into Classes • Research courses online and
review space availability
• https://www.myu.umn.edu/
• Some classes will have prerequisites and you will need to speak with the faculty member
• Basic Course Designation Structure:– 1xxx = introductory, usually first
year courses
– 2xxx = second year
– 3xxx = third year, more advanced/specialized
– 4xxx = fourth year, senior level
– 5xxx = usually graduate level, but some seniors also take these classes
Instructor
Space available
Need to look someone
up? Use our search
http://search.umn.edu/
Getting Into Classes
• At the start of the semester, you can add and “drop” classes with no financial or academic penalty
• We call this the “Cancel/Add” period
• http://onestop.umn.edu/calendars/cancel_add_refund_deadlines/index.html
• As the semester goes on, the policy changes. Keep an eye on the dates! Know the academic calendar!
• You must be registered for at least one class by the first day of the semester, to avoid penalty fees
Getting Into Classes • You registration holds should be
removed by now, right?
• Targeting specific classes of interest, that you are prepared to take
• Contacting professors for permission
• Using departmental contacts when necessary—departments will be “alerted” to your interests but they cannot save seats for non-degree students
• Attend the first day of class to talk with the instructor
• If you have trouble registering online, you may want to try the email option: http://onestop.umn.edu/registration/email_forms.html
• What about classes outside of CSE?
• You must be register for at least 1 class by September 8 to avoid penalty fees
Getting Into Classes
• What about classes
outside of CSE?
• Similar advice—you
can take pretty much
any class you can get
into (up to the
maximum credit load
of 20 for
undergraduates)
• Advice for biology,
business, recreation
(code: PE), etc.
Getting Into Classes
• Peer adviser
presentation
Registration
• Be aware that in the
US undergraduate
students take more
credits than graduate
students
• So, a “full load” of 15
graduate credits is
much more work than
a full load of 15
undergraduate credits
Work Load
• US classes have much more
weekly work than courses
in some countries
• Group projects, lab reports,
presentations, assigned
problems, midterms,
quizzes—all are common
• Many classes also make
“participation” part of your
grade—asking questions,
responding to online
conversations, etc. Read
you syllabi carefully to
understand how your grade
will be determined.
Grading
• We use an A – F grading
system, without an A+
option
• https://onestop.umn.edu/gra
des_and_transcripts/grades
/grade_basis.html
• Your faculty members
should outline how grades
will be calculated for each
type of class
• If you are not sure how you
will be graded, you should
ask your faculty leader
After your exchange term • If your exchange is
managed directly by CSE
(POSTECH, ZHAW, TUM,
Agder, Chang Gung,
HKUST, Chalmers, BJTU,
NTHU, DTU, NUS and
Milano)
• You will sign a transcript
request form before for
you depart. This final
transcript will go to your
home school
• After you complete your
studies, I will send one
official transcript
• You can always request
more for a fee
• If your exchange is managed by
ISSS (NTNU, Brazil, etc.), they
will send you a transcript.
Tuition and Fees • All of you are here on
specific exchange agreements with different financial frameworks—it gets very tricky talking to students about fees
• If adjustments to your fees are necessary, they will be made in September or earlier
• Take more than 13 credits to take “full” advantage of your time here
Tuition and Fees
• There are a number of fees that you will see on your statement
• The American way
• http://onestop.umn.edu/finances/costs_and_tuition/index.html
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and Fees
• Note: Your tuition may look different from other students if you register for less than 13 credits, or if you take a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses, or if you take classes that have fees (like materials fees).
Tuition and Fees
• You will see other fees popping up as well, depending on:
• 1) Any “early” housing
• 2) the classes you take (some have fees associated with them—particularly if they have lab or recreation like skiing involved)
• 3) if you get a bus/transit pass (a good idea)
• http://www1.umn.edu/pts/bus/upass.html
• Try not to compare your student bill with other student bills. Two are rarely the same.
Tuition and Fees
• This is hard, but try not to obsess over your fees
• If there is a true error, we can usually get it fixed (visit Onestop or come talk to me)
• Pay on time to avoid even more fees
• Watch your U of M email for updates
• Adjustments will be made during the first week or two of classes
Campus Life• University of Minnesota: tier
one research university
• One of the largest in the US
• “University Life” is a big deal in the US.
• Sports!
• NCAA, Big 10
• Gophers!
• At Minnesota, students usually group themselves by “college” (business school, engineering school, arts school, etc.)
• Or associate strongly with a student group (marching band, student newspaper, officer training, Engineers Without Borders—hundreds more!)
The Twin Cities
• Studying
• Volunteering
• Getting Involved
• Student life
• Winter!
Campus Life
The Twin Cities
• Check out this website:http://onestop.umn.edu/u_resources/campus_life.html
Great list of campus links: newspaper, radio station, museums, concerts, etc.
Campus Life
Campus Life• It is impossible to “know
everyone”
• Students tend to have a core group of friends from their major, club, fraternity, etc.
• It is easy to meet people in Minnesota, but sometimes hard to get to be close friends. Midwestern Americans are known for being a bit reserved.
• “Minnesota Nice”
Campus Life—Shopping • We have a new “small”
Target store near campus, it just opened
• So, you don’t need a car to do shopping
• Check it out when you have time
• Corner of 5th St SE and 13th Ave (Dinkytown)
Campus Life—Safety • Campus is usually pretty safe—
Minneapolis is “safer” today than 10 years ago
• But, campus is a target for crime
• Most crimes are “property” crimes (where items are taken from students) late at night, when students are alone or in a very small group
• Lock things up! Don’t leave items alone (like, a laptop sitting on a table when you go get coffee). Go out in groups. Take a taxi or Uber home.
• Campus security is getting tighter, and the police are very active. But you need to look out for yourself and make good decisions.
• http://safe-u.umn.edu/
Gopher Sports
Special Announcement!
Our athletics department is providing free tickets for all
exchange students to our first football game!
September 3, 2015 vs TCU
Game starts at 8:00 PM but most students arrive early
Get your ticket here
z.umn.edu/exstudent15
Select the free “Student
Section” ticket
Other Special EventsLate night shopping at a big store
Target Run Shopping Event
Tuesday, September 1
10:00pm – 12:00am (last bus leaves Target at 11:50pm)
A chance to shop for anything you might need to start the semester.
Buses will load from the residence halls—meet up with students waiting
at a hall like Frontier Hall.
http://campusmaps.umn.edu/tc/building/FronH/
There is no scanning process, students just load up and can come back
at their leisure.
Other Special EventsExplore-U
Saturday, September 5
1:30-4:30pm
Location: Mariucci Arena
http://campusmaps.umn.edu/tc/building/MarA/
At this exciting event you will have the opportunity to learn about and
interact with over 150 student groups in which you can get
involved. Sample products and freebies while visiting exhibitor
displays from major vendors and retailers as well as local
entertainment venues, restaurants and businesses.
– Access Instructions: Scan student IDs entering this event
Intramural Sports
• Start or join a team!
• Fall Semester sports include soccer, basketball, hockey, bowling, flag football, etc.
• Registration takes place mid-September
• You can register as a “free agent” for a small fee
Many Sports Available
http://recwell.umn.edu/intramurals/
The Twin Cities
• Area Population: about 3,000,000 people in the two main cities and surrounding suburbs
• Each city is really a collection of neighborhoods, usually based on a lake, river, or park
• Our transportation system is very bad at getting people into the suburbs
• Cars are still “king”
Minneapolis and St Paul
The Twin Cities
• Shopping and eating
• Sports
• Arts
• Nightlife
• Outdoor life
Beyond Campus…
The Twin Cities-Bike City!
https://secure.niceridemn.org/map/
Paying the bike
“subscription” is cheaper
than buying a bike for one
semester
The Twin Cities-Bike City!
http://recwell.umn.edu/news/single-
speed-bike-rentals
You can now rent a bike
for the entire semester
from the U of M. $75 per
semester.
The Twin Cities
• Great Chinese food http://ourteahouse.com/
• Great noodle soups at Bona http://twincities.citysearch.com/profile/5588423/minneapolis_mn/bona_vietnamese_restaurant.html
• Korea Restaurant http://www.yelp.com/biz/korea-restaurant-minneapolis
A world of food…
• Scandinavian Groceries http://www.ingebretsens.com/ or http://www.midtownglobalmarket.org/CafeFinspang
• German “beer hall” style http://www.blackforestinnmpls.com/
• Wood fired (Neapolitan style) pizza http://www.punchpizza.com/
• Japanese: Obento-ya http://www.obento-ya.com/
• Middle East: http://holylandbrand.com/
• Fondue! The Melting Pot http://www.meltingpot.com/minneapolis/welcome
• East African http://www.safarirestaurant.net/
• Many More! Explore!
The Twin Cities
• ID—bring passport?
• Tipping!
• Go out in groups—look out for each other
• Be safe
• Know transportation schedules
• Rainbow Taxi: 612-332-1615
• Uber?
Going Out
The State Fair!
August 27-Sept 7, 2015
Free Shuttle Bus from
campus to the fair
and back
http://www.mnstatefair.org/
NFL… Packers or Vikings?A big deal in the US during the fall
Pick a team, have some fun being a “fan” and watching games on TV, etc.
The Packers have won the Super Bowl several times
The Vikings are bad, but they need fans too!
A cheese head
Me at historic Lambeau Field
during a Packer victory
Starting this fall, the Minnesota Vikings will play
games on the University of Minnesota campus
while the new stadium is being finished!
Minnesota
• Boundary Waters
• Outdoor Center organizes trips
• Make friends…
• Go to the BWCA! Trips coming up in Sept and Oct
Going Way Out
http://recwell.umn.edu/outdoor/
The Region
• Milwaukee, Chicago… Fargo?
• The Empire Builder
• Megabus
• Go with a friend
• Let folks know before you go
• Research discount airlines like Sun Country and Southwest—they don’t put their fares on sites like Expedia
Regional Trips
J 1 Visa Status
• You can stay in the US up to thirty days after your study ends
• Have some fun!
• Minneapolis has a convenient airport
• Check “cheap” airlines for travel inside the US
http://www.suncountry.com/
http://www.southwest.com/
Buddies
I hope that many of you
have been contacted by
Buddies
They can be a great
resource for advice, fun,
etc.
Fall Events
We will plan some fall
events for the buddies
and all of you, and you’ll
receive updates and
invitations on email.
Questions?