Penn Graduate Student Center
Resources for International Students
We hope that international graduate and professional students at Penn take advantage of all the activities and resources available to them.
The best way to feel comfortable at Penn and Philadelphia is to get involved with your community. This could mean participating in departmental, school, Grad Center or GAPSA events. This could mean exploring your neighborhood. For example, visit your local greenspaces, cafes, and farmers markets.
There's always something to do in Philly!
New International Graduate Students
- Your school will provide an academic orientation.
- You must check-in with ISSS.
- ISSS also hosts events for new international students.
- The Graduate Student Center hosts general New Student Orientation.
- Weingarten LRC and ISSS co-sponsor the Intercultural Leadership Program.
A wonderful resource provided by ISSS is the International Student and Scholars Handbook.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When applying for services in the U.S., you generally need to show at least 6 months of good credit history.
- If you need to acquire cell phone service and do not have credit history in the US, you may need to put down a deposit of several hundred dollars. Your alternate option is to use a pre-paid phone or wait 6 months until you have built credit history through the paying of other utility bills. Credit history is not acquired when you live on campus as many of your utilities are already included and Penn does not report your rent payment to the credit bureaus. AT&T and Sprint provide discounts on their contract services for Penn students.
- If you did not acquire a credit card that works in the U.S. before your arrival, one option is to open a bank account and use your debit card as a credit card. After 6 months, you can usually apply for a credit card (perhaps easiest through your current bank) as long as you have developed a credit history.
Improving your Language Skills
Many international students ask us how they can improve their English language skills. Unfortunately, there's no easy way! Here are some opportunties for practicing your English.
Practice in a Group
- Penn Grad Christian Fellowship sponsors English Conversation. You need not be religiously affliated to attend.
- The Grad Center sponsors Culture Chats during the summer .
- Coordinate a language chat in your native language! There are sure to be native English speakers who will join. You can help them with their speaking skills, and they can help you with yours!
- Similarly, attend other chats around campus. If you are a native speaker of the language, you will find people interested in trading speaking skills. Gregory Modern Languages House sponsors Chinese, Italian, French and German. La Casa Latina often sponsors a Spanish Chat.
- Check out the many student groups on campus. If any of them are cultural or language-based, you may find opportunities to practice your English.
- English Language Programs (ELP) offers english language instruction for a fee.
- Keep an eye out for other free services on campus and in your neighborhood. Sometimes the Graduate School of Education English as a Second Language Program offers free instruction, or churches and charity organizations may offer language help in your neigbhorhood.
Practice One-on-One
Here are some tips to find an English speaking practice partner. In general, you must be able to trade speaking skills. For example, if you are a native Chinese speaker, you will find a native English-speaking partner much faster if you are willing to help the other person learn Chinese.
- Post flyers at the Grad Center and near the classrooms where your native language is being taught. For example, if you are a native Japanese speaker, find out where Japanese classes are being held and offer to trade speaking skills to the students.
- Coordinate a language chat in your native language! There are sure to be native English speakers who will join. You'll meet many native English speakers who may be willing to partner with you on a one-on-one basis.
- Participate in activities! The more you participate, the more interactions you'll have with native English speakers. It's one of the easiest ways to get practice speaking English!
- You can schedule regular meetings with an advisor from Weingarten Learning Resource Center (LRC) to support you in your efforts to write academically in English.
Academics
Penn's academic code of conduct may differ from your home country. Please be sure to understand Penn's educational policies. If you have trouble understanding what to do in a specific situation, please consult with the professor or TA in your classroom, and/or the Office of Student Conduct.
Outside of the classroom, the Weingarten LRC offers academic workshops for the new student. If you are a TA in the classroom, you can also consult with the Center for Teaching and Learning and/or the Office of Student Conduct.
Get Involved
Common Room Hours
Monday-Thursday: 9AM - 8PM
Friday: 9AM - 6PM
Saturday-Sunday: 12PM - 6PM
Beginning May 21, the Grad Center will close at 6PM each day
Graduate Student Center
3615 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia PA 19104-6221
215-746-6868
center@gsc.upenn.edu
