Planning Advice For Students Wanting To Study In The United States

By Author: Syed Jamal
Total Articles: 12
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So you have received the letter in the post! Your dreams have come true! You have been accepted at a US University. The real planning and preparation however will now need to start in earnest, as it often becomes a daunting operation to undertake.

There are a couple of key items that you would have to add to your to-do list. These ranges from student visas, travel, transport to accommodation. So let's begin to understand about the most critical items added in your to-do list.

Firstly, you need to obtain the US Student Visa prior to your arrival in the United States. There are various types of student visas with the F1 visa being one of the most popular visas for academic studies. Though certain kinds of restrictions are imposed on this type of visa but there are also some allowances relating to doing part-time work on campus (less than 20 hours a week). This item is probably the most critical as you would not be allowed to enter the US without a valid visa.

Secondly, you will be required to ensure that you have got the necessary travel arrangements in place. It helps to have a return airplane ticket. You ...
... might also need to arrange a transfer from the airport to the university. This could be a paid service or possibly arranged through your university. Many students try to include some private travel, prior or after their study period. This is not a bad idea as studying in a foreign country is not always just about the educational institution. It is also about gaining new experiences and there is no better way than through travelling and seeing new places and new people.

Thirdly, focus on getting health travel insurance for the study-period in the US. This is quite critical as the US has got an expensive private health care system. There are various companies which offer these types of insurance so do your research online and pick the best plan. Also, enquire from the university about the health care services they offer. Most universities do offer some basic health care to the students on campus.

It is also very important to plan how you would communicate with your family and friends in India once you are in the US. The most practical solution is to use Skype or any other VOIP solution. It is also a viable option to buy a local sim card in the US and sign up for a foreign calls package. Most mobile operators have got some type of special plans for international callings.

The next very important items relates to finances. It is very important to make sure of the value of all bursaries, grants and funds provided prior to your departure. Making a budget together based on the information provided to you by the university about living expenses would also make sense. Before you step out to study in US, it is critical to have a full understanding of what your living expenses will be. The last thing you would want is to run out of funds while you are far away from home!

In summary, do your homework and planning while you still have time to ensure your experience of studying in the US is both fun and an enriching experience.

The author of this article is associated with United States – India Educational Foundation (USIEF), providing advices to the students seeking admission in the top US universities.