Heading to the US this Fall session? Read this!

As thousands of students across the country prepare to fly to the United States this Fall session, we invited students to share what's life on campus is like, what they can look forward to and what things to bear in mind as the prepare to fly out. Here Tanumoy Patti, a student at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis sends in his tips.

No one can give students a better picture about a college than a fellow international student. Thus, I decided to share about my experiences here in Indianapolis.

The city of Indianapolis is small but vibrant and downtown Indianapolis, in particular, has a lot to offer in terms of fun and excitement. The IUPUI campus is located in the heart of the city and gives students an opportunity to enjoy museums, restaurants, parks, etc. Most IUPUI students live downtown in rented apartments or I-House (campus housing) (for information about accommodation, refer to apartment info section on the website).

The city is pretty safe. People usually go out for a stroll as late as even 2 am along the canal all the way up to the White River. If hunger strikes at midnight, Steak and Shake is the perfect option which is open 24 hours. Friday nights are very happening in America -- people go out with their friends to bars, clubs and pubs in downtown Indianapolis and Broad Ripple (one of 6 cultural districts) to enjoy a great evening.

On weekends, the streets are usually bustling with people going to malls, eating at the restaurants or just hanging out on the canal walk or the war memorial. Students usually go out grocery shopping on weekends or shop at the Greenwood Mall. Along with shopping, having buffet lunch at various Indian restaurants is a part of the routine. Sundays are usually quiet and peaceful; this is because of the various sports activities going on. Indianapolis is home to one of the biggest football giants in the US -- the Indianapolis Colts. Lots of fans show up at the Lucas Oil Stadium to support the Colts. Soccer fans need not be disappointed, I am one myself and love going to Chatham Tap (a sports bar to watch the exciting EPL matches). Basketball fans can go to Conseco Field House to watch the local NBA team the Indiana Pacers. Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians baseball team, is a short walk down West Street from campus.

International students have many other things to deal with apart from studies, like adjusting to a new country, a new culture, and a completely new and different society. Various student organisations, like ISAC (Indian Student Advisory Council) and ISCA (Indian Student Cultural Association), organise events that bring together students for various social and cultural activities. IUPUI's Student Activities Programming Board (SAPB) provides students with entertaining, educational and social campus-wide programmes throughout the year.

For shopping, students usually pick up groceries every two weeks at Walmart, Patel Brothers (Indian store) and Saraga International Market. However, there are many other grocery stores and drug stores like Marsh and CVS pharmacy downtown. For shopping, malls like Circle Centre, Greenwood Park, Castleton Square and Edinburgh Outlet Mall offer a wide variety of clothes, shoes, accessories etc. Stores like Macy's, JC Penney, Nordstrom, Kohl's, Fossil, American Eagle Outfitters, Aeropostale, Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Hollister and Buckle provide an awesome collection of clothes at affordable prices. Huge discounts are there almost all year round (especially during Thanksgiving).

Things you don't need to pack:

• Winter wear (heavy clothes take up a lot of space and only add to unnecessary weight; besides winter clothes are better and cheaper in the USA)
• Laptop (cheaper in USA)
• Food items except spices and pickles
• Except a pressure cooker, no other utensils are required to be brought
• Notebooks
• Glassware
• Softwares (free for downloading in the university)
• Blanket

Have you studied abroad? Do you have some words of advice for students heading to the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand or any other country for further studies? Share your experiences and advice right here! Simply write in to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject 'My study abroad tips' and we'll feature them right here on rediff.com! Don't forget to send in pics and videos of yourself at university too!

You are not guaranteed entry in the USA just because you hold a visa. The Department of Homeland Security, Custom officials and Border Protection decide whether to let you into the country or not at the port of entry.

All international immigrants are required to fill out a form called I-94, which keeps a record of the arrival and departure of foreigners. This form will be provided to you by the airline at the port of entry, usually while you are still inside the aircraft. Your date of entry is stamped on this form by the Border Protection officials and then attached to your passport. This is the only record you have of entering the country legally, so do not remove the form from your passport at any time.

Once inside the port of entry, be sure to have all your documents ready (you can find the list online). The officials hold the right to inspect your documents, search your luggage and ask questions about your travel and intention to enter the USA. Be pleasant and patient through the process.

Note: The Border officials select people randomly for luggage checks, so do not be worried if your luggage is selected for checking as it does not necessarily mean that there is an issue. For more information about US immigration laws and policies, visit the following link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.

Getting around Indianapolis

IndyGo
Indianapolis' public bus service, called IndyGo, runs buses to nearly all areas of the city at fixed intervals. IUPUI students are entitled to a free IndyGo bus pas, called S Pass, which allows you to travel for free on all normal routes (you must have the pass with you when boarding the bus). Students can pick up their pass from the Jagtag office in the IUPUI Campus Center, Suite #217. All routes leave from downtown Indianapolis, near the state Capitol Building, which is about a 10-minute walk from campus.

Detailed route schedules and maps can be found at the IndyGo website http://www.indygo.net in the 'Maps & Schedules' section. Do note that the route timings are typically different on weekends than on weekdays. Some popular  routes for our students are:

Route 37 and 38 to the Lafayette Square Mall area. A Wal-Mart is located nearby, as are Saraga international grocery and Patel Brothers Indian grocery.

Route 31 to Greenwood Park Mall; there are a number of other stores within walking distance, as well as a large movie theater.

Route 19 to Castleton Square Mall; there are also a number of other stores within walking distance of this mall as well. There is a movie theater in the mall itself.

Route 8 to the Indianapolis airport.

IndyGo also runs the Red Line Downtown/ IUPUI circulator every 15 minutes (from 7am-10pm Monday through Saturday; no service on Sundays). The Red Line has a number of stops directly on campus and then makes a loop downtown stopping at many locations. This service is also free for students provided you show your S Pass when boarding.

Taxis
There are several taxi companies around Indianapolis that can take you most anywhere in the city (and sometimes places outside the city). Yellow Cab is a popular company, although there are many others. The total fare depends on the number of miles of the trip; typical prices are $2 per mile plus a $3 pick-up fee. It's generally expected to give the driver a tip of 15-20 per cent of the total trip cost, particularly if they've helped you with any bags or luggage.

Greyhound
Students can travel to other cities by Greyhound bus service. The Greyhound stand is a 15-minute walk from campus; tickets can be obtained online from their website www.greyhound.com.

Train Service
Amtrak provides connectivity to the entire US. Trains leave from the same station as the Greyhound buses and tickets can be purchased online at their website: www.amtrak.com.

Be sure you get:

• A phone connection
• An international calling card/ Vonage
• An internet connection
• A laptop
• Winter clothes
• A car (if possible)
• Food items

Things you must do when you arrive on campus:

• Visit the department's offices and introduce yourself to the faculty and staff, particularly your advisor. If you were offered any kind of financial aid from the department, it's important to meet with the administrative staff as soon as possible to fill out the necessary paperwork.
• Take a walk around campus to acquaint yourself; get your university I-Card (jag tag) and bus pass, set-up a bank account with IMCU (for IUPUI students) or atleast get the information needed to set up a bank account.
• Start looking for job postings and applying, if you're interested in part-time work.
• Take some time to familiarise yourself with the bus schedules (if you don't have a car) and make a trip to the grocery store to stock your kitchen; once classes start, it will be more difficult to find time for this, especially if you need to take the bus to get groceries (the ethnic grocery stores in Indy aren't within walking distance of campus).
• Attend both the Office of International Affairs and the department's orientation sessions.