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Admission to I-House

As a Resident member of the I-House community, you will be more than a resident; you will be part of a community committed to advancing the core values of Respect, Empathy, and Moral Courage that characterize the I-House Experience.

Admission to I-House is selective. Applicants are reviewed on​ ​individual​ ​merit,​ ​commitment​ ​to​ ​the​ International​ ​House mission,​ ​and​ ​a willingness​ ​to​ ​share​ ​their​ ​time​ ​and​ ​talent​ ​with​ ​the​ ​I-House​ ​community​ ​through​ ​its​ ​varied​ ​programs.

The Admissions Committee selects residents representing as many countries, cultures, fields of study and institutions as possible and seeks approximately one-third U.S. residents.

Each year we typically are able to admit 1 out of every 3 applications.​ We encourage all to apply!

Terms

Academic Year

The Academic Year extends from September 1st through mid-May.
The Academic Year is further broken up to the fall (September – December) and spring (January – May) semesters.

Most admitted applicants will be booked for the full academic year, unless the check-out date submitted in an application denotes departure in the winter or if an applicant’s eligibility documentation is valid only through the winter. Applicants graduating in December must provide separate documentation of eligibility for the spring semester to be permitted to extend their stay. Due to room availability, however, it is possible to only be admitted for the spring semester.

Priority in admission is given to those who, at the time of submission of their application, meet all eligibility requirements for the full academic year.

Residents can live at International House for a maximum of three Academic Years. Living at I-House during the summer does not count towards those three Academic Years.

Summer Term

The Summer Term begins in mid-May and extends through mid-August.

Applicants applying for the Summer Term must be 18 years of age or older, and do not have to be studying or working full-time to be eligible to live at the House. Summer applicants are reviewed in a less-rigorous process than Academic Year applicants, and are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Night of Nations, 2023

Admission Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to live at International House, applicants must be the following:

Academic Year Requirements
(September 1st – mid-May)

21+ years old

AND

Full-time graduate students

OR

Interns and trainees*

OR

Visiting Scholars

Summer Term Requirements
(mid-May – August)

18+ years old

AND

Undergraduate or Graduate students

OR

Interns and trainees* (full-time or part-time)

OR

Visiting Scholars

      *“Interns” and “trainees” are defined as graduate students or recent graduates (within 1 year of completion) gaining supervised experience in their field of study.

      Application Requirements

      Applicants must submit the following for their application to be considered:

      Personal Information

      Anticipated Arrival & Departure Dates – If you are accepted to live at the House, the Admissions Team will use the dates you provide in your application to determine your check-in and check-out dates.

      Room Preferences – It is recommended to list at least one room from both the North and South buildings for the best chance at receiving one of your desired room types

      Eligibility Verification – proof of your status as a student, intern, trainee, or visiting scholar

      Financial Verification – proof of your ability to meet tuition and living expenses for your application period

      Written Statement – in 100-700 words, applicants must respond to one of the following questions:

      1. Provide an instance from your personal life that embodies one or more of I-House’s values: respect, empathy, and moral courage. Explain what makes this value (or combination of values) significant to you and how this experience has impacted your perspective on life.

      2. Living in a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment like I-House offers unique opportunities for personal growth. Describe a situation where you sought out a learning experience that challenged your existing beliefs or capabilities and share how you anticipate your stay at I-House will further your journey of personal development.

      3. I-House thrives on the active participation and contributions of its residents. Describe any unique skills, perspectives, or experiences you can bring to the I-House community and how you plan to use these to enrich the lives of your fellow residents.

      $70 non-refundable application fee


















      Eligibility verification includes:
      For Students:
      acceptance letter for the upcoming or current semester
      OR
      registrar’s statement indicating full-time enrollment
      OR
      signed I-20 or DS-2019 form

      For Interns and Trainees:
      a letter from the organization or company indicating full-time status including your salary and the beginning and ending dates of your internship or training program

      For Visiting Scholars:
      a letter from your university or institution which states the full-time nature of your research
      OR
      signed I-20 or DS-2019 form




      Financial verification includes:
      a copy of your financial aid package from your university
      -OR-
      your current I-20 (also fulfills status verification component)
      -OR-
      a letter from your sponsoring organization
      -OR-
      a copy of your bank statement
      -OR-
      a letter from your employer stating your salary
      -OR-
      an affidavit of support from your parents or sponsor.




      Please note:

      All documents must be submitted in English or have English translations provided in the same document. 

      When to Apply

      Academic Year 2024-2025

      It is always recommended to apply as early as possible due to occupancy and to ensure that you will be notified of your admission decision on the earliest available date.

      Apply By:

      Receive Admissions Decision By:
      Friday, March 1, 2024 Thursday, March 15, 2024
      Monday, April 1, 2024 Monday, April 15, 2024
      Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Wednesday, May 15, 2024

      Summer 2024

      Interested applicants can apply to live at I-House for the summer or academic year terms beginning on February 1, 2024. 

      Summer applications are always reviewed on a first come, first served basis.

      Apply By:

      Receive Admissions Decision By:
      Monday, April 1, 2024 Monday, April 15, 2024
      Monday, April 15, 2024 Wednesday, May 1, 2024
      Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Wednesday, May 15, 2024
      Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Saturday, June 1, 2024
      Saturday, June 1, 2024 Saturday, June 15, 2024
      You will receive an update regarding the status of your application within 3 business days of receipt.
      Apply today

      How to Apply via the Portal

      To apply to International House, visit the application portal and create your account.

      1. On the menu bar at the top of the page, click on “Apply for Housing.”

      2. Select the term you wish to apply for: Academic Year or Summer.

      3. Select your expected arrival and departure dates. If you do not know your exact check-in and check-out dates, please select approximate dates, as you will have the chance to confirm your dates after you have been admitted.

      4. Rank up to five of your desired room types. We recommend ranking five choices, with at least one type from both North and South to ensure you receive one of your desired rooms.

      5. Applicants applying to live at the House during the academic year must respond to one of the following questions in 100-700 words:

        1. In addition to I-House’s core values of respect, empathy and moral courage we also value integrity and philanthropy. Which two of the five values of I-House most resonate with you and why?
        2. How do your personal, academic, and/or professional experiences align with the core values of I-House?
        3. What do you think will be valuable, and what do you think will be challenging, about living in a diverse and mission-driven community?
        4. How do you think you will contribute to the I-House community, and how do you think living here will benefit both you and other residents?

      6. Submit eligibility and financial verification.

      7. Pay the $70 application fee to complete your application.

      Once the application fee, all required documentation, the written statement and your room preferences have been submitted, your application will be reviewed, and you will be notified on the next notification date.

      Go to application portal

      After admission, incoming residents will be asked to pay a $1400 room reservation deposit, which is put towards the resident’s security deposit upon arrival. 

      Once the resident has arrived at the House, they will be required to submit the following to complete registration:

      • Verification of eligibility showing that they are indeed a full-time student, intern, trainee, or visiting scholar

      • Verification of medical insurance coverage

      • Confirmation of emergency contacts

      • A signed Resident Membership Agreement for the upcoming term(s).

      The Admissions Office will communicate with all residents via email regarding when residents must complete the registration process.

      If you have already been admitted to live at International House, please visit the Accepted Applicants page for more information regarding your next steps.

      FAQs

      Should I complete an Academic Year or Summer application?

      January 23, 2023

      If your stay begins in the summer and extends through September, or if your stay begins in the Spring and extends into May, please complete an Academic Year application. If your stay is ONLY through May-August, and does not extend into September, please complete a Summer term application.

      I am scheduled to start my program/internship in New York, but I have not received the formal letter from my school or organization. Can I still complete my application for review?

      January 23, 2023

      Proof of eligibility is important for your application, and your application will not be considered complete without official documentation. Please refrain from submitting your application until you have uploaded all the proper documentation, as you will not receive a notification of admission if your application is incomplete. Your letter of eligibility must be from within 6 months of submission of your application and it must indicate your full name and the term or dates of your program/internship.

      Can I apply to live with my spouse/partner/family?

      January 23, 2023

      We allow for residents to live with spouses or families only in a Studio or a One-Bedroom North building apartment. To apply with a spouse/partner/family, complete the “Family Members” section of the application. The spouse should create a new application and fill out the personal information section, including the “Family Members” section. Children do not need to complete their own applications.

      Can I apply to bring a pet to the House?

      February 3, 2023

      Unfortunately, we do not allow pets at International House. Emotional support and service animals must be approved to live in the House. Please review our Disability Accommodations Policy for more information on this process.

      I want to live at I-House during the summer and the following academic year. I notice the summer ends on August 15 and the academic year begins on September 1. Do I have to move out for those two weeks?

      January 23, 2023

      If you are staying all summer and into the following academic year, you do not need to move out between August 15 and September 1. Later in the summer we will fill in the gap in your booking and your fall semester charges will begin on August 15.

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      I want to live at I-House, but I cannot stay for the full term. Am I able to stay for less than the duration of the Academic Year/Summer term?

      January 23, 2023

      Yes! Our room rates are prorated, so residents can check in or out when it is necessary for their schedule.

      Does I-House require a minimum length of stay?

      January 23, 2023

      Yes, residents must stay at International House for a minimum of 30 days.

      Is there a maximum amount of time that I can live at International House?

      February 3, 2023

      So long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you can live at International House for a maximum of three Academic Years. They do not have to be consecutive.

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