Admitted International Students

Admitted International Students/Pre-Arrival Information

Congratulations on your admission to Youngstown State University! Below you will find information that will assist you as you prepare for your arrival in Youngstown to begin your academic life at YSU. Everyone at the International Programs Office (IPO) is looking forward to welcoming you to campus!

 

Visa Preparation

To help you prepare for your visa interview, the International Programs Office will hold virtual sessions each Tuesday from 9:00-10:00 AM EDT.  These sessions will give you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the visa process or preparing for your arrival to campus.  These are drop-in sessions and will be held on Webex

Webex Link: https://ysu.webex.com/meet/nmdubos01  

The last day to request an I-20 for the Fall 2024 semester will be June 15, 2024. The International Programs Office will not accept I-20 requests after this date and you must defer your application to a future semester.

 

Register for international orientation:

MANDATORY International Orientation will be from AUGUST 19 – AUGUST 24, 2024.  Orientation is mandatory for all F-1 students and is designed to welcome students to YSU and help make your transition to campus as smooth and successful as possible.  During the orientation program, we will be presenting key information on immigration matters, health insurance, campus resources and more.

You must register for Orientation. PLEASE NOTE:  REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING MONDAY, APRIL 1.  Please be aware that all new international students must report on the first day of Orientation. Students that do not report on August 19 will have their YSU I-20 cancelled and will not be able to use this I-20 to enter the U.S.

You must register for Orientation by following the steps below:

1) ACTIVATE YOUR YSU STUDENT ACCOUNT:  If you have not already done so, you must activate your YSU student account prior to registering for Orientation and arriving to campus. This will give you access to the YSU Penguin Portal.  Instructions to activate your YSU account were emailed to you. You will also find these instructions below.  

  1. Go to mypassword.ysu.edu.     
  2. Select Activate New Account.  
  3. Complete the process using your Username and Initial Password (YSU ID - #Y00XXXXXX)  
  4. If you need your account credentials, contact the International Programs Office at isss@ysu.edu.  
  5. If you have any technical issues, you must contact the IT Service Desk at +1-330-941-1595 or servicedesk@ysu.edu.   

2) GO TO:  ysu.edu/penguin-portal   

3) LOG IN:  Select "Penguin Portal" to log into your account utilizing your Username and the new Password you created.  If you have any technical issues , contact the IT Service Desk (+1-330-941-1595, servicedesk@ysu.edu).    

4) REGISTER FOR ORIENTATION:  Once you are in the portal, click the link "REGISTER FOR ORIENTATION" on under the “e-Services for Students” card. 

5) SUBMIT YOUR RESERVATION:  Once you complete your reservation, hit the "SUBMIT" button at the top of the page to confirm your session; your reservation is not guaranteed until submitted.   

6) You must check your YSU student email for updates frequently.

 

AIRPORT ARRIVAL:

Airport pick-up will be on Sunday, August 18, 2024.  Pick-up will be available ONLY from the Pittsburgh International Airport on August 18.  Students MUST reserve airport pick-up in advance.  The cost to reserve your spot is $40 per student (this compares to $90-$120 for a taxi or Uber/Lyft).  The $40 payment must be made online by August 14, 2024.

Refer to Airport Pick-up and Transportation for more information.

 

YSU STUDENT ACCOUNT:

All students must activate their YSU student account prior to arriving on campus. This will give you access to your YSU email, Penguin Portal and more!

 

HOUSING:

You must make your housing arrangements PRIOR to arriving on Campus. All undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to live on campus. Visit the YSU Housing Portal to apply for on campus housing. 

The YSU Housing team will host a series of virtual informational sessions.  Attend a session to learn more about living on campus and connect in real time with staff members from the Housing team with any questions you may have!  The sessions will be held via Microsoft Teams on the following dates and times.  (Note: Ohio is now in Eastern Daylight Time.  Be sure to check the current time difference between your location and Ohio in EDT!):

Students can arrive starting on August 17 with no early arrival charge. Students who arrive between August 12 and August 16 will incur an overnight charge of $27/night (no meals), if approved for early arrival.

If you choose to live off campus, you will be responsible for securing your housing.  Youngstown State University provides an online Housing Marketplace for YSU students. This website allows students to search for on- and off-campus housing options based on number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or price per person or per unit.  NOTE:  While the University has relationships with the owners and managers of each property, none of these properties are owned or operated by the University. Therefore, if a student enters into a lease agreement with one of these properties, the University cannot interfere for any reason.  Students and families should fully inspect the properties prior to signing any lease agreement.

 

RESOURCES:

YSU Virtual Campus Tour

 

VACCINATIONS:

It is mandatory that you provide either proof that you have had a recent negative Tuberculosis (TB) test or that you have a test once you arrive at Youngstown State University.  If you do not bring proof of a negative TB test, we will arrange for this testing during Orientation.

Please see the Student Health website for a memo from the doctor on immunizations.

You will be required to have the following vaccinations and must upload proof of immunizations to Youngstown State University.

If you will live on campus, you will be required to provide documentation to the University of your meningococcal and Hepatitis B vaccination status. This is a state law of Ohio.

  • T-dap: One (1) adult dose in the last 10 years
  • Hepatitis B: Three (3) doses of Hepatitis B OR lab report confirming immunity
  • MMR: Two (2) doses of MMR (second one must have occurred on or after first birthday) OR Two (2) doses of Measles, Two (2) doses Mumps, and One (1) dose of Rubella OR lab reporting confirming immunity for each.
  • Varicella: Two (2) doses of varicella OR Lab report confirming immunity
  • Polio: Four (4) doses of IPV or OPV. Only required for those students who will be younger than 18 at the start of the semester.
  • Meningococcal conjugate (ACWY): One (1) dose since age 16

 

TUITION & FEES:

Tuition and fees are calculated after you are registered for classes. Upon registration, an invoice will be sent to your YSU email account. You will be responsible for paying that invoice soon after receipt. The preferred method of payment by YSU is via an international wire transfer. For international transfers, YSU has two options.  (1) Transfer Mate and (2) Flywire.  

If you wish to bring a bank draft, use the tuition estimator for an estimate of your tuition costs. NOTE: The actual cost of tuition may vary depending on how many credits you register for and lab/course fees. You must be prepared to pay the difference upon arrival to campus and course registration.

 

HEALTH INSURANCE

All international students are required to purchase the YSU International Student Health Insurance Plan as a condition of enrollment at the university and will not be permitted to waive the coverage.  Exceptions may apply for international students who are covered under a government sponsor or a select international organization, or who are covered as a US-based employee or a dependent of a US-based employee, with US-based health insurance provided through that employment.

The student health insurance will automatically be charged to the student’s account upon registration for classes.

 

ACCEPTING FINANCIAL AID AWARDS:

If you have been awarded an International Housing Award or Honors Award, you must accept your award through Financial Aid. To accept your award, follow the steps below.

Printable Version*

 

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND PROOF OF DEGREE

To complete your admission and to be able to register classes for your second semester, all students who are admitted on the basis of unofficial academic credentials (scanned copies) must bring official transcripts and proof of degree to submit at International Orientation.  See How to Submit Official Credentials for details

Useful Campus Links