Freshman FAQ

» How and when do I get my Connecticut College e-mail address?
» What kinds of mailings, forms and correspondence should I expect, especially with due dates?
» What is the procedure for COOP? Do families come to both COOP and arrival day, or choose just one to see students off?
» What can you tell me about my room?
» How do I sign up for the meal plan?
» When does Freshman Orientation begin?
» How early can we arrive at Freshman Orientation and where do we go?
» What activities are scheduled for families on Arrival Day? When do families depart?
» How much money will I need for books and supplies?
» Where do I get a bank account?
» Are there computers on campus for student use? Should I bring my own computer?
» How do I get my student ID?
» How should I send things to the College before my arrival on campus?
» Can I bring a car to campus?
» What is the best way to get from the airport or train station to Connecticut College?
» What are the local attractions, best restaurants, and lodging in surrounding area?

Q: How and when do I get my Connecticut College e-mail address?

A. Your Connecticut College e-mail address and password will be sent to you in late May at the personal e-mail address you gave us, so please check your e-mail often and keep us informed of any change! If you need to change the personal e-mail address on file with us, please contact admission@conncoll.edu before May 26.

Once you have activated your College e-mail account, we will use it to send you important information and updates throughout the summer. Please check that e-mail address at least weekly; after June 1, we will send updates and information to the Connecticut College e-mail address only. In late July, you'll get an e-mail letting you know your room assignment and who your roommate(s) will be.

If you don’t activate and check your Connecticut College e-mail, you will miss important information. You will also need that e-mail address to register online for two fall courses. If you don’t get your College e-mail address by May 26, contact the Help Desk at help@conncoll.edu or call (860) 439-4357.

Q: What kinds of mailings, forms and correspondence should I expect, especially with due dates?

A. You will receive a large packet in the mail from the Office of Admission and associate dean of freshmen and sophomores. Along with other materials, the Enrollment Guide inside cover has a checklist: a month-by-month account of forms you've received along with the dates certain information is due. You'll also receive periodic e-mails. Also, the forms are available for downloading here.

Q: What is the procedure for COOP? Do families come to both COOP and arrival day, or choose just one to see students off?

A. An application for COOP, the College's Outdoor Orientation Program, was e-mailed after you enrolled. There is a fee for the program and applications were due by July 1. The 2009 COOP runs from Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Saturday, Aug. 29 (Arrival Day). Back to Top »

Q: What can you tell me about my room?

We've tried to anticipate all your questions your room! You'll find answers in the Residential Life and Education FAQ section: Frequently Asked Questions About Residential Life.

Q: How do I sign up for the meal plan?

A. You're automatically signed up for the meal plan as a matriculated student. The plan consists of three meals per day, Monday through Friday, and brunch and dinner on the weekends. In addition to the dining halls on campus, there is a snack shop in "Cro," the College Center at Crozier-Williams. Your student ID card is your ticket for your meals in the dining halls. For the Cro Snack Shop, you can use your card until the dollar amount is depleted, and the dollar amount can then be replenished through the accounting office.

Q: When does Freshman Orientation begin?

A. Freshman Orientation begins on Arrival Day (the day all first-year students arrive), Saturday, Aug. 29, and runs through Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009. Classes begin on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Q: How early can we arrive at Freshman Orientation and where do we go?

Move-in is on Arrival Day, Sat., Aug. 29. Please arrive at your residential house starting at 9 a.m. You'll be greeted, given your key and swipe card, move in, meet your roommate(s) and get settled before the first event of the day. Your parents will attend their own Arrival Day activities from 9:30 to 11 a.m. while you head off to start Orientation. At the end of the day, there will be a closing reception for parents and students, after which parents will say goodbye and depart. More on Freshman Orientation.

Q: What activities are scheduled for families on Arrival Day? When do families depart?

A. The Program for Parents and Families is designed to give parents and guardians the opportunity to meet informally with faculty, attend mini-classes and workshops, and see College facilities. There is a President's Assembly, workshops and a closing reception from 4:15-5 p.m., after which parents depart. Our hope is that parents will gain a clearer sense of the life you will have on campus. The Program for Parents and Families is posted on the Dean of Studies Web site. Back to Top »

Q: How much money will I need for books and supplies?

A. Books can cost up to $600 per semester, depending on the classes you sign up for. The Bookshop on campus sells new and used books, notebooks, and other academic supplies. Many students also put signs up around campus advertising books they are selling at discount prices. If you plan on taking an art course, the Bookshop carries most of the supplies that you will need, at a 10-25% off the suggested retail price.

At the end of each semester, the Bookshop allows students to sell their books back and receive a percentage of the cost of the books.

Q: Where do I get a bank account?

Bank Accounts

For students' convenience, an ATM is located in the College Center ("Cro") next to the Bookshop. It is served by Citizens Bank, which also has a branch in New London. Students who don't already have bank accounts can set one up at any bank of their choosing. Also a few area banks will be on campus on arrival day for that purpose.

All student employees are required to enroll for direct deposit with a bank to receive their paychecks. The College will directly deposit an employee's paycheck into any U.S. bank; it doesn't have to be a bank that is local to the College.

Bookshop Account

All students may open an account at the Bookshop in the Student Center. It is a very convenient way to pay for books and all other needs at the Bookshop. These accounts are deposit accounts - parents or students can deposit funds up front, to be used as needed throughout the year. Cash, checks and credit cards can be used to pay for these accounts. The Bookshop can accept payments over the phone, by mail or through e-mail. For more information, e-mail bookshop@conncoll.edu.

Q: Are there computers on campus for student use? Should I bring my own computer?

A. Open access workstations are available in the Information Commons of the Charles E. Shain Library. The Advanced Technology Laboratory, also in Shain Library, contains computers and peripherals for the development of multimedia materials and exploration of new technologies. The Ammerman Center for Arts & Technology enables students to work with the faculty to study, use and create new technologies in their fields of academic interest.

Around exam periods, open access workstations tend to get very crowded. For this reason, as well as for convenience, we strongly encourage you to arrive on campus with a computer and appropriate Ethernet capability. Whether your computer is a laptop or a desktop, you can use network resources from your dorm room.With a laptop, you can also access the network from the library, laboratories and classrooms, and via wireless access points around campus.

The campus supports both Apple and Windows computers. You can buy your computer from one of the vendors listed on the College's online computer store. The College does not profit from this arrangement, which offers substantial discounts on select models of Dell, Mac and HP computers. In addition, by choosing one of these models, you're more likely to find support staff on campus who are familiar with your machine.

Q: How do I get my student ID?

A. IDs will be distributed on Arrival Day. Students should arrive at their residential house at 9 a.m. You'll be greeted by housefellows, floor governors and student advisers and will be able to get your ID and room key at the same time. Back to Top »

Q: How should I send things to the College before my arrival on campus?

A. Send by U. S. Post Office parcel post, FedEx or UPS. Parcels sent by UPS can be picked up from the campus post office on Arrival Day (Saturday, August 29, 2009) between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and again on Monday, August 31. Information about your campus mailbox and combination will be sent to you over the summer.

Address on all parcels must include your college campus box number (if available) and most importantly, "Class of 2013." Pack your belongings in boxes small enough to carry since there are no delivery services to the residential houses. Packages should be limited to 50 pounds.

For example:

Name of Student
Connecticut College
Box Number
Class of 2013
270 Mohegan Avenue
New London, CT 06320-4196

There should be a gold slip in your campus mailbox to notify you that your UPS parcel has arrived. You will need the gold slip and a photo ID to pick up your packages, since you will not yet have your student ID. If your packages arrived by parcel post, you will get a pink notification slip in your mailbox.

Please do not send packages more than one week in advance as there is a possibility they will be refused.

Q: Can I bring a car to campus?

A. You may find that you don’t need a car at Connecticut College. There are numerous transportation alternatives, including Zipcar, the Camel Van shuttle, SEAT (the local city bus) and several taxi services. Many students also use bicycles to get around campus and off. Learn more about these options in our Transportation section. If you still think you’ll need to bring a car on campus, learn more about motor vehicle registration and parking rules. Back to Top »

Q: What is the best way to get from the airport or train station to Connecticut College?

A. It is most convenient to get to the College if you land at Logan Airport in Boston (2 hours from the College). From there you can take the "T", which is the subway train, to South Station where you can take the Amtrak train to New London.

If you arrive at T.F. Green Airport in Providence, R.I. (45 minutes-1 hour from college), you can take a taxi or an airport shuttle to the Amtrak train station or the Greyhound bus station in Providence and from there take the train or the bus to New London.

If you arrive at JFK International Airport in New York, you can take the airport shuttle (AirTrain) to Penn Station where you can take the Amtrak train to New London. Or you can take the airport shuttle to Port Authority where you can take the Greyhound bus to New London.

Another alternative from JFK is to book a ride with Connecticut Limousine Services to take you from JFK to New Haven, where you can take the Amtrak Train to New London. Call (800) 472-5466 or (203) 878-2222.

Taxis are available from Union Station. See the Transportation section for more details.

There is no Amtrak train service from Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Conn. You may make a prior reservation for a livery/limousine service, such as Livery Limited (860-959-6339). Taxi service from T.F. Green Airport in Providence or Bradley Airport, Hartford, is also available, from Harry's Taxi (860) 442-4054. They require prior reservations.

Q: What are the local attractions, best restaurants, and lodging in surrounding area?

Visit our "Area Hotels, Dining" page for dining and lodging suggestions. In late summer, you'll receive the booklet "Over the Hump," which also includes a list of restaurants, shops and things to do in the New London area.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 16:19

Connecticut College