MySLC

Students can get to New York through JFK (John F. Kennedy International) airport, LGA (LaGuardia International) airport, or EWR (Newark Liberty International) airport. Use any of the following options from the airport:

• By Cab - There are yellow cabs outside each terminal at these airports. Be sure to take a New York City yellow cab from a cab booth outside the airport. While expensive, it is the easiest and fastest way to get to campus at 1 Mead Way, Bronxville, New York.

• By Public Transit - A combination of  subways or buses and trains can get students to campus. Detailed public transit directions from any of the above airports are found on the airline websites. From New York City, take the subway or bus to Grand Central Terminal, then take the Metro-North railroad to Bronxville.

• By Shuttle - Inexpensive airport shuttles can be booked from the airport to Grand Central Terminal. Various trip services are dispatched from the ground transportation booths located behind the baggage claim area of the airport. Private sedans, vans and limousines are offered, as are scheduled shuttles to Manhattan and Westchester locations and shared door-to-door service.

• By Airport Bus - NYC Airporter runs buses between JFK, LGA, and EWR airports and several points in midtown Manhattan. Service is frequent, and boarding points at airline terminals are clearly marked. A train stop is located at Park Avenue across from Grand Central Station to make a connection with Metro-North commuter trains.

• From Grand Central Terminal - The Metro-North railroad goes to Bronxville, about 30-40 minute ride. Purchase a ticket at the station or vending booth for the Harlem Line towards North White Plains, departing at the Bronxville stop. For more information including exact schedule and fares, visit http://mta.info/mnr/. Metro-North Railroad Harlem Line commuter trains run every half-hour between 5:00 am and 1:30 am weekdays, and hourly on weekends. Taxi service is available at the Bronxville Station for the short ride to the College.

• By Car - For detailed driving instructions, see Driving Directions to Campus.

On Opening Day, there is a welcome meeting for undergraduate students and parents. There is also be an orientation session for international students during orientation week. Topics included in this session are be on-campus employment, career counseling and internships, health services, and other important information.

Visit the academic calendar for specific dates: https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/academic-calendar/

Students are recommended to open a bank account in the United States. This makes accessing and depositing money easier, and avoids repeated fees for exchanging currency. 

During orientation, a bank representative is on campus. Banks that have participated in the past include Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Key Bank and Academic Federal Credit Union. There are other local banks around Bronxville and Yonkers which students may choose to use. The College does not endorse any particular bank, however Sarah Lawrence recommends opening an account at the bank fair, as the representatives are accustomed to working with college students and international students and may be more able to help and guide students.

This article provides some basic and important information about opening a bank account in the U.S. and choosing the right bank for you: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advice/guide-international-student-bank-accounts-us

When a student opens an account, bring proper documentation. Different banks require different forms of identification and proof of address, so students should bring their passport and student visa, and the I-20 as some banks require this as a form of identification. Students need to present proof of address, which can be a letter from the College showing the campus address. To present a letter verifying your status as an international student at SLC, email the request to regoff@sarahlawrence.edu for undergraduate students and tpettiford@sarahlawrence.edu for graduate students.

Students are recommended to purchase cellular phones and open accounts with a wireless provider once in New York. The College does not provide phones in dorms or campus buildings for student use. Using a phone from outside the U.S. often incurs expensive roaming fees. Many service providers have good international call plans that make calling home less expensive. Text and call apps such as WhatsApp are also useful when making international calls. The school does not endorse any particular service provider, so students are encouraged to do their own research and inquire about international call plans. Some major service providers include AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon.

Students can go directly to a mobile phone store to open an account (some are located in Bronxville and Yonkers; others are accessible through the Metro North Rail Road). Though different carriers require different documents, two forms of identification and proof of address are usually required. For proof of address, students can use a letter from the College with the address on it, a bill, or a driver's license.