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What to do after you receive your admission paperwork
- If you are an international student needing a visa to enter the U.S., you will need to make an appointment with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate as soon as possible to get your visa. There can be unforeseen delays in this process; therefore, it is important to make your appointment immediately.
- Enclosed are two copies of your academic-year contract. Sign one copy and fax it back to us at (419) 372-0366. This will confirm that you are accepting our offer. We will also need an original signed contract. You can mail this to us or bring a copy with you when you come to Bowling Green
- Make flight reservations. Classes begin on August 25, 2008. You will need to be in Bowling Green to attend the International Student Orientation beginning on August 11. You can arrive either into Detroit Metropolitan Airport or Toledo Express. If you will be arriving into Toledo Express, the Center for International Programs can arrange for pick up. However, if you are arriving into Detroit Metro Airport, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to Bowling Green. If you do not have anyone to pick you up from Detroit Metro, contact Nora Cassidy (ncassid@bgsu.edu) and she will arrange for someone pick up arrangements.
How to find a place to live
BGSU only provides on-campus housing for undergraduate students. Therefore, graduate students will need to find a place to live as soon as possible after arrival.
The Center for International Programs (CIP) will provide temporary housing for new international students at a rate of $15-20/night. However, this housing is only available until the student finds a permanent place to live.
When choosing a place to live, students should consider their preferences and budget. There are three different types of off-campus housing - - studios or efficiencies, apartments (with one, two, or three and four bedrooms), and separate houses. Average monthly rent in Bowling Green ranges from $300 (one-bedroom) up to $600 (two bedroom) plus utilities.
CIPs international student orientation has a special session on how to find an apartment and things to know before signing a lease. CIP will usually offer free rides to some of the larger real estate offices and their apartments.
You can also research the availability of off-campus housing on your own. BGSU has an Off-Campus Housing Services website (http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/offcampus/) that gives new students information on what to know before renting as well as up-to-date listing of available houses, apartments, rooms in private homes, roommates, and subleases (including prices).
Orientation Programs
International Student Orientation: Two weeks before classes begin, the CIP will conduct a one-week orientation for all international students. This orientation informs international students about everything they need to know to become officially registered as a student. All students are encouraged to attend.
GradSTEP Week: GradSTEP is held the week before classes start and is required for all students who are receiving an assistantship. Students will receive two hours of graduate credit (GRAD 600) upon completion of GradSTEP. GradSTEP includes special informational seminars as well the Chemistry Departments orientation.
Placement Exams
During the week of GradSTEP, students will be required to take both an organic chemistry and a physical chemistry exam. These exams are given to determine the students strength and weakness in these subjects and subsequently place the student in the appropriate level course. Though it is important that the student does well in these exams, the student will not be removed from the program should he/she do poorly.
Course Registration
After review of the placement exams, the graduate coordinator will determine the courses to be taken by the student during the first semester. All students will be required to take the following coursework with additional courses determined by the research adviser:
CHEM 542 Organic Reaction Mechanisms
CHEM 566 Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry
CHEM 614 Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy
PCS 701 Photochemistry and Photophysics I
PCS 702 Photochemistry and Photophysics II
PCS 704 Special Topics in Spectroscopy
Adviser Selection
Students are given the opportunity to select their own research adviser. During the fall semester, Center faculty make individual research presentations to all first-year Ph.D. students. Also during the fall semester, the Center for Photochemical Sciences hosts its annual advisory board meeting, which includes a poster session by Ph.D. students already in a research group. In order to assist in the selection process, first-year students are encouraged to meet individually with faculty and/or research groups to discuss ongoing projects. First-year students will then decide their first, second, or third choice for research adviser. Though the Center faculty try to accommodate a students first choice, an important consideration is the successful completion of coursework with a 3.2 minimum grade point average.
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