Exchange Application
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - Global Programs
0018 Curtiss Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011
Voice: 515-294-5393
Email:
agsao@iastate.edu
We are very pleased that you have decided to spend your exchange period (
Your official designation will be Non-Degree, J-1 Exchange Student while at ISU.) in the U.S. at Iowa State University (ISU). You will find us to be a welcoming and safe community in the heartland of America.
"ISU is located in Ames, a city of population 50,000. Ames is situated in the state of Iowa in the middle of the United States. Ames is fifty kilometers from Des Moines, a city of 200,000. Visitors land at the international airport in Des Moines and travel the short distance to Ames. Ames is a beautiful city with many parks, excellent public schools, and a very low crime rate. The long history of cooperation between ISU and Ames has helped maintain a very high quality of life for those in both communities. Ames has been designated an All-American City and was recently named the second best small city in America. These awards recognize Ames as one of the most livable, well-run, safe cities in the United States. The motto of the city is, "Ames, where the world meets."
-From the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) Website
The Iowa State Exchange Student Experience
Here you will find links that will be of interest and of use to you:
Student Life at ISU
Housing Information
International Students and Scholars
Iowa State University
City of Ames
CyRide - The city and campus bus service
Course Catalog
Academic Calendar
Iowa State's Points of Pride
Make Iowa State Your Exchange Destination
Below you will find the "Apply Now" button. This is your portal to the ISU Exchange Application. Much of the information you will need to provide is on-line. In some cases you will be directed to another site to submit information. In the event you have questions, please contact ISU Global Ag Programs
10 Steps to Study with us at ISU as an Exchange Student:
1. Click on the “Apply Now” button below. It will ask you if you have started an application before. You will say no (the first time.) A link will be sent to you with a password so that you can log into the system. Once you have logged in, click on 'Incoming Exchange with (Your University Name).' Chose your study period (1. Fall, which runs from August through December. 2. Spring, which is from January until mid-May. 3. Academic Year / AY which is a combination of Fall then Spring. Your home institution will help you select the best choice for you.
2. Once you have logged in for the first time, you can log out and go back at any time. Your application will be waiting for you to resume on your "Applicant Home Page." Click on this application and it will open back up for you to work on again.
3. You will be asked to do a 'Recommendation Request." This is for a member of your institution’s International Programmes Office to complete. This is not a character or academic reference. This tells us that your school knows you are coming and agrees to allow you to come as an exchange student. You will need the name, email address and phone number of this staff person to request this recommendation.
4. Complete the remaining items you will find in the application. They are mostly self-explanatory. Many you will just read and click ‘agree’ on. Others you will fill in the blank. 1 item has a link to another page in a different system.
5. Your application will be routed for acceptance, as soon as all your items are done. You will be assigned to a college based on where the majority of your requested courses are housed. The College will look at the courses you are interested in taking to see if they are available, as well as whether you have the necessary prerequisites for anything you are looking to take with us.
6. Assuming everything checks out, they will approve you and we will send in a request for a DS-2019 visa document for you. Your letter of acceptance and this DS-2019 will come to you in the mail to the home address you enter into your ISUAbroad application.
7.. Once you receive notification of acceptance (you will get an electronic notification, as well as a paper copy) you can buy plane tickets, planning on arriving around the Monday of the first week before classes start for your orientation and check-in.
8. As long as you do not have American citizenship, you will arrange a J-1 visa appointment with the nearest US consulate. http://j1visa.state.gov/participants/
9. Instructions on how to look through our course catalog, apply for the J-1 visa, (as well as many, many other things), can be found under the heading of “Learning Content” in your ISUAbroad application.
10. Check our our Facebook Page for great information about life at Iowa State University: Iowa State University Incoming Exchange!
You can see why that important first step of logging on to ISUAbroad is critical.
Both courses and housing are on a 1st come-1st served basis.
That is why the system favors those who complete their applications in a timely fashion, as early as possible.
