Housing
Soon after admission, you should clarify your housing preferences and intention. If desired, Overseas Programs can reserve space for you to live on or near campus in WU student housing, pending receipt of your WU housing application (details and application form will accompany your letter of admission). Alternatively, you may choose to share an off-campus apartment, which may be sparsely furnished by other students living in the apartment.
With the exception of some apartments, all the on campus housing consists of residence halls. Students living in the residence halls must have a meal plan (with several meal plans to choose from). Even students who live in self-catered apartments (on or off campus) must have at least a minimal "points" meal plan, but the amount involved can be readily spent in the campus dining facilities and cafes for snacks, drinks, and lunches.
Please see the Office of Residential Life for information regarding on campus housing and University Apartments for information regarding WU owned on and near campus apartments. Note that half the room rate amount is charged for each semester. For information about off-campus housing, see Quadrangle Housing and commercial listings. It is possible to arrange off campus housing prior to arrival, but it can done upon arrival too. Either way, however, you must communicate with Overseas Programs to ensure you will have temporary housing upon arrival if you are not assigned to a residence hall or WU owned apartment.
Arrival
You should consult with your Overseas Programs exchange program coordinator regarding the preferred arrival date. If you are arriving for the fall semester, it will be in mid-August. If you are arriving for spring semester it will be in early to mid-January. The Office of International Students and Scholars will arrange for someone to meet you at the airport (or train station), and transport you to campus, where you will check in before being taken to temporary or permanent housing. (Your housing arrangement will have been clarified by Overseas Programs beforehand.)
In addition to orientation for all new students, the Office of International Students and Scholars provides programs to facilitate the arrival of international students, including exchange students. In August they offer both the Explore and Discover programs. The Explore program is optional at a reasonable fee including accommodation and some meals.
The start date on your DS 2019 will coincide with the arrival date for the Discover program, which will be August 23 for fall semester 2006. You can decline to participate in the Explore and Discover programs, but Overseas Programs recommends you arrive in time for the Discover program if possible.