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Preparing to arrive Medical Students who entered the US or who are currently in the US on an F-1 or J-1 visa obtained using documentation from the University of Dayton—an I-20 or DS-2019—are required to have medical insurance. Learn more on our Health insurance and medical services page >> We recommend that all international students have a general medical and dental check prior to coming to the US. Health care in the United States can be very expensive, and your insurance policy in your home country or a student insurance policy you purchase here in the U.S. generally require that you pay for doctor's visits and hospital charges in advance. For this reason, please have a general medical and dental check prior to coming to the US. Clothing Students need clothes for very hot and very cold temperatures. Ohio also receives a fair amount of rain and snow. Average temperatures for winter are –18 to 2 degrees Celsius and for summer 21 to 35 degrees Celsius. Check the weather in Dayton, Ohio >> You may also want to bring at least one formal outfit, such as a suit, for special occasions. There will also be opportunities to wear native costumes at events such as the International Festival. Memorabilia Bring photographs of your friends and family, music and books in your native language. Most students naturally experience some degree of homesickness. Having items familiar to you will help you feel more comfortable and at home. Food and other ‘hard to find’ items It is impossible to predict all the things that students from outside the U.S. will need or want during their stays here. Foods, medicines and cosmetics are items that you may want to bring with you. Dayton itself is a large city and is also near Cincinnati and Columbus—cities that all have international food markets where you can find spices and food items native to your countries. Because they are imported, these items may cost two or three times more than the price you pay at home, so you might want to bring non-perishable food items with you. Keep in mind that U.S. Customs & Health regulations usually prohibit bringing fresh fruit, vegetables and meat into the U.S. In addition, many international students find that American remedies for common ailments like stomach upset, headache, colds and influenza are too strong, too weak or ineffective compared to the brands they use at home. In some cases, it may be impossible to find an American equivalent for health and beauty aids that are common in your country. Mailing your belongings Since airlines limit the weight and the number of bags you can take on the airplane, you may want to send some of your belongings by surface mail (ship) or by airmail. Since you do not have a U.S. address, you can mail your packages to the Center for International Programs and we will keep them here until you arrive. Make sure to include your address on the outside of the package AND on a piece of paper inside the box. Use the following address, exactly as written below, to mail items to yourself in care of UD: TO: (Your name) C/O Center for International Programs University of Dayton Alumni Hall 117 300 College Park Dayton, OH 45469-0315 USA Money The costs of relocating to a home in another country are often more expensive than you think. Plan for the unexpected. Your I-20 indicates the total amount of expenses we estimate you will need for one year. Keep in mind that it is normal to spend a larger portion of your expenses during the first one or two months of your stay. Don’t panic! After you have settled in, your monthly living expenses will gradually decrease. In addition to University fees, you will have some incidental expenses during your first few days in the U.S. In order to pay for airport passenger fees, meals during your travels, taxis or a place to stay (in case of unexpected delays or changes in your flight plans) we recommend that you carry a credit card and $150-$250 in cash or traveler’s checks. Once you arrive, you will probably want to open a bank account. Review banking options in Dayton >>

Center for International Programs · University of Dayton · 300 College Park · Dayton, OH 45469-0315 Telephone: (937) 229-3514 Questions and comments: Webmaster