<p>Does anyone know anything about banking/ATM's on campus or the quality of cell phone carriers in Hyde Park? Any other real life topics would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know anything about 1st year writing labs/extra help? </p>
<p>I've done the research on the cell phone thing and it looks like it doesnt matter all that much. Personally I plan to go cingular because GSM service rocks on CDMA. Also I dont like how verizon cripples their phones (like running the 720 with brew rather than the open J2EE platform) as it just means the consumer has to pay more and pay it straight to verizon for anything you want to add to your phone.</p>
<p>My son kept Cingular and it works ok. He also kept his same phone number.</p>
<p>As far as banking goes, there is a Citibank branch on campus with an ATM. I opened an account for my son at Citibank online and can fund the account if necessary via online transfers. This eliminates any need to send money. He also has a Citibank credit card in his own name for emergencies and school purchases such as books.</p>
<p>Is there any USBank near campus? (or surcharge free ATMs...I know UW Madison has these in their student union).</p>
<p>I know there is plenty of USBank presense downtown but it would be nice to have it close at hand (though I wouldnt spend as much if I had to go downtown to get cash)</p>
<p>you will have writing workshops as part of your hum sequence. basically, your hum class will break down into groups of 5 or so and everybody reads each others papers and goes over what needs to be done to improve them (with an instructor) beyond that I believe that there are writing tutors available.
The best bank to use is citibank, unless your morally opposed, in which case you could go local and join hyde park bank...</p>
<p>I have been looking around for family-share cell plans, and Verizons is the most expensive. However, Verizon also has the best nation-wide coverage, no? Anyone have T-Mobile or other plans?</p>
<p>We use SprintPCS and it works well for us. We have 2500 anytime minutes for 4 phones, web access, pictures, IM, and email. It includes no long distance charges from anywhere in the USA, (free) unlimited nights and week-end minutes, unlimited calling to another SprintPCS phone (which includes the family and any other; S's GF is thankfully on Sprint), and automatic adding of minutes at a low rate if we do go over 2500 minutes. The cost is about $195 per month with about $35 of that being taxes. Coverage is nationwide. We are considering changing S's number to a Chicago exchange so calls from local land lines won't be long distance.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Coverage is nationwide. We are considering changing S's number to a Chicago exchange so calls from local land lines won't be long distance.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not nessecary at all. Very, very few college students use land lines, which, at the rates the University charges, are more expensive. Almost everybody I know at uChicago has kept their local area code, myself included. The few that have not are those that come from foreign countries or got their first cell phone in college. I have more uChicago friend's with 917 numbers than 773.</p>
<p>I have found T-mobile offering 500 minutes, 2 phones, with e-mail, pics, etc., unlimited weekends and nights, for $59.00 + taxes, and $9.99 per additional phones, so that would make it $79.00 for 4 phones. As far as adding minutes to the plan, I did not think it cost that much, but I guess one needs a lot more minutes for 4 phones.</p>
<p>At least I switched to cable-phone, and pay $14.99 per month for U.S and Canada unlimited!!!!! And the savings get sent to Chicago!</p>
<p>$160 per month + taxes sounds pricey. Did you shop around, was it the best deal, or was money no object?</p>
<p>That is for four phones. $160/4 = $40 a person. Not bad at all.</p>
<p>I am on a similar plan to that, though I don't share lines. I spend about $100 a month with taxes for Sprint PCS. 3,000 weekday minutes is the only limitation. Everything else...internet, pictures, text messaging, nights, weekends...is unlimited. It is expensive, but I use my phone constantly and it's nice to know I never have to worry about going over, ever. Though you can take that basic plan and add up to three more numbers for a nominal fee, so the price per person becomes very reasonable.</p>
<p>Phones: It would be much less if not for the 3 additional phones. Plans also vary by area, and I have the phones insured.</p>
<p>Computers: In all honesty, I would consider an ibook or Powerbook Macintosh. Much more reliable OS, no viruses, etc., very easy to use. My company's management is switching from Dell's to Macs.</p>
<p>Just so you all know, if you're living in the dorms it may be a good idea to get Verizon. If you don't already have Verizon, by all means don't switch. The reason for the Verizon-support (even though I have and have always had t-mobile which works wonderfully) is that only the Verizon kids got service in our dorm. I lived in Palevsky West (the pink one!) and my roommate had a hideous Verizon phone, but it got amazing service while my adorable T-Mobile phone wouldn't work in our room. It worked in, literally, one window... if I sat in a certain way. Her phone, on the other hand, worked in the middle of our room, in our foyer, by the window, by the door and everywhere in between. You get the point. </p>
<p>When it's below zero outside you don't really want to have to go outside to talk on the phone. That said, I did it and I survived. I spent a lot of time inside the nuclear reactor statue outside of Palevsky on the phone...</p>
<p>Make sure to get free long distance since everyone else's phone number will have a different area code...</p>
<p>In Max P, all cell phone providers get near perfect reception on the fourth-floor, which is why, during housing lotteries, the 4th floor fills up very, very fast.</p>