I have just travelled back to UC to start my junior year of college and it has had me reflecting on my first college travel trip. Traveling is always an exciting time. The anticipation, nerves and enthusiasm of the past few months are finally put to use.

As an international student, traveling does often mean lots of planes, paperwork, border control and jet lag. So to help you out, I have put together my best college travel tips for international students.

1. Know your travel itinerary: By now, you probably have all of your flights booked and organized. Double check everything you have booked and make sure you have enough time to make flight connections.
2. Pack in advance: Make sure you know luggage weight and size restrictions and start packing in advance. I always lay out what I am thinking about packing a few days early. This way I can switch out anything if I want to make changes before putting everything in the suitcase.
3. Check all of your paperwork: Traveling also means you will need a lot of paperwork to prove you are a student when entering the US. I like to keep all of my documents (I-20, passport and visa) in a plastic folder so I can access it easily and make sure nothing gets lost or forgotten.
4. Pack things to do on the plane: Some of you might have a long journey ahead of you. I fly from Australia which usually involves about 18 hours on a plane. I suggest packing some activities to keep you busy on the plane. Download some new music, pack a book or a neck pillow if you plan on sleeping the whole way!
5. Prepare for potential flight changes along the journey: Traveling internationally and domestically within the US can be affected by a number of things, such as weather or plane maintenance. You should prepare for flight changes. I recommend staying relaxed. If there are any major problems, airlines generally have helpful customer service desks that will be able to help you.
6. Organize airport transportation: The Cincinnati airport is about 20-30 minutes away from the university campus. You will want to organize some transport to your housing/ accommodation. UC International Services provide airport transportation services. You will be able to find more information on this during your online registration process.
7. Jet lag: As someone currently struggling with jet lag, I’m not sure I have too many helpful tips for you. I just try to stay awake for as much of the day as possible. I try to get myself into a regular sleeping pattern by waking up at regular times and avoiding naps.
8. Enjoy the travel journey: I really enjoy my travel time. It is nice to switch off for a while and take some time to relax before the school year begins!

I hope some of these tips help you as you make the journey to college this year! We look forward to finally having you on campus.