To make the most out of your stay in Medellín, please take into account:

1. Contact the university at least three months before the date you expect to arrive, since visa procedures may take quite some time, due to documents that have to be sent by mail.
   
2. If you are going for an undergraduate degree, remember that your High School studies have to be validated in Colombia. To get a graduate degree, undergraduate studies only need to be validated by the Colombian Consulate or Embassy in your country.
   
3. Visa status cannot be changed in Colombia. If you plan to stay more than three months, please check with the Colombian Consulate or Embassy near you to learn about procedures and requirements.
   
4. Make sure you have somebody to pick you up at the airport, especially if your Spanish is not fluent. Rionegro airport is far from the city and, if you come late at night, it would be best to spend the night in a nearby hotel and wait until the next morning to come to Medellín.
   
5. Apartments for rent alone are not easy to find, need a collateral signature and may be expensive. It is recommended to rent a room or even be at a hotel rather than signing a contract that you cannot take back.
   
6. Once in the country, do not carry original ID documents. Make photocopies and have them stamped by a Notary.