Education is a significant financial investment. A university degree from the U.S., at any educational level, can prepare your child for a wonderful future. Study in the U.S. extends beyond the classroom. Students learn about the world and themselves through interactions with peers in the classroom, daily life with friends in the residence halls, and through participation in clubs, school activities, music and art events, athletic games, community service, and the many leadership opportunities students can take part of while studying in the U.S.

Thank you for choosing to send your child to La Sierra University. We are a small Christian university located in Riverside California. Our school is welcoming of our international community. Here your child will benefit from strong academic programs, caring faculty, small classrooms, and learning opportunities outside the classroom. Additionally, administration and staff sincerely care about the total academic, spiritual, social, and physical well being of your child.

The Office of International Student Services falls under the Division of Student Life. This division primarily deals with the life of your student outside of academics, however we work very closely with academics in the many areas of your child’s life.

• Athletics
• Counseling Center
• Student Health Services
• Office of International Student Services
• Residential Life
• Campus Safety and Security
• Spiritual Life
• Student Involvement
• Student Association of La Sierra University (SALSU)

In addition to your child receiving a wonderful education at La Sierra University, U.S. visa regulations allow any international F-1 student to have one year or more of extra time after completion of their university degree to work and gain practical experience in their field of study. This is an excellent opportunity for your child to gain career knowledge and build relationships that may help them when they return to practice their career at home.

If your child is beginning their undergraduate degree, it is important that you understand some differences of higher education in the U.S. and other countries. One of the key differences is that in liberal art or science programs, students are encouraged or required by most schools, to take courses in a wide variety of subject areas. These subjects will be in additional to their major or primary field of study. Generally, about one year or more of an undergraduate degree program will be dedicated to “general education” requirements. These general education classes will be in a variety of subjects. Students who are majoring in fine art may need to take science or math classes, and students majoring in hard sciences may need to take some history or art classes.

Educators in the U.S. believe that requiring students to take classes in a variety of subject areas allows students to gain appreciation amongst other fields of study and make sure that students feel positive that they have chosen the best major study area for themselves.

While all universities will have their own “general education” requirements, the U.S. will require many more than other countries. Do not be surprised if your first-year student does not appear to be taking many classes related to their major or field of study. This is normal. Also, do not be surprised if your child changes their major during the first few years of university life. This is typical.

Typically, it takes four or five years to complete a university undergraduate degree in the U.S. Many students need extra time to complete degree requirements. This will be especially true if your child is not a native speaker of English or needs extra time because of differences in classroom styles. Education is very interactive in U.S. universities. Students will be challenged to become better and more critical thinkers. Of course some students will want to complete their major or degree as soon as possible. The reasons might be graduate school, employment, or financial constraints. La Sierra University is flexible and students can accelerate their program by maximizing their credits (taking extra classes) each quarter, taking classes during their academic break, taking challenge tests in a variety of subject areas, or even taking some online classes.

The words- college and university- are generally interchangeable in the U.S. They refer to the same thing. Some U.S. schools call themselves colleges because they are often smaller and offer fewer courses of study, but both colleges and universities can offer four-year undergraduate degrees and some colleges offer master’s or other graduate degree programs.

Junior colleges or community colleges offer two-year programs or associate degrees. These colleges often prepare students to study in larger colleges and universities. Many students transfer to La Sierra University from other colleges and universities. These may be colleges and universities outside the U.S., community colleges, colleges, or universities within the U.S. The transfer system in U.S. education is very flexible from one university to another. It is important that if your child attends school in the U.S. that it be an accredited school, your child has a strong academic record, and has taken coursework that can be transferred to La Sierra University.

In the U.S., the GPA is calculated using a four-point system. The top grade of “A” receiving 4 points, a “B” receiving 3 points, etc. Your child needs to keep a good GPA to maintain academic standing at La Sierra University. At La Sierra University, your student may be disqualified if their cumulative GPA is 2.0 or lower and they will also lose any financial aid they are receiving. La Sierra University does have an appeal process if they find themselves in Academic Probation or Critical Academic Probation. Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may require a face-to-face interview. Appeals may be denied, approved quarter-to-quarter, or longer. The consequences of failing to maintain academic status for F-1 students also may result in termination of their F-1 status.

After your student has been admitted to La Sierra University, your student must have a valid student visa. Students at La Sierra University use an F-1 visa. Once your student is admitted, the Office of International Student Services will provide detailed steps on the process to receiving an I-20 and F-1 visa. You can view the necessary steps here.

Visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV and click on Study and Exchange. There are clear directions from the U.S. Department of State on student visas (F-1). Here is the link to Travel.state.gov.

Visit the Office of International Student Services. On this website there is great information regarding F-1 visa qualifications, application, documents needed, sample interview questions, information about visa denials, and a lot more great information. Here is the link to International Student.  

Visit U.S. Department of State, U.S. Visas for information about applying for a visa, completing your forms, and visa denials. International Student

Your undergraduate F-1 student will have certain restrictions to comply with and maintain their F-1 nonimmigrant status.

• Your student must report to the Office of International Student Services
• Your student must be enrolled full-time each quarter, with only a few strict exceptions allowed
• Employment authorization is strictly controlled. Your student is only eligible to work on campus and for the authorized amount of hours.
• Your student at the end of their degree is expected to return to their home country.However, many F-1 students do participate in optional practical training (training, work, internship) and later are able to apply for another visa, this should not be something that you should count on or expect to come easily.

La Sierra University has authorization to issue I-20s to international students. The principal officer for La Sierra University is:

• Heidi Weiss-Krumm — Principal Designated School Officer (PDSO)

These two officers are responsible for maintaining your child’s legal status and to make sure that the school follows government regulations. If you have immigration or visa questions, please email either Heidi Weiss-Krumm at oiss@lasierra.edu.

Getting to La Sierra University from the Airport

4500 Riverwalk Parkway
Riverside, California 92505
Security Phone #951-785-2222
Main Phone #951-785-2000

Your child should fly into:

• LAX (Los Angeles International Airport)
• ONT (Ontario- the CLOSEST airport to La Sierra University)
• SNA (Santa Ana- John Wayne Airport)
• LGB (Long Beach)

Transportation from the airport to La Sierra University can be scheduled in several ways.

• La Sierra University has contracted with a private service. All arrangements for airport pickup can be done online at lasierra.edu/book-airport-pickup/ . The cost is between $60-$95 depending on which airport your child flies into.
• Xpress Shuttle is another private airport shuttle that you may choose to book. The costs will be between $125-$175 depending on the service you choose. Reservations can be done online at xpressshuttles.com
• Shuttle Express vans (shared ride or non-stop) can also be booked online. The costs are between $77-$132 depending on the service you choose. Reservations can be booked online at xpressshuttles.com
• Uber or Lyft are also transportation services that some students use to arrive at La Sierra University. Uber is approximately $85-$107 depending on the time of day. Taxi service are also available to La Sierra University. Taxis vary in price but expect to pay between $120-$180 to arrive to campus.

La Sierra University has four residence halls for its undergraduate and graduate students. La Sierra University has as its policy for all students under 22 years of age to live in a residence hall.

Applying for residence in the dorms is easy. Please click on this link to apply and find out more about residential life. lasierra.edu/residential-life/

La Sierra University offers furnished rooms and meal plans to fit a variety of preferences. By living in the dorm, your student will not have to:

• worry about tons of bills. Instead one bill will cover ALL your student’s living expenses.
• deal with landlords, negotiate with plumbers, or worry about being locked out.
• pay for gas, parking fees and will avoid the hassles of commuter traffic.
• miss out of the many amenities: library, health club, Eagle’s nest, recreational facilities, group and individual study rooms.

The Dining Commons (Cafeteria) at La Sierra University offers many food choices. La Sierra University is committed to serving healthy vegetarian cuisine. Do not be surprised if your child complains about the food at the Dining Commons. This is very normal and you need to remind your child that an adjustment period is expected when moving away from home.

It is important to remember that adjusting to new food in a foreign country is difficult but that it is part of the experience of living in another country.

Be sympathetic to your child’s complaints about the food, but please understand that all the basic dietary needs of your student are being met. If your student has special dietary needs, the school will try to help your student, within reason. As you know adapting to different foods and learning how to eat healthy “away from your cooking” is part of growing up.

Your student may never adjust to the food or living in the residence halls, and at some point seek permission to move off campus. If this happens, please remind your student that they must follow school regulations before moving out of the residence hall. If they move without proper authorization they may be forced to return back to campus. This could be expensive if your child has signed a rental contract or lease in off-campus community housing.

Packing and preparing for a long trip can be challenging. Below are some suggestions:

• Minimize luggage. Make sure your student looks for information about the Riverside, California climate.
• Ship boxes directly to campus. If your student has additional clothes or things they want to bring to campus, they can ship directly to La Sierra University at-
  Your Student’s Name
  Attn: Residence Hall
  4500 Riverwalk Parkway
  Riverside, California 92505
• Purchase local or online. Remember that your student can purchase most things locally or online. If your student purchases several items through an online store (i.e. Amazon), they can have the purchase shipped directly to La Sierra University.
• No small electronics. Remember that many small appliances (hairdryer, iron, etc.) can be purchased once your student arrives on campus. If your child does bring electric appliances, remember that the electric current in the U.S. may be different, and power converters may need to be purchased. U.S. 120V/60Hz.
• One item that your student must bring or purchase here in the U.S. is a personal laptop computer. Your child will be required to use their laptop for many classes. La Sierra University has free wireless internet access throughout the whole campus.

Even the best students need time to adjust to new styles of learning and teaching methods when they first attend university in the U.S. There are many reasons why your child may have difficulties. Even if your child has excellent English skills, they may need to adjust to American English in daily life and in an academic setting.

If your student has met all English proficiency requirements but appears to be struggling with their English, it is important that they immediately communicate with their academic counselor or coach and speak with the Office of International Student Services. If your child is struggling with their English skills, this may negatively affect your student’s grades.

Another academic adjustment for your child may be the more common interactive style classrooms here in the U.S. Students are expected to interact with their professors and peers. Also, memorizing and repeating key information- while important- will not be sufficient for most students to be academically successful. Instead, students must learn to contemplate on the information they are learning, think critically about it, and then show the professor that they understand it and can relate it to other topics or areas of study.

Your student is expected to attend their classes. La Sierra University has a strict attendance policy that varies per program. Generally an 80% attendance is required to meet policy and receive a passing grade in each course.

Academic Support at La Sierra University

While most of our international students do well in their studies at La Sierra University once they have become accustomed to the different teaching and classroom styles in the U.S., your child may still have academic difficulties. If this happens, La Sierra University has a free tutoring program and writing lab available for all students to get extra support. Encourage your student to talk with their coach or advisor in the Office of Academic & Career Services.

Also, please encourage your student to attend the many academic workshops offered free of charge through the Office of Academic & Career Services.

As part of the F-1 visa process, La Sierra University has provided your child with an estimate of costs (this amount is written on the I-20 your child has received). It is important that your child be able to show the U.S. embassy the financial documentation verifying that your student can afford to attend La Sierra University for the first year but it is also important that your child have adequate funding for the entire length of their educational program.

Please take the time to be honest and realistic with your financial support. It is very difficult for international students (F-1 visa) to find funding or loans in the U.S. If you cannot fund your child for their entire program, it may be better to choose another school or wait until your finances have improved.

La Sierra University has provided the estimated cost for your child to attend La Sierra University on your child’s I-20 but there may be additional costs beyond the estimate.

Examples of other expenses:

• Books: Buying textbooks can be very expensive. La Sierra University estimates a minimum of $618 per quarter for books and lab fees. However, this is only an estimate and depending on the field of study that your child has chosen, these costs may be higher.
• Extra Living Expenses: Your child will need money for basic personal needs (bathing, washing, clothing, cell phone, etc.). Also, when your child first arrives at La Sierra University they will probably need to buy bedroom basics like bedding, lamps, computer supplies, decorations, storage units, etc. The Office of International Student Services has estimated on your I-20 about $600 a quarter for dorm students and $1000 a quarter for off campus students in personal expenses. However, these costs can vary depending on if your child chooses to purchase a car, needs to pay additional dorm expenses during vacation periods, travels, entertainment, etc.
• Transportation: Travel within the U.S. can be very slow and unreliable. Public transportation is available for La Sierra University students free of charge (with student ID card) but for many students it is not convenient. Therefore many students choose to travel using Uber or Lyft to get around local Riverside or travel to other cities in Southern California.

Managing Money

We suggest that your child not carry large amounts of cash (perhaps a couple of hundred dollars) beyond the first couple of weeks. Instead we encourage your child to open a bank account (generally free of charge to open) during the many opportunities during orientation week. If you want to pay your child’s school bill we encourage you to pay online or choose another method. Do not encourage your student to carry large amounts cash money while traveling.

Over the Phone

Call the Bursar’s Office at 951.785.2158
Office Hours (Pacific Standard Time)
Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 AM –4:30 PM
Fridays 8:00 AM –12:00 PM

Website

Go to www.lasierra.edu. Click on QUICK LINKS (top right corner). Select Make a Payment. The link will take you to a Cash Net website. If you do not know your log in information you can select “Click here if you know the student’s La Sierra University ID number but do not have a password” Fill out required information and submit payments.

Check/Wire Transfer Information

Our Name & Address:

LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY
4500 Riverwalk Parkway
Riverside, CA 92505

Bank’s Name & Address:

WELLS FARGO BANK
3765 Tyler Street
Riverside, CA 92503

Bank Account Number:

4895 289445

Domestic Bank Routing Number (ABA):

121000248

International Bank Routing Number (ABA):

WFBIUS6S

When sending wire transfers directly to our bank, please make sure that you provide the name of the student and student ID number.

In general, many undergraduate students choose not to work or only work for 10-15 hours a week. International F-1 students can work part-time on campus for up to 20 hours a week while attending school. Students are generally paid minimum wage which can help pay for personal costs or books. La Sierra University has limited employment opportunities for students so your child can expect to spend several months or quarters until they find a job.

After your child completes a full academic year of study, some students may be eligible for practical or optional training. Both of these require advanced authorization from the Office of International Student Services and must be granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

While the U.S. has a robust health care system, it is also very expensive and complicated. The U.S. does not offer nationalized health care to its citizens, much less foreign students. Because of this, it is very important for your child to have a health care insurance plan. La Sierra University requires all our international students to have adequate health insurance, as well as medical evacuation and repatriation.

La Sierra University has a wonderful Health and Wellness Plan at La Sierra University, which is available to ALL our La Sierra University students. The Student Wellness Center provides a variety of free medical services (family practice, gynecology, and psychiatry) and counseling services. The medical services provide referrals, transportation for dorm students, lab-work, radiology, immunization, and select medications free of charge to all La Sierra University students. The link to Student Wellness Center is https://lasierra.edu/health-services/. However, international students will also pay an additional cost for health insurance.

Our health insurance plan is beyond the Health and Wellness Plan provided by La Sierra University. This plan includes the following:

• Deductible of $100 (per injury/illness) Medical Office/ Urgent Care
• Deductible of $350 (per injury/illness) Emergency Room
• All other expenses 100% coverage to maximum limit of $300,000
• Prescription Medication 50% covered

To see a full description of the International Student Health Advantage Plan you can access the plan at www.lasierra.edu/oiss

La Sierra University strives to provide a safe campus for all our students. However, incidents do happen. You can visit our Campus Safety and Security website to see the services that this department provides as well as to see our statistics and reports of campus incidents.

During orientation, the Office of International Student Services will inform your student about local emergency numbers and will help them sign up on our campus-wide text-message emergency alert system. This alert system (Rave Mobile Safety) will inform your student of any important campus wide notification. These will include what type of crisis situation and what your student needs to do to keep safe.

The International Office also provides safety tips for your child on our website at https://lasierra.edu/international/international-students/safety-information/

The world has become very accessible. There are many communication options that are easy and inexpensive.

La Sierra University provides free Wi-Fi to all our students on campus (including residence halls, all buildings, and surrounding areas to campus. If you and your student has a computer or smart phone you will be able to e-mail, text, or call your student with little or no cost.

Most of our international students at La Sierra University choose to purchase a phone and sign up for a phone service when they arrive to campus. During International Student orientation several companies will share their plans and products with your child. The International Office also sends a couple of options to your child in their I-20 package. These are two very affordable choices that can be registered prior to your child arriving in the U.S. Both services will allow your child, as soon as they step off the plane, to call a 1-800 (free number) to activate their phones immediately.

While your child is studying at La Sierra University, you may want to come and visit him or her. There are several local hotels near La Sierra University. The closest within walking distance is:

Hampton Inn & Suites
4250 Riverwalk Parkway
Riverside, CA. 92505
Tel: 951-352-5020
Website: hilton.com

The costs for most of the hotels near La Sierra University are approximately $90-$120 a night depending on the time of year and accommodations.

Please discuss with your child the best times to visit. La Sierra University has several holidays and academic breaks during the school year.

EducationUSA is a great resource for you to find out more about preparing for your child’s trip to the U.S. You can visit their Web site at https://educationusa.state.gov/

Office of International Student Services also provides a very comprehensive website. You can get to know more about the services our office provides as well as links to additional resources you might like to know more about like- getting a drivers license or social security card. The website is https://www.lasierra.edu/international