International Trojan Help-sheet neilvincentdesign2013 Dear Fellow Trojan, Congratulations on your admission & welcome to The Trojan Family. This is a list prepared to help international students find their feet at USC. Please use it ONLY as a guide from a fellow student. LANDING: After disembarking the aircraft and recovering from the sudden surprise of finally being in LA, go to Immigration. Your i-20, passport will be verified and an I-94 stamped on your passport near your visa page. Then claim your baggage and when you exit the terminal, go right and in about 250 meters you find a "Super/ Prime Shuttle boarding area". The shuttle's are big vans that take people around. Prime is a little more expensive 16$, while Super Shuttle costs 15$ to the USC area which is Downtown LA. You can ask the attendant (Mr.Mahmood Suba for Super Shuttle) for the other places like Culver city. The costs are pre-fixed, you also have to tip the driver about $2-3$ for helping you with the bags et al. Now reach your accommodation and get some sleep. :D GENERAL: Americans use Miles rather than Kilometers ( 10miles =16Kms) and gallons rather than liters (1Gallon = 3.8L) and they drive on the right side of the road! You cannot walk across the road unless there is a walk sign or zebra crossing, doing so could get you fined about $150-$200, I hear. FOOD: The US is also a very service oriented place which entails 15-20% tipping at most places from the waiter who serves you to the doorman which is why everywhere you go you will find really good service. A combo meal at subway can cost about $6 for a person. The serving size is generally large especially of cola, which is simply outrageous, eew!. Cooking will save you a LOT of money. Groceries for a week will cost you less than $30. A restaurant meal can be about 25$ including a tip for one person. SAFETY: USC is located in Downtown LA and is not at the safest location. There is always the Los Angeles Police Dept. (LAPD), the Highway Patrol and the USC DPS Patrol for your safety. Please keep in mind the patrol zone when you go looking for housing. Though the probability of you getting mugged or attacked is infinitely small, its still a possibility and you need to be careful. Cheers! Disclaimer: All the rights towards logos, material, information and everything here belong to their respective owners. This document is NOT endorsed, made or approved by BANK OF AMERICA, CHASE BANK, USC Credit Union, Citi BAnk, University of Southern California or the Trojan family. This was created solely to help new incoming international students understand the systems used in the United States. PLEASE VERIFY ALL THE INFORMATION PERSONALLY, this should only be used as a guide. I do NOT profit commercially or in any other way apart from possible brownie points from some students, neither should you. I have done my best to acquire the right data but they MAY NOT be right and the procedures may have changed. Please, Please, please verify all that is written and ONLY then proceed with your decisions. I am NOT responsible for hurt, injury, loss (material or financial) or anything that happens due to following this document or my advice in general. Peace. I m a Fall 2013 Grad student and I m really passionate about acting, so in case you hear about some auditions, I would really appreciate you keeping me posted. Thanks. Godspeed. Neil neilvincentck@gmail.com
USC is surrounded by Jefferson (N), Figueroa (E), Exposition (S) & Vermont (W) & Tommy Trojan is at the Centre of the campus. Make other locations relative to these places and you know the whole campus. Simple. Also, long walks around the campus should help you get accustomed while helping you recover from jet-lag. Ellendale (Safe + Little India) Caruso Catholic Church (Sunday Mass 10.30AM) Bank of America (UV* Branch) Viterbi School (Engineering) University Village (Rumored to closing soon as property has been acquired by USC) -Superior (Value Supermarket) -Radioshack -Food Courts CHASE Bank CVS (Supermarket) Fresh & Easy (Organic Supermarket) Citi Bank & some shops and Eateries Tommy Trojan (Sword points North) niversity of Southern California, LA
Things to do Passport Verification -PPV will remove STU50 & STU60 holds on your account and allow you to register for courses. -You will need photocopies of your passport, your I20, the I94 and the new student form USC Student ID Card -Once the PPV is done, you can get your Card at Parking X. Class Registration - You can register your classes online once the PPV is done. International Student Orientation -Happening on 12, 13 & 14 and there is also a visit to Santa Monica/ Downtown LA later. Immunization -You need a certificate specifying the Month and year of each dose. -The Tests can be done a week before your classes (Aug 19 onwards) because you need to do it after your Medical insurance starts. Degree Verification Two ways but can be done after. Driver s License & California State ID -LA is a driving city, unlike NY which is a walking city. Everyone drives here so get a driver s license and CalState ID will also be very useful. Social Security Number: -You will get an SSN when you get a job, even a part time job. Once you get a job you have to apply for one and your SSN will help you build your credit. Part-Time Job: -There are so many available n campus but with an F1 visa you can work only about 20 hours a week, though most people work about 12-14 hours a week,. The pay is usually about $8 an hour. -Get a resume ready and hit every place on campus and ask for a job. :D
HOUSINGFirst Month Rent PASSPORT i20 or Student ID Deposit (One Month s Rent) Housing prices near USC vary based location though they are reasonably stable, ±$100. Certain localities are considered safe and may cost a little more. Visit Craigslist.com or Zillow.com to help you decide on your accommodation. In the US the Utilities are charged separately (Water, Electricity, Internet, Cable), usually they cost about $80-150$ a month. Housing Basics 1. Decide a budget (B): B $350: Shared Apartment B $750: Single Room in an Apt B $1000: Shared Upscale Living B $1400: Individual Apartment (Prices are relative) 2. Decide a location and amenities: -Close to/far from USC -Furnished/Unfurnished 3. Talk to people, Walk around looking for To Lease boards. If you are not sure you can come here and find a place, please don't sign bad deals from home. Ellendale is mini-indo-china & considered super secure, but I think its over rated. Off Figueroa is commercial and fun, South Vermont is quiet but sketchy. Lorenzo is in a sketchy area but like freaking palace. So make decisions based on your preferences. Happy home hunting.
i20 Form BANKINGPASSPORT Deposit Citibank is a multi national bank with operation around the world & has the 3rd largest holding after CHASE & BOA. Near USC: 15 ATM s How: 323-737-8335 3615 S Vermont Ave Citibank Student Account: -Free up for all USC Students (No age) -Free online transfer from 20 countries (IND/ CHN) -0 minimum deposit - Easy to get credit cards without SSN NOTE:Most Students do NOT bank with them. I don;t know why but they are located south of the Uni. Special Benefits: Money magazine named them A Best Bank for student checking in OCT 2012 Bank of America is one of the big four banks in the US having over 5200 branches & 16200 ATM s and is headquartered in Charlotte, NC Near USC: 10 ATM s (1 inside campus) How: 213 763 8900 2703 S Figueroa St. MyAccess Checking Account: -Free up till your 23rd birthday IF you are a USC Student below 23 -$12 Maintenance Fee per month or direct deposit of $250 or avgdaily balance of $1500 Bank of America Charges: Incoming Wire transfer: $12.50 50 Checks $12.50 (Not sure) Special Benefits:Most Indian Students bank with them CHASE is one of the big four banks in the US having over 5100 branches & 16000 ATM s and is headquartered in Chicago. Near USC: 12 ATM s How: 213 745 4290 3335 S Figueroa St Unit C CHASE College Checking Account: -Free for 5 years IF you are a USC Student below 24 CHASE Total Checking Account: -$10 Maintenance Fee per month or direct deposit of $500 or $1500 daily balance CHASE Charges: Incoming Wire transfer: $10 150 Checks $18.95 3 Checks $2 Promotions: Get 25$ for new College Checking Account (Till 31 August 2013) HSBC is also a multinational bank and I hear has great service. Though it will has very few branches right by campus. Near USC: Bank at Downtown How: 800 975 4722 660 S Figueroa St Los Angeles, CA 90017 USC Credit Union is a bank serving USC related people and USC students. It has some great offers though limited to USC. Near USC: Bank & ATM inside How: 213 745 4290 3335 S Figueroa St Unit C Most Americans have access to banking already, hence the banking policies in the US focus on service and not value banking like in India. Usually students open a paid checking account to which money can be deposited, wired or withdrawn; its costs about $10-$12 a month. Minimum amount to open an account is about $25. There is also a fee of about $10-$18 for each incoming wire transfer from other countries and a small fee for checks. Some banks offer free checking accounts for USC students below the age of 23 or 24. Some multinational banks allow limited funds to be transferred for free form a home account to one in the US. I get money wired to my account and then issue USC a check. Also I use my debit card for general expenses and carry not more than $20 in cash.please ENSURE YOU PERSONALLY CHECK THINGS ACCOUNT BEFORE YOU BANK. I M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIDDEN CHARGES OR ANYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN.
PHONE π The main telecom providers near USC are Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Unlike some other countries, the handset and the connection are sold together by the network. Incoming and outgoing, text messages and calls, are charged in the US, therefore some take an unlimited talk & text plan and add data package to it. Students cell phone monthly expense lies between $25 and 95$. Verizon has the best network and is expensive while AT&T has a good network and is comparatively cheaper, therefore used by most students but you will be signing a 2 year contract! Also look at Lycamobile which provides only a sim but for $50 you get unlimited calls, texts, web and intertational calls. Order online though. If you are carrying a phone from your home country that works in the US, you should look at T-Mobile also. T-Mobile has an offer for all new students at USC, thanks to AIS. -NO CONTRACT -No Deposit if you have Student Visa -$130 a month for 3 connections including tax -So $45 a month per line -Unlimited Calls & Texts -2.5GB of Data per line -Call India(0.39)/China(0.18) @ $10 a month PHONE: 213-745-8683 (Denise) Address: 2510 S Figueroa St FINAL WORD OF ADVICE: You are in a new land, you are the representatives of your country. How you behave and act here will be how people here will perceive your country. Do not let down your country. You are here for a new experience, live it to the fullest, meet people, ask questions and get outside your comfort zone. It may be difficult but nothing worth was ever easy. Have a great time in LA, and do yourself, your family and your country proud! Cheers & Best wishes from me, Neil. RADIOSHACK AT&T Family Talk package -2 year contract -About $55 monthly per line; 5 lines -Unlimited calls & texts to cell phones -300MB data per line -$40 worth Phone Case & $40 Store Credit -$50 Bill Credit after the first bill -$36 Activation Fee waived after first bill First PAYMENT $800 $500 Deposit (Refundable in a year) $199 iphone 5 / Samsung Galaxy S4 $36 Activation Charges (Per line) $65-$70 Taxes PHONE: (213) 746-4850 Address: University Village Rahman (Ra-Mone) Radioshack, University Village