<p>Hey everybody !</p>
<p>I am an international from Morocco and I will arrive in Michigan in a few days. However I am worried about some urgent things I will have to do as soon as I arrive so here are my questions :</p>
<p>-Is the TCF bank account enough ? If not, where do I create one (with credit card etc)
-How can I get a phone with subscription ? What is the best phone company ?
-What are the first things I will have to do when I will arrive at Umich ?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help everbody !</p>
<p>Most of your questions require a lot of information and the answers will be quite subjective (depends on one person to the next). I’ll just give some brief answers. For banking, I’d suggest dont get TCF, get chase, because TCF requires an SSN for online banking and chase does not. Best plan depends really on which phone you want. Decide for yourself, none of the networks are brilliant in any case. </p>
<p>As for the first thing? Go to orientation I suppose (or move in), that’s where you would get the answer to most these questions</p>
<p>Agree not to use TCF. Chase or Bank of America are good choices and have locations near campus. We’ve had both AT&T and T-Mobile for my daughter’s phone service. Either is adequate, but not great. I agree with nikeboy, just get a phone you like…and also, like he says most of your questions will be answered at orientation.</p>
<p>One thing my daughter did that really helped was to take a campus map and go around to where all her classes would be. Once you know your class schedule, I strongly encourage you to take the time to do this.</p>
<p>Hey zozo! Welcome to Michigan from one international to another.</p>
<p>I got an account at University of Michigan Credit Union. There is a branch on Central and North. I opened a checkings and a savings account and got a debit card. The downside is that there are only two UMCU ATMs on campus (you’ll have to pay a small fee to use other ATMs) and there aren’t any outside Ann Arbor. Since I knew I wouldn’t be spending a long time outside Ann Arbor, I though UMCU would be best.</p>
<p>As for a phone, you could get Virgin Mobile, which is much cheaper than other major options and you don’t have to sign a contract. For $35/month, you get 300 minutes, and unlimited texting and data. If you don’t like any of the phones Virgin Mobile offers, try AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. If you already have a phone device that uses SIM card, go for AT&T. You can get a SIM card from them so you won’t have to buy a new phone. For Verizon, they don’t offer SIM cards so you’ll have to buy a phone. Phone bills come to $60/month for me (AT&T, 450 anytime mins, 1500 texts, no data, 2 year contract). Make sure to ask if they offer a student discount.</p>
<p>Make sure attend the first day of international orientation. It is required by law that you check in. Personally, I skipped the second and third day of orientation, but there are some good workshops and it’s a great way to meet some new people.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your help be_somebody, nikeboy and 2forcollege ! In fact, I do not ask too much for the phone, 100 minutes are enough haha In fact I am interested in getting a Blackberry with BBM and Internet included thats what is important to me, and also good prices for the international calls !</p>