<p>Hi, I'm accepted to the University of Chicago class of 2016, and am definitely going, and I was planning on buying a phone in Chicago. I was wondering whether a phone was 'worth it' for university (I use email, facebook, etc to chat with people) and if so, which plan could provide cheap long distance calling (to 1 ld phone #) and hopefully unllimited texting/data (not too worried about data, since there's wifi across the campus). </p>
<p>Any help's appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>iphone. apple store</p>
<p>I’d actually prefer an android, but what I’m really looking for are arguments that could convince my dad that I’m going to need one, and that it won’t just be a distraction. I can afford a phone by myself, but I would need help from my parents to pay for the phone plan.</p>
<p>Somehow generations of American college students survived without cell phones, email, and Facebook–yet they are an incredible convenience.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether you’re male or female but if the latter you could always play up the whole “woman alone in a big city” thing.</p>
<p>And I think all schools use them to communicate with students in emergencies these days via text message or email.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m sure the ‘emergency contact’ argument’ll work, and I could probably pull off the ‘guy-alone-in-the-big-city’ thing, too.</p>
<p>I doubt data is a necessary part of a plan since UChicago’s campus has wifi. That might save you some money, at least.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine going to college without a phone. Some companies have plans that allow for unlimited calling among family members; my family has one of those plans from T-Mobile (although I wouldn’t recommend the company as a whole). With smartphones, all those apps come in handy too; I’m going to be using mine this Thursday for the overnight (!!!), getting to Chicago by Metra and exploring the city.</p>
<p>Having a cell phone is definitely very, very useful in college. If cost of a data plan is a concern, it is usually not necessary to have a smart phone with data usage; it can be useful to have your email on your phone for quick communication with professors, study groups, etc, but with the exception of professors most other forms of quick communication can be done by text message. Some students also choose to get around with a “bare-bones” cell phone and some other device, like an iPod touch, that can send and receive e-mail over wifi but does not require a service plan. </p>
<p>I found that my plan was very useful as there was free long-distance (since the majority of my longer phone calls were to call my parents on the West coast). So, I would recommend searching for a plan that has free long-distance, or to get on some type of “family plan” with your parents for free calling between people you talk to frequently. </p>
<p>One thing to note is that the land-lines in the dorms also have free long-distance calling, although students rarely if ever use those phones, and they are not convenient to have as your primary method of contact.</p>
<p>Any experience with getting a cell phone for a Canadian student (no SSN yet(?)).</p>
<p>@UChicago: Thanks, that’s really helpful. I’m from the west coast, too (British Columbia). If you don’t mind my asking, what plan and provider do you have?</p>
<p>i’ve been doing research for a similar usage. take a look at this one:</p>
<p>[Monthly</a> 4G Prepaid Plans | Compare Prepaid Data Plans | T-Mobile](<a href=“T-Mobile® Official Site: Get Even More Without Paying More | T-Mobile & Sprint Merged to Give You More”>T-Mobile® Official Site: Get Even More Without Paying More | T-Mobile & Sprint Merged to Give You More)</p>
<p>there is a $30-per-month plan: 1500 minutes or messages with 30 MB web (probably very lmited). hope it helps.</p>
<p>To the international students:</p>
<p>When you purchase a cell phone, you have to pay a $500 deposit (it varies for each carrier) that you will get back after two years since you have no credits (Social Security Number) in this country.</p>
<p>Canadians may be exempted from this requirement if and only if you have a Social Insurance Number, which is the Canadian version of SSN, and you have worked previously in Canada. Otherwise, you still have to put down that $500 deposit.</p>
<p>Thanks, DC. I had no idea about the $500 deposit, but I was planning on getting a job this summer, anyways.</p>