Arriving at Carleton

Students must arrive on International Student Arrival Day and not before. The campus will be inaccessible, with residence halls closed and the staff busy preparing for orientation. The International Student Orientation is organized so students can become familiar with the campus and take care of practical details, such as opening a bank account and shopping for personal items during the first few days. There is no need to worry about these tasks before arriving at Carleton. Students participating in orientation will be provided with a blanket and towel.

Complete the Arrival Information Form.

Finding Your Way To Carleton

International students are strongly encouraged to arrive on the International Student Arrival Day at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. In order to ensure being met at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport on International Student Arrival Day, students must communicate their exact flight information—flight numbers and arrival times of all flights (including connecting flights)—to Carleton College well in advance of the arrival date.

If you are arriving at other times, the Carleton admissions office has excellent information about Getting to Carleton. You may want to bookmark and/or print out this page for future reference.

Students are strongly encouraged to arrive at Carleton College between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. so they have time to settle before activities begin.

Upon arrival on campus, students should go directly to the Office of International Student Life, located in Sayles Hill 051.

There will be a welcome desk with several Carleton orientation leaders to receive you and show you to your permanently assigned dormitory room. You will receive your room key, Carleton College identification card, and other orientation materials at this time. You will also be offered linens if they are needed. The orientation leaders, many of whom are returning international students, will be available to help you unpack and introduce you to the campus. No formal activities are planned for this day.

Late Night Arrivals

Students who unavoidably arrive in the middle of the night should go directly to the Carleton College Office of Security to receive their keys and be escorted to their rooms. The office is located in Hoppin House at 420 E. First Street. For assistance, call 507-222-4444.

Arriving with Family Members

A small number of international students prefer to travel to Carleton College with a parent or a family member, sometimes touring the area before International Student Arrival Day.

Students should understand that Carleton College is not equipped to house family members at the time of International Student Orientation.

Family members should organize their travel and lodging through a reputable travel agent using the following suggestions. Carleton maintains a list of local accommodations to assist campus visitors.

The International Student Orientation program is full of activities and it is important that students get down to the business of adapting to their new lives at Carleton College and settling into their rooms without distraction. This is the best moment for students to begin making that transition. We have found that parents who remain in Northfield beyond this day distract the students. Parents should spend quality time in the U.S. with their children before arrival day. There will be ample opportunity for parents to visit their children on Family Weekends or during vacation periods over the next four years.