Guide for admitted students
Welcome to Columbia College! Your journey to the United States and to Columbia, Mo., will be easy if you follow these simple steps.
- Getting your visa
- Things to do before your visa interview
- Scheduling the visa interview
- Preparing for the visa interview
- The day of the visa interview
- After receiving the visa
- What to bring
- Climate and weather
- Books and computers
Getting your visa
Things to do before your visa interview
- Complete and return the Housing and Meal Plan Information form included in your admission packet. Columbia College firmly believes that you will benefit from living in a residence hall, and requires freshmen and sophomores to live in one unless you are:
- Twenty-two years of age or older
- Married
- A single parent
- Living with parents with a legal, permanent residence in Boone County
- Complete the registration worksheet included in your admission packet. This sheet will help you create a schedule of courses for the upcoming semester. Review the schedule of courses. Classes fill quickly, so do not delay!
Scheduling the visa interview
- Complete the visa application forms.
- Male students must complete:
- DS-156
- DS-157
- DS-158
- Female students must complete:
- DS-156
- DS-158
- Have a 5cm x 5cm photograph taken, and attach it to the DS-156 orm. The photograph can be no more than six months old and should be taken with a white background.
- Complete the I-901 form and pay the US$200 SEVIS I-901 fee.
- Have on hand your SEVIS number printed on the upper right-hand corner of the I-20 form and the Columbia College school code: KAN214F00119000.
- Be sure to print the receipt.
- Schedule a visa interview appointment at a U.S. Consulate.
Preparing for the visa interview
- Contact an EducationUSA Advising Office regarding the interview; they have many helpful hints and resources.
- Carefully review the U.S. Department of State visa preparation section.
- Be prepared to answer questions about why you chose Columbia College.
- Read the Discover How Big Small Can Be booklet in your acceptance packet.
- View interviews with current students and faculty.
- Review the program information for your major or discipline.
- Know some facts about the City of Columbia and why it is such an attractive place to live and go to school.
- Visit the City of Columbia and Visitor’s Bureau Web sites.
- Review Columbia history and facts.
- Review Columbia College history and facts.
The day of the visa interview
Bring the following documents:
- Passport (valid for at least 6 months from the date of interview)
- I-20 form
- Receipt for the paid SEVIS fee
- Visa application fee receipt
- Interview appointment letter
- Application forms (DS-156,DS-157,DS-158)
- Supporting bank/financial documents
- Degrees, diplomas, certificates or transcripts
- English proficiency test scores, if available (TOEFL, IELTS)
- Admission test scores if available (SAT, ATC, GRE, GMAT)
- 5cm x 5 cm photograph
After receiving the visa
- Visit EducationUSA or plan to visit an EducationUSA office for additional assistance and travel preparation.
- Columbia College will pick you up from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (airport code STL) or from Columbia Regional Airport (airport code COU). Please refer to your admission packet for specific dates on which to arrive. It is very important that you arrive only on these dates.
- Submit your travel itinerary to the Director of International Programs, including:
- Airport
- Airline
- Final arriving flight number
- Date and time of arrival
What to bring
Each room in the residence hall is equipped with:
- Room furniture including a regular twin bed, mattress, desk and chair
- Telephone with voicemail
- Wireless Internet access
- Limited cable service (at no charge)
You should consider bringing:
- Llinens for a regular twin bed
- Towels/washcloths
- Personal toiletries
- Pillow
- Alarm clock
- Desk lamp
- Dictionary/thesaurus
- Iron
- Laundry bag/basket
- Hangers
- Radio/stereo/headphones
- Portable TV
- Personal computer
- Posters/pictures
- Cups/plates/utensils
- Laundry soap
- Trashcan
- Backpack
During orientation, the International Programs office will arrange a shopping trip for you. You may purchase linens, toiletries and other items that you need for your stay at Columbia College.
The residence hall and dining facilities close during Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks. Housing is available during these breaks at an additional cost. The charges will be posted to your student account.
Learn more about our residence halls.
Climate and weather
We experience very warm, humid summers, 26-27 degrees; and cold winters, 6-8 degrees. All four seasons are very evident in Missouri, with thunderstorms, sunshine, and snow. You'll want to pack clothes for each season.
View average temperatures for Columbia.
Books and computers
Books can be purchased at the Columbia College bookstore, or from any other vendor you like. Textbooks must, however, be the books your instructor has listed in the course syllabus. You can also buy books online or at the many used bookstores in Columbia.
The campus has computers available at several locations. We also maintain a computer lab, free to all Columbia College students. Students studying computer science must buy a laptop computer.
We look forward to meeting you and hope you will enjoy your time at Columbia College!