Chicago Semester

What should I bring?
During orientation, you will only need clothing and personal items for the week. You must wear business casual clothes during the day at the hotel, and casual clothes are appropriate for evening activities. Please do not wear jeans during the orientation sessions at the hotel. You will want professional attire for your interviews. Other items you may need for orientation week:

• Laptop – helpful for doing research
• Portfolio – to carry resume and notepad to interview
• Checks – required for many payments during the week, including rent
• Comfortable shoes – there will be a lot of walking around the city
• Proper outerwear – especially for the winter

See Housing FAQs for more details on what to bring.

Where do we live during orientation week?
During the first week of orientation, all students and some staff stay in a hotel in downtown Chicago. At the end of the week you will move into your apartment for the semester.

What is the schedule for the week?
Wednesday all students will select an apartment. Thursday and Friday are the days for general students to go to their internship interviews and special track students begin working at their sites. Saturday you will move into your apartment and start exploring the city.

Is there anything in particular I should bring for the semester?
Packing for your semester in Chicago will be similar to packing for a semester on campus, but on a smaller scale. Remember, you are only in Chicago for 3 ½ months so you don’t need to bring everything you own! It’s important to remember you will have limited space for storage, so only bring the necessities. The following are not all necessary, but definitely helpful!

• Linens (i.e. towels, sheets, blankets, pillows)
• Toiletries
• Professional and business casual attire
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Snow boots and outerwear
• Kitchenware
• Iron and ironing board
• Personal computer (CS office has a computer lab for students to use.)

How do I get my personal belongings to Chicago?
You will move into your apartment the Saturday following orientation. Most students only bring enough clothes for the week of orientation and then their parents are able to bring the rest of their belongings on move in day. Another option is to send belongings via UPS. Remember you will be living with roommates who will also be bringing items for the apartment and who may have an easier time bringing items like a television, kitchenware or extra furniture. Students who live far away, sometimes bring everything they need for the semester to the hotel in a couple of suitcases.

Do I have to live in CS housing?
No, unless you are a student teacher. All student teachers are required to live in CS housing. The majority of the students live in the provided housing, but all other students besides student teachers have the option of locating their own housing. However, CS does require students to live in the city of Chicago; you are not allowed to commute from the suburbs.

Does CS assign roommates?
No. However, we do reserve the right to rearrange students before they move in so that everyone is accommodated and has a roommate. Rarely does CS intervene in this way.

What if I’m married?
If both spouses are attending the program, CS housing is an option. If only one spouse is attending and they want to live together, they must find their own housing. Only CS students can live in CS housing.

Can my friend who is not a CS student live in CS housing?
No, only CS students can live in CS housing.

Do people come to orientation already knowing who they will live with?
Some do, however many of the students come without really knowing anyone on the program, much less who they will live with. Everyone is open to meeting new people and making friends, and we have time set aside for getting to know each other in both large and small groups. As students start making roommate decisions, there will also be informal meetings designed to help those still looking for a roommate.

Are the apartments furnished?
Yes. All of the apartments CS offers are furnished with the basic essentials like beds, dressers, couches, desks, tables, and chairs. Students will still need to bring their own cooking/eating utensils.

Where are the apartments located?
The apartment buildings vary each semester but they are typically located in the Gold Coast, Near North, Uptown, and downtown neighborhoods.

How many seminars will I be taking as a general student?
Chicago Semester requires all general students to enroll in TWO CS seminars (even if credit is not needed at home institution) unless an exception is granted by appeal from the campus representative to the director. General students are automatically enrolled in the internship and practicum group.

How many seminars will I be taking as a special track-student?
Chicago Semester requires all nursing and social work students to enroll in ONE CS seminar (even if credit is not needed at home institution) and are automatically enrolled in an internship and professional seminar. Student teachers are automatically enrolled in student teaching and the professional seminar and typically do not enroll in additional CS seminars. Student teaching is a full-time experience. Therefore, enrollment in other seminars offered at Chicago Semester is discouraged since it interferes with the student teacher’s responsibilities in their classroom.

How much coursework should I expect?
A considerable amount. Each seminar typically includes various books, readings, writings, and a final paper or presentation. You will also have outside work to complete for your practicum group, which may include journals, reflective essays, readings, and presentations.

How will I find an internship?
We help. Our internship team works individually with each prospective student to locate a good site. Placements depend on your interest, your academic background, and occupational demands. During orientation, you'll interview at 2-4 different sites to find the right match.

Are there internships available for any major?
Yes. Students of any major can attend the program. We have had students from art, computer science, education, music, history, psychology, graphic design, social work, many business related fields, and numerous others attend CS.

Where are most internships located?
The majority of internship sites are located within the city of Chicago, and many of those are right downtown in the Loop. Occasionally a student has site options in the suburbs.

What should I wear to my internship?
Unfortunately, there is not a single answer for everyone. Some fields continue to endorse a business formal dress code, while others encourage a business casual atmosphere. Depending on your field, you may want to bring both business formal and business casual clothes for your interviews.

Are these paid internships?
No. Internships are unpaid. You receive college credit as compensation for your work.

What is the difference between a general student and a special track-student?
We have three special tracks that follow a unique schedule that includes nursing, social work, and student teaching. A general student is someone who has any other major than nursing, social work, and education. Chicago Semester works with students of ANY major.

Will attending CS be really expensive?
No. You can easily budget an affordable semester. Students who participate in the CS program are registered at their home campus and remain officially part of that student body. For this reason, you pay the regular tuition rate to your college as though you were a fulltime student. All scholarships and financial aid received on campus for room and board costs typically transfers to Chicago. Total living expenses depend upon the lifestyle chosen by each student; however, one can live in Chicago for almost the same cost as room and board for a semester on campus—sometimes cheaper!

How long is the program?
The CS program is a full semester (15 weeks).

When does the semester start and end?
The fall semester usually begins on the last Monday of August, and the spring semester typically starts in mid to late January. The semester ends 15 weeks after these start dates.

Are there any breaks?
The scheduled breaks are as follows: one day off during the second week of the program, a three day weekend in early October or March, and a four day weekend for Thanksgiving or Easter. Student teachers will follow the calendar of the Chicago Public Schools.

Does CS accept Canadian checks?
No. Unfortunately, the fees for processing Canadian checks have become too high for us to accept them. Please make your payment to us using a U.S. traveler's check.

Who is my campus representative?
Find your CS campus representative on the application instructions page.

Can I apply even if my college is not one of the 15 participating colleges?
Sometimes it is a possibility. Contact Clinton Stockwell, Executive Director, at clintons@chicagosemester.org for details.

Will my financial aid still apply to my costs?
Most scholarships, grants and loans still apply to your costs, mainly because you will pay tuition (not room and board) to your college just as if you were on campus. Obviously, work study and activity based (music, sports, etc.) scholarships will probably not apply. Check with your financial aid office if you have any questions and to find out if you can use aid money for your out of pocket housing costs while in Chicago. There is no additional financial aid available through CS.

Should I bring a car?
We strongly recommend that you not bring a car. Not only is it expensive, but traffic and parking difficulties are a fact of daily life. You will have an unlimited, affordable pass for public transportation, and you will quickly learn how to navigate the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) system during orientation.

Is parking available?
If you choose to keep your car in Chicago during the semester, locating parking is your own responsibility. (A parking spot typically runs between $250 and $350 per month.)

Are there computers available for student use?
Yes. But the hours of availability will not be as convenient as being back on campus. CS has (15) PCs with internet access and printing capabilities. These computers are available for students to use during office hours (9-6) and two evenings per week.

Will I have time to get a part-time job?
We do not recommend trying to work a paying job on top of your already packed schedule, however there are usually one or two students every semester who do. Keep in mind that you will have five days and two nights full during the week, along with your coursework.