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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for ISI?

See our eligibility requirements.

Where can I find the Participant Response Form?

This form was e-mailed to you when you were first admitted to ISI. If you no longer have this e-mail message, or you are having trouble opening the attachment, contact the Director to receive another copy.

I've been accepted to ISI, and I want to return my Participant Response Form. Do I have to mail it, or can I fax it or send it to ISI electronically?

You may send your forms back through e-mail as a Word or .pdf file, or as an image file (.jpg, .tiff., or .gif files are okay. Bitmap files are not acceptable). You may also fax your forms to 847-491-3770 at any time of the day or night. And of course, you may also mail your forms by air mail to the following address:

International Summer Institute
2016 Sheridan Road
Evanston, IL 60208-4090
USA

Should I apply for Graduate Housing? And if so, when should I return this form?

Please read the housing section of the admission packet carefully. You may choose to live on campus or off campus: it is your choice. However, ISI strongly urges you to choose the on campus housing for the month of August. Then you will have a place to stay during ISI. This will give you time to find a less expensive apartment off campus that you can rent for the rest of the year if you choose, or to settle in right away if you decide that you want to live in Graduate Housing for the entire year.

You should return the form as soon as possible to Graduate Housing, as directed on the form. Assignments are given as applications are received, so send in your form early to make sure you get a space.

What about my visa?

This link from the International Office has more information about the visa process, including a link where you can download the packet if it is missing from your admissions materials.

Where do I send my visa request form?

Once you have downloaded the form, you need to print it out and mail a paper copy to the Graduate School, not to your department. The Graduate School is your admitting office for the purposes of the visa process. Check with The Graduate School about electronic submissions of the visa request documents.

How long will it take to process my I20?
It is not possible to say exactly how long it will take for your I-20 to be processed, because so many factors are involved, and each year the process may take more or less time than the year before. It also depends on how quickly your visa request gets to the Graduate School. You should allow 2-3 weeks in most cases.

Once you have sent your visa request form to the Graduate School and they have approved it, it will be sent directly to the International Office. You can call the Graduate School to check and see if your documents have been received, and whether they have been forwarded to the International Office. Do not e-mail the International Office to ask when your visa will be completed. They will not be able to respond to such requests, because they process thousands of visas at this time of year. The International Office will let the ISI staff know when your I-20 has been completed. At that point it will be picked up by your department and sent to you by express courier. You can e-mail or call your department to make sure that your I-20 has been processed, and that they have sent it to you, and to get the tracking number for the courier packet.

The Graduate School and The International Office work in partnership with the ISI to make sure that all ISI students receive proper attention to their visa application process. Normally, visa processing in the International Office can take up to three weeks. Because ISI students have expedited processing, it can take less time, sometimes as little as one week. It also depends on if there are any problems with your form (missing information, etc), so check your forms carefully before you mail them. ISI participants are given top priority in the processing of their visa documents at NU. There is no need to ask for expedited processing, as the Graduate School, the International Office, and ISI are all aware of the difficulty and length of the visa application process, especially for Chinese students.

All ISI students will automatically receive an earlier report date on their I-20 forms that will allow them to arrive 30 days prior to the start of ISI. Because of the shorter timeframe, however, it is still essential that you apply for your visa as soon as possible. For many students, the process may take up to three months!

If your visa application is denied, contact the International Office, your department, and the ISI staff immediately to let them know so that they can advise you on the next steps to take. You can also look at these tips on what to do if your visa is denied.

How much does ISI cost?

Tuition for ISI is free. In addition, students will receive a stipend for the month of August to help cover housing and living expenses. The stipend is equivalent to one month of a University Fellowship, or $1,635. Students are paid at the end of the month, so it is important for students to arrive with enough money to handle set up expenses. We suggest bringing at least $1,000.

Does ISI offer housing?

Participants are responsible for arranging their own housing and have the options of living on- or off-campus. Limited on-campus housing for participants and their families will be available in Engelhart Hall during the month of August. Students who wish to live in Engelhart in August and/or the academic year must fill out a Graduate Housing Application and return it to the Graduate Housing Office. More details are provided in your admissions packet.

For information on applying for a temporary homestay with the Community Council for International Students (CCIS), send e-mail to Greta Sims, ISI Liaison, rgsims@att.net

How long does the program last?

Programming runs from July 28, 2008 to August 29, 2008. Students arrive in Chicago on July 28. Orientation tours are given on July 29 and testing occurs on July 30. You must be present for the orientation tours and testing to participate in ISI. Classes end on August 29, and the farewell banquest is held on September 2, 2008.
For more information on classes, see our tentative class schedule for 2008.

What classes are offered?

ISI will provide classes in spoken English skills, including pronunciation, intonation, conversational fluency and discourse strategies. Class content will focus on adjusting to life in an American university setting, including teaching, making presentations, academic writing, and cultural differences in learning. Students will meet in a variety of learning situations: one-on-one tutoring, language classes of 5-10 students, and seminars with 20 students. In addition, students will attend eight practica sessions, each devoted to an aspect of everyday living, such as apartment hunting and banking. Students will learn about American academic culture through the Integration Issues series.

I am bringing my family with me, can they attend ISI as well?

Only students who are nominated by their departments are eligble to attend ISI classes. However, spouses, partners, and children of ISI students are encouraged to attend all ISI social events.