Your first weeks in the US for an MBA
By fmba
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Before classes begin
- Find a place to live – if you have done so, check in at your
new house. Sign the lease and move in. - Check in with your school and/or International office.
There is usually information you need to get, paperwork to fill, and so on. - Locate and check in at your countrys nearest consulate.
Find them at Foreign
Consular Offices in the United States. They are the ones to contact for travel
information, emergencies, voting, and so on. - Arrange your medical insurance – at the
International Office. See Your Health - Arrange all the utilities:
- Power and water – usually just a phone call away. Often arranged by
your lanlord. - Phone – some local phone companies will want to verify your credit
record. Since you probably don’t have one, you will need to fax them a copy of your
passport. It will take a couple of days. - Cable TV – will usually take a few days (or weeks!). Even more
annoying – you have to be there for the installation, and they will tell you the day, but
not the exact time they’re coming.
- Power and water – usually just a phone call away. Often arranged by
- Buy furniture and appliances. Before you buy,
consider renting (e.g. furniture) and pay a visit to all the garage sales you can.
| Where to buy: Furniture.com |
- Buy your B-School tools, books and supplies:
Palm Pilot:
An almost mandatory tool to keep up with contacts, interviews, and so on.
Palm
IIIxe
Our Price: $249.00
Palm
Vx
Our Price: $399.00Computer: Although all
B-Schools have big and modern computer laboratories, most students choose to buy one. With
current prices, most students can afford it. Many schools now require students to have a
notebook, which by the way are very useful.
|
Calculator: You will
definetely need a Financial Calculator. These are the most popular:
 HP 12C Financial Calculator List Price: $87.51 Our Price: $69.99 You Save: $17.52 (20%) |
 Hewlett-Packard HP10B Financial Calculator List Price: $36.87 Our Price: $29.99 You Save: $6.88 (19%) |
Supplies: OfficeMax
Books: Don’t rush to
buy new books at the campus store – you don’t need them all, and those you do need can be
bought for less. Do your online shopping starting here:
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- Get your Social Security Number. This is necessary
if you are planning to work in the US (e.g. internship). It is also very important to have
it for credit purposes (e.g. getting a credit card). To get it: the International
Office should provide you a letter for your elegibility, the form you need to fill, and
directions to the nearest Social Security office. - Get your Drivers license. Not only you need it
to drive, but it is also the ID of choice for anything from cashing a check, to buying
alcohol. To get it: visit the nearest State Department’s office and ask about the
requirements. You will probably need to bring your country’s license (you might need to
provide a notarized translation), your passport, and to pass a written exam, a driving
test and a vision test. - Get your Universitys ID. You’ll need this one
for the library, computer lab, and other University facilities. It will also entitle you
to student’s discounts. To get it: find out where the ID office is, and just show
up. - Open a checking account, and get an ATM/debit card.
We strongly recommend Compubank’s
online banking – most services are free, no need to visit a branch. See Your Finances. - Get a credit card. You can apply online to NextCard or American Express Student Card
(you need your social security number first). See Your Finances. - Arrange for computing services. Get your network id
and password, internet access, and so on. - Find your way around School and Campus. Get familiar
with computing facilities, library, service offices, and so on. - Find a suitable meal option. See Your Health.
- Buy a Car. Unless you are getting your MBA at a
large, crowded city, having a car might be a good idea. Before you do, however, make sure
you know the basics:- Consider alternatives first: University transportation, Public
transportation, Cycling and walking. - Find out your parking options at your house (parking is not
necessarily included) - Find out your parking costs at the school. They may be pretty high.
- Consider a used car, especially if you plan to sell it when you
graduate. Make sure you know the market price (Kelley Blue
Book, Edmund’s) and have a third party
certified mechanic test it. - If you are buying a new car from a dealer, sharpen your negotiation
skills. Make sure you find out the invoice prices for the cars you are looking at, and
start from there. - Get appropriate insurace. In most states it is mandatory. Since you
don’t have an auto insurance record in the US, this may end up being pretty expensive
(you’ll be charged as if you were a 16 year-old learning to drive). AAA usually has reasonable rates. - Do your research online:
- Consider alternatives first: University transportation, Public
- Find out about placement exams. If your school
allows students to place out of certain core courses, this is the time to find out what
the requirements are, to talk to the department heads, and take any placement exams. - Look for work opportunities. Of you are planning to
work during your MBA, start looking for your job immediately. The most interesting
research and teaching assistanships may be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
By fmba
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