Fisk Hall, Room 105
262 High Street
Middletown, CT 06459
oisa@wesleyan.edu
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International Student Orientation (ISO)

International Student Orientation (ISO) is a pre-orientation designed for undergraduate international students to build community with their peers, acclimate to the University, and begin exploring the full range of academic and co-curricular opportunities and resources available at Wesleyan.

For Fall 2025, the arrival period for incoming undergraduate international students who will participate in International Student Orientation (ISO) is Friday, August 29 - Saturday, August 30. When you arrive to Wesleyan during this arrival period, you will receive your dorm room key and be able to move into your campus housing with support of the ISO staff.   

Sunday, August 31 will be a settle-in day with some community-building activities and a shopping trip in Middletown via free shuttles from campus led by Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) professional staff and student leaders.

The ISO program, which is a requirement for all incoming undergraduate international students, will run Monday, September 1 - Tuesday, September 2. All international students by broad definition are expected to attend ISO. There is no cost to attend ISO. Please see the FAQs below for more information about ISO, including how to register for it. 

Incoming international students attending Fall 2025 ISO should plan to arrive to campus on Friday, August 29 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or on Saturday, August 30 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST. We recommend that you try to arrive on Friday as this will give you an extra day to settle in and rest before ISO begins on Monday. If you plan to arrive in the United States before August 29, you need to make your own arrangements for hotels and travel. You can find hotels close to Wesleyan on the Wesleyan University Visitor’s Guide. Please note that most hotels in Connecticut require unaccompanied guests to be at least 21 years to rent and stay in a room.   

Fall 2025 ISO will be held in-person September 1-2 on the Wesleyan University campus in Middletown, Connecticut. It will be a great opportunity for you to meet members of the Wesleyan community and make connections with peers; settle into your living space and get situated with essentials like a bank account and cell phone; and become more familiar with campus life and the various offices and resources that will support you during your studies at Wes. You can get to know the student team that will be leading Fall 2025 ISO ahead of time by visiting the ISO Student Staff page (will be updated once our new group of ISOLs are hired during the Spring 2025 Semester). 

Incoming undergraduate international students who need to complete medical requirements to begin their studies at Wesleyan, such as immunizations, will be required to visit the Davison Health Center during ISO. The Davison Health Center will contact you prior to ISO regarding your medical and immunization requirements. International students who need to complete medical requirements will be assigned a designated time to visit Davison Health Center and meet with a staff member to review their medical forms and immunization history, including Tuberculosis (TB) status. Blood work and immunizations will be provided as needed on site for anyone who is missing required immunizations based on the State of Connecticut guidelines.

Per Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulations, F-1 and J-1 visa status students may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date listed on page 1 of their Certificate of Eligibility (I-20/DS-2019). All ISO participants are expected to submit their flight information even if they plan to arrive before August 29. Submit your flight information through WesPortal by completing the ISO Student Registration Form.

All undergraduate first-year, transfer, and visiting international students are expected to read through the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and contact OISA if they have any questions or concerns. 

  • What are the Fall 2025 undergraduate international student arrival and ISO dates?

    Undergraduate International Student Arrival Period: Friday, August 29 - Saturday, August 30 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST each day

    Settle-in Day: Sunday, August 31 - New international students will use this day to settle into their dorm and get prepared for ISO; there will be community-building activities led by International Student Orientation Leaders (ISOLs) and an afternoon shopping trip in Middletown with free shuttles from the Wesleyan campus. 

    International Student Orientation (ISO): Monday, September 1 - Tuesday, September 2 (all day each day); students are expected to participate in the two days of ISO programs and activities planned by the Office of International Students Affairs (OISA).

    *All incoming undergraduate international students must also attend a "Health Matters" appointment at Davison Health Center. Prior to ISO, each international student will be assigned to a group to go to Davison Health Center at a designated time when staff members will review their medical forms and immunization history including Tuberculosis (TB) status. Blood work and immunizations will be provided as needed on site for anyone who is missing required immunizations based on the State of Connecticut guidelines.

  • Where may I access the Fall 2025 ISO schedule?
    We are still in the process of planning the Fall 2025 ISO schedule. Details about the program will be included in the pre-arrival newsletters that will be sent to all incoming undergraduate international students during the summer. If you have any questions about the ISO program, please send an email to iso@wesleyan.edu and oisa@wesleyan.edu.
  • Who should participate in ISO?

    The following populations are highly encouraged to attend ISO:

    • All first-year undergraduate international students
    • All visiting undergraduate international students
    • All Americans living abroad who will be an undergraduate student at Wesleyan 
    • All international transfer students
    • All self-identifying undergraduate international students  

     

    The purpose of ISO is to help you get settled into your new home at Wes and get you connected with peers, offices, and resources so you have a successful transition to studying at the University and living in Middletown.

  • What are the costs to attend ISO?

    There is no cost for attending ISO. ISO is free because Wesleyan is invested in your transition and well-being. OISA and the University are committed to serving you from the beginning of your time as an International Cardinal, and want to support you so you can have a successful start to your first semester and actively participate in campus life.

  • How do I register for ISO?
    Once you have access, visit WesPortal and complete the ISO Student Registration Form by Friday, July 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
  • When should I arrive at Wesleyan for ISO? May I arrive before the start date?

    You should plan to arrive to campus during the two-day undergraduate international student arrival period: Friday, August 29 - Saturday, August 30 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST. We recommend that you try to arrive on Friday as this will give you an extra day to settle in and rest before ISO begins on Monday. If you are unable to arrive during the two-day arrival period or will miss ISO, please send an email to iso@wesleyan.edu and oisa@wesleyan.edu in advance and inform OISA of your anticipated arrival date.  

    If you arrive in the United States before August 29, you must make your own arrangements for hotels and travel. You can find hotels close to Wesleyan on the Wesleyan University Visitor’s Guide. Per SEVP regulations, F-1 and J-1 visa status international students may not enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the program start date listed on page 1 of their Certificate of Eligibility (I-20/DS-2019). 

  • What should I expect for my arrival to campus?

    You should plan to arrive to campus during the two-day undergraduate international student arrival period: Friday, August 29 - Saturday, August 30 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST. Students who arrive to Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut during the two-day arrival period and notify OISA in advance of their flight itinerary will be able to take a free shuttle to the Wesleyan campus.

    Students who arrive to other airports in New England, such as Logan International Airport in Boston or John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, must plan ahead and arrange their own transportation for traveling to Wesleyan.   

    Once you arrive on campus: 

    • Go directly to Usdan University Center located at 45 Wyllys Ave, Middletown, CT 06457 to be welcomed by International Student Orientation Leaders (ISOLs) and members of the OISA staff and receive your room key and WesCard (Wesleyan identification card).
    • If you arrive after 5 p.m., go to the office of Public Safety located at 208 High Street, Middletown, CT 06457 to get your room key.
    • Once you get settled into your room on campus, rest up for ISO and the chance to meet new people and make your first friends at Wes!
  • Are meals free once I arrive to campus? What if I have dietary restrictions?

    Your Fall Semester meal plan will be active as soon as you arrive on campus and you will use that for all meals beginning with your first meal on Friday, August 29. Please check the dining website for detailed information about meal schedules and the different dining venues on campus. Your only expenses during the arrival period and ISO are buying items for your residential hall room. 

    Please make sure to include any dietary restrictions and conditions in the ISO Student Registration Form and Health Forms (available in WesPortal). The residential meal plan does not provide individualized menus, but any dietary needs are handled on a case-by-case basis. More information on how to seek assistance can be found on Dining at Wesleyan’s Guidance and Assistance page. Please also see the Wesleyan University Food Allergy and Celiac Guide. 

  • When may I begin receiving mail to my Wes Box?
    For incoming internationational students beginning their studies at Wesleyan in the Fall 2025 Semester, the earliest date that mail can be delivered to their Wes Box address is Friday, August 15, 2025. For more information on this topic, please visit our Mail and Packages page.  

  • If I have additional questions, who should I contact?