<p>Hi All,</p>
<p>My daughter’s return flight is at 5:55 p.m thus she needs to be at the airport by 3:55 p.m. </p>
<p>For those of you who have been through the process, approximately how long does orientation and checkout take? Are there any tips to ensure that this can be done within our two hour window (orientation starts at 1:00 P.M).</p>
<p>Yeah, you’re cutting it pretty close timewise. You need to budget at least 55 minutes getting from USF to the airport, and that might not be enough if you get tangled up in traffic by the airport. You should phone the orientation people at USF and explain your situation and see if you can complete any required paperwork, etc., in advance of 1:00 if you have to leave by 3:00 and orientation session isn’t completely finished. Good luck!</p>
<p>you’re cutting it close. they may or may not be able to accomodate that. a later flight would be safer.</p>
<p>Thanks all. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, that is the last flight. I think I’m going to have to look into an overnight stay at a hotel. This makes me a little nervous as we are international and this will be her first time travelling by herself.</p>
<p>Oh well, of to more planning</p>
<p>Maybe reschedule to attend the scheduled orientation session that is a couple of days just before beginning of when semester starts, then your daughter wouldn’t have to make the extra trip back and forth to home. Even if USF says the session is full, they probably would flex some to let her attend the last orientation session if you ask; explain you are international and trying to avoid expense of extra trip. </p>
<p>[Dates</a> and Fees - First Year Students - Orientation - University of South Florida](<a href=“http://usfweb2.usf.edu/orientation/first-year-students/dates-fees.asp]Dates”>http://usfweb2.usf.edu/orientation/first-year-students/dates-fees.asp)</p>
<p>Thanks, lizard.</p>
<p>The only problem is that the first two days of Engineering Smart Start (a program that my daughter wants to attend) is the same time as international orientation and on the third day of the program she has to attend a mandatory international student checkin. In essence, if she attends the August orientation, she will only be able to attend one day of the Engineering Smart Start program.</p>
<p>Seems nothing is ever easy! If your daughter does stay extra night after the orientation, there is a convenient hotel right on USF campus which would allow her to maybe walk around and explore the campus a little more the next day. Good luck, you’ll figure out what to do.</p>
<p>[Tampa</a> Hotels | Embassy Suites Tampa - USF/Near Busch Gardens | Tampa, FL](<a href=“http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/embassy-suites-tampa-usf-near-busch-gardens-TPAFRES/index.html]Tampa”>http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/florida/embassy-suites-tampa-usf-near-busch-gardens-TPAFRES/index.html)</p>
<p>This sounds like a possibility. </p>
<p>“On USF campus”, does this mean walking distance from the orientation building?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>The USF Embassy Suites is right on the USF campus about 3 city blocks from the Marshall Student Union where the orientation is headquartered. Easy walk, don’t have to cross any busy streets, plus USF has shuttle buses running continuosly all over campus–just hop on Bull Runner bus and the driver will get you to any campus destination no problem. The Bull Runner will even run her down to Busch Gardens Amusement Park (about 1 1/2 miles) if she has time–gotta pay admission though! There’s a map in link above for hotel and how it is situated on campus. She’ll be plenty safe.</p>
<p>Yes, it is within walking distance. If you look at the USF map, the hotel is actually on the physical campus itself.</p>
<p>Thank you so much. You guys have been a great help. I feel so much better about my daughter travelling by herself.</p>