Pratt Inbound Student Handbook
Pratt Institute Office of International Affairs Myrtle Hall, 2nd Floor 200 Willoughby Ave
(718) 636-3674 [email protected]
Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………….…………………………………..2
Student Checklist………………………………………………..……..…………………………………..3
When You Arrive……………….……………………………………..………………….…………………6
While You Are in New York………………………………………..………………..…………………7
Communicating With Family/Friends………………………...…………..……………………..8
Contact Information……………….………………………………….…..……………………………10
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Introduction
Welcome to Pratt Institute! We hope this manual will answer most of your questions regarding the Exchange Program and prepare you for your stay at Pratt in New York.
The mission of Pratt Institute is to educate artists and creative professionals to be responsible contributors to society. Pratt seeks to instill in all graduates aesthetic judgment, professional knowledge, collaborative skills, and technical expertise. With a firm grounding in the liberal arts and sciences, a Pratt education blends theory with creative application in preparing graduates to become leaders in their professions. Pratt enrolls a diverse group of highly talented and dedicated students, challenging them to achieve their full potential.
As an exchange student at Pratt you will be living in New York for a semester. Semesters are divided by fall and spring. For exact semester dates and holidays, you may reference Pratt’s academic calendar online. Fall semester: end of August through mid-December Spring semester: mid-January through mid-May
We are happy that you are considering coming to Pratt as an exchange student! If your school is a partner school, you need to have been selected or nominated by your university.
For students from schools with which Pratt does not have a formal exchange agreement who wish to exchange with Pratt, please have your school send an email to Ms. Maria Soares, Director of Education Abroad, at [email protected] (or reach her by phone at 1.718.687.5657). It is not possible to attend Pratt as an exchange student if we do not have an agreement with your school. We wish you good luck in your educational pursuits.
Pratt has two campuses: Pratt Main Brooklyn Campus includes residence halls for undergraduate and graduate students and cafeterias. Pratt Manhattan Campus is located in Greenwich Village and features the PMC Library and Pratt Manhattan Gallery.
Main Brooklyn Campus – 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205 Pratt Manhattan Campus – 144 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10011
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Student Checklist
Before traveling to New York, you should follow this checklist to make sure you are prepared for your extended stay. It is important to do these as early as possible to prevent complications.
• Get medical check-ups • Complete Immunization forms • Acquire J-1 visa • Acquire appropriate health insurance for New York • Pack prescription and over-the-counter medications that you use • Keep important documents in a plastic folder in carry-on luggage • Make copies of important travel and personal documents in case of emergency • Have Pratt’s address available when you arrive in New York • Study the area, especially the area you will be living • Make sure all contact information is correct and up to date • Familiarize yourself with New York Transportation including subway and bus systems • Review and finalize your class schedule • Make sure all devices are compatible in the United States standard voltage - 120V • Have compatible currency in the form of USD (United States dollar)
When you arrive at Pratt, you will need to do the following.
• Go to Residence Life in Willoughby Hall 105 at the Brooklyn Campus to pick up the key to your room • Contact your home to let them know you have arrived safely • Check your acceptance letter for details about special meetings for exchange students before orientation starts • Get your Pratt ID • Rest, shower, eat, explore, and enjoy your time!
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Student Checklist
Housing – If your school exchanges housing with Pratt, you will be staying in Willoughby Hall in a shared apartment. You will supply your own housing accessories and decorations such as bedding, lamps, phone, and school supplies. Your room will have Wi-Fi. There are computer labs in most buildings on campus. Single rooms cost approximately $4,146 and $3,111 for a double room.
Food – Pratt campus has a cafeteria, but there is limited selection and can be expensive. You may shop at local grocery stores or chose from the many restaurants around Pratt. Much of the food can be delivered right to your door. Be careful with your food choices and be sure to state if you have any allergies before ordering or consuming food. Be sure to make healthy choices and avoid junk food.
Insurance – The cost of health insurance is approximately $1,000.00, but it can be waived if you have your own insurance that meets the criteria and is accepted in New York. You must submit an immunization record (health evaluation is optional) to the Health and Counseling Office at Pratt before registering for classes.
Course Registration – You will register for classes with your university before arriving at Pratt. Please see our course catalog for class descriptions. You must register full-time (12-18 credits). Exchange students have reported enjoying the class structure, but do spend a lot of time in their studies. Since Pratt has a different methodology, you might find it difficult to adjust and manage your time. There are tutors and mentors at Pratt that can help you if you encounter difficulties. Please refer to the contact sheet for contact information.
School Deadlines and Grades – At Pratt, you are graded through the semester, reflected by the following grading scales:
A-/A+ = very good work B-/B+ = good work C/C+ = acceptable work D+/C- = passing work D-/D = barely passing F = failing grade
At Pratt, you must attend your classes. More than 3 absences will result in a failing grade. Please inform each professor before missing a class. If you have a medical emergency, keep a record to prove your excused absence.
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Student Checklist
Money – Make sure you have the correct form of currency when in the United States and be aware of exchange rates. The United States accepts the US dollar. Do not carry a large amount of cash while traveling. Only carry what you need. If you are using cards while abroad, make sure it is accepted. Contact your banks and credit companies with exact dates and locations of your travel so that your cards do not get frozen. Be aware of surcharges and international fees. To lessen the fees, make fewer trips to the bank and take enough money to last you a few weeks instead of going every week or a few times a week. Make copies of your debit and credit cards and scan them to your email so you can access the information if they are stolen or lost. Leave copies of your cards with your parents so they have the information as well. Making a budget before traveling is important to prevent you going into debt.
Traveling in New York – The subway system in New York is the most popular form of transportation. It runs 24/7, but is safer and more reliable to use during the day. Pratt is located on the G line, and can be identified by a lime green circle with a white letter G. You can get to downtown Manhattan quickly by taking the G line and switching to the A, C or F trains.
To travel on the subway and bus system, you must purchase a MetroCard. A single subway ride is $2.75 (as of May 2016). You can also buy weekly and monthly passes for discounted rates. There is no student discount. You can view schedules and maps for the 5 boroughs of New York at subway stations and online at http://www.mta.info.
You can download smartphone apps to help while traveling. GoogleMaps is free and reliable and can be used with New York subway maps. Citymapper is free and shows maps, schedules, delays, and information for the subway and bus systems across New York and Brooklyn. It will also create a detailed itinerary for you when you add your destination and current location. Hopstop.com can also create a detailed itinerary for the subway and bus systems across New York and Brooklyn. You can also access free Wi-Fi in the transit system by connecting to TransitWirelessWiFi on your device.
Travel in groups whenever you can. It is never wise to travel in a new place alone. Never take shortcuts, regardless. Be sure someone always knows where you are in case of emergencies. Carry emergency numbers with you at all times and have a way to contact your emergency number.
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When You Arrive
The airports
New York has two main airports located in Queens: LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). You can access both airports from car and public transportation.
Be prepared for the cultural change you will experience
You are now in a different country with different cultural and social practices. Be cautious when traveling, especially if you are alone. Don’t share information about your plans or your itinerary with strangers. If someone bothers you for your information, do not share it with them. Familiarize yourself with United States holidays as they might affect school, businesses, and travel.
New York is a very progressive state. People can be friendly and helpful, but are usually very independent. Be smart and alert. Do not keep electronics or money in plain sight. The people of New York are very diverse and are accepting of others’ diversities as well. You can be vegan, vegetarian, omnivorous, gay, straight, cross-dresser, religious or not. English is the dominant language in New York, but there are also over 800 languages spoken in the city and many cultures to experience.
Get to know your new school
Make sure you are registered for the appropriate classes. If you need books or other supplies, get those as soon as possible so you don’t run the risk of not having access to them. Become familiar with students, campus, and the surrounding area, including your living situation if you are on campus.
Climate and clothing
New York has four distinct seasons – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The fall semester will start in August with warm temperatures and ends in December with cold temperatures. The spring semester starts in January with cold temperatures and ends in May with warm temperatures. That means packing anything from sandals to boots and shorts to pants. Remember a raincoat, or at least an umbrella. It is common for people to spend a lot of travel time walking outdoors, so be prepared at all times for the weather while you are here. 6
While You Are in New York
Safeguard your personal items
To decrease your chances of becoming a victim of theft, be sure to keep all personal items of value hidden. Do not leave your electronic devices unattended and do not ask someone else to watch your items for you. Subway stations and streets can get very crowded. Keep personal items safe and secure in these crowds to prevent them from being stolen.
Maintain a budget
Be sure to measure your budget according to US prices of goods. Be aware of surcharges and international fees when exchanging currency or using credit/debit cards. Here is a list of important costs to remember:
A 30-day metro card is $116.50 (cheapest option). A 7-day metro card is $31.00. Subway and local bus fare is $2.75 per ride. A movie typically costs $10.50. A slice of pizza or a bagel can be $2.00. A meal ranges from $10-40, depending on the style of the restaurant. Living expenses are about $1,800 a month including housing – NYC can get expensive, so prepare with a well-organized budget!
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Communicating with Family/Friends
We understand it is important for you to stay in contact with your friends and
family while you are abroad. There are many ways to facilitate communication overseas without breaking the bank, but we encourage you to choose the method that works best for you and your family. Many of the best and free options for international communication require access to WiFi or use of data.
Video and voice calls Many families choose video and voice calls to stay in touch. Using a cell phone abroad without an international plan or use of a local cell phone can be expensive. However, there are free options to communicating.
• Skype is available on computers and as an app that can be used on smartphones. When connected to WiFi, Skype can facilitate both video and voice calls between users for free. • Skype can also be used to call a Skype user from a regular cell phone or landline if WiFi cannot be accessed. This service is not free, but is cheaper than purchasing international phone plans. • FaceTime is free and accessible for iPhone and MacBook users when connected to WiFi. • Viber can be downloaded on your smartphone or desktop and facilitates voice calls between Viber users when connected to WiFi or through data. • Google offers two services that can be used for voice and video chat. GoogleVoice allows users to make voice calls from a computer. GoogleHangout facilitates video calls between users. • There are also traditional methods of communication such as international calling cards. While not as popular, they are still options for those who prefer it.
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Communicating with Family/Friends
Text Messaging
Text messaging is the most common method of instant communication, but requires a cell phone and can be expensive when international. Just like video and voice calling, students can purchase international plans or chose one of the following options that are free of charge.
• iMessage is used between iPhone users and offers free international communication when connected to WiFi. To make sure your iMessage is activated on your iPhone, go to Settings, select Messages, make sure iMessage is turned on and wait for it to activate. iMessage is activated when your text bubbles are blue. • WhatsApp is a smartphone app that allows users to text each other using data or WiFi and is free of charge. • WeChat is similar to WhatsApp and is popular in Asia.
Email is a popular method of communication and is free between international users. Some email servers provide free additional services that can also be used for communication, such as GoogleVoice and GoogleHangout with a Gmail account.
Social Networks
Many people are already active on social networks and are great for communicating. Networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, or Blogs are free and easy to use. Be careful not to share personal information with strangers online and don’t leave your social media accounts signed in on public computers.
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Contact Information
Pratt offices are always open to you while you are studying with us. Our office hours are typically 9AM – 5PM, Monday through Friday.
Registrar: (718) 636-3663 | [email protected] Residential Life: Mr. Jason LeConey (718) 399-4551 | [email protected] Willoughby Hall Room 105 Health and Counseling Center: (718) 399-4542 | [email protected] Office of International Affairs: (718) 636-3497 | [email protected] Myrtle Hall, 2nd floor, Room 2E.5 Education Abroad: Maria Jose Soares (718) 687-5695 | [email protected] North Hall 205E, Office of the Provost Writing Center: (718) 636-3459 | [email protected]
In case of emergency, call 911.
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