Move-in day!

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Hi few more weeks til move-in day and I'm very nervous about it, mainly because I seriously don't know what to do the second I get there... well maybe I sort of do but I would like to make it a little cheaper and save more money since I don't want to be a burden to my parents. They have spent quite a lot cause of my tickets and the preparation like visa and stuff etc. </p>

<p>Anywaaaay.. Do you guys think it's cheaper if I buy in a mall like Walmart of something rather than those websites my college is advertising saying that I will probably be saving so much more? How much are pillows btw? (just wondering hehe)</p>

<p>Also, what's the cheapest phone plan? I researched and I got SPRINT. They also offer pretty cheap smartphones if you get their 2 year plan, I was thinking of buying their pre-owned phones or new ones idk it's still cheap and sell my old one. I was thinking of getting the iphone 5 btw. (don't judge me,I really want the iphone 5, I have my reasons, my old one is an iphone 4) </p>

<p>what else... umm oh, im on a need-based scholarship too but also on a merit-based scholarship do you think the school will hate me for getting an iphone 5? stupid question but seriously... are they really gonna?</p>

<p>What else do you think I should buy? Can I buy laundry detergents inside the campus? is it cheaper there?</p>

<p>Am I allowed to work on campus even if I'm a freshman? well I'm not really a freshman but I'm a transfer international student... so... am I allowed?
Is it cheaper if I buy a tablet for the books? like e-books? I mean I've been longing to buy one since it helps me define the word right away if I'm reading and I don't understand one, but ugh it's too expensive, I'm not really buying one right now but I'm just curious, will it be cheaper? </p>

<p>Anyway, if you guys can add more information for move-in day like things to bring or what not it would be great! Thanks ahead! :)</p>

2

<p>Your college has a site, online that shows recommendations for supplying your room. If you’ve gotten emails, they usually aren’t directly from the university.</p>

<p>When you get to your university, you will be given a check-in sheet (that’s what they did at both of my dd’s different universities). Things like getting keys, getting hand-trucks/dollies, getting parking permits, getting Commons dining cards (if you didn’t get these at your orientation) will be on that list.</p>

<p>TYPICALLY you are supplied with: an XL twin bed, a student desk, a chair, and space in a closet or dresser. You need to supply your desk lamp, computer, personal items, bedding, bath items and towels and cleaning supplies. WHERE’S YOUR ROOMMATE info?</p>

<p>CHEAP ROOM SUPPLIES: Walmart, Big Lots, Target, IKEA.
CHEAPER ROOM SUPPLIES: Second-hand stores, Craigslist, etc.</p>

<p>Laundry supplies are almost ALWAYS bigger and cheaper off-campus, but if you don’t have easy transportation, you may be stuck. Believe it or not, you are on a budget; if you start thinking about how to spend your scholarship dollars you will be out of money really soon. You do realize that part of your monies fund your books and supplies. The school typically gives you exactly what THEY think you will need; everything else comes from your and your family. Key word: BUDGET! </p>

<p>Depending on your visa, you may not be allowed to work at all; on-campus jobs are typically reserved for Work Study students who have it as part of their FA package. There are limited jobs on campus for pay, but again, your visa probably won’t permit you to work here. </p>

<p>I don’t know about your university’s habits, but at both my dd’s universities, students try to limit bringing their “toys” (tablets) to the campus because the theft is so RAMPANT (including laundry!) My girls don’t have tablets. You will lose your phone, so I would suggest staying with the Iphone 4, because it’s not as attractive a theft target as an I-5 so: </p>

<p>1-Keep your phone; it’s the same phone, (you WILL lose it or have it stolen)
2- Since you are a guest of this country, on NEED-based funds paid for by American taxes, you will not make many friends, who are paying full fees and can’t afford phones, let alone IPhones, if they find out you’re on need-based assistance. Don’t know what your cultural expectations are of Americans, but we’re not “rich”.</p>

3

<p>Hi thanks for replying! I’ve read from a few websites and it says that international students are allowed to work 20 hours per week, I’m just not sure if I’m allowed to work on my first year… but will it make any difference if I’m a transfer student?</p>

<p>Also, I’m not really sure if my phone will work in the US since it’s factory locked I guess but I saw sprint offers a free smartphones if you just get their 2 year plan, so maybe I should get one? Is it a good idea to stay for 2 years in a phone plan? what are your thoughts on sprint? </p>

<p>I received an email directly from a faculty recommending some website saying that this and that will be cheaper so this got me pretty confused, but they said they will be accompanying us to walmart or some store near the campus or somewhere if we need to buy something for our dorm room or etc. Same goes for phone plans and bank accounts they will also help us open accounts too.</p>

4

<p>I’m assuming your university will be giving it’s foreign students an orientation? Make sure you ask them questions because they know the area and are familiar with what your needs will be.</p>

<p>As far as working, you need to check your immigrant status on your visa and ask your university career center about working. There are some situations, as you get closer to graduation where you can earn an internship and work but you really need to check that with your career center. </p>

<p>Where would you have your things delivered if you buy online now? Some universities aren’t ready for packages yet and may or may not return items to the sender. For bank accounts, they should show you several banks (pick one that actually has a location on campus-if possible-look at the names on the ATM’s when you walk around campus). For phones, they sell plans everywhere, you need to make sure your home country is accessible.</p>

5

<ul>
<li><p>F1 students are allowed to work for 20 hours a week on campus. However it is not recommended that you work more than 8-10 hours your first semester, and more than 12 your second. Adapting to a new culture, a new language, a new level and type of education with frequent expectations, is complicated.
If you have a work study, think about the type of work you could do: help in a dept, help a coach, help in the library… Typically students without special skills are assigned to the cafeteria. During orientation, check to see if you’re allowed to switch your assigned, basic, less specialized position for a more specialized position (it often is the case, especially if faculty found a way to use your skills, but you need to check.)</p></li>
<li><p>In your suitcase, bring your favorite clothes (if you come from a warmer climate OR if you go to the Northern US ie. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana…, DO NOT buy outer winter clothes at home. Near your college there’ll be a store that sells appropriate winter clothes, particularly insulated mittens, boots and coats, and probably long underwear.) Bring a towel; not lots of them - these are bulky, taking space in your suitcase, whereas they’re cheap and easy to buy from the nearest store.
International orientations always include a trip to the closest local big store:/mall because it’s impossible to pack everything you need in one suitcase. During your first night you’ll likely sleep on your naked mattress, unless the international student adviser gives you sheets. You’ll use your one towel to shower. Then, you’ll go to the store with the others and buy two sets of sheets, one blanket, one comforter, one mattress topper, one or two sets of towels, a hair dryer if need be (do NOT bring any electrical material except for computers etc, since plugs and 110V are pretty unique to the US and nothing you bring would work.)</p></li>
<li><p>You should have received your orientation timetable/schedule. Typically international students arrive 2-4 days before American freshmen. Someone will come pick you up at the airport and take you to the campus. You’ll be exhausted from jetlag and 12-20 hours of travel + being surrounded by a foreign language, so you’ll likely be taken to your room, left to unpack, asked to come to dinner, then go to sleep. The following day you’ll have activities planned: immigration matters (how to stay in conformity with your visa requirements) and a trip to buy everything you couldn’t bring in that one suitcase. Typically during that orientation a session is dedicated to differences between culture and expectations in an American university compared to other countries’ universities; a session is dedicated to taking an English test (and you should review a little before that because it’ll decide whether you’ll have one, two, or zero ESL classes to take in addition to your courseload), and a visit of the campus.</p></li>
<li><p>Good quality pillows cost $12-15 but you can find some basic pillows for $4-6. BTW there’ll be a pillow in your dorm room already. You will only need to buy pillocases for them. Typically Walmart or Target have “all in one” package where you buy the comforter, sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcase all in one package where the colors match.</p></li>
<li><p>For your phone, you just have to wait till you get there because different regions have different coverage. Furthermore student orientation leaders will have tips for you.</p></li>
</ul>

6

<p>Hi thank you so much! that helped me a lot! BTW, I will be staying in Kentucky, is that considered part of Northern US? sort of the middle part… Is it considered to have a warm climate also?</p>

7

<p>No, KY is not the north :slight_smile: and it does have a warm:warmer climate - summer in the high 80s to 90s, winter in the 40s.
It’s considered part of the south and definitively not part of the north, so you won’t need to buy special winter clothes :)</p>

8

<p>Hi! what about the fall season? will it be less warmer or same climate? :)</p>

9

<p>(Re Pillow, neither of my daughters’ dorms had pillows-it’s a health thing.)<br>
Bare mattresses were the norm.</p>

<p>Fall season climates get cooler. October-November changes call for cooler weather clothing. (For us in California, 40 degree temperatures are cold!)</p>

10

<p>In KY it’ll be in the high 70s to mid 60s in September and it’ll decrease steadily afterwards. KY isn’t cold though. In the northern US, it’s common to have temps in the 20s (-5 /-10 celsius) for most of winter, with snow permanently on the ground for 4 months.</p>

11

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<p>Making friends does not depend on how much you are paying for college. It also doesn’t matter whether you are on need based or merit based aid. </p>

<p>You can get whatever phone you want. Just don’t leave it unattended. I suggest Straight talk since its only $45 a month(no contract). If you are dead-set on Sprint, check if your college has Sprint coverage.</p>

12

<p>I agree with XtremePower that no one will judge you for getting an iPhone while on financial aid. </p>

<p>That being said, an iPhone is incredibly expensive for someone on a budget. Sprint’s cheapest iPhone plan is $70 a month ($80 - $90 after fees and taxes). That’s $1,000 a year just for your cell phone plan…</p>

13

<p>Well the thing is the resale value of my phone is far higher here in my country compared to when I get there in the US, so I was thinking that I should just sell my phone here and buy another one there in US through since they offer cheaper phones if you get their phone plan, but I would feel sort of feel bad if I buy an iphone since i’m on need-based aid too, I don’t want them to hate me…</p>

14

<p>Oh what about the 45 USD a month plan? does that include fees and taxes already?</p>

15

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<p>Nobody cares about what phone you have. Buy whatever you can afford. </p>

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The grand total become approx. $49 a month if you add all the e911 fees and taxes.</p>

16

<p>The tax rate depends on your state. In CA I pay about 16% taxes on top of my cell phone bill.</p>