After Arrival

First things first

Now that you are in Austin, you must take care of numerous issues. The university will be center of your life while you are here. The first days will be exciting but they probably will be confusing too. By the time you receive this brochure, you will no doubt have taken care of some of these details. However, if you have not, get them out of the way as soon as possible. A great place to start is by becoming an ICA member!

International Office Check In

This is a requirement that UT has probably told you about. While you are there, make sure you ask for and receive a letter from them that you need to submit with your Social Security Number application.

International Orientation Program

The orientation program organized by the International Office for new international students acquaints them with the university, its campus and community. You will also be given information regarding the procedures for registering for classes and advice on U.S. immigration matters. Pay particular attention to these two sessions.

Get a Social Security Number

DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! You need this number to work, open a bank account, etc. It is used to maintain all your records, both at UT and outside UT. The office of the Social Security Administration is located in downtown Austin (9th and San Jacinto) and is easily accessible by bus (Take the #1 from outside the Coop on Guadalupe to 9th street, then walk east a couple of blocks). Once you get your SSN, update your UT records through the Registrar’s Office in the Main Building (UT Tower).

MMR vaccination and TB test

The INS requires that all immigrants to the US show proof of an MMR vaccination – if you do not have a signed record from your doctor, you will need to take a new shot. The INS also requires that immigrants have a TB test on US soil – there is no way you are going to get around this one. You can get both at the University Health Center, in the Student Services Building (SSB) on Dean Keaton Street.

Registration Information

Bars

Before registering you will have to clear a number of bars. You will not be allowed to register until all these bars are cleared. Clearing these bars as soon as possible is imperative since, otherwise, you might miss out on a popular course. Some of the bars that you might have are:

Student Health Center bar – For not having done your immunization. It generally takes two working days. So don t miss this out on the assigned dates. Also please get all your immunization records from India along with proper dates i.e. when the shots were taken. Failure to present this might force you to take it again which is very expensive and shall cause unnecessary delays in your registration.

Advising bars – You might have this if you have not been advised at the International Office and/or at your department.

Financial bars – If you have not paid any outstanding dues to the university. Official transcripts not submitted etc.

Registration Tips

As you get your bars removed, contact seniors in your department and get tips on the courses that you should choose and the professors that are good. They’ll tell you which courses are programming intensive and so on. This will help you decide the course combination that you will be able to handle during the semester. Just ask questions; you’ll find most people to be genuinely happy to help you in any way they can. Study the university catalog for a detailed description on the course and the course schedule which lists all the courses being offered during the term and the days and times these courses will meet. Note that not all courses are offered every semester, and that some courses must be taken in sequence (in a particular order). Once all your bars are cleared, go ahead and register for the classes that you’ve chosen during your scheduled registration time.

Where do I live?

Chances are that when you arrived in Austin, you were living in temporary accommodation, either in a hotel or with someone else near campus. However, this is a situation that cannot last forever – you need to find your own place to stay at some point.

Where apartments are concerned, rent in Austin can get very expensive so consider sharing a room with somebody. A general rule of thumb is that rents get cheaper and apartments get larger, the farther you move away from campus.

Find out whether the apartment is furnished or not. Ask the realtor whether or not utilities are included in the rent figure and how far the place is from the nearest bus stop. All apartments (even unfurnished ones) come with air conditioning, a stove and a fridge. Most include microwaves and dishwashers. Though you probably wont have a washer at your apartment, most complexes have a laundry room somewhere on the premises. Do NOT live in a complex that does not have an onsite laundry room. Ask some students who have been around for a while for their opinions (trust me, we have a lot). Every apartment has its own pros and cons (a top floor apartment might have a great view, but may also prove to be difficult to move in and out off. Also, the sun on the roof will cause you to have higher electricity bills in the summer) – consider all this carefully!!! Choose your apartment depending on what your lifestyle is e.g. if you plan to cook often you may want a dishwasher.

Getting a phone line

Phone service is broken up into 2 parts – local service and a long distance. First set up your local service. It will run between $15-30, depending on what features you get. This is a flat fee for unlimited local calls, you are not charged per minute. The two main local service providers are Southwestern Bell and AT&T. When you call, give them your address and ask how much the installation charges will be, because they are significant.

Next, set up your long distance carrier. Specify that you are interested in service to India, and they will inform you of special plans. The rate is usually about $0.55 per minute. Remember, you do NOT have to have the same local service provider and long distance carrier. (E.g. you can get local service from SW Bell, and long distance from AT&T).

How do I get a job?

Persistence is the key! We highly recommend that you go to places personally, rather than send emails. Follow up on your first visit. Most undergraduates work in one of the many computer labs on campus. Make a list of all the computer labs, then go to each one of them and drop off your resume.

For graduates looking for Research Assistantships, the answer is the same. Find professors with whom you are interested in working and go to their offices. For Teaching Assistantships, inquire with your department. You will also have to take some sort of a test to check whether your English and presentation skills are up to par. Ask your department for more information.

UT has an online job search engine – www.hirealonghorn.org. However, do not depend on this alone as it will not list all jobs.

In-state Tuition

It is possible to secure a job on campus for 20 hours a week, which will allow you to pay the tuition of TX residents. This cuts your fee bill to about a third of what you would normally pay. However, these jobs are few and competition is fierce. The best way to find out whether the lab you are applying to will allow you to qualify, is to ask. Don’t be embarrassed; it’s a very common question.

Recently, many of the biology labs on campus are also opening up jobs that allow students to qualify for instate tuition. Again, the key to such jobs is persistence. Also, look at the opportunities available as a grader (usually with the Math or Engineering departments). Approach a professor personally early on, especially if you have special skills (e.g. Web page designing) and make a good impression on him/her.

A couple of final notes on job searching – the most important thing that you can probably do is to apply for all the jobs that you find. Let the people who are hiring make the decision as to whether or not you are qualified – you have nothing to lose. Another word of advice; take whatever job you can get during your first semester (even if it does not qualify you for instate tuition). You will find it easier to find a job in the future if you have some prior work experience.

Other Things

Seriously consider taking placement tests (also known as ‘Clep Tests’). This is a cheap way of getting out of classes that you don’t really want to take (intro calculus, etc). The great thing about Clep Tests is that you can choose to have the grade count towards your GPA after getting the results. If you make a B, just take the credit for the class. If your Hindi is anywhere near functional, take the Hindi Proficiency test it will almost definitely boost your GPA. Info on these tests can be found at MEC website. Also think about taking required classes you are not interested in at Austin Community College (most undergraduates take the History and Government requirements there).

Get to know your advisors! It may seem difficult now, especially since they will be swamped with work, but it will pay off in the long run. Advisors can add you to classes that may be full, give you permission to take classes that you are not eligible for, etc.

Get involved with campus organizations. UT has a club for everything from equestrian sports to debating. Not finding anything interesting is just not an excuse. Not only is it a rewarding experience, it may give you the edge whilst searching for a job.

When in Austin

Longhorn Football 90,000 fans, one color (burnt orange in case you didn’t know!)… Come Early, Stay Late.. Cheer all the way… ’nuff said.

The live music scene in Austin is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Not only does Austin attract many of the big names, but also many smaller, lesser-known bands play regularly at local venues (Emo’s, Stubbs, and Antone’s are the most famous).

Sixth Street Think of it as Austin’s own West End. Clubs here can range from the cheap to the popular (lots of college kids) to the really suave. The best lounges are, however, off Sixth Street. Be advised though that the top end places are 21 and above. Oops! Did we forget to mention it? Legal drinking age is 21.

The Texas Hill Country all around Austin offers plenty of camping and picnic spots. Mt. Bonnell is a favorite for evening getaways; picnics at the lake are fun, while Enchanted Rock and Pace Bend Park are popular overnight camping destinations. If you like swimming make sure you visit Barton Springs and Hamilton Pool.

Finally, welcome to UT!!!