Application Process for MS in US Universities
For Indian/International Students [with specific inputs for students of Uttar Pradesh Technical University(UPTU)]
Get Set Go !
Shopping and departure preparations
Arranging for temporary and permanent
accommodation
Once you are there.
Topics on this page:
Most international airlines allow 2 boxes of 23 Kg.
and a hand baggage of about 18Kg.
So, the idea is to take as much as you can. I downloaded a exhaustive list
(again from edulix). I believe that the list is exhaustive enough so that
you may not need to add anything. Instead, you'll only require to strike
off many things to fit your scenario.
The idea of the list is to include anything that one can think of. You
cannot carry everything. Normally students identify their probable
roommates beforehand and divide the stuff amongst them. You can download
the list here:
The clothing you carry will vastly depend on the place you are going. If
you are going to a cold place which has subzero temperatures during
anytime of the year (NY, PA etc.), then you can carry a couple of sweaters
and jackets. However, you'll still need to buy a good jacket (that can
withstand extreme cold) and snow boots once you are in US.
Its very important that you carry at least 1-2 days of food supplies with
you. You may not settle down immediately once you are there. In such a
case its very important that you have things that you can survive on for a
day or two. You should carry enough maggi, biscuits, cakes and 'Ready to
Eat' stuffs to keep you going for at least 1-2 days.
You should also find some time to learn cooking so that you are at least
able to cook some basic stuff. Cooking is easy. Try to get some hands-on
before you go to US.
Take some basic medicines with you. Remember that custom officials require
prescription for whatever medicines you are carrying. Make sure you are
carrying the prescription of the medicines.
Books are very costly in USA. You can take some books with you. I'll
advise that you should contact your seniors in the same program as yours
and ask the particular books that are required for particular courses that
you are taking for first semester. This way you can get the right books.
(nothing more, nothing less)
Money Matters:
You can carry money with you in various ways. Most common of them are
Travelers Checks, Demand Drafts, Currency notes and Visa Cards.
Cards are becoming more convenient and popular way of taking money
now-a-days. Almost all big banks (SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank) have
equivalent schemes similar to SBI's Vishwa Yatra Card (Foreign Travel
Card). Not only these are beneficial for carrying money for the first time
but they also provide a convenient and fast way for any further transfer
of money from home.
Other than this you can also carry some cash. All Banks can exchange USD
for INR. Private firms like Reliance Money also exchange currencies. Check
out with all the banks and such private firms for their exchange rates on that
particular day and get dollars from one which offers best price (for me it
was Reliance money which had the best rates on 2 occasions when I needed
exchange).
Travelers Checks are a option too. But people who are already carrying a
card and cash generally don't find it convenient to carry (and manage)
various forms of currency.
You can also get a Demand Draft made payable to yourself. This is the
safest mode of transfer. To avail this, you will have to open a bank
account after going to US and then submit the draft for encashment.
You should get a bank account opened as soon as possible after you land in
US (preferably on the first or second day itself). This will help you to
get rid of all the cash you are carrying. Your seniors can tell you which
is the most popular bank with students. Generally most Universities have a
bank branch within the campus and it takes 1-2 days of processing to have
a fully activated account.
Packing and departure:
Get two good quality suitcases/boxes for your luggage. It is
imperative that you get real good boxes. For this one thing, don't let
money come into way of your decision. Remember that you'll have to travel
often now. Be it for Internships, or for a house move, you'll have to do a
good amount of travel in coming years. So, buying a real good box is not a
waste of money.
I have myself seen many instances where the handle or a wheel came off the
suitcase of students with whom I was traveling. Its a real pain to drag a
broken piece of luggage box. Go for good brands which offer international
warranties so that you can get them fixed even in US. I have read good
reviews for American Tourister and Samsonite.
Keep about 2 pairs of pant-shirts in your hand baggage. Misplaced luggage
or luggage getting delayed is common in US. Unfortunately, if it happens
with you, you should have all those things in your hand-baggage that will
keep you going until your luggage is found. Keep all your documents, money
and valuables in your hand-baggage.
Plan your connecting flights such that you have at least 3 hours of
difference between the connecting flights. It may take upto 3 hours for you to get you immigration done at your port of entry and to arrive at the departure gate of the next
flight. Your customs, immigration check etc. is done at your port of entry
(the place where you first land in USA) and not where your final
destination is (in case you have a connecting flight).
By rules, you are not allowed to take edibles like fruits, pickles etc.
You are also not allowed to take any medicines without a prescription. In
case you are found having these items, they'll be confiscated by the
customs officials. However, most of the people are never asked to open
their baggage and never get caught.
Write down all the important phone numbers of home and seniors in
University and keep that list in your pocket while traveling. Keep a few
quarters and dimes to be used at payphone. You can also buy a prepaid
international calling card on internet (reliance/airtel etc.), that will
allow you to call to any local/international number from any phone booth
without having to insert any coins. In any case you'll be buying one of
these when you go there, hence you can consider buying them beforehand.
Many graduate students in US stay on off-campus housing. There is no 'hostel' concept in most of the US Universities (more so for graduate students). Read ahead if you are going for a off-campus housing.
There are two ways people do it:
-
Some students arrange their accommodation from India itself. Mostly, there are realty companies that handle apartments. Your seniors can let you know which realty company is good enough and can be trusted. So, normally students who have identified their group of roommates search apartments online and view the location (on google maps) and connectivity (on google transit). You can also see the pictures of the interiors. Once they find it good enough, a deal with the realty company can be reached. Some companies require some amount of initial deposit. Some will book it for you and you can make the deposit once you arrive.
Some students ask their friends or seniors to go and have a look at the house they've identified and based on the feedback they proceed with the formalities. -
Many students are uncomfortable in finding and fixing a deal online. One may also not have identified his/her roommates and hence this exercise is not possible before landing. Most universities have a very active graduate students associations that will help you find your temporary housings. For example, CMU has a very active and responsive IGSA (Indian Graduate Students Association). It provided temporary accommodation to all the incoming Indian students (free of cost of course) in Fall '08. (I am thankful to IGSA for the tremendous effort they put into this exercise.)
Contact your seniors for any such facility in your University or ask your seniors directly if you can stay with them. You'll definitely find very helpful seniors who'll help you out with your initial temporary accommodation.
Once your temporary accommodation is fixed, you can arrive there and start looking for a permanent apartment.
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Tip |
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Craigslist is a indispensable online resource that will help you get your
apartment. The URL is http://craigslist.org/ Select you State from the first screen, select you city from the second screen and click "apts/housing" in the housing section to begin your search. |
There are a couple of things that you'll need to do once you are
there.
Search for a house:
If you haven't yet finalized the house, this should be your priority number
1. House search can be tiring and frustrating at times. It always is. But
fortunately, it'll last only for a maximum of 4-5 days. So, make sure you see as
many houses as you can and find the best deal.
Mobile Phone:
Unfortunately you cannot get a 'real' postpaid connection until you have a
decent credit history here and that takes time to build. I say 'real' because
there are a couple of plans here which may function like post-paid but are not
really post-paid.
Basically you have following choices so far as a connection is concerned:
-
If you still want a post-paid connection without having a credit history, you'll have to make a security deposit. For AT&T it is $500. Hence, most people don't have any other option other than to deposit the security amount and get a post-paid connection. The advantage of a post-paid connection here is that you'll get some number of free minutes in the plan. Normally for the cheapest plan of AT&T ($40 per month), we get a 450 minutes free talktime all over US. Saturday-Sunday and calls to AT&T phones apart from those 450 minutes are free. With all this, you'll mostly end up paying only the minimum amount every month.
-
You can opt a pre-paid connection. Pre-paid connections are costly and I don't think anyone amongst the student community uses that. Prepaid phones are instant phones. I remember getting a phone+connection combo in $35 (with $25 talk-time). AT&T has prepaid phones scheme called GoPhone.
-
If you have any close relative/friend who can get you a phone over his SSN, then you can get a post-paid without the initial deposit. However, that phone is obviously not in your name.
Once you've got a phone, feed all the important numbers in it. You should
always have the number of cab/taxi service, friends and seniors.
Study Well, keep stress away and have fun:
You are there to study. Most probably you'll experience a very different and
challenging academic experience. You'll get immensely busy and you'll need to
work very hard. Make sure that you work hard and don't let stress overwhelm you.
Remember that plagiarism and cheating are dealt with utmost strictness in US
academic culture. Don't ever try to indulge in cheating or plagiarism. A simple
incident can throw you out of University.
You'll sometimes get stressed due to work load, specially during your first
semester when everything is new and you are still adjusting to the new place and
environment. Just persist and keep performing. This is something that everyone
has to go through and it will pass. Don't let homesickness and stress to come
between you and you goals.
Not only you'll learn your course, but many other facets of life. You'll
appreciate the helping nature of Americans and learn being more polite. You'll
also start appreciating India in many ways. All in all you'll have a great
learning experience that will help you evolve.
One last psychological thing that I found haunting all of us when we initially
arrive in US. I'll probable put it as a tip to highlight its importance.
|
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Tip - Stop Multiplying by 65 :-) |
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Things are costly in US (compared to India). Initially you'll have that tendency to multiply everything by 65 (or whatever the current conversion rate is) and evaluate the cost. The sooner you'll get out of this mode, the better it will be for you. The 'converted cost' should not deter you to purchase a essential item or food. It doesn't matter if something that costs Rs.14 in India costs Rs.14o there (the converted cost I mean). This should not stop you from buying things that are essential. Remember that these petty savings will save you a couple thousand dollars in 2 years which may be equal to your first months salary when you get a job. In US, your health and wellbeing is of prime importance. If you get sick, you may spend thousands of dollars. Eat well and remain healthy. |
If you have been following this guide all the way and came uptil here, you deserve congratulations !! You've finally got what you wanted.
Certainly you are amongst the few who demonstrated great enthusiasm and will power to pursue your dream. While a journey ends here, a new (and maybe more challenging) begins. Hope you'll show same guts and mental strength to achieve success in all your future endeavors.
I don't remember when did I write so extensively on a single topic
previously. I can only hope that this guide helped you and that all my efforts
in documenting all this was of some worth to prospective students. All the best.
Completed: 23 Dec 2008
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