New Students

:: Before you leave for Austin :: * Airport pickup/temporary housing * Necessary Documents * Baggage Information * To do or not to do Necessary Documents As a foreign national entering the USA, you must have certain documents as evidence of your legal status. These include a passport, the visa stamped inside your passport by an officer of a US embassy or consulate, and a "Certificate of Eligibility" (SEVIS I-20 Form , or IAP-66) for students and scholars. Other immigration forms, include the I-94 "Arrival-Departure Record" (also called "Permit to Stay") issued to you at the time you enter the US. These documents are necessary for your entry and stay in the US and also for any temporary departure and re-entry into the country. Make sure these documents are valid at all times. Failure to do so could cause a problem with your legal status in the US. Baggage Information The anxiety and thrill of coming to US often ends up in excess shopping, Before you go to shop, we strongly urge you to go through the following information which is primarily for students coming to UT Austin. You are free to decide what to bring from India and what to buy in US according to your considerations. But make sure you get only as much as you can carry, and can unpack and repack it quickly. Clothing There's no dresscode on campus and students usually dress informally. A T-shirt worn with jeans or shorts is the universal, unisexual attire. So, make sure you bring plenty of them. Formals may come in use occasionally. You may, of course, want to bring along some Indian clothes with you. Weather in Austin is erratic. It can range from being hot one day, to rainy the next, followed by a day of humidity and the fourth day could be really cold. Its much better than the harsh cold winters of the north though, and we don't experience any snow, barring an "ice day" that we had earlier in the spring.. which was mild enough for the rest of the world but a big thing for Austin :). Fall is pleasant, getting cold starting November. December  January is the peak of winter (5-15 °C). We suggest you bring a couple of jackets and sweaters. It rains now and then; so an umbrella might be a good idea. Summers are hot and can get pretty humid around June-July. We'd definitely suggest shorts and tanks. No matter where you stay, you'll have access to washing and drying facilities. These machines have large capacities, so that it is possible to do 1-2 week's laundry at a time. So plan your wardrobe accordingly. Note: Clothes (particularly cottons) have a tendency to shrink when washed on the hot and/or warm cycle in a washing machine here or by drying them in the dryer. So please be careful with sizes and the quality of the fabric. Kitchen Food isn't a problem for either vegetarians or non vegetarians, though non-veg's have a more choice. Lots of food joints in the vicinity providing Indian/Italian/American/Mexican/Arabic etc cuisines. But eating out daily could be pretty expensive and it'd be better if you came equipped with cooking utensils and spices. Eating utensils and cutlery are better bought here. There are a number of grocery/convenience stores close to campus including HEB, 7-11, Eckerds etc.. and at a slight distance there's Costco (which is a store where you can buy utilities in bulk. Though there is no lack of Indian stores, it'd be easier if you bought your own spices if you prefer to. US customs don't normally make a fuss if these are properly sealed. Fresh fruits and meat however are prohibited. Personal Stuff You wouldn't need the following for more than a couple of weeks so dont bring everything. The campus is well located in Austin and you can get everything from groceries to toiletries at a distance of 5 minutes. Get your personal toiletries and a few medicenes. Ones that you're used to or need on a daily basis since medical bills can come pretty high over here. Though the medical insurance (which UT will require you to get )covers for quite a bit, dental and eye problems are not accounted for. Carry your medical records and other important documents with you and don't put any important documents in luggage you plan to check in as there is a chance of it getting misplaced on the way. Books, Supplies and Misc. stuff Text books are better bought from here as you dont know what classes you'll be able to get in the beginning but if you're aware of your classes already, then India is definitely a cheaper and a better alternative. Although I'd recommend you to get reference books, there's a fat chance you wont get to use them here since university covers school material only for the first week or so. To do or not to do To Do : Learn Cooking. Get money in the form of Traveller's Cheques. Not To Do: Get electronic appliances. The voltage and frequence here are different. Get 2 hole punches and binders. 3 hole punches and binders are used here. Get money in the form of Demand Drafts. They take a fortnight to be credited to your account.

:: ICA Representatives :: This area will be updated every break with the names of representatives who are travelling abroad.

:: Travel to the US :: This section includes suggestions for making travel plans and reservations. It discusses immigration procedures you must follow at your point of entry into the US. It suggests how you might obtain travel assistance to when you arrive in the country and to continue on to Austin, your final destination. * All my bags are packed.. I'm ready to go * On my way... * I'm here!! All my bags are packed.. I'm ready to go Before deciding your route of travel I suggest you look into various carriers, flight schedules, fares, routes etc. Doesn't really matter what you choose as long as you feel you'll be comfortable. Most flights from India don't have Austin as their port of entry, which is the first airport in the US that you arrive at. That's where you go through customs and immigration. Be aware that this might take a li'l time sometimes and you need enough time between flights for this so make sure you account for that. The Austin Bergstrom Intl' Airport where you'll arrive at, is about 10 miles from campus and cabs, shuttle services and ours run from there! :) Timing Plan to arrive at the university atleast 3-4 days before the International Student Orientation (mentioned in the "New Student Arrival Packet"), which usually occurs before the period of advisement and registration of courses. This gives you opportunity to settle in before participating in required student activities. It will also provide time for you to become familiar with the campus and the community and to make friends before the pressure of coursework begins. Since the university does not provide on campus temporary housing, you should adjust your budget to take into account temporary accommodation in an off-campus hotel room. Though ICA has arranged temporary housing for incoming students by putting them up with existing students, we do not guarantee one. Finally, you should avoid arriving at the university on a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. national holiday, since the college/university offices are usually closed on these days. Luggage By now, you must have received tons of advice on what to take with you from all and sundry. This "tons of advice" will most probably translate to "tons of luggage" and while you may not be averse to the idea of performing the Herculean task of carrying it around airports of the world, we doubt if your back or the airlines would look kindly on this venture. Remember that if you are coming from outside the U.S., you are allowed only 2 pieces of luggage of specified weight and dimensions. On my way... Port of entry procedures Customs Declaration Forms and Immigration Forms Sometime before your arrival, the flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms and immigration forms. You have to fille these out and submit them to the U.S. Customs authorities. Make sure that once you land you have the following with you: Passport with a valid visa SEVIS I-20 Form , or Form IAP-66 Evidence of financial resources (just incase) and I-94 which is a form that you will be given on board to fill out. Customs Baggage Even if your luggage is booked through to your final destination, it will be off-loaded at your port of entry. Collect it and answer the customs officer honestly when questioned and make a full declaration in your customs form since he can inspect your bags and consequences can be severe. Connecting Flights If you will be continuing your journey by air, check in at the airline counter as soon as you are through customs. In most airports, you might have to change terminals to board your connecting flight. Please ask the airline representatives about changing terminals. Remember, it is your responsibility to collect your baggage after passing through immigration, clear it through customs, and get it checked in again for the onward connection. In case your baggage does not arrive on the same flight as you, do not waste too much time hunting for it. Mention it to the airline representative and give them a forwarding address and phone number where you can be reached. In any event, do not miss your connecting flight. In case your flight came in late, or the onward flight is cancelled, it is the responsibility of the airline on which you flew into the country, to make arrangements for another flight. If the delay involves an overnight stay, then the airline has to put you up for the night and also pay for your meals. Do not let the airline representative convince you otherwise. Note: Please don't panic if it so happens that your flight arrives late and the time for the connecting flight is too near (say, within the next 10-15 minutes) for you to make it due to Immigration and Customs delays. Simply follow the same actions outlined above and get your airline to arrange things for you. Don't be rude, but be firm while dealing with the airline representatives. I'm here!! Taking a Taxi/Shuttle Taxis (referred to as cabs) are very convenient, but pretty expensive, approximately charging about $22 - $25 till campus. They're available just outside the baggage claim area. There is a shuttle service available as well which you can get for about $11.75 a person. If you can't locate the counter, ask someone around. This is almost like a taxi except its designed to serve upto 4 people at once. Hopefully you shouldn't have any problems travelling here, if you have carefully read the above information. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need any help. Bon Voyage!

:: New Students in Austin :: * First things first * Where do I live? * How do I get a job? * Other things * When in Austin 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!!!

New Students

Pre Departure
* Airport pickup/temporary housing
* Necessary Documents
* Baggage Information
* To do or not to do

ICA Representatives

Airport Pickups

Travel Information
* All my bags are packed.. I'm ready to go
* On my way...
* I'm here!!

Post Arrival
* First things first
* Where do I live?
* How do I get a job?
* Other things
* When in Austin