Before Departure to the U.S.

Wondering what to bring with you to Quinnipiac? Here you’ll find a list of basics you’ll need so you can be prepared. 

The temperatures in Hamden vary depending on the season. The northeastern United States has four seasons with large differences in weather conditions. Connecticut is hot and humid in the summer and below freezing in the winter. June, July and August are the hottest months and December, January and February are the coldest months.

For Your Carry-On: 

• Important travel documents: 
  • Passport with the appropriate visa, I-20 for F-1 students or DS-2019 for J-1 students 
• Copies of your SEVIS fee payment, admission letter and financial documents  
• Other necessary travel documents (see the Traveling to the U.S. page for details) 
• Money (cash and a credit or debit card) to get you through the first days in the U.S. 
• Wallet 
• Travel tickets (store electronically or paper) 
• Laptop, phone, and any other electronics with their chargers- Review the Technology section below for more details 
• Travel outlet adapter(s)- To ensure that any personal electronics and chargers you bring are usable, you’ll want to make sure you have 110 volt adapters for North American plugs. 
• Any medicine you may be using accompanied by the prescription translated into English
• Glasses or contact lenses  
• An extra change of clothing in case your luggage is lost or travel is delayed 

For Your Checked Luggage: 

• Clothes you most like to wear ranging from lightweight to warm, casual to dressy as it suits your style and needs
• Undergarments and socks 
• Pajamas and other sleepwear and slippers 
• Athletic apparel or clothes for working out, if you are into fitness 
• Casual attire – jeans, t-shirts, etc. for everyday wear 
• 1-2 outfits that are appropriate for a job/internship, interview, or other networking types of events 
• A few cocktail/party/event outfits for those fun things that come up during the school year  
• Traditional cultural dress for special occasions and events 
• Lightweight jacket for transitioning weather  
• A few sweaters/cardigans/fleeces  
• Insulated jacket for winter  
• Umbrella 
• Winter accessories: Gloves/mittens, wool hat, scarf 
• Sunglasses 
• 2-3 pairs of shoes (walking and dress) 
• Warm and waterproof pair of boots 
• Shoes to wear in the shower (flip flops) (optional)
• A towel and washcloth (for your first night in the U.S.)
• A set of bed sheets, which will fit the dimensions for extra-long twin size bed, approximately, 39" x  80" (99.06 cm x 203.2 cm). You can order these online and have them delivered as well.
• Backpack or messenger bag to fit several books and a laptop 
• 1 small purse/bag 
• Mini toiletries 
• Small gifts you may want to share with others in the U.S. from your home country 

What to Leave at Home or Buy in the U.S. 

• Blankets, pillows and bedding (Consider pre-ordering a Campus Living Bedding Bundle through Quinnipiac’s Bookstore) 
• Extra towels and large toiletry bottles 
• Laundry supplies  
• School supplies 
  • Please note that you will need to have your laptop and required course books by the end of the first week of the semester. Your professors will review the required materials in the first week of class. 
• Food and snacks
  • There are many local grocery stores and shops to purchase food. If there are non-perishable spices or snacks from home that will be hard to find in the U.S., you can consider bringing a few along (provided that they are not on the Customs and Border Protection's Prohibited or Restricted Items list.) 
• Winter clothing and accessories
  • If you do not already have winter clothes or cannot fit them into your luggage, you can buy them when you get to Connecticut, either in-store or online.
• OISS has prepared an Amazon wish list of dorm items that current international students have recommended.  Students can review this list for ideas of what they may need to buy upon arrival in the U.S.
• Review the Transportation Security Administration Guidelines and don't bring anything on the  U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Prohibited and Restricted Items List 

General Packing Tips 

• Weigh your luggage to avoid extra airline fees. 
• Label your bags with your name & U.S. address. 

Laptops 

All Quinnipiac University students are required to have a laptop. Faculty members design their courses with the expectation that students will have computer technology in the classroom when requested. For that reason, all incoming students must have a laptop that meets our academic requirements and technical standards by the add/drop deadline (end of the first week of the semester). To facilitate this need, Quinnipiac offers a laptop ordering program that is cost effective and exceptionally well supported both on and off campus. The recommended laptops are configured so that they meet the core needs of academic programs and are a key part of the campus computing infrastructure, designed to support new teaching and learning. 

U.S. Cell Phone 

Quinnipiac partners with CampusSIMS, a mobile phone service designed for international students studying in the United States. 

The Office of International Students & Scholars provides all new international students a U.S. SIM card with one month of free service in their welcome bag when they arrive at Quinnipiac. The CampusSIMs SIM card is on the Mint Mobile network and is compatible with any unlocked, GSM-ready phone. 

If you would like to activate a U.S. number before you travel, students can activate your Mint Mobile phone number in minutes with eSIM, right from your phone using this link.  

If you prefer to order a physical SIM card with a U.S. phone number to be delivered to your international address so that you have a SIM card immediately when you arrive, you can visit CampusSIMs to learn more and to preorder your SIM card. 

Microsoft Authenticator App 

Quinnipiac utilizes the Microsoft Authenticator App to assist with two-factor authentication when students are out of the country or have an international phone number. The Microsoft Authenticator App is available for Android and iOS devices and international students should download it prior to entering the U.S. It is important to set up this app since international phone numbers cannot be used for two-factor authentication for Quinnipiac systems once in the U.S. Click here to download the app to your phone before you depart your home country. 

Connecticut State Law requires that a student attending Quinnipiac University maintain certain immunizations. Learn more on the Student Health Services webpage here.  

The following vaccines are required: 

• Measles 
  • Two measles [or MMR] immunizations, with the first given on or after the first birthday and the second given at least 28 days later, or 
  • Documentation of positive measles titer, or 
  • Documentation of date of measles disease by a healthcare provider. 
• Mumps 
  • Two mumps [or MMR] immunizations, with the first given on or after the first birthday and the second given at least 28 days later, or 
  • Documentation of positive mumps titer, or 
  • Documentation of date of mumps disease by a healthcare provider. 
• Rubella 
  • Two rubella [or MMR] immunizations, with the first given on or after the first birthday and the second given at least 28 days later, or 
  • Documentation of positive rubella titer, or 
  • Documentation of date of rubella disease by a healthcare provider. 
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) 
  • Two varicella immunizations, with the first given on or after the first birthday and the second given at least 28 days later, or 
  • Documentation of positive varicella titer, or 
  • Documentation of date of varicella disease by a healthcare provider. 
• Meningitis (only required if a student resides in Quinnipiac housing) 
  • Meningitis vaccine must be given with 5 years of first day of class. 
  • Accepted strains of meningitis vaccine: 
    • Menactra 
    • MedQuadfi 
    • Menveo 
    • Nimenrix 
    • Penbraya (2-dose series) 
• TB Screen 
  • Complete the TB Screen on the Immunization Portal 

Quinnipiac’s Student Health Services provides all of the listed vaccines by appointment.  

Please contact Student Health Services if you have any questions about the vaccine requirements.  

Registration opens in June. Students will be able to register after their deposit is paid and their visa is approved. 

• First-Year & Transfer Students: You can find a list of academic advisors on QStart. Be sure to contact your assigned advisor to register for classes. 
• Graduate Students: The registration process varies by program. Please refer to the instructions provided on QStart for detailed information. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to INTL.Grad@qu.edu. 

Finding a comfortable place to live is sometimes a source of concern for incoming graduate students. There are many housing accommodations available for lease in the Hamden and North Haven areas.  

Connecting with current and other incoming students on social media is another way to find potential roommates and/or housing accommodations. You can find links to the upcoming semester's accepted student WhatsApp chat in the International QStart portal. 

Be sure to thoroughly review the Living in the U.S. page on the OISS website for more resources to support your housing search.