As part of its mission, the International Student Experience Office provides transitional programming and resources for incoming international students to guide their adaptation to their new cultural and academic environment. Our signature undergraduate transition program, the International Undergraduate Student Pre-Orientation Program (IUSPOP) involves two and a half days of curated activities, programs, and meetings prior to New Student Orientation. 

Undergraduate F-1 visa holders are required to arrive on-campus on Monday, August 31 to ensure full participation in the International Undergraduate Student Pre-Orientation Program (IUSPOP). Please be aware that students will not be able to move into campus housing earlier than Monday, August 31. If you arrive earlier, you will need to find your own lodging until check-in on Monday. On-campus housing (from August 31) is only available to those registered to participate in IUSPOP.

Upon arrival on August 31, students will be checked in to receive their ID card, dining card, and room keys. Please keep in mind that mandatory IUSPOP programming will begin later that evening, so we encourage students to plan to arrive in the morning or early afternoon to get settled in before the evening activities begin (around 5:30 pm EST). 

Participation is required for all F-1 international students. Others may only participate by invitation. Kindly plan to register for IUSPOP before the deadline (registration and deadline information will be shared with you directly). 

Further information about IUSPOP will be shared to all incoming international undergraduate students via email in late spring. 

International Undergraduate Student Mentor Program (IUSM): all those participating in IUSPOP are matched in groups with a student mentor to foster community and relationship building. These mentor 'circles' connect in person during the International Undergraduate Student Pre-Orientation Program (IUSPOP). Mentors connect with their mentees to provide resources, answer questions, and share their experiences. These mentor circles are ongoing during the first two terms of the new student's life at Dartmouth. 

IUSPOP has virtual (pre-arrival) and in-person components:

Virtual Orientation Sessions: IUSPOP Virtual Orientation Sessions run throughout July. Participation in the virtual sessions is mandatory. Sessions can be accessed both synchronously via Zoom as scheduled throughout July, and asynchronously on Canvas from July onwards.

In-Person: In-person programming runs from Monday, August 31 at 5:30 pm EST, to Wednesday, September 2 at 12:00 pm. In-person programming is designed in collaboration with key campus partners and peer mentors to provide understanding of the social and academic landscape Dartmouth. 

Further information will be shared to all incoming international undergraduate students via email. Please contact International.Student.Experience@dartmouth.edu with questions about IUSPOP.

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Below are links to important information as you prepare to attend Dartmouth’s Undergraduate International Student Pre-Orientation Program. Please direct any questions regarding UG-ISPOP to International.Student.Experience@dartmouth.edu. You will receive more detailed information after you arrive.

Visa and Immigration Services

• Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS)

Pre-Arrival Resources

• New Student Orientation

• Undergraduate Housing

• Student Organizations (on Dartmouth Groups)

• Incoming Students Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Resources

• Dartmouth Coach (Private bus service direct to/from Hanover, NH to Boston, MA including Logan Airport and New York City, NY)

• Greyhound Bus Line (National bus service with terminal in White River Junction, VT)

• Amtrak (Train service with a station in White River Junction, VT)

• Advance Transit (Local community bus service in the Hanover area)

International Student Experience Office's International Undergraduate Student Mentoring Program (IUSM) supports the onboarding and adjustment of first-year international undergraduate students to Dartmouth. All incoming international undergraduate students are matched in groups with an upper-level student mentor. These mentor/mentee groups connect in person during the International Undergraduate Student Pre-Orientation Program (IUSPOP), which occurs immediately before New Student Orientation (NSO). IUSPOP introduces international undergraduate students to Dartmouth resources and opportunities, and allows time for community building within their class cohort. These programs are mandatory for all students on F-1 visa status.

Mentors connect with mentees to communicate information, answer questions, and share their experiences. These mentor/mentee groups continue formally throughout the International Undergraduate Student Pre-Orientation Program (IUSPOP) and are ongoing during the first two terms of the new student's life at Dartmouth.

A team of 20-25 Dartmouth students serves as International Undergraduate Student Mentors through a selective process. Each mentor is assigned a group of international undergraduate first-year students. Mentors offer support and referrals, and guide mentees through ISPOP. The formal programming and informal work of advising new international students continues throughout the fall and winter terms.