Thread: School and Island Info for Fall 2012 students

Congrads and Good Luck to all incoming MUA Fall 2012 Students. I was fortunate enough to spend a week visiting Nevis (pronounced KNEE-vis) and MUA is summer and thought i would share some info.

1. Getting there.
DO NOT FLY TO THE AIRPORT ON NEVIS....the cost differential to fly there as compared to St. Kitts is not worth it.

I know there will be wide diversity in where people are coming from, but all end up on a 34 square mile island. I suggest setting up an American Airlines "AA Advantage account" as the seems like the Airline that visits ST KITTS most frequently flying through Miami and PR. I think Delta also flies there through Atlanta or Charlotte. Search out your cheapest way , i like cheaptickets.com

The St Kitts airport seems modern enough; customs and immigration went smoothly. You then need to take an approx $10US taxi to the dock in Basseterre to get the ferry from there to Nevis.
The ferrys leave essentially hourly during the day with the last at 6pm. There is a website with the schedule
but don't trust it- when i was there they cancelled a trip so plan on taking the earliest possible on. The trip one-way is $11 US. The Ferry goes to Charlestown in Nevis. This is the largest town on the island so while there if you need or want to shop or do banking all is within walking distance of the dock. The you have an approx $15US taxi ride to MUA from Charlestown.

2. MUA Campus

Let me just say that my expectations of what to expect were exceeded. The campus sits on an old sugar plantation on the atlantic side of the island (the side without beaches). It sit back of the main island road about 400 yards after a nice long private driveway and sign. The campus is large and well-maintained. The staff are very professional. The library is modern, the main classroom building is a large three story structure- the tallest building on the island. Seems like all classrooms and study areas air-conditioned. There is a cafe which operates 7am-7pm M-F, and 11-6 saturdays. There is a 24 hour study area next to the cafe and gym (which requires a small additional membership) in the main building, but appears to be a work out on your own deal, mostly cardio equip with some free weights.There is also a outdoor pavilion and picnic area- but the swimming pool is gone. Professors seem very accessible and friendly. The ones i spoke with are happy to be teaching at MUA and positive about the schools future. Overall the campus is very functional and there are rumors of a new building project. WiFi is free on campus

3. Food.

The Cafe on campus provides meals 6 days per week. There is a meal plan with two parts: meals are $8-thats for any meal, breakfast lunch or dinner. That includes a soft drink. You by the in increments starting at 30 meals; the is a slight discount as you prepay for the meals, i think 30 meals was $238 US and 60 meals was $475; then there is a flex part of the plan where you prepay at least $100 and thats for drinks, snacks, etc. All is kept track at the cafe by the staff. No meal card or anything required. The food was tasty and menu varied enough for most tastes. They also serve items ala carte and they take US$ and credit cards. There seems to be other food and snack vendors the come to the picnic area and set up stands selling food an drinks on a regular basis. In fact on of the best restaurants on the island- an indian one told us they were going to start selling at MUA. There is nothing within walking distance of campus. Most students seem to either eat lunch on campus or drink or walk home to eat.

4. Dorms

There are two Dorm complexes associated with but not run by the school. Potworks and Rawlins.
Potworks is about 400 yards from the school and an easy five min. walk on a back road. It is a somewhat modern complex of three or four 3 story motel-type buildings. These rooms are mostly singles or studios; with a few doubles and suites. Mostly MUA students but some locals too. This is the quiet dorm. I spoke to some student who implied Rawlins was the party dorm. The rooms have most of the essential furniture you need with the exception of a desk lamp. All rooms are AC equipped and they have back-up power, WiFi and cable are extra. A fair number of students have cars too. Getting a ride to schools seems easy. There is a small store and cafe on the roof of one of the dorms which is open 7 days a week and sells meals and groceries including beer.The other dorm complex, Rawlins is about 5 to ten mins from campus and really NOT walk-able. The main road is narrow and poorly lit. Rawlins is a larger complex of mostly doubles. Its off the main road but near mini-market gas station with has a Bank of Nevis ATM (there is no ATM on campus). I am told there is some type of bar at Rawlins, but did not see it. The office for both dorms is at Rawlins which is where rent is paid. The school runs a shuttle van to Rawlins and the schedule is posted on the campus website

5. Cell Phones

During orientation the two cell providers: Digicell and Lime will provide free phones loaded with some complimentary minutes for student to try. The phone service is a pay as you go type thing common in the caribbean.

6. Banking

Two banks to pick from Sciota Bank and Bank of Nevis. School has a relationship with Sciota but Scotia is only located in Charlestown- a 20min. drive. The school does run a van there fridays (see above). Bank of Nevis is also in Charlestown but has the ATM nearer the school at Rawlins.
Seems like most places like restaurants, etc take debit/credit cards and US$$ -not much need to carny EC$

i totally agree. there are many med 5's who are looking at getting rid of their stuff and books. I think there are more george forman grills than students down there.

Originally Posted by Dr19124

Quick word of wisdom from an upper class mate.... DO NOT ship any books down. You will waste your money. Each semesters, you will find upper classmates selling their books right there in front of your class. You will manage to buy any book you need ( or get a PDF version of it).

As for food, it becomes a personal choice..... But you can find what u want at different stores in Nevis. I guess if you fraction in the shipping cost, it becomes the same price as getting the food in Nevis. Only bring down what u NEED and your electronics... Food can be bought in Nevis.

Hi! I'm a newbie to MUA and just booked my flight from Newark,NJ - San Juan, PR - Newcastle. How do I get from Newcastle to Charlestown? I will be arriving on the eve of the 26th and hope that all will go smoothly! Any advice for me would be greatly appreciated!!

Originally Posted by meddeb

Hi! I'm a newbie to MUA and just booked my flight from Newark,NJ - San Juan, PR - Newcastle. How do I get from Newcastle to Charlestown? I will be arriving on the eve of the 26th and hope that all will go smoothly! Any advice for me would be greatly appreciated!!

Newcastle is close to MUA so I suspect you take a taxi; Charlestown is the opposite direction

Thanks for the info. What about Sint Maarten to Nevis...this is my cheapest option.

Although you can fly into Nevis on the local caribbean airline from st maarteen its much less expensive to fly to st kitts on a major airline and then take the ferry over to Nevis

Meddeb, since you are a new student, you will be met at the airport by the school rep/housing coordinator, and get you to your housing, and provide you with information pack, and phone. Notifiy housing@mua.edu of your arrival date and time, and your all set. You won't need to go to charlestown when you arrive.

Very nice. A phone upon Arrival? Now that's thinking outside the box. Back in 2007, We had a few days before getting to that. And it was a bugger to function with no phone.

MUA Campus Webpage- click on Schedules on left Margin

Seems quite attracting, and very well written, by the wayf if anyone is seeking help in Microbiology/Immunology, feel free to write to me : jfcarod at yahoo dot es
I am a prof. of Microbiology.
Isn't the price of goods on the island too expensive ? haw are the people there ?

as an important add-on; it is highly suggested you bring a wireless router if your planning on staying in the dorms; and also bring more than a box or two of gloves