Frequently Asked Questions for Parents
1-How can we pay the tuition bill? Can we pay the tuition in installments or does it have to be paid in full?
The tuition fee must be paid after the student registers and completes the visa process, before his/her classes starts. Tuition fee and other expences are billed per term. You can find the instructions for payments at student’s account on university’s web page where she/he can log in with her/his student number. You can use your credit card or transfer the tution bill into school account through ‘flywire’.
There is an option to pay the tuition fees in installment. You can pay the tuition fees in 3-4 installments as long as you complete the payments in a semester. The university charges a small amount of fee for the installment option.
2-How much money does my child need to bring with her/him?
Although it varies from student to student, except for meal plan and accomodation,the university recommends an annual allowance of at least $1,000 for books and supplies and $1,500 for personal expenses and incidental costs.
We do not recommend that your son/daughter carries large sums of cash when traveling to the U.S. Please bring a small amount of cash (a few hundred dollars) along with a credit card.
If your child plans to bring more than $10.000, he/she is supposed to submit a form called “Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments" form FinCEN 105” to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). You can find the form from this link.
3-Where will my child accommodate?
There are many dormitories to meet the accommodation needs of students on campuses. Usually student will share room with one or more students (same sex). Many campuses can offer single sex floors or suites, if you prefer. If students plan to live on campus, they should complete housing application as early as possible to make sure to get the room of their choice. There are off-campus accomodation options such as private dorms or students apartments however campuses are not able to make recommendations or take any responsibility for those who live off campus in private apartments.
4- Is there supervision in the university residence halls?
Each building has professional, live-in supervisory staff known as the Residence Hall Directors (RD) and Assistant Hall Directors. The RD generally has a master’s degree in student affairs administration, college student personnel or counseling.There is a team who is ready to respond to emergencies, help with roommate problems, facilitate programming, answer questions.
5- What are the meal plan options for student?
All SUNY campuses provide options based on student’s eating habits. There are cafes, restaurants and dining centers for students on our campuses. Students living in residence halls must have a meal plan according to their eating habits. Meal plan prices vary according to the number of daily meals. Although it is not mandotary to have one, students who lives off-campus can also purchase a meal plan according to their diet.
6-How do students get to campus from the airport?
When the students go to US as a group, generally coordinators meet them at the airport. If the student goes individualy, then she/he needs to get in contact with coordinators and then plan how to get to the campus.
7-Is the campus safe?
Our campuses are all safe. Each campus has its own police department whose officers patrol the campuses and surrounding areas. All residence halls are secure buildings that only residents can enter using their electronic door cards. Emergency telephones with direct links to the police are located at many places around the campus.
8-What if my child becomes ill?
Students pay a mandatory Health Service Fee, which gives them access to excellent primary Health Services on campus. Other off-campus medical services may be covered under the mandatory Student Medical Insurance plan, which provides extensive coverage of medical costs for international students. Our campuses also have a Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to students.
9-Where can we stay if we want to visit our child in the U.S.?
There are affordable hotels where you can stay around the campuses.
You can watch parents videos from this link.