Congratulations on your acceptance to High Point University as an incoming degree-seeking, exchange, or study abroad student! We are excited for your arrival to HPU.
To help you prepare for your semester at HPU, we’ve compiled information into a comprehensive arrival guide, covering pre-departure materials, arrival information, and academic tips to assist you during your time at HPU. You’ll also find answers to frequently asked questions.
August 2022 Arrival Details
| Fall 2022 Calendar | |
|---|---|
| 17 AUG 2022* | Arrive in Greensboro, NC (GSO) |
| 18 AUG 2022 | Orientation begins & accommodations open |
| 22 AUG 2022 | Classes begin |
| 10 – 14 OCT 2022 | Mid-Semester Break (no classes) |
| 23 – 27 NOV 2022 | Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes) |
| 08 DEC 2022 | Last Day of the Semester |
| 09 DEC 2022 | Reading Day |
| 10 – 16 DEC 2022 | Exams |
New student orientation begins, and HPU campus housing opens, on 18 August. Students who arrive earlier will need to secure alternate accommodation arrangements.
Apply for Your Visa
In order to make an appointment at your U.S. Embassy or Consulate, you will need to provide your SEVIS number. SEVIS, or Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is the database used to maintain your information regarding your non-immigrant status. From your SEVIS record, we have issued you a Form I-20: Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. This was included with your letter of acceptance and can be downloaded from your HPU Admissions portal. You may also have received a more up-to-date Form I-20 via email from Ms. Cruz.
Once you receive your acceptance letter and Form I-20, you must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee.
Federal regulations require all F, M, and J students to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before applying for their U.S. student visa. You can pay your I-901 SEVIS Fee online at www.FMJfee.com or by using Western Union Quick Pay. You must present the receipt as proof of payment when you apply for your visa. It’s important that the SEVIS ID number on your I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt matches your SEVIS ID number on your Form I-20. If it does not, or you encounter other issues paying your fee, please contact SEVP.
After paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee and getting a receipt, you must apply for a visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate before you come to the United States.
To receive a visa, you will have to participate in an in-person interview. During your visa interview, you will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying. The consular officer will determine if you qualify to receive a visa and which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel.
A visa does not guarantee entrance to the United States; it only permits you to arrive and seek permission to enter the country. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the U.S. port of entry has the final authority to admit entry into the country. The following link will assist with this process: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/students.
So, to recap:
- Download copies of your acceptance letter and Form I-20.
- Once received, pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee by following the instructions above.
- Follow the instructions on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply for a visa.
- Participate in your visa interview.
- Prepare for your trip! Make your flight arrangements, share them with us, submit our Arrival Information form online, and get your documents in order for traveling.
Travel Preparation
To prepare for your travels once you have your visa, please read the important guidelines below in order to ensure that you have as smooth an arrival as possible:
When to Arrive:
Please plan your flight so that you arrive at High Point on Wednesday, 17 August. This will give you a chance to stay overnight in a local hotel and recover from jetlag before moving into on-campus accommodations (more info below). As orientation begins early on 18 August, you’ll likely not be able to arrive and start the required orientation events on the first day of orientation.
How to Route Your Flight(s):
The closest airport to High Point University is Piedmont-Triad International Airport (GSO, also known informally as the Greensboro Airport). We strongly advise that you plan your flights to land at GSO as your final destination. If you fly into other airports the expense of traveling to High Point can be quite high.
How Should I Prepare for My Trip?:
Before you leave for the United States, familiarize yourself with the documents you will need when you arrive. Required documents include your: Passport, Visa, Form I-20. It is also smart to have your acceptance letter, proof of financial ability, and any other supporting documentation with you, in case the Customs and Border Protection officer asks for them. You should carry your original travel documents on you at all times while traveling and should travel with ALL issued I-20s. Be prepared to show the most recent Form I-20 upon entrance at Customs and Border Protection. Do not put them in your checked baggage. For more information on traveling to the United States, visit the Getting to the United States page.
Once You Land:
If you land at GSO on Wednesday, 17 August between 9:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. (as we are suggesting), our staff from the Office of Global Education will be present to greet you at the airport in the baggage claim! We will help you request a shuttle to your night’s hotel accommodation.
Where to Stay Once You Arrive:
The Office of Global Education recommends that you spend the night of 17 August at our recommended hotel (the Greensboro – High Point Marriott Airport) next to GSO/PTI (the Greensboro-High Point/Piedmont Triad International Airport), so that you are ready to move onto campus the next morning. We have partnered with this hotel to provide a discounted rate for international students/families, and this special rate is also available before/after the 17th, in case you need to add on some nights. We then provide a free shuttle pick-up on the morning of 18 August to transport hotel guests to campus (see more on that below).
**If you choose to stay elsewhere or fly into a different airport, you will be responsible for transporting yourself to the Marriott hotel or to campus on the 18th. Please be aware that although flights may be cheaper for Raleigh (RDU) or Charlotte (CLT), it is at least a 1.5 hour drive between these airports and the GSO/PTI airport, which means that it can be a costly shuttle/taxi.
Booking your Hotel
- Visit the Marriott GSO booking page: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/gsonc-greensboro-high-point-marriott-airport/.
- Select your dates (for most students, this will just be one night: Wednesday, August 17 – Thursday, August 18).
- Under the “Special Rates” drop-down, select “Corp/Promo Code” and type in HPJ, then click “Done” at the bottom. This is the ONLY way to access our discounted booking rate – You must enter in this code first.
- Then, click “View Rates.”
- With taxes and fees included, guests can expect to pay USD 145/night with the HPU discount.
You may notice some wording on the website that would suggest that you must be 21 or older to book a room. We called the hotel to verify this policy, and wanted to let you know that you do NOT need to be 21+ to make the reservation, as guests of High Point University. Just be prepared to at least show a form of identification (your passport).
If your flight is scheduled to land at the GSO/PTI (Greensboro) airport before 9:00 P.M. EST (Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday, August 17, a member of the Office of Global Education will be in the lower level baggage claim area to assist you with getting to the Marriott GSO hotel. There is a hotel shuttle that runs 24 hours on-demand that can be requested simply by calling their front desk (+1 336 852 6450). Our staff will assist you with either calling the shuttle or helping you walk directly to the hotel (if you would prefer to walk).
If you arrive after-hours, and cannot place the call on your phone, there is a courtesy phone on the baggage claim level where you can call the front desk to request a ride.
What Happens the Next Day:
- Mandatory orientation begins on campus in Cottrell Hall at 9:00 A.M. on Thursday, 18 August. We’ll have a light breakfast on campus upon arrival but it’s advised that you eat breakfast at your hotel.
- The Office of Global Education will provide a complimentary shuttle service to the HPU campus from the Marriott Greensboro Airport hotel on the morning of orientation.
- Shuttle pick-up will be at 8:30 A.M. on Thursday, 18 August.
- Please be checked out of your room with all of your luggage and ready outside of the hotel to board the shuttle at 8:30 A.M.
What Happens for the Rest of Orientation:
- Please read over all materials that you are sent from HPU, as they will describe your day-to-day schedule in detail.
- Required orientation events last through Sunday, 21 August. Classes begin on Monday, 22 August.
Be sure to complete the following steps on your Admissions Portal by clicking on the links under “Enrollment Checklist”:
- Student Account Center (to create an account and pay your bill).
- Medical History/Immunization Form (this must be provided prior to the start of the semester).
- Student Health Insurance (Information about HPU-provided plan).
- Insurance Opt-Out (If you elect to purchase your own [equivalent] health insurance plan.
Then, click on each of the Purple Buttons to finalize your enrollment:
- Arrival Information (upload your flight itinerary here and provide information for orientation events).
- Book My Hotel (this is the link to the preferred hotel which provides an HPU special rate).
- Course Preferences (start selecting courses and building your schedule).