Jump to: Packing | Essential Travel Documents | What to Bring | Internet & Email | Honor Code | Culture Shock | Finances | Common Terms & Abbreviations
Packing
Most airlines operating international flights have limits to the pieces of luggage you can take with you for free. You will have an opportunity to join a shopping trip to local stores and supermarkets as part of Odyssey, the international student orientation, or you can purchase necessary items before you arrive. Here is a web page with useful information.
Add a label to your luggage with your name, Connecticut College, address and Dean's phone number:
Your Name
Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320
1 (860) 439-2050
- Mark your baggage in some distinctive way (ribbons on the handle) to make it easier for you to identify your luggage.
- Pack essential documents, medicines, etc. in a carry-on case.
For more information with regard to travel to the U.S. please visit: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all
Essential Travel Documents
Please make sure you have your I-20, a passport valid for at least 6 months after your travel date and a valid visa. If you are entering the U.S. with the Conn I-20 for the first time, please bring your admission letter as well as your financial aid award letter.
Ideas on What to Bring
- Bring copies of your important health records.
- Pack prescription notes, medications you take regularly (as for allergies), or anything you might not be able to purchase here.
- Bring photographs, cultural dress, maps, posters, little snacks and other items that will help you remain connected to your home and for others to become familiar with your home country. Also, there will be opportunities for international events where you can wear your traditional clothes.
- Spices: If you enjoy cooking or sense that you might soon be missing food from home, pack some spices for cooking needs on campus. (Please note, however, that most residential houses do not have kitchens). It is also important for you to know that some foods are not allowed to enter the U.S. by plane. If you are concerned about what is allowed, please refer to the US Customs and Border Protection website.
- The best advice is to travel light. Bring clothing and some favorite possessions.
- Clothing: When you arrive in August, the weather will probably be around 80°F or 27°C. In general, we will have fairly warm weather into September when temperatures will begin to get cooler. We start experiencing winter weather in November, when temperatures can go down below freezing (32°F or 0°). You will be able to purchase winter clothing here.
- You may find it most convenient to buy blankets, linens, pillows, lamps and other accessories when you arrive here, or purchase them online. If you would like to ship items you purchase online to campus, send shipments to:
Your Name
Connecticut College (Class of XXXX)
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320
You'll receive your campus box number during Orientation. You will keep the same mailbox all four years you are here.
About Voltage and Electrical Items
Electric voltage in the U.S. ranges from 110 to 120 volts. You will be able to use your electronics on campus only if they have dual voltage such as laptops, tablets and cell phones. Anything else, you will be able to purchase here. Try to buy your outlet adapter at home or at the airport, because you will likely need to charge your electronics immediately when you arrive on campus.
The Internet and Email
There is Internet (and thus, email) access at Shain Library and computer labs. If you have your own computer, you will also have wireless access and be able to get online from your room or everywhere on campus.
Connecting with Family and Friends at Home
Most students use Skype, WhatsApp, Viber or other similar applications that use VOIP technology to make free calls or video calls in the U.S. and abroad where wireless is present.
Postal Services
There is a post office on campus at the College center (Cro). It is open during office hours and offers a variety of services. Your post office box is located within the Post Office, and you will have that box for your entire four years at Connecticut College.
Honor Code
One of the core values of the Connecticut College community is respect for the Honor Code. By abiding by the Honor Code our students uphold the collective responsibility they have to each other and to the whole community.
Cultural Shock
The U.S. may be very different from your native country, and the way people interact may surprise you. As you negotiate the aspects of U.S. culture, you may experience the "Culture Shock" phenomenon. If you feel that you may be experiencing culture shock, remember that there are people always available to talk to. A special workshop on Culture Shock is offered during Odyssey, the international student orientation.
Conversation
Feel free to talk and ask questions to anyone on campus. When someone asks "What's up?" Or "How's life?" they are simply saying "Hi!" and not necessarily trying to begin a conversation, so respond in a similar way. These phrases may strike you as "shallow" in the beginning, but they are actually simple greetings.
Time and Appointments
People have busy schedules and value their time. When you want to see a professor, go during the office hours or call in advance to make an appointment. Go to appointments five minutes in advance, and if you are going to be late for an appointment or cannot make it, then contact the other party. If you have either a job or an academic interview, you might dress a little more formally - just enough for a good impression. Invitations with "RSVP" require you to respond as soon as possible if you are planning to attend, but you don't have to call if you are not going to the event.
Daylight Savings Time
Most Southern hemisphere countries do not experience this change in time. In late fall, the time is changed to move an hour ahead and in early spring the clocks are turned an hour back.
Tipping
It is common and sometimes even expected that you add a tip in addition to the predetermined fee or bill when you pay for services, e.g. to waiters at restaurants, cab drivers, etc. The amount you tip is usually about 15% of the bill or fee itself. Most people who work these kinds of jobs do not earn a whole lot, and a substantial amount of their earnings come from tips.
Sports Culture
Sports are part of day-to-day life for most people in the U.S. Most people are very supportive of their teams. Sports that tend to be watched mostly on TV by students on campus are baseball, American football, and basketball. There are also annual events that have a huge following and certain traditions such as the World Series (baseball) and the Super Bowl (American football).
Finances & US Currency
Denominations: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100.
Coins: 1 cent (penny), 5 cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter), 50 cents (half dollar)
Banking
Citizens Bank and Bank of America are two of the main banks with offices located near the campus. Bank representatives will be on campus during Welcome Weekend to help students who wish to open accounts. There is an ATM served by Citizens Bank in the College Center at Crozier-Williams ("Cro").
Types of Accounts: Savings account (interest is accrued) and checking account (for frequent transactions).
Check the bank websites for information about minimum deposits, balances, appropriate fees and credit cards.
Common Terms & Abbreviations
Connecticut College Terms & Abbreviations
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- AC: athletic center
- Arbo: the College Arboretum
- Conn: Connecticut College.
- Cro: the College Center at Crozier-Williams (student center)
- the Plex: Johnson, Lambdin, Park, Wright, Morrisson, Hamilton (residence halls in North campus) and Harris (main dining hall located in north campus)
- the Quad: Blackstone, Branford, Plant (residence halls on central campus)
- South: South Campus: Knowlton, Harkness, Jane Addams, and Freeman residence halls
- the Green: large green area located in South campus. The correct name is the Jean C. Tempel Green, or Tempel Green.
- WCNI: the College radio station at 91.1 FM
- SGA: Student Government Association
- Social Security Number (SSN): identification number for employment purposes
- '41 Room: 1941 Room on the 2nd floor of the College Center
- '62 Room: 1962 Room on the 1st floor of the College Center
- Harris: main dining hall in North Campus
Academic Terms
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- to cut class: skip class without a legitimate reason
- to drop a class: withdraw from a course
- essay exam: a type of exam that requires a long written response
- extension: 1. a 4-digit phone number at the College, 2. a deadline extension, i.e. extra time to finish an assignment
- First-Year Adviser: faculty adviser, a faculty member assigned to each student who helps to plan a general education program until they declare their major.
- GPA: grade point average.
- Honor Council: the Judicial student body that formally adjudicates alleged violations of the Connecticut College Honor Code and Student Code of Conduct.
- I.A.: international adviser, for students who have lived in two different cultures
- I.D.: identification card, used for access to the dining halls into the cafeteria and as a library card
- Midterm: test given in the middle of the semester
- optional practical training: time during or after undergraduate school, in which the student may work in the U.S. with a student visa, usually one year.
- pop quiz, pop test: unexpected, unscheduled
- exam quiz: short test
- S.A.: student adviser, upperclassmen assigned to each new student to help plan schedules and provide other information
- seminar: small classes involving student discussions, usually held once a week
- syllabus: schedule for class meetings and assignments
- voice mail: voice message system on personal telephones
Common Slang & Everyday Language
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- ATM: automatic teller machine (to withdraw or deposit cash)
- awesome: great and impressive
- barbecue (BBQ): an outdoor party with food cooked on an outdoor grill that sometimes has a special "barbecue" sauce on it
- beat around the bush: avoid speaking directly
- a buck: a dollar
- to chill out: to rest and relax alone or with friends
- cash: money in the form of dollar bills or coins, not a check or money order
- A cop: a police officer
- A cab: a taxi
- To cram: to study hard the night before an exam
- To diss: to disrespect
- phat: pronounced the same way as fat; means Nice, beautiful, cool. Eg. She is phat.
- to drop in/by: to pay a short visit, uninvited
- Dude: a very informal calling
- Dawg: also a very informal calling
- Gas: automobile fuel
- A hassle: trouble, nuisance
- How are you doing?: an informal greeting; the expected response is "Fine"
- A jock: an athlete (somewhat derogatory)
- to make up: to complete an assignment after it's due
- to make out: a romantic encounter with another person emphasized by pronounced physical contact
- Date: a social romantic outing with someone that you show great interest in, usually to a movie, theater or a restaurant.
- Hook up: informal word for 'dating' e.g. Hook up with her
- Mall: many stores or shops in one building or area
- Off the top of my head: immediately, spur of the moment
- Out of it: not feeling well, not focused
- Phony: artificial, fake, or with pretense
- Psyched: excited about something
- To pull one's leg: to tease, lie, or joke
- To pull strings: using one's influence and connections
- A show: TV program
- Shut up!: An informal and rude demand that somebody stop speaking or to call for silence
- Tied up: busy, preoccupied
- Wicked: used as an adverb to add emphasis, "Wicked cool."
- What's up? Sup, whaz up?: A common informal greeting
- PIN: personal identification number used with bank cards, phone services, security systems.
Conversions
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- 1 km = 0.6214 mile
- 1 mile = 1.6093 km
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm
- 1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3048 m
- 1 yard = 3 feet = 0.9144 m
- 1 acre = 4046.48 square meters
- 1 U.S. gallon = 3.7854 l
- 1 l = 1 cubic dm = 0.2642 U.S. gal
- 1 U.S. gallon = 2 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid oz.
- 1 teaspoon (tsp.) = 5 ml
- 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon (tbs.)
- 16 tbs. = 1 cup
- 1 kg = 2.2046 lb.
- 1 ounce (oz.) = 28.350 g
- 1 pound (lb.) = 16 oz. = 0.4356kg
- 1 mph (mile per hour) = 1.6093km/h
- Degrees Celsius = (degrees Fahrenheit - 32) x 5/9
- Degrees Fahrenheit = degrees Celsius x 9/5 + 32
- 20 degrees Celsius is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit
- 100 degrees Fahrenheit is normal body temperature
- 32 degrees Fahrenheit is the freezing point of water
- Standard U.S. electric current is 110-120V and 60Hz.
Appliances that run on 220- 240V do not work well or may be damaged unless you use a current-conversion kit. Similarly, appliances that are dependent on current frequency may malfunction without proper transformation.
International students are encouraged to turn to the following people for information, advice, or referral to other helpful resources. The International Student Adviser and your International Adviser (IA) - another student who has had the experience of balancing two or more cultures, languages, and ways of life. Your IA is not only a friend who can help you deal with culture shock or homesickness, but also a source of information and advice. Your IA can help you get involved in international student events.