<p>Hey! I just have a couple of questions about the technology available at Chicago.</p>
<p>1) How does the internet work? Is it wireless? Can it work on campus and off? Should I buy something like NetGear for my laptop if I end up going to Chicago? How much does a student pay for it? (EDIT: By "it," I mean the internet, not the NetGear.)</p>
<p>2) Do you pay for your own land phone? (like one in your dorm) Do you even need one if you have a cell phone? Which cell phone provider works best in the Chicago area?</p>
<p>3) Is TV nonexistent?</p>
<p>4) If my laptop breaks down or something, would I find a repairman in or around the school for a reasonable price?</p>
<p>5) This isn't a question about technology, but equally important, I think. I'm from California and if I end up going to Chicago, I'm probably gonna stay in Chicago (will rarely travel outside the city). Do I need a car? How much are parking permits? Are buses/subways (I'm unfamiliar with the transportation) reasonably safe? How much would a pass cost?</p>
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<li><p>There is wired internet in dorm rooms and wireless basically everywhere on campus (including dorms). I think people in off-campus apartments get internet through whoever a regular resident of Chicago would (Comcast???) All the stuff necessary to connect on campus is provided by the university when you arrive.</p></li>
<li><p>There are land phones in the dorms. You have to pay for outgoing calls. Nearly everyone has a cell phone, so the dorm phones are not used much. Most people don't know their own dorm phone number. I can't help much on the cell phone provider. I actually have Alltel (same provider from home). It works fine, but I don't know anyone else who has it.</p></li>
<li><p>You can get cable hooked up in your room (for a price). Most house lounges have TV, most have cable. Depending on the dorm, not that many people have TVs in their rooms. I would say the average Chicago student watches significantly less TV than the average American.</p></li>
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<li><p>Cars aren't necessary. The campus is pretty compact (driving anywhere would be really inefficient), and the public transportation is pretty good for an American city. Most students who bring cars just park on the street, which is free. It's pretty impossible to get a parking space during the day, but it's pretty easy to find one on the weekend or at night, so finding a place to keep a car isn't really a problem (though this also depends on dorm, I think). There are permits you can purchase if you'd rather use a university lot/garage. The buses and subways are just as safe as in any other major city. Most students use them (even those with cars if the public transportation is convenient). The whole cost situation is a bit unclear right now, due to politics/funding issues in Illinois. As it stands now, with a Chicago Card (which the university will give you), it costs $1.75 to ride, plus $.25 for up to two transfers. So it's basically $4 round trip using the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). I would not plan on bringing a car at first. My experience has been that I use it so little that it barely warrants the hassle of maintaining/keeping track of it.</p></li>
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