Welcome Guide
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS (ISCA) PRESENT: GW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ WELCOME GUIDE Welcome to GW! While you won’t be here physically this Fall, this Welcome Guide will help you familiarize yourself with the Foggy Bottom Campus and Washington, D.C., area. We look forward to welcoming you to campus soon! Raise High! NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CHECKLIST SAFETY TIPS Get your GWID (log on to go.gwu.edu/myGWid for more information) IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CALL 911 or GWPD/EMeRG (202-994-6111) Register for Classes (banweb.gwu.edu) D.C. FIRE SERVICES (202-462-1762) Get your U.S. Phone Number Open a Bank Account Stay Informed Crisis Hotlines Complete your eCheck-in on ISOGateWay (go.gwu.edu/GWISO) GW CHC Suicide Help Update your Contact Information (Address and Phone Number) on GWeb go.gwu.edu/covid19 (202-994-5300 and press option 2) Complete the New International Student Online Orientation Campus Advisories GW Sexual Assault Response Check out the The HUB videos to learn important first year tips that will help & Consultation Team (202-994-7222) you get settled into GW GW Alert Get connected and join a Student Organization Sign up for SMS alerts (gwu.campuslabs.com/engage) Alert DC Visit website for alerts Wear your Face Mask, Wash your Hands, and Observe Social Distancing GW Information Line Don’t stress! You are in for a treat! (202-994-5050) WELCOME TO GW Take self-defense classes offered by the GW Police Department for free! PHONE PLANS AND SERVICES Phone Services Price/Month Plan International/Additional Services • Apple music free for 6 months Verizon $75 – $95 Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data • Free calls/texts to Mexico and Canada Hulu included $60 – $80 Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data • Sprint • Roaming in Mexico & Canada 2G data in Mexico & Canada $60 – $70 Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data • T-Mobile • Free roaming in 210+ countries AT&T $70 – $80 Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data • Unlimited talk, text, & data in Mexico & Canada CT Excel Internet $20 – $50 Unlimited Talk, Text, and 7GB Data • Free calls/texts to Asia Note: Prices may vary based on your specific plan. Please contact individual service providers for more information. Family plans available without SSN Student discount available Coverage ISCA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS (ISCA) PRESENT: GW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ WELCOME GUIDE FOOD: GLOBAL CUISINE FOOD: AFFORDABLE OPTIONS Asian African A. Litteri ($$) Meal Delivery Services Bullfrog Bagels ($) Jinya Ramen ($$) Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart ($$) DoorDash CopyCat Co. ($$) Rakuya ($$) Keren Café and Restaurant ($) Eat24 KoChix Chicken ($) Rasa ($$) Nando’s PERi-PERi ($$) GrubHub Poppa Box ($) Spice 6 ($$) Postmates Middle-Eastern The Pretzel Bakery ($) Thip Khao ($$) Uber Eats &Pizza ($) Tiger Fork ($$) Amsterdam Falafel Shop ($) Yelp ($) All Vegetarian/Vegan Ritual European Cava George’s King of Falafel and Cheesesteak ($) Elife Restaurant ($$) Meal Deals and Discounts Alta Strada ($$) Yafa Grille ($$) Fare Well ($$) Ambar ($$) For more details, visit American Fruitive ($$) Bistrot du Coin ($$) go.gwu.edu/mealdeals HipCityVeg ($$) Duke’s Grocery ($$) Busboys and Poets ($$) Shouk ($$) ll Canale ($$) Founding Farmers ($$) Less than 2 miles from GW Los Hermanos ($) * Limit eating out at restaurants | Call and More than 2 miles from GW Mission ($$) check-in with restaurants regarding dining GWorld accepted Unconventional Diner ($$) options | Opt for contactless delivery BANKING OPTIONS Bank Benefits $12 monthly fee can be waived for college students under age 24. Bank of America (Core Checking) • • Students are protected by $0 liability guarantee. • No minimum checking deposit and no overdraft or ATM fees. Citibank (Basic Banking) • $10 - $30 monthly fee. • Monthly fee can be waived if balance is above $1500. No monthly service charge (up to 6 years). PNC Bank (Virtual Wallet Student) • • One incoming domestic or international wire transfer per statement period at no charge. CREDIT CARD OPTIONS: Discover Bank, Capital One, Bank of America Please contact individual banks for more information. For information on international payment options, please visit studentaccounts.gwu.edu/international-payments. ISCA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS (ISCA) PRESENT: GW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ WELCOME GUIDE COLLEGE TEXTBOOK RESOURCES FUN THINGS TO DO IN D.C. Step 1: • Smithsonian Museums and • Need a relaxing escape Galleries. Check go.gwu.edu/ from the city? Great Falls, Rock Check your class syllabus on GW Blackboard smuseums for opening dates & plans. Creek Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island, National Harbor Spend the day exploring Step 2: • Georgetown! We recommend a • Explore the different memorials You can choose to rent or buy books 20 minute walk while you admire in the course of your daily walk the scenic waterfront, the beautiful or run! Lincoln Memorial, Korean War architecture, and the mesmerizing Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Step 3: cobbled pathways of Georgetown. Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Check out these useful resources: Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gelman Library, Himmelfarb GW Campus Store • • Stay Healthy Health Sciences Library, Jacob • Chegg.com Burns Law Library and Eckles • Abebooks.com • Avoid crowded areas and times. • Carry hand sanitizer at all times. Library (Mount Vernon Campus) • GetTextbooks.com • Observe social distancing. • Sneeze/cough into your elbow. • Amazon Prime Student • Do not hang out in large groups. • Follow self-hygiene and self- • Wear your face mask. protection guidelines SELECT SERVICES Office Services Website International Services Office (ISO) Immigration, adjustment, and advocacy support for all international students internationalservices.gwu.edu Career Services Career and professional development support and resources careerservices.gwu.edu Hosts international events, cross-cultural communication, and Multicultural Student Services Center mssc.gwu.edu community building for all ethnicities and backgrounds Primary health care services, vaccinations, counseling, Colonial Health Center healthcenter.gwu.edu mental health support, and student health insurance. Disability Support Services Assistance and support to students with disabilities disabilitysupport.gwu.edu Resources related to sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, Title IX- Haven haven.gwu.edu sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence and stalking Student Services Hub Offices of Student Financial Assistance, Student Accounts and Registrar studentserviceshub.gwu.edu Tax Department Resource for tax issues taxdepartment.gwu.edu IT Support Center In-person technology assistance it.gwu.edu Academic Commons One-stop shop for academic services and support across campus academiccommons.gwu.edu University Writing Center Free tutoring and support to help you become a better writer writingcenter.gwu.edu Language Center Facilitates and promotes foreign language studies languagecenter.columbian.gwu.edu Lost and Found 2145 G Street, NW safety.gwu.edu/services-we-offer Campus Recreation Campus recreation center campusrecreation.gwu.edu ISCA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS (ISCA) PRESENT: GW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ WELCOME GUIDE HOME ESSENTIALS CLOTHING GROCERY Downtown D.C. (City Center) ALDI ($) Amazon ($) Giant Food ($$) Bed, Bath & Beyond ($$) Gap ($$) Safeway ($$) Best Buy ($$) Macy’s ($$) Trader Joe’s ($$) CVS Pharmacy ($) Nordstrom Rack ($$) Whole Foods ($$$) Ikea ($) Zara ($$) 7-Eleven ($) Target ($$) Georgetown Walmart Supercenter ($) International Market Banana Republic ($$$) Euro Foods International ($$) If you wish to shop in-person: H&M ($) Good Fortune Supermarket ($$) Loft ($$) • Avoid shopping at peak hours H Mart ($$) The North Face ($$$) • Maintain social distancing India A1 Grocery ($) TJ-Maxx ($) • Wear your mask Lotte Plaza Market ($) • Follow the pre-marked arrows Malls Patel Brothers ($$) and distancing protocols Fashion Centre at Pentagon City ($$) Time is of the essence • Do not touch items unnecessarily Mall in Columbia ($$) Plan your trip to the grocery store: unless you wish to purchase Potomac Mills ($$) • Limit your exposure by making a shopping Tysons Corner Center ($$) list to speed the shopping process Less than 2 miles from GW Outlet Malls • Visit the store website and make a note of the More than 2 miles from GW items you wish to purchase and their location Arundel Mills ($$) at the store GWorld accepted Clarksburg Premium Outlet ($$) Online Shopping Available Online Shopping Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets ($$) Tanger Outlets National Harbor ($$) Instacart WHAT DO WE HAVE PLANNED FOR YOU? CONNECT WITH THE ISCAs The HUB: Connect with the ISO! The International Student Community Ambassadors (ISCAs) are international students (just like you!) who are committed to helping you Watch The HUB videos on our website Internationalservices.gwu.edu make the most of your time here at GW! We serve as peer mentors to to get important tips that will help you /isoGW newly admitted students and are here to answer any questions you have navigate your first-year at GW! Topics @gwuiso about GW, living in D.C., and many more. You can ask us anything! We include: GW Education System, U.S. @GW_ISO also provide advising (on career and general issues) and host events Culture, and Community and Support (professional, cultural, and social) specifically for all international students. at GW. To learn more about ISO events and to register, visit Meet with an ISCA virtually Career & Immigration Workshops: go.gwu.edu/gwisoevents. Want to review your