Tips for students moving to the United States
Recently, a friend of mine wrote a short bullet-points style article listing some key pointers for people moving to the United States for study. This inspired me to come up with my own version, based on my experience of the past seven years. This is hardly an original idea, but filtering down several pages of advice into a few bullet points does have its advantages, especially for people busy with moving abroad and not keen on reading dozens of articles with generic and repetitive advice. These are things I wish someone had told me before I made the move, so I hope someone will find them useful. But keep in mind, perspectives and situations vary. No matter how much you research ahead of time, eventually you will have to figure it out yourself. I’ll just put my two cents in.
1. Walkability and public transport
For many students coming from overseas, one major change that may not be obvious is the lack of readily available public transport and the difficulty in using walking as a regular method of transport. Places in the United States outside major cities, which is where universities tend to be located, usually have little or no public transport. If you think walking is an option, wait till you realize that the nearest grocery store is an hour away by foot. You would have to walk there and back to your humble abode through scorching sunshine, bitingly cold winds, and pouring rain. Then there are other obstacles, such as uneven terrain, fenced-off areas, and wide roads with no crosswalks and bridges to cross them.
Much of America is filled with paths that are designed to be traveled by cars, not humans. Even riding a bicycle can be a challenge. When you have figured out where you will be moving to, open up Google Maps and find out how hard it would be to get by without a car. If possible, talk to someone who knows the area, because online research can only take you so far. University areas are usually much better than average in terms of walkability and public transport, since they try to cater to the needs of the students. It is common to find shuttle services and recreational areas for students throughout a campus. But chances are that you will, at some point, want to venture outside this bubble.
2. Driving
If you didn’t know it before, by now you should have realized that for most Americans, cars are more of a necessity than a luxury. While it may be possible to get by without a car, it will limit your options for material needs and social life. If you are lucky, you may find a close friend or roommate/housemate who will drive you everywhere, but even then you might eventually want your own ride. Unless you live in one of those metropolitan areas with decent public transport where it is expensive to own a car, start planning your path to becoming a driver. Be patient, because initially you will lack the time and money need to find and buy a suitable car. While you are waiting for the right car, get a driving permit from your local Department of Motor Vehicles, which usually only requires passing an easy computerized multiple-choice exam on driving rules. The permit allows you to drive a car while there is a licensed driver beside you, and can be converted to a license after you have passed the driving test.
3. Groceries
Getting groceries is a straightforward process: drive to the store, get groceries, drive back. Of course, it is less straightforward when you don’t have a car. In the city, you may be able to get groceries on your way home, but generally your choice of stores and times become more limited. When you cannot go wherever you want whenever you want, planning ahead becomes much more important. Even more so if you want to maintain a healthy diet on a budget.
No matter where in the states you are moving to, chances are that there will be a Walmart nearby. It should cover all the basics, but don’t let that prevent you from exploring the other chains: Kroger, Publix, Food Lion, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, etc. All the chains provide mostly the same products under different brand names, but since availability varies by location, you may find something at one chain that isn’t available in the others. Besides regular supermarkets, make sure to explore local Indian and Chinese/Asian grocery stores, since they have a wider range of products that are not available in other stores. This is another thing you can research about your area before moving to the United States.
4. Cooking
There are three factors to consider: cost, convenience, and nutrition. When it comes to food, you have essentially three options:
- Pay a lot of money to purchase nutritious meals
- Pay less money for less nutritious meals
- Only buy ingredients and prepare meals yourself
The important thing to remember is that you have to pick a plan that works for you. It’s like that saying about diets: the best diet is the one that you can stick to. In the long run, most people will probably gravitate towards the third option, not only because it’s the cheapest, but also because it’s the most sustainable. It requires higher time commitment, but is also the only way to ensure proper nutrition without paying an unreasonable amount of money. Regardless of your level of preparation, you will have things to learn. What worked flawlessly at home may not work here or may take too much time and effort. Again, you have to stick with what works for you. Let go of the idea of three square meals a day and come up with your own formula that keeps you well-fed without interfering with the rest of your day.
5. Banking
Any newcomer to the US will quickly realize the huge inconvenience of not having a bank account. I recommend starting with one of the big national banks such as Chase or Wells Fargo because they have ATMs and branches everywhere, but any bank will do just fine. Fintech firms such as PayPal, Venmo and Chime also provide banking services, but get an account with a physical bank anyway since that is sometimes required. Just make sure that the bank won’t charge you fees just for keeping your money there, since some banks have a minimum balance requirement for the fee waiver. Then, it’s time to apply for your first credit card. I explain why this is a good idea in my article on getting started with credit cards. The gist of it is that this will help you build up credit history, take advantage of promotional bonuses and unlock future financial opportunities. But beware of opportunists; some businesses try very hard to get customers to apply for their credit card, which usually turns out to be a bad deal. After you have applied for and received a decent credit card, use it as much as possible, instead of a debit card. In some cases you may have to use cash or a debit card to avoid paying extra fees, but those situations are rare. Since nowadays most places accept contactless payment methods, using cards through Apple Pay or Google Pay on your smartphone is also a handy option.
6. Gadgets
Regardless of where you’re moving from, this country will probably look like heaven for gadget enthusiasts. The availability, variety, ease of buying and replacing electronics explains the rampant consumerism that surrounds devices. Even then, it never hurts to search for a good deal. If you don’t need a phone or a computer right away, wait for the deals that are almost certain to come around within the next year. Seasonal events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday will offer deep discounts to the lucky ones, although the correct way to ensure that you’re getting the best deal is to track the price of your intended item continuously, since the discount may be even deeper at other times. Websites such as Slickdeals and forums such as r/buildapcsales are good places to look for deals, especially if you’re unsure of what to buy and would like to browse through some suggestions. There may also be student discounts available, either through the university or directly from the seller, which will bring prices down even further.
Another way to save money, unless you’re after the latest and greatest gadgets, is to tap into the used market. Thanks to the aforementioned consumerist culture and ease of trading, the US has a huge and thriving market for used electronics. Major retailers often sell refurbished items at reduced prices, but the deep discounts are in items sold by owners who simply want to upgrade and get rid of their older gadgets. In case you’re wondering if it’s a good idea to buy pre-owned items that may be faulty, platforms such as eBay have purchase protection policies in place. This allows you to get your money back for valid reasons, such as an incorrectly described item (for example, if a defective item is described as fully working). However, there are no warranties, so if the suspiciously cheap phone or computer that you bought on eBay craps out after a few months, you might be out of luck. If you want to dabble in the used market, it is a good idea to do your own research and stick to items that have a history of being reliable.