cbttcher

I really hope so. Thank you!

I'm thinking about starting a blog to also give an insight into what it's like for an international student. But I don't know which platform to use.

Am I really the only one heading to San Diego?

Just a heads up. You're not allowed to work off campus in the first year as an F-1 student.

It's the university wide training thingy I think. And then the departments have their own training.

I think the tentative date is October 1st but I'm too lazy to check.

Apparently, the Graduate Student Orientation is on September 18th and Grad Week is from September 15th to 19th.

Well, it seems like you don't really want to work there anymore either way. You could always say that you didn't like your job anymore and left it because of that and not because you were so sure to get the Visa... If they even ask about your job that is...

Same as TakeruK. I would go with the travel insurance. It's significantly less work to set up than short term insurance in the US.

Check with the International Office at your school by when you have to be there and when the mandatory international orientation is. I'll probably arrive at my school a week to a week and a half before classes start. Last time I went two weeks before and that was too much time because I didn't meet any people because I was the first one there. I wouldn't go there too early.

I had a copy of my student loan contract with me when applying for the visa. It said how much money I'd get each month and for how long and that was enough.

UCSD

Then you have until April 15th to decide. The ten days thing is just something they'd wish you do because they also need to plan. I wouldn't necessarily take until April 15th but you definitely have a couple more days. At least that's what I think.

What's the deadline by which you have to respond? It should be somewhere in the acceptance letter.

I had a loan and still got my F-1.