U.S. Visa Options for International Students

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Career Management Video Resources – U.S. Visa Options:
The Hotel School’s Career Management team in partnership with Miller Mayer LLP (millermayer.com) and Cornell University’s International Students & Scholars Office (isso.cornell.edu) created videos for our international students. The information covered in each video is a general overview for a specific visa or work authorization. The intent is to be a starting point in your visa research. For more detailed information, access the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at uscis.gov.

US Visas – CPT (Curricular Practical Training): For full-time students on the F-1 Visa

US Visas – H1B Visa: Non-immigrant work visa for professional occupations in a specialty field

US Visas – L-1 Visa: US Visa option for an intracompany transferee, executive or manager

US Visas – O-1 Visa: US Visa option for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement

US Visas – OPT (Optional Practical Training): For full-time students on the F-1 Visa

Welcome

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Congratulations on your admission to the Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) program!  Now that you are an admitted student, the Office of Student Services (OSS) in the School of Hotel Administration at the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University will be working with you closely on your educational and career goals this coming year as well as assisting you to connect with the Cornell system.

This blog contains information that should help you get acclimated to Cornell and will be updated regularly.  You will also notice that there is archived information that is relevant as it is updated periodically.

Some things you will want to do soon include beginning to find housing (take a look at the post on housing) and connect with your classmates on Facebook (MMH Class of of 2018).  Facebook is a great way to begin to get to know each other and is a place where many students find roommates as well.

Orientation begins Monday, May 22 (with an optional networking session on Sunday, May 21), so mark your calendars.  An academic calendar for the coming year will be available shortly.

At any time, if you have questions, please contact Ellen Marsh, Graduate Programs Coordinator, at ebm7@cornell.edu or 607-255-6421.

Housing Information

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One of the most common questions we get from incoming students is “Where should I live?”

Hasbrouch Apartments on North Campus, approx. 10-15 minutes to Statler Hall

Hasbrouch Apartments on North Campus, approx. 10-15 minutes to Statler Hall

That all depends.  While we cannot recommend one option over another, we can give you access to a lot of choices so that you can make an informed decision on what will work best for you. For example, click on “Housing/Dining” on the navigation bar at the top of this blog and you will be taken to a Cornell website which will give you information for both on and off campus housing.

Be sure to join the MMH Class of 2018 Facebook page for incoming students. This will give you the opportunity to start meeting your new classmates, finding a roommate if you need one, asking questions to the current class about housing, etc.  Previous classes put together a spreadsheet:

The MBA students at the Johnson School put together this terrific resource http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/Portals/32/NewStudents/DestinationJohnson/DJ%20Housing%20Guide%202017.pdf .

You’ll also find information here http://offcampushousing.cornell.edu/dos/cms/ocho/grad/index.cfm and other students say they have success with craigslist.com.

 

Off-campus housing

Off-campus housing

New rental apartments near campus

New rental apartments near campus

Bursar’s Bill

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shutterstock_dollarsignAnother big question is “when is my tuition due”?  All billing is handled by the Bursar’s office (not the School of Hotel Administration) so please direct your questions to them.  Please visit their website http://www.dfa.cornell.edu/treasurer/bursar/ for contact information, answers to your questions, etc.

For billing dates, please see https://www.dfa.cornell.edu/bursar/students-parents/your-bursar-bill/billing-deadlines and please note:

  • The first bill you will receive will be for first third of your tuition and will cover your summer MMH tuition of $26,306 (other fees may also be on your bill as well depending on whether you have campus housing, health insurance, a meal plan, etc.).  This bill will be sent to only those MMH students who have paid their tuition deposit and have been matriculated by early April.
  • For those who pay their tuition deposit after early April, the next bill is sent May 12.  Please note that even though the due date is June 7 on your bill, your bill is actually due by the first day of classes, or May 30.  The Bursar’s office cannot make this change on the bill so please note it now!
  • The tuition for the fall 2017 and spring 2018 semesters will be sent when invoices are sent to all other Cornell students.  Please contact the Bursar’s office directly for that information.

Please see our website for more information on estimated expenses for the program https://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/admissions/mmh/tuition.html

How and When to Activate Your Net ID

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Because the MMH program begins in May (not August like the rest of the programs at Cornell), the To Do List with deadlines may be confusing.  It is good to know that many of the forms and systems you will require to complete items on the To Do list will not be available until mid-March.  Many of the To Dos also require that you have your NetID; in mid-March or shortly after you submit your tuition deposit (and complete your I-20s for International students) you should get an email from Cornell Information Technology (CIT) that provides instructions on how to activate your NetID. Please follow the instructions from CIT and activate you NetID soon.

In the meantime, there are some things you can start working on that do not require a NetID, including eCornell courses, finding off-campus housing, etc.

 

Tour of Statler Hall

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I thought you might like this  video that was made by a previous MMH class.  It is a light-hearted tour of the place where you will spend most of the next year of your life (although your lounge is in a different location since the video was produced).

 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

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Below are some potential resources of funding you may be interested in exploring, in addition to any others scholarships you may find.  Each has guidelines you should read carefully as there may be specific criteria that might not apply to you.  These funding opportunities are independent of Cornell or the School of Hotel Administration, so please direct all your inquiries to the specific organizations below:

Be sure to also check our website for information on other financing opportunities, including federal and other loans, TAP, need-based scholarships, and more https://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/admissions/mmh/financing.html .  Also the university’s website:  https://finaid.cornell.edu/apply-aid/graduate-students and specifically for international students:  https://finaid.cornell.edu/apply-aid/graduate-students

Facebook for the MMH 2018 Class

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Each year, the current MMH class sets up a new Facebook page specifically for the incoming MMH students.  It is a great place to start meeting your fellow classmates and to also chat with the current class to get your questions answered.  In addition, the current class will be part of the alumni network that makes the School of Hotel Administration so special.

Seach for “MMH Class of 2018” on Facebook, ask to join, and start networking!

If you are not able to access Facebook, you may email me at ebm7@cornell.edu to give me permission to give your email address to current or incoming students so that you all may start contacting each other.

NetID and Cornell ID/Photo Card — Everything You Always Wanted to Know!

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There are two forms of ID that every student needs at Cornell:  one is your NetID and the other is your Cornell photo ID which also contains your Cornell ID#.

NetID:

A Network ID (or NetID) is a personal, unique electronic identifier assigned to you.  It consists of your initials followed by one or more numbers.  Cornell Information Technology (CIT) has  scheduled NetID activation for MMH student to begin on March 17.  Your NetID and activation code will be sent to you after the university receives your response to your offer of admission (and deposit if your program requires one).  Most likely, you will be emailed this information (at the current email you used in the admission process) but in some cases it may arrive by postal mail.  You are expected to activate your NetID and Cornell email account immediately.

You will use your NetID, along with a password, to obtain access to online services at Cornell including:

  • Email.  Your NetID becomes part of your Cornell email.  So for example, my NetID is ebm7 and my email is ebm7@cornell.edu .  This email address will be used as the primary way the faculty, staff, and other students communicate with you.  It will also be used for official univeristy announcements.
  • Online Administrative Systems.  Your NetID is required for you to view and pay your bursar (tuition) bill, add and drop courses, check financial aid awards, access library databases and services,  and more.

More information on your NetID can be found on CIT’s website http://www.it.cornell.edu/services/netid/faq.cfm#what  and also on the Graduate School’s To Do list https://newstudents.cornell.edu/grad/todolist/ and  NetID & Email.

Photo ID with Cornell ID #:

This ID is very important to have with you at all times and will have your photo along with a series of numbers which identifies who you are as a graduate student at Cornell.  You will need this for access to a variety of functions and facilities on campus, including athletic events, CornellCard charges, dining units, fitness centers, libraries, and transportation services (TCAT Bus Service, which gives you one year of free transportation).  Your ID number is also helpful to use for online administrative systems along with your netID.  You should memorize this number.

The To Do list https://newstudents.cornell.edu/grad/todolist/ will update soon with information on how to obtain your card.  You can submit your photograph electronically before you arrive on campus and your ID card will be waiting for you at our orientation on May 19.  Or, if you prefer, when you arrive on campus you will be able to go to the Registrar’s Office and have your photo taken and your ID developed while you wait.  Be sure you bring a photo ID with you — either a driver’s license or passport — to get your new Cornell photo ID.

To find your Cornell ID number:  Each student can access what is called their Student Center after you receive your NetID, which you need to log in to Student Center.  To find Student Center:

  • Do a search on Cornell’s website for Student Center
  • Bookmark https://hotelie.sha.cornell.edu/ , which is the launch pad for Hotel School students, providing access to resources you will use regularly.