bullet1 After arriving

bullet2 Interesting   Find a house!

  • Went to Calrentals
     
    • Gave me many houses to look at but it costs ~$30
       
    • Right by campus
       
  • Found one off craigslist
     
    • www.craigslist.com
      » See document: http://www.craigslist.com
       
    • Is THE site for buying anything out here
       
    • Check it out for accomodation
       
    • Things are often advertised and go within a few days so check it regularly
       
    • This also makes it difficult to find a place much in advance
       
  • Others on my courses found places together
     
    • This could be good
       
    • But it's difficult to tell if you'll want to live with them for a year straight after meeting them
       
  • Interesting   Not many still looking for housing (which was good for me!)
     
  • I was lucky enough to find a furnished place
     
    • An unfurnished place will push up your initial expenditure considerably
       
    • Look for second hand furniture where you can
       
    • There's usually plenty available on craigslist or garage sales
       
    • Alternatively there's an IKEA fairly close if you can persuade someone with a car to help you
       
  • Enjoy looking around the places
     
    • You're interviewing them aswell
       
    • Check out the different neighbourhoods - it will give you a good feel for the place
       
  • Try the Bart early - it's very useful
     
    • The Bart is the Bay Area Rapid Transport and is a pretty handy way of getting to and from San Fran and to the nearby areas
       
    • Loading a Bart ticket with $20 will last you for a while and is a good plan
       
    • Buses cost $1 plus a quarter and don't give change
       
  • Hold-out until you find something you're happy with
     
    • Interesting   You'll be living there sometime and you want it to be people you'll get along with!
       

bullet2 Go visit your group

  • + supervisor
     

bullet2 Go the Graduate Student Orientation for your department

  • Missed the University one
     
  • Strange meeting people as only a few do you keep seeing after
     

bullet2 Little duties

  • Hand in Student info form
     
  • Register for e-mail account
     
    • As soon as you can
       
  • Sign-up for classes
     
    • Best to do as early as possible for those you have an idea about
       
      • You can always drop them once you've spoken to your supervisor
         
    • Speak to your supervisor about which classes you should take
       
  • Get the keys you need
     

bullet2 Go to the 'Staying Legal' meeting at the I-House

  • I missed it and I had to arrange a separate appointment
     
  • Would have been easier if I was at the meeting
     
  • Get the 'Authorisation to work letter'
     

bullet2 Get on to payroll

  • Sign hundreds of forms in the Department Office
     
    • Patent agreement
       
    • Taxes
       
    • Info. + others
       
  • Hand in a signed pay slip as early as you can
     

bullet2 Get a social security number

  • Take Passport, I-20, Authorisation letter to Social Security Office in downtown Berkeley
     

bullet2 Get a bank account

  • As soon as possible after you have a house
     

bullet2 Go to Caltopia

  • See what sort of clubs are going on
     
  • It's the 'Clubs Fair' at the beginning of the semester
     

bullet2 Check out the websites for the clubs your interested in joining

  • Find out when sign-up or trials are
     
  • It'll keep you busy
     
    • But if you miss them now you'll miss them for the year
       

bullet2 Get a Student ID card

  • Take photo ID (passport)
     
  • + student ID number
     
  • Get this as early as possible as it is very useful
     

bullet2 Get a Class Pass

  • Interesting   A Class Pass is what you need to ride all the buses around Berkeley for free!
     
  • Can only be done once your fees are paid
     
  • Basically after I had my social security number and was on for the payroll
     
  • Need a Student ID card first
     

bullet2 Interesting   Buy text books!

  • Very expensive
     
  • Make sure you allow several hundred dollars just for buying books
     
  • Some classes also require subscriptions to online services which can be expensive
     

bullet2 Get a phone

  • I got a cell-phone in the end as the house I was in didn't have a fixed line yet
     
    • It is free to receive calls from England at nights and weekends which is mostly when I use it
       
  • You can't get contract cell-phones as you need an American credit rating
     
    • But you can get a slightly worse deal a bit like a pay as you go phone which does the job ok
       
    • I went with AT&T
       
      • There's an office by the Bart in Berkeley
         

bullet2 Go to the safety orientation

  • One of those things that has to be done
     
  • Best to get it done as soon as you can so you don't have to worry
     

bullet2 Choose an advisor

  • I already had mine agreed before I came as I met her when I visited and it sounded great
     
  • Worth meeting all the professors who interest you in person
     
  • It's important to find somebody you'll get along with