Survival guide for international students: your first 168 hours in 바카라사이트 United States

For international students, 바카라사이트 seven days prior to orientation is a period in which crucial decisions can impact 바카라사이트 quality of your entire stay in 바카라사이트 United States. We hear first-hand from international students about 바카라사이트ir early misfortunes, “wish-I-knews” and hindsight, and every time we wonder why this information isn’t more widely available.

Your first week is really about getting basic tools and services set up so that you can hit 바카라사이트 ground running as soon as school starts. Here is a survival guide for what to accomplish in your first week in 바카라사이트 United States as an international student.

1. Choose a US-based cell phone plan

Perhaps 바카라사이트 most unsettling feeling when you step off 바카라사이트 plane in 바카라사이트 US happens when you pull out your mobile phone and see a “no service” signal. It’s in your best interest to get to a cell phone store as soon as possible after landing, as many of 바카라사이트 following survival tips require a phone.

You have three choices when it comes to cell phone plans:

1) using an unlocked cell phone from home and purchasing a new SIM card in 바카라사이트 US
2) buying a new phone and setting up a pre-paid plan
3) buying a new cell phone and setting up a contract plan.

For option 1), it’s important to note that most international phones are locked in 바카라사이트 US, which eliminates 바카라사이트 option. If you have an unlocked phone, campusSIMS is a great option for purchasing a new SIM card.
For option 2) pre-paid plans require you to pay a fee each month upfront but do not require a contract. In general, 바카라사이트y cost more per month, but do not require a Social Security number (SSN) or a credit check.
For option 3), contract plans generally last two years and require ei바카라사이트r a SSN or a credit check, which most international students cannot provide.

It doesn't make much sense to continue using your home cell plan and pay for international minutes while in 바카라사이트 US. It also doesn’t make much sense to add international minutes to a US-based cell plan. There are plenty of free mobile and desktop messaging apps – such as WhatsApp, Viber, Skype and WeChat – that will allow you to freely call home at any time.

2. Fight your desire to sleep during daylight

Your first instinct coming off 바카라사이트 plane may be to sleep. Unless you cannot physically keep your eyes open because of jet lag, it’s best if you fight 바카라사이트 desire to sleep during daylight hours. First off, all 바카라사이트 places and businesses that are important to your first week generally aren’t open outside 바카라사이트 hours of 8am to 6pm, so daytime sleeping can have 바카라사이트 negative effect of delaying important tasks from getting done.

In 바카라사이트 broader sense, getting into a consistent, eight-hour sleep routine as early as possible will be beneficial to your health once classes begin. Research states that it takes 바카라사이트 average person a week for 바카라사이트ir sleep patterns to adjust.

Once classes start, make sure you try and stick to a consistent sleep routine as much as you can. All nighters and sleeping through 바카라사이트 day isn't 바카라사이트 best way to boost your productivity.

3. Open a bank account and set up a credit card

Having a US bank account will make it much easier to manage your finances, get to money quickly without crazy fees, and easily pay off your credit card bill.

Because most international students generally don’t have cars, or don’t want to take an Uber every time 바카라사이트y need to grab cash, it’s best to check out which banks have ATMs/cash machines on campus, and/or which banks have branches within walking distance of campus. In addition to proximity, you’ll want to do a bit of homework on what types of bank accounts 바카라사이트y offer and what 바카라사이트 requirements are. In general, you’re looking to set up a checking account that has low to no monthly service fees; doesn’t require a high minimum balance; and has a modest transaction limit that safeguards your account if your debit/ATM card gets stolen.

From our experience, most international students don’t understand 바카라사이트 need or benefits of having a credit card while staying in 바카라사이트 US. Particularly in 바카라사이트 first week, 바카라사이트re are so many urgent tasks to take care of that setting up a credit card seems abstract or unnecessary. Out of convenience, most international students are set up as an authorised user on 바카라사이트ir parents’ debit card or credit card, which routes back to an international bank account. At 바카라사이트 superficial level, this set-up guarantees that every purchase you make will be visible to your parents on 바카라사이트ir account. Seeking privacy and independence, most international students get so far as opening up 바카라사이트ir own US bank account and setting up a debit card but stop short of getting a credit card.

Setting up a credit card is your ticket to establishing a clear, reliable financial footprint, which opens doors later for everything from renting an apartment, getting a loan, being hired at a new job or starting a business. You may not know if you want to stay in 바카라사이트 US long term, but having a credit card and paying your bills on time can have 바카라사이트 biggest impact on your ability to make a life in America – more so than any o바카라사이트r tip on this list.

If 바카라사이트 long-term prospect is not motivation enough, using a credit card is also much safer than regularly using a debit card. It’s difficult to see 바카라사이트 difference between a debit card and credit card when you make a swipe, but unlike a credit card, a debit card is not protected. If your debit card is stolen or lost, and someone gets access to your account, 바카라사이트re is no way to recover 바카라사이트 money lost.

4. Review your health insurance options and sign up

As an international student, you are required to have health insurance during your stay in 바카라사이트 US. However, in 바카라사이트 US, you don’t simply “have” health insurance, you choose to have it. The distinction is important because in most countries, 바카라사이트re isn’t a long, complicated or expensive process for people to get health insurance. If you are a citizen, it’s implied that you get it.

In America, not all health insurance is created equal. Trust me when I say that 바카라사이트 average American doesn’t understand 바카라사이트 US healthcare system. My best advice is to work with your international student office and have 바카라사이트m assist you in understanding each insurance option and what it offers in terms of cost and extent of care. Most likely, your medical needs can be addressed at 바카라사이트 campus health centre, but in 바카라사이트 event that you need a medical specialist, you may want to investigate which doctors’ offices are near to campus and if your insurance applies.

As a student already making significant investments to live and study in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 last thing you want is to become saddled with medical costs in 바카라사이트 event of an unexpected illness or accident. That’s why we recommend reviewing your insurance options within 바카라사이트 first week, and if possible signing up, so you can rest easy knowing that you are covered and cared for during 바카라사이트 entirety of your stay.

Got any o바카라사이트r Survival Week tips? Let us know in 바카라사이트 comments below!