International Student Orientation (ISO): August 15-19, 2025
This is required pre-semester orientation for new Cornellians from outside the United States. It's your chance to get to know your peers and mentors, have a few extra days to make yourself at home on campus before the rest of your class arrives, and get familiar with campus and community resources. Our Each One, Teach One group, domestic students of color, will be on campus at the same time and share some programming with you, so there will be a good-sized group of people to get to know.
You can expect to make some friends, get to know more about campus, Mount Vernon, and Iowa culture, and figure out where to find key resources like medical care and banking in Mount Vernon. We'll also make sure you know where to find houses of worship, hiking trails, groceries and personal items, hair care, and a great cup of coffee, pastry, or goofy gift. If you're missing any items you need for your room, we'll take you on a group shopping trip so you can find what you need.
You'll move in on Wednesday or Thursday, August 13 & 14 and we will have shuttles from the Cedar Rapids International Airport (CID) to campus. ISO starts Friday, August 15 and transitions into NSO with the rest of the incoming class on August 21. There is no cost for this program.
Please be sure to let us know your travel plans by completing your travel checklist item on your New Student Checklist.
ISO 2024 Schedule
(Please use this to get an idea of the orientation schedule. We will be adding the 2025 schedule in late spring 2025.)
Friday, August 16
8 a.m. -3:30 p.m. Move in and registration
3:45 - 4:45 p.m. ICL Campus Tour (families welcome)
5-6:10 p.m. "Welcome to the Family" dinner with RAs (families welcome)
6:15-7 p.m. "Finding your family"
Saturday, August 17
8-9 a.m. Breakfast
9-11:30 a.m. Informational programming
12-1:30 p.m. Alumni of Color luncheon
1:35-4:30 p.m. Shopping at Walmart & Target
5-6 p.m. Dinner
6:30-8 p.m. Family time
8:10 p.m. S'mores night
Sunday, August 18
11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Day at the waterpark
6:15 p.m. Dinner with Cornell Volleyball team
Monday, August 19
8-9 a.m. Breakfast
9:05 a.m. - 11 a.m. Writing sample
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Lunch with snack exchange
1-3:10 p.m. Campus resource presentations
5:10 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Dinner with NSO leaders
7-7:50 p.m. Scavenger hunt
8 p.m. Movie night
Tuesday, August 20
8-9 a.m. Breakfast
9:05-10:30 a.m. Downtown Mount Vernon tour & group crafting
10:35-11:20 a.m. Informational programming
11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. Lunch
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Informational programming
1:40 - 3:30 p.m. Family time
4-5:15 p.m. EOTO/ISO Olympics
5:30 p.m. Dinner
Wednesday, August 21
NSO begins for students and parents are welcome to return and participate in family activities.
Questions?
Email intercultural_life@cornellcollege.edu or call +1 319.895.4484 with questions and we'll get you answers.
Additional resources
ISO OVERVIEW New Student Orientation What to Pack Living on Campus