Academic life in the US is both challenging and exciting. Your advisor, mentor, your department and the university will be taking adequate care of your academic needs--right from registering for all the required courses to ensuring that you have the necessary arrangements like health insurance, to be formally enrolled into the program of your choice.

But soon you will realize that life as a graduate student is much more enriching outside the typical American classroom. Your new friends will be your family. So, make sure that before your plane lands in the US, you have all the necessary items to help you sustain yourself and set up a new family.

Here’s a checklist to help you get your essentials right:

Flight Travel:

• Before boarding the plane, check for your visa, passport, boarding pass and all other relevant documents. Keep them easily accessible at the time of boarding, to save time and anxiety.
• Since international travel allows for restricted phone access, maintain a separate notepad or a piece of paper with contact information of your seniors at the University or of anyone you might have to get in touch with as soon as you arrive. 
• Before boarding the plane, make sure you have arranged for ground transportation upon landing in the US.  Keep handy some basic first aid and medication, especially if you suffer from air sickness.
• Do not carry a lot of cash on your travel. Instead keep sufficient smaller denominations of cash like quarters and dollar bills for emergency use or for phone use.

Housing: 

• Before leaving for the US, try arranging for your housing, by talking to your seniors, university officials or even by checking out accommodation postings online or on social networks.
• You can request your seniors to temporarily accommodate you in their apartments, until you find a place of your own. Discuss current housing rates and options with your friends, seniors or professors and budget accordingly.

• Carry sufficient clothing to last you initially for a couple of months. Include both formals and casuals. If you are moving to a heavy snow prone area, carry adequate warm clothing. However, do not bring winter gear like heavy jackets or boots from India, since they will be of little use in the adverse weather conditions here.
• Be sure to put at least two additional sets of clothing in your carry-on luggage; in the event of baggage loss, they will come in use.
• If you wear glasses or contacts, pack additional pairs, since they are extremely expensive here.
• If you play a musical instrument or any sport, make sure you bring your equipment along to play during free time or during the holidays.

Finances:

• If you do not have financial aid from the university, bring along a little more than the amount of money recommended by the University and stated on the I-20 for initial expenses.
• You can also choose to work on-campus and earn anywhere between $300-$1200 per month, with part-time jobs. If you hold an F1 visa, you will not be able to work off-campus.
• Rent can be anywhere between $400-$900 a month, depending on your location.
• Keep aside at least $50 for your cell phone expenses.
• If you cook at home, you can expect your food bills to be anywhere between $100-$200 a month, as opposed to at least $300-$400 if you regularly eat out.
• Other expenses include mattresses, comforters, kitchen supplies, etc. Even Students with financial aid must bring a minimum of $1500 for initial expenses.

Student Health Insurance:

• Student Health insurance is mandatory for all students. Most often, the university provides you with a medical insurance for students, although you have to pay for it. Average health insurance cost is around $950 for the entire year. For specific information on the kind of health insurance, refer to your seniors or your department at the university.
• Before applying for insurance, however, you need to fill out an immunization form and get immunized upon arrival if necessary. Check with your university for details on immunization.
• Note that your official university registration may be put on hold if you do not have the right kind of immunization.

  **For more information and the best deals on student’s health insurance coverage visit www.visitorscoverage.com or contact our expert student health insurance specialists Toll free at: 866-384-9104  

by Archi Sarkar - Copyrights path2usa.com