Information for International Students

The first objective of the Coordinator of International Programs is to make international students and their families feel welcome at Hotchkiss. Moving from one culture to another always involves change, from clothing and food, to academics and athletics. It may also require complex arrangements for travel and accommodation. We hope to make the transition as smooth as possible, and encourage students and parents to contact us with any questions.

International Student Orientation

New students and their family members take part in an orientation program, which includes an informal luncheon for all new international students, families, advisors and mentors at the Head of School's home. Students and their families also have the option to familiarize themselves with the region beyond the campus and get to know some of the sites in the Housatonic River Valley.

Students may well wish to prepare for their time at Hotchkiss in the summer before they arrive. For non-native speakers of English, taking advantage of opportunities to speak and read in English can help ease the transition to a predominantly English-speaking environment. In addition to the required reading, both the Summer Reading List (PDF, 1.37MB) and the "Other Recommended Titles" list (PDF, 162K) include additional recommendations from the English Department for recreational reading.

School Year Activities

During the school year, the International Club hosts frequent social gatherings as well as outings to local international restaurants. Other student clubs organize international film festivals, visiting speakers, dinners, teas, holiday celebrations, and other cultural events. A list of organizations can be found on the Student Clubs and Activities page.

Host families may be arranged for international students who wish to remain in the U.S. during the Winter and Spring Breaks. Activities for international students, such as trips to Boston or New York City, are organized over shorter breaks, such as Parents Weekend in October and the Long Winter Weekend in February.

For More Information

Please feel free to contact David L. Thompson, Coordinator of International Programs, with questions at any time.
Telephone: 860-435-3179
Email: dthompso@hotchkiss.org
Fax: 860-435-0042

Contact Information

David L. Thompson
Coordinator of International Programs
Email: dthompso@hotchkiss.org
Phone: (860) 435-3179
Fax: (860) 435-8056

Cultural Resources

Background information on general U.S. culture and recommendations for preparing for the academic culture at Hotchkiss. Please note that these are general observations about culture, and may not apply to every situation you encounter.

Adjusting to Academics at
        Hotchkiss

Living and Working in the
        United States

Values That Shape U.S. Culture

A Few Statistics

84 students (about 14% of the student body) have addresses outside the United States.

Current countries represented
25 countries: Australia, Bahamas, Botswana, Bulgaria, Canada, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, Singapore Republic,
South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States.