Cryss

Good luck and good vibes to everyone submitting applications!

I was only an adjunct for 1 year a couple years ago, but I've have 1 or 2 unnecessarily rude students. Others might disagree with me on this, but my opinion is stick to your standard of expectations for students while being beyond kind to all of them, especially the rude ones. Remember email is a paper trail. Not that I think you would do otherwise, but always calm down before responding and respond in a way where you won't be embarrassed if your colleagues or superiors read your responses. This semester is tough because everything is online, but if you have the time, I would go out of my way to offer opportunities for this student, and of course other students, to meet with you one-on-one, maybe via zoom, so you can work on their next paper together or go over what was wrong in this one. Maybe even suggest a writing center appointment or organize a class where students workshop their papers with their peers (sometimes seeing a better paper or getting criticism from their own peers shakes them up). I don't think this means you need to be a pushover or anything. You can let them know that this is what is expected in YOUR class and this is what's expected at University. The point is to get students to the level they need to be at (In the most professional way possible). Use your corporate email voice. Lol

I was asked if I would have an in-person class, so I would confirm with your school that there is at least 1 in-person class for you to take so you can answer that question truthfully. Hybrid counts as in-person as far as I know, but confirm with your international student office at your new school. You find out immediately if you get approved or rejected, but the amount of time you need to wait to get your passport back varies from embassy to embassy. Mine took 1 business day, others take like 7-14 business days depending on the size of the population the embassy serves, I believe. Read and re-read the instructions on the embassy's site about what you need when applying. I always take additional documents, but usually, it's just your typical passport, visa application confirmation page, $160, appointment confirmation page, 1 passport size pic, I-20 or Ds-2019, financial documents to prove you can support yourself or are supported by a sponsor (if that's not the school), and finally, the SEVIS payment confirmation page.

Had our visa interview today and got approved! They will be ready for pick up tomorrow afternoon (we did J1 and J2).

Curacao!

Just got an email from my embassy saying they will open limited appointments from July 14th specifically for student visas and petition-based visas. Will keep you guys updated.

Important stuff, thanks for posting. I wonder where that leaves those just starting with new visas and wanting to do a first semester remotely online then start in-person in the spring.

As far as I've heard (from my program), the September deadline isn't school-mandated, it's actually the law (I guess according to USCIS) that if the international student can't arrive by then, they can no longer come for that semester. The fact that a lot of these schools have been cool with us deferring to Spring, I think, is a big plus. Of course, this whole trainwreck of a year is unprecedented, but I was afraid that schools would force students to defer by an entire year since many PhD programs don't allow you to start on a Spring semester. I am glad that (at least for now), we can start in the Spring semester if we can't make it by the end of September. To me, this is what actually seems harsh. Is there a reason you will be charged? Are they admin fees or straight up a percentage of tuition? This seems unfair to me.

Just amending my post to say that the end of September is the correct deadline to make it in the US for the semester, not the beginning of the Fall semester.

No slots where I am either. They haven't reopened the appointment system at all yet, although the country is open.

My school told me that legally, international students cannot begin a semester after it has begun, meaning, if you can't make it in time for the start of the Fall semester, you must wait to start in Spring (and of course you can't enter the US more than 30 days before the beginning of that semester).

yay!!! So happy for you!! I've been hoping for good news for you.

I am too!

Yay!!!! Let's do this!

Wait as long as you need. It sure is nice to give a quick answer and free up the waitlist for other people, but you should do that for schools you are sure you will be turning down. Sounds like the responses you're waiting for are essential for you to decide between these 2 schools. Therefore, you shouldn't rush to make a decision when you're still waiting on more information to get the whole picture.