All participants in the Rome Program need a valid passport as soon as possible. Passports take six to eight weeks to process. Regular passport service is free to US Citizens. Expedited service (two weeks processing time) costs $60, plus shipping fees. You will need the original copy of your birth certificate to obtain a passport. You will also need passport photos. The government web site below has information about passport offices and procedures.  There are several on-line services that offer overnight delivery of your passport. These services are new and expensive. We recommend going through the State Department to obtain your passport.

Participants in the Rome Program will need to obtain student visas. We will apply for visas as a group. A passport is necessary in order to obtain a visa.  Therefore, it is imperative that you obtain your passport as soon as possible. You will need a passport picture for the application, a copy of a bank statement from your parents' or guardians' bank account (you can also use your own bank account), and a return date to the United States. You need to have a notary verify your signature. Do not sign the form until you see a notary. The HUB information desk can notarize forms during limited hours. You can also go to your local bank.
International Student ID cards cost $25 and qualify their bearers for discounts on rail travel and museum entries throughout Europe. These cards can be obtained at several travel agencies, including Council Travel and STA on University Way.

Students with ongoing medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, etc) or drug allergies will need to travel with medical information, specifying the nature of their condition or allergy and steps to take if they have any medical problems in Rome. If you have a medical condition, discuss your trip with your doctor.  For students taking prescription medications, we recommend traveling with enough medication to avoid refills while in Rome (most insurance companies will allow extra refills for overseas travel). However, you should bring paper copies of prescriptions in case your medication is lost or stolen. The instructors will ask you for copies of this information prior to the onset of the trip.

CLOTHING

Men and Women

• 2-3 pairs of comfortable walking shoes or sandals
• 1 pair slippers or flip-flops (for walking around your apartment) 
• 1 swimsuit
• 5-7 sets of underwear/socks
• 1 cardigan, sweater, or light jacket
• 5-7 T-shirts/shirts/blouses
• 1 pair pajamas
• 1 hat
  

Women

• 2-3 skorts, shorts, or skirts
• 1-2 pairs pants or capris (lightweight fabrics: linen, cotton, or tencel)
• 1-2 dresses
• scarves and/or lighweight shawl
  
• 2 bras 

Men

• 2-3 pairs pants (lightweight fabrics: linen, cotton, or tencel)
• 2  pairs shorts

TOILETRIES/MEDICINES

• Toiletries Kit (to get through your first few days, you can buy what you need in Rome)
• Medicine and Vitamins (bring enough for entire trip, keep in original containers, with legible prescriptions)
• Small First Aid Kit (band-aids, moleskin, tweezers, etc)
  
• Sewing Kit
• Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Earplugs (several pairs)
• Stain remover (small)
• Sunscreen
  

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, MONEY, and SECURITY

• Money belt
• Passport
• Visa
  
• Plane Ticket or Electronic Ticket Receipt
• Debit/Credit Cards (2 cards for cash withdrawals from ATMs)
• International Student Identification Card
  
• Traveler's Checks (optional)
• Copies of passport, visa, plane tickets, and prescriptions.
• Money (Euros or Dollars)

BOOKS and SUNDRIES

• Required books for the program
• Journal (personal)
• Journal/Notebook (class activities)
• Pen/pencil
  
• Guidebook 
• Map
• Italian Phrase Book (compact)
• Address list (for emergencies and postcards)
  
• Art supplies (optional)
  
• Camera and film or memory cards
• Travel alarm clock
• Small daypack or bag
• Sunglasses