Atlanta Summer Program, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
July 5 - 28, 2012
2011 ASP Rewind (34 MB)
Program Information and Application
- Obtain your passport before March 1. If you are
interested in participating ASP in any given year, you should secure
your passport before March 1. If you already have a passport,
check the expiration date of the passport - your passport must
have a validity date that is at least six months beyond your
intended period of stay in the United States.
- Program Description (updated
on 2/16/2012)
- On-Site Orientation Slides
- Contacts
- SJTU students, please contact SJTU Registrar's Office,
Administration Building Room B112, Ms. Cong. Tel: 3420-6405, ext. 160.
- TJU students, please contact TJU Registrar's Office,
Administration Building Room 204, Mr. Shan. Tel: 2740-6413.
- Application deadline:
Friday December 23, 2011 at SJTU/TJU
Registrar's Office. See contact information above.
- Acceptance: Students will be notified of acceptance by
Friday December 30, 2011 by SJTU/TJU Registrar's Office.
- Deposit due: 2,000 RMB deposit is due on Wednesday
January 4, 2012 for accepted students. SJTU/TJU will collect this first
payment (deposit) on behalf of GT.
- Instructions for preparing the bank
letter: Word version,
PDF version
- Course registration form for accepted students only.
This is an electronically fill-able form - please type in information
except for the signature part. Sign and date the form. For signature,
you can sign in Chinese, English, or whatever form that you will stick
with as your legal signature in the US. For home address,
enter your permanent home address (not your university dorm address).
SJTU Students
TJU Students
- Submmit required ASP documents by 5pm on Monday
March 5, 2012
to your home institution's Registrar Office:
- Completed course registration form
- Copy of passport information page
- Original bank letter (in English) showing a minimum balance of $3,400
or RMB equivalent - this is the minimum amount needed to issue you the
I-20 form by Georgia Tech. The US Consulate may expect a higher amount in
order to issue you the visa. Although the US Consulate may recognize other
forms of certificates of assets, Georgia Tech only accepts original bank
letter or statement to meet the I-20 requirement.
Instructions for preparing the bank letter.
- Balance of tuition and fees is now due:
16,500 RMB - 2,000 RMB = 14,500 RMB. SJTU/TJU will collect on behalf of GT,
the first payment (deposit) of 2,000 RMB and the second payment of 14,500 RMB
for a total of 16,500 RMB.
Financial Information
- Access to Funds while in the USA
- Make sure that you have some USD cash on hand upon arrival. It is not
easy to exchange RMB to USD when you are in the USA and the exchange rate
may not be as good as at the banks in China.
-
Using Chinese debit cards or credit cards to make purchases in the USA.
It is best to have more than one card in case the card that is drawn
from the Chinese bank is not widely acceptable in the USA. You may
also have to show your ID (passport).
- You may want to apply for a dual-currency (RMB & USD) Visa or
Mastercard in China
- Sales tax. In the State of Georgia, sales tax
is 3% for groceries and 7% for other items in most counties.
Since there is not a Value added tax (VAT) or goods and services
tax (GST) in the USA, don't expect to receive a tax-refund when you
leave the USA. According to this article, Louisiana is the only state
in the USA with tax-free shopping for international visitors.
Duty-free shopping is available at the Atlanta Airport
International Concourse E. If you buy perfume, cream, lotion etc at
the duty-free shop, please inquire whether you will be allowed to bring
them onto the plane or through security at any transit
airport since there are strict limits on liquid, gel and lotions
that are brought onboard due to security regulations.
- Tipping in restaurants with table service is expected.
It is customary to tip 15%-18% of the bill. Tip
20% if the service is outstanding, especially prompt or friendly,
or the server fulfilled many special requests.
Campus Information
- Campus Map
- Lodging at
Howell Residence Hall. Submit a
maintenance request if you are having problems with your dorm
room.
Housing office hours are M-F, 8am-5pm, Tel (404) 894-2469.
For emergency services after hours, please
call Emergency Duty Number (404) 428-6752.
Laundry is in nearby Brittain Hall.
- Supermarket:
Publix (The Plaza Midtown store) is at 950 W Peachtree St NW.
Tel: (404) 253-3544.
- Target Store at Atlantic Station:
375 18th St. Tel. (678) 954-4265.
MARTA Bus Route #113
passes by North Avenue and Atlantic Station.
- Campus Recreation
Center (CRC): This 300,659 sqft state of the art facility
is a unique expansion of the existing swimming and diving venue
built for the 1996 Olympic Games! The CRC's five floors contain
a competition swimming pool, leisure pool with 184' water slide,
diving well, sauna, studio workout rooms, raquetball & squash
courts, basketball & volleyball courts and climbing wall. The
cost is $24 for the ASP students for the duration of their stay
(this is a great bargain since normally the cost is $5 per entry).
For those that want to use the CRC, the membership fee is the students'
responsibility.
Acceptable form of payment: credit card or buzz card fund. No
cash. Bring your buzzcard and payment to the CRC Member Services desk,
and identify yourself as from the "Atlanta Summer Program Group"
or "ASP Group". The clerk will check you off the ASP roster,
collect payment from you, and have you sign a liability waiver
form. You will then be entitled to unlimited access to the CRC
during your stay. Note that it is important to identify yourself
as an ASP student since our arrangements with the CRC is unique.
- GT Dining
- Campus Tour. Learn interesting and important facts about
Georgia Tech through a campus tour. Visit the Tech Tower,
Gilbert Memorial Library, Bobby Dodd Football Stadium, etc.
Tours are held Monday through Friday,
except holidays. This is a walking tour led by a current
Georgia Tech student. Comfortable shoes are advised. In case of inclement
weather, it is best to be prepared with rain gear as the tour goes on
rain or shine. Tours begin and end in the
Bill Moore Student Success Center.
You can sign up for the tour as an individual or with friends.
First,
register online for the campus tour (choose either Freshman or
Transfer for the "Student Type" in order to proceed with registration).
Then, show up at your confirmed time slot at the
Bill Moore Student Success Center to start the tour.
Courses and Schedules
- Course description (updated
on 2/16/2012)
- Course schedule
Safety
- Please keep in mind that it is illegal for
persons under the age of 21 to consume alcohol in the USA!
- Safety Tips and Information
Campus Saftey Poster
Program Activities
- Please note that the Language Institute organizes a separate
set of activities for all Language Institute students including
the ASP students, the Intensive English Program (IEP) students, and
other summer program students (from Korea, Russia etc) as well.
Please pay attention to those announcements (in Evite format or
as emails) as well. What we list below are ASP's own
activities.
- Friday July 6, 2012, 10am-12pm.
Mandatory On-Site Orientation. Location: TBD.
- Friday July 6, 2012.
Get your buzzcard from
The Buzz Card Center. The program pays for the cost of your
buzz card (your ID on campus as well as keycard for entry into your dorm
building). You should visit the Buzz Card Center today
during 7:30 am - 4:30 pm (excluding the orientation period).
You are encouraged to deposit money into the buzz
card to pay for meals, laundry, Campus Recreation Center (CRC)
membership etc. You must bring your passport with you to the Buzzcard
Center to apply for the card. Please complete the
buzzcard application form which is available from your
trip leader, and bring the signed form with you to the Buzzcard Center.
- Friday July 6, 2012.
Bring to Language Institute your passport, I-20, and I-94.
Sign the
Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability form.
- Saturday July 7, 2012, 8:45am.
Day trip to Madison.
Board the bus on Techwood Drive next to Howell.
No food or drinks on the bus. Comfortable shoes are
advised as you will be doing a lot of walking. Click
here for
weather forecast for Madison, GA.
- Sunday July 8, 2012, 10:00am.
North Georgia Premium Outlets Shopping.
Board the bus on Techwood Drive next to Howell.
No food or drinks on the bus.
On return, bus departs from the outlet
at 7:00pm. If you plan to use credit card at the outlets please bring
your passport with you. Coach, Polo and other high-end stores
will check ID for international credit cards.
- Monday July 9, 2012. First day of classes.
- Monday July 9, 2012, 5pm.
Opening Ceremony & Dinner.
Location: Ferst Place on 3rd floor of Student Center.
Dress code: casual elegance.
-
CNN Studio Tour: visit is arranged through the American Studies
or American Popular Culture course
- Atlanta History
Center: visit is arranged through the
American Studies course
- Martin Luther King Jr.
National Historic Site: visit is arranged through the
American Studies course
-
The World of Coca-Cola: visit is arranged through the
American Popular Culture course
-
Turner Field: visit is arranged through the
American Popular Culture course
- Thursday July 12, 2012; time TBD. Special Seminar:
Applying to Graduate School and Avoiding Common Mistakes. Location:
TBD. Moderator: Prof. G. Tong Zhou
- Date TBD.
Special Exhibition of the Originals of Newton's Principia:
First, Second, and Third Editions. Location:
Homer Rice Center, 2nd floor East,
Georgia Tech Library.
Sir Issac Newton (1643-1727) laid the foundations of modern science.
His most important work was "Mathematical Principles of Natural
Philosophy", often referred to as simply the Principia.
The first edition was published in 1687, the second and third editions
were published in 1713 and 1726, respectively. Georgia Tech Library
is very fortunate to have all three editions and will give a
special exhibition to participants of the 2012 ASP.
A librarian will make two (identical) presentations,
to offer some background
information of the books (acquisition history, praised value, etc).
Contact: Prof. Ye-Hwa Chen, 404-894-3210.
Flyer.
-
Monday July 16, 2012, 6pm. Group A
Tuesday July 17, 2012, 6pm. Group B
Optional GT
Leadership Challenge Course.
Here is a movie showing GT students on the course.
Click here
for video on the Chinese Youku site.
"Georgia Tech Leadership Challenge Course provides an opportunity to
bridge leadership theory and leadership practice through activity.
Working in small groups, participants tackle multiple assignments
and challenges, which allow participants to exhibit leadership skills
and to receive swift feedback on their progress."
2011 price: $18 per person; due to your trip leader by July 9.
Clothing requirements: Closed toed, tie on (with laces) shoes are
REQUIRED; sneakers are best. Do not bring jewelry to the activity,
including watches, bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings.
Detailed requirements.
LCC Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability
Form - everyone must complete, sign and submit to trip leader
before the event.
Meet at the Leadership Challenge Course @ corner of Ferst Drive &
Hemphill Avenue. Map.
- Date TBD.
Mandatory Orientation for the July 21-22 Outdoor Adventures Trip.
Location: Campus Recreation Center (CRC) Room TBD. You will not need
the CRC membership in order to access the meeting Room.
Directions to Salvation Army store,
746 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, Tel (404) 523-6214,
where students can buy inexpensive clothes to wear for the outdoor
adventures trip.
- Dates TBD
Choose one of the above dates to join a Faculty-led Tour of the
State Capitol. Meet at 8:30am at the entrance to your
dorm (Howell) and take MARTA. A member of the
Georgia General Assembly
will be available to answer your questions about the legislative
process in Georgia.
Please bring your Georgia Tech ID (Buzzcard) with you for security
check before entering the building.
We will take MARTA. The State Capitol is close to the MARTA
Georgia State Station (change to East-West line at Five
Points station).
We are aware that the above time slots
will not suit everyone. Do NOT
skip your class in order to attend this tour. If you cannot make
to either one of the group tours, feel free to visit the State
Capitol on your own by taking MARTA.
Open government - video streaming of the
Georgia General Assembly Legislative Sessions is available.
Live coverage is available when the General Assembly meets from early
January to late March (or early April). Video archive is available
the rest of the time.
A sample piece of legislation:
Senate Resolution 225 "The Georgia China Future"
that was passed in the 2003-2004 legislative session.
- Saturday-Sunday July 21-22, 2012.
Optional Outdoor Adventures Trip.
2011 prices were: $89 for hiking, $102 for caving,
$115 for rafting. The above prices are all-inclusive: camp site,
camping gear, backpacks (if needed), caving/rafting gear, bus
transportation, food on-site, guides and outdoor activities.
Trip will be led by the GT Outdoor Recreations Department.
YouTube video from
2009 ASP. Board the bus at 8am on Techwood Drive.
Click
here for a general video about Georgia Tech Outdoor Recreation
activities.
- Friday July 27, 2012, 5pm.
Last day of classes.
- Friday July 27, 2012, 5pm.
Closing Ceremony:
Location: Georgia Tech Hotel Grand Ballroom Salons 4-6.
Dress code: casual elegance. Bring your stories and be prepared to speak!
- Friday July 27, 2012, 10pm.
Cleaning and move-out inspection.
Housing staff will come and check the
cleaness of your room. The $40 security & cleaning
deposit will be returned to you upon satisfactory inspection.
Instructions.
- Saturday July 28, 2012, time TBD.
SJTU students board bus to ATL airport for return to China.
- Saturday July 28, 2012, time TBD.
SJTU students board bus to ATL airport for continuing travel to Western US Tour.
- Saturday July 28, 2012, time TBD.
TJU students board bus to ATL airport for return to China.
- Saturday July 28, 2012, time TBD.
TJU students board bus to ATL airport for continuing travel to Western US Tour.
- Early August, 2012. ASP Memory Book
articles are due to your trip leader. Check with your trip leader
for your university's deadline.
- ASP T-Shirt Design
Social Interactions and Leisure Activities
(Information to be updated for 2012)
- Flicks on the 5th
-Enjoy your favorite movie titles on the big, outdoor screen at
Technology Square.
- DramaTech Theater
is the student run theater at Georgia Tech. This is the oldest
continuously running theater in Atlanta.having been around since 1947.
Next performance: Eurydice, on July 14, July 15, and
July 16, 2011.
-
Wednesday WindDown - free concert series on Wednesdays 5:30-8:00pm
at the Centennial Olympic Park
-
Music @ Noon - live music every Tuesday and Thursday from
noon to 1 pm at the
Centennial Olympic Park
- Events
at the Piedmont Park
- 50 fun things
to see and do in Atlanta
- Atlanta Go Club:
The Atlanta Go (Weiqi) Club is an informal gathering of local enthusiasts
who meet once per week to play and discuss the game of Go. Players of all
skill levels are welcome, from the complete novice to the seasoned veteran.
The Atlanta Go Club meets every Tuesday night from 7:30pm until 10:00pm
on the second floor of the Georgia Tech Student Center.
-
Photography Club. Check out the club's
calendar for upcoming events.
-
Georgia Tech Dance Association. Each dance starts with
professionally-taught lessons from 8:00 to 9:00pm and open dancing
from 9:00 till 12:00 midnight. Unless posted otherwise, all dances are held in
Georgia Tech's amazing 5,000 sq. foot, hardwood-floor ballroom.
Admission: $5 Tech students and ASEDA members, $10 others.
Next dance event: Friday, July 22, 2011.
-
Georgia Tech Badminton Club meets frequently at the 4th floor
of the Campus Recreation Center
(CRC). Check their practice schedule.
- Runnin' Wreck
@ Georgia Tech: Runnin' Wreck is an official GT club which
seeks to promote and develop the GT running community. When: Mondays,
Wednesday, and Fridays @ 5:30pm. Where: Across from the front entrance
of the CRC (Campus Recreation Center), at the bus stop.
-
The Craft Center
invites you to "give your left brain a break" and explore your creativity.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 12-8 pm, Friday-Sunday: 12-5 pm.
Passport, Visa and Customs Procedures
- Passport: If you do not have a passport, you must obtain one
before March 1, 2012. If you already have a passport,
check the expiration date of the passport - your passport must have
a validity date that is at least six months beyond your intended
period of stay in the United States. For example, if you plan to depart
the United States on July 28, 2012, your passport must be valid at least
through January 28, 2013. Renew your passport right away if this is not
the case!
- Documents needed to obtain the I-20 form (for F-1 visa):
completed application form, copy of passport information page, bank statement
- I-20 packet: Pick up from SJTU or TJU Registrar's Office
upon notification from your school
- Forms to fill out during flight:
I-94 form,
US customs form
- Customs information
-
Information for Chinese citizens traveling to the USA
Airlines and Airport Information
-
Korean Airlines baggage allowance information
- Delta Airlines baggage allowance information
-
Checked-bag limits are strictly enforced - weigh your bags before you
leave. For your departure flight from Atlanta, scales are available at
the Atlanta airport check-in area.
- Atlanta Airport terminals layout.
Baggage Claim for Korean Airlines is at Terminal North.
Baggage Claim for Delta Airlines is at Terminal South.
Take the airport train between the terminals.
- Atlanta
Airport security overview
- Security checkpoints
-
Restrictions on liquids and containers.
Don't keep perfume and cosmetic gift items (cream, lotion etc) in your
carry-on bag - they WILL be confiscated by the airport security. Pack
them in the check-in luggage, and keep the luggage closed but not locked.
- Airport pickup. Upon arrival at the Atlanta Airport Baggage
Claim Area, look for Georgia Tech personnel near the
carousel for your flight. After you have picked up your bags,
you will be led to the awaiting bus.
Once you arrive at the dorm building, you will be greeted by volunteers
who will give you key to your dorm room. You must
sign a key form acknowledging receipt of the keys and you can then rest.
Local Transportation
- Tech Trolley provides service between
Technology Square, the Midtown MARTA Station, and the main campus
-
Stinger Bus: Georgia Tech's campus bus service
-
Stingerette Escort:
6pm-7am. Limited to transportation between
Georgia Tech operated living accommodations, academic buildings, and
Georgia Tech facilities situated within the defined campus boundaries.
- MARTA:
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta's subway/light rail
service
- Taxi Companies. Checker Cab (770) 522-8294,
Style Taxi (770) 522-8294, Yellow Cab (404) 292-8368
Healthcare
- Insurance.
The program will pay for the insurance with up to $250,000 in coverage.
Please read the entire brochure
carefully, especially the "Medical Benefits" and "Exclusions" sections. We
will apply as a group, so there is no need for you to
fill out the form individually. Please note that the first $100 is
the student's responsibility (deductible), as well as 20% of the
next $5,000. The plan pays the rest. Doctor's office can call
(770) 427-2461 to verify coverage. In many cases, the insured
has to pay for the medical bill first and get reimbursed by the
insurance company later.
- Please note that ASP students are not eligible to receive services
from the Georgia Tech Students Health Center.
-
Minute Clinic for minor illnesses. Location:
Inside Georgia-Pacific Center, 133 Peachtree Street NE,
Atlanta, GA, 30303.
-
Concentra Urgent Care can treat a wide range of
illnesses, injuries, and common conditions and provides a variety
of wellness, diagnostic, and screening
services. Location: 688 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30308.
Tel: (404) 881-1155.
- Chinese-speaking physician: Dr. Hong Li, 3576
Shallowford Rd NE Ste A, Chamblee, GA 30341. Tel: (770) 451-9940.
Take MARTA to Doraville Station (end of the Northeast rail line).
The clinic is within walking distance of this MARTA station.
Map.
Miscellaneous Information
- Don't forget to pack pillow, blanket, sheets, towels,
umbrella, cell phone, charger, medicines, etc. Ordinary daily
necessities can be purchased from stores near campus.
Pack light so you still have room in the bags to bring back gifts
and souvenirs.
- Tap water in the US is potable - you can drink water
from the tap directly without the need to boil it first. Please
do not bring any 220V hot water heater. You can use the
microwave oven that is available on each floor to heat up
water in a coffee mug should you like to drink hot water.
- Electricity in the USA is 120V, 60 Hz; in China this is
220V, 50 Hz. Electrical applicances from China may not work properly
in the USA due to the above differences.
- Electric sockets in the USA have shapes
and
.
Laptop chargers, camera chargers, and certain electrical appliances
from China may not fit into the sockets in the USA.
Make sure that you bring plug
adaptors from China! It is very difficult to find plug adaptors in the
USA that fit traditional plugs from China.
- Use proper outlet adapters for
your electronics. Forcing the Chinese type plugs into the US style
outlets can spark the outlets (creating a fire hazard) and blow
the circuits.
- You are not allowed to burn candles, incense etc in the
apartment. Do not use masking tape, nails etc on the walls.
You will be ask to pay for lost keys or any damages to the apartment.
- Security deposit. We will collect $20 from each program
participant as a security deposit. If you cause damage to the dorm
facility and/or do not clean up your room before you leave, you will
lose the security deposit. Otherwise, the security deposit will be
returned to you on the day of your departure.
- US cell phone plan. If your cell phone works in the US cell
phone bands, you may want to get a US SIM card (cell phone number)
and a pre-paid plan such as T-Mobile's
"Pay As You Go Plan". There is a T-Mobile
store located in Technology Square, in the Centergy complex. Address:
85 5th Street, Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30308, Tel: (404) 685-8635.
- Visit area universities:
- Emory University.
You can board the free
Cliff Shuttle at the Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM),
formerly known as the Emory Crawford Long Hospital, nearby Georgia
Tech. Address of EUHM: 550 Peachtree St, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.
Shuttle schedule can be found here. Service frequency is
once an hour during the day and early evening, weekdays (M-F) only.
Look for the EUH/EUHM line.
- Georgia State University.
Take MARTA to Five Points, switch to east line, get off at
Georgia State station.
- Chinese-speaking travel agency:
First National Travel Corporation, Tel: (678) 530-0840. Ask for Toni.
The program does not officially endorse any travel agency
and is not responsible for students' personal travels. We are simply
providing information in response to students' request.
- Atlanta weather
Be flexible and keep a positive attitude.
Schedule changes and unexpected inconveniences will
happen. Treat them as part of the learning experience!
Contact Information
- Atlanta Summer Program Director:
Prof. G. Tong Zhou, Tel +1 (404) 894-2907
- Director of the Language Institute:
Dr. Karen Tucker, Tel +1 (404) 894-8758
- Language Institute
- Georgia Tech - Shanghai Initiative