Got admission into university in the US? Congratulations ! I have been in the United States as an international student for about a year too, and here are some things I think you should know before you move here.
1. Familiarize yourself with the American lifestyle
American lifestyle is different – Be it 100% dry toilets or public displays of affection, take it all in your stride, to avoid getting a cultural shock.
2. Stop converting US Dollar to your home currency
Do not perform currency conversion, every time you buy something from the grocery store. American standard of living is different; get used to it.
3. Manage your finances well
Ask yourself whether the item you are buying is indispensable or a mere indulgence. At the same time, do not hesitate to spend on the daily essentials.
4. Be prepared to learn – Fast!
Be it academics or general terminology, adapt as fast as you can.
5. Every university is what you make of it
Gene Spafford articulates the importance of the university very well in this Quora post. Push yourself to newer limits but do not over-burden yourself. It is a delicate balancing act.
6. Plagiarism is a serious offense
American universities are very strict and will not accept any violations of their academic integrity policy.
7. Do not ignore your physical fitness and health
It is crucial to not ignore your physical health. You can study well only if you are healthy.
8. Friendly greetings
It is commonplace to have casual conversations with people you’ve met for the first time. Don’t be surprised if the cashier at your neighborhood store asks you how you are or enquires about your day.
9. Learn to drive and get a driver’s license
The distance between cities in the United States is HUGE! Having an American driving license gives you the liberty to drive locally or on a road trip!
10. Deserted Streets
You will not find many people walking down the street unless you are living in a major city like New York or Los Angeles. One of the reasons for this is the massive distance between you and your destination makes walking infeasible.
11. Fast Food is the staple food
You will find a lot of people eating outside junk food daily. Americans are not huge fans of cooking daily and fast food franchisees have almost become the staple food for America.
12. No cash
You don’t have to carry cash in your wallet. All shops accept electronic payment (credit/debit card / Android/Apple Pay).
13. To tip or not to tip
You are always expected to tip for the services you’ve accepted, be it a taxi ride or eating at a restaurant. The absolute least you can tip in 10% of the bill amount though most people usually tip somewhere around 12-15%.
14. Social Security Number
Social Security Number or SSN is your unique identification number. You can apply for SSN once you are employed (part-time/full-time/internship). It is important to not give/tell your SSN to anyone as it can be used to masquerade as you in the digital space and thus used fraudulently.
15. Crime
Some cities are known for their notoriously high crime rate. Although college-towns are usually safe with heavy presence of campus police, a mugging incident is not unheard of.
16. Religion and Church
Most Americans are religious and go to church on Sundays, if not every Sunday. You might have to bear with heavy Christian propaganda as it is the most followed religion here.
17. Healthcare
Healthcare in United States of America is expensive, in general. You literally cannot survive without health insurance. Bring some generic medicines with you to avoid spending on medicines here.
18. Keep an open mind – Listen to people
Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t, you just need to keep an open mind. Try to learn from them, all the while respecting your cultural differences.
USA has a lot to offer – it is the land of the free and home of the brave. I hope you have an enriching experience and graduate not only as a smarter person but also a better human being!
( Image Credit : giphy, mu-blog.s3.amazonaws.com)
