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International@Midd Orientation Pathway Schedule and Information

International students in the Class of 2029 as well as international Transfer and Exchange Students will arrive on campus for orientation a week before the fall semester classes begin on Monday, September 8. The International@Midd pathway within orientation is tailored to your needs and required for students intending to be in F-1 and J-1 status. 

If you haven’t looked over the Fall 2025 schedule yet, we encourage you to do so here !! Look for the Required for International@Midd pathway  designation to become familiar with your required international programming of events and sessions. It will be very important not to miss these designated sessions particularly for those students in F-1 and J-1 status.

Your international orientation leaders, also known as PALs, are VERY excited to meet you. Get to know your PALs!

For more information about Orientation, go to the Fall Orientation website. 

Campus Arrival & Check-in Information

International students must check in at the Mahaney Arts Center (MAC) first. All airport, train, and bus services will only stop at the MAC; this is where you will complete required check-in tasks as a student in F-1/J-1 status as required upon entry into the U.S. 

What happens at the MAC Check-in?

• Most importantly, many international orientation leaders will celebrate your arrival!
• The next important task will be to complete your mandatory F-1/J-1 status compliance requirements upon your entry into the U.S.
  • PLEASE BRING YOUR I-20/DS-2019, PASSPORT, and VISA to Check-in.
• Those who have outstanding health and immunization details will meet with a representative from the Health Center.
• You will receive your Middlebury ID card and room access instructions; your card is required to access campus buildings and your residence hall room.
  • Those arriving on Monday, September 01 will be directed to their designated Welcome Center to receive their ID and room access information.
• We will have a Family and Resource table available that can be very helpful answering questions about the local area, things to do for families, Middlebury Bank folders will be available for those interested in setting up a bank account there, town maps, and other useful resources.
• Shuttles will be available to assist with moving your luggage to your residence hall, as well as international orientation leaders to ensure you are moving in the correct direction.
• Light snacks will be available, as well as information on dining hall hours. Family members are welcome to join their student in the dining hall.

Airport, Train, and Bus Arrivals to Middlebury, Vermont

Students planning to arrive to Burlington airport (BTV), using train (Amtrak) or bus directly to Middlebury, Vermont should already have their confirmed pick-up and booking details. Contact ISSS if you have questions.

Burlington Airport (BTV) bus service to campus:

Sunday, 8/31 Departures at 3.30PM, 6PM, and 9PM 

Monday, 9/01 Departures at 8.30AM and 11.30AM

Route from airport to campus is approximately 1 hour.

Refer to your individual booking links and instructions for more information and please have your ticket ready for the driver at boarding.

Be aware there are two Middlebury train stations: 

MBY - 30 Middle Seymour St.

MIY - 130 Storrs Ave. (service switches to bus service for last leg) 

The bus station is located at 130 Storrs Ave. It is a curbside drop-off without any shelter on the edge of campus. 

IMPORTANT REMINDER: If your original plans must change, contact ISSS using the Travel Interruptions instructions below. Those with a booked seat on a bus from the airport who are unable to contact ISSS in time, may attempt to board a later bus with driver permission.

Arriving by Car to Middlebury, Vermont

Signs will be placed throughout the town of Middlebury to help guide those using their own transportation plans to the check-in location (MAC), as well as parking for those who will need it. Please do your best to arrive during the designated check-in time depending on your authorized arrival day (Sun, 8/31: 4-10PM US ET; Mon, 9/01: 9AM-1PM).

You may also find the interactive campus map useful. Type in “Mahaney Arts Center” to locate the building; you must click on the corresponding search result found on the left side of the page. Link .

Travel Interruptions?

If while on your way to campus you experience travel interruptions, please follow these instructions:

• If your plans are changed before you depart, please email ISSS at isss@middlebury.edu .
• If you experience travel interruptions after you have begun your travels, you may email or call ISSS depending on your internet/Wi-Fi/phone capabilities.
  • During the check-in hours, you will call 888-991-5395; from inside the U.S. this number is free (outside of the U.S. add +1 before the number).
  • This number is staffed from 4-10PM US ET on Sunday, August 31 and 9AM-1PM on Monday, September 01.
    • After 10PM US ET on Sunday, August 31 and after 5PM on Monday, September 01, please call 802.443.5133; this is the college’s Department of Public Safety business line. They will take your information and contact the on-call college official to further assist you as needed.
    • After 1PM US ET on Monday, September 01, call ISSS at 802.443.5858. We will then provide further instructions depending on your circumstances.

Travel Documents You Will Need

What documents to travel with if entering the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status 

• You should carry with you on the plane your passport with the applicable visa stamp in it (F-1 or J-1) and the paper version of your I-20 for F-1 status / DS-2019 for J-1 status. Be sure that you have printed out, signed/dated the I-20/DS-2019 (the I-20 is a 3-page document, and the DS-2019 is a 2-page double-sided document).
  • Digital copies of these documents are not sufficient for entering the U.S., so please be sure to bring the printed version of your I-20/DS-2019.
  • Do NOT place your I-20 / DS-2019 in your checked baggage; always carry it closely with you and do NOT leave the paper version at home.
  • You MUST travel with a paper I-20 / DS-2019 signed and dated.
• You should also carry the following documents with you in case the port of entry/border official asks for more information:
  • SEVIS fee payment receipt (printed to carry as a paper receipt) - (click on the “check I-901 Status” button at top of page)
  • Proof of financial ability (what you submitted for your I-20/DS-2019 application)
  • Proof of admission and enrollment, i.e., Admission letter, printout of your class schedule

What To Do After Completing Check-in

• For those arriving within the Dining Hall hours, you can enjoy a meal on campus. Information about the location and hours for dining will be provided at the MAC.
  • Family members welcome to join!
• Most importantly, you will have time to settle into your residence hall room.
• Feel free to explore downtown Middlebury. For those up for an adventure, stop by the Family and Resource table to learn more about using the public transportation service, Tri-Valley Transportation (TVT), for shopping and/or exploring.
• Set an alarm so you don’t miss out on the first day of Orientation and the International@Midd pathway program!
• Those arriving on Monday, September 01, you will proceed to your designated Welcome Center to complete your room check-in.
  • An will be available for those without a vehicle to proceed to your designated Welcome Center.
  • Don’t miss out on the Orientation Kick-off at 3PM on McCullough lawn.
  • There is an entire afternoon of Family Programming available, including for international families from 4.30-5.30PM in Axinn 229.

Pre-Arrival Guide & Form I-20/Form DS-2019 Process

• This guide provides information about Orientation and the International@Midd pathway, I-20/DS-2019 application process (for students who require visa support), the International Students’ Organization (ISO) Welcome, the Friends of International Students (FIS) Host Program, FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions, Travel to Middlebury College, and Action Items. Go to Guide!

  Watch here for updates for the Class of 2029. 

• The Form I-20/Form DS-2019 application and issuance process is shared with all deposited students via email from ISSS.
  • For Fall entrants, this email is sent no later than early April.
  • For Spring entrants, this email is sent no later than late October.

If you believe you have extenuating circumstances that impact the issuance timeline, please email ISSS (isss@middlebury.edu).

Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring with me?

For more information about recommended items to bring with you to campus, including what is prohibited on campus, please visit the What to Pack? website. 

Where can I mail my items prior to arriving on campus?

Mail and packages are delivered to McCullough Student Center. Your address is as follows:

Student Full Name

14 Old Chapel Rd
[Mail ID#] Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753

(Mail ID will be assigned to students later in the summer; you can still send packages without the Mail ID as a new arriving student)

You can begin shipping items to campus to arrive no earlier than 2 to 3 days before your approved campus move-in day.

Mailbox information, including hours the Mail Center is open and how to mail packages, is found here. Postage stamps can be purchased at the  and Midd-Xpress, our convenience store in the McCullough Student Center.

For packages, we recommend using a service you can track, such as UPS, FedEx, and insured, certified, or registered mail. You will receive an email when your packages have been processed and you will need your student IDs for pickup. Pickup instructions will be included in your email. Packages should not weigh more than 50 lbs.

Where can I purchase supplies?

If you would like to purchase supplies or gear, the will be open from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday-Friday. It is located in the Proctor basement. 

 which carries Middlebury gear, will be open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday-Friday. It is located on Main Street in downtown Middlebury.

You will also have a few opportunities during the week of Orientation to do some shopping with the help of your International Orientation Leaders. 

Where can I find information about housing?

Housing assignments for incoming new students are typically released about a week before new students arrive to campus. When housing assignments are ready, students will receive an email from the Residential Life team letting them know that their housing information is ready to view within the housing portal. It will include both building/room information and if they have a roommate. Additional housing information can be found on the

What if I or someone traveling with me requires accommodations? 

We hope to make your visit to campus as successful as possible. If you or a member of your party has needs regarding mobility, or visual or hearing impairments, please contact us at isss@middlebury.edu or +1-802-443-5858. You will also have an opportunity to share this information when completing the Travel Plans form that will be sent to you by the end of June.

*ASL interpreters are available upon request with advanced notice.

Can I do banking on campus?

Banks in town accept student accounts and have cash machines, and there are several on-campus Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). Students may cash up to $50 in traveler’s checks at the Cashier’s Office, as well as checks from parents or guardians when made payable to a student. One day’s notice is required to cash a check for more than $50. 

You will receive additional information about setting up a bank account in upcoming messaging and once you arrive for International Orientation, including an opportunity to visit a local bank during the Orientation week. 

How do we get sim cards?

The town of Middlebury has two places, AT&T and Verizon, that offer both prepaid and postpaid phone lines. You should check their websites for rates. Additionally, some stores sell a variety of sim cards with cheaper prices, but their signal might be too spotty for our campus location. 

If you are bringing your own phone, make sure it is not locked to a cell service provider or regionally locked. This will prevent any sim card bought in the United States to work with it.

Lastly, please note that you may not have time to get a phone line in the first few days of arriving on campus. The International Pre-Orientation schedule is packed and running concurrent with Orientation. We suggest you use messaging apps that work with Wi-Fi to keep in touch with your loved ones until you get a sim card. All campus buildings have Wi-Fi and the connection can extend to some outside spaces as well. Please do not hesitate to ask an ISSS staff member to assist you if contacting home/someone important to you is becoming difficult. We want to ensure you are able to notify those most important to you that you arrived safely!

Updated on 08/25/2025