Money Matters

[LobsterQuadrille]

Help & advice needed from international and domestic students.....

I am an international student and will be starting MS EE program in US. Money is definitely the next thing to reckon after admissions. I'd like to know how to do international students manage their finances.

Many questions coming up:

How to pay the college fee,... credit card or any other way?? Which is a good method??

How to convert international currency into $$$, the most efficient (money saving) method, since the us $$ is costlier??

Do international students open a bank account there??And how to??

The best money pinching methods for managing books, clothing, supplies, food, housing etc... (domestic students, please help with this.....)

How much money to carry on arrival??

Please add more words of advice if you can.

[Ms J]

* First of all, as an international student you ought to have $$ or proof of $$$ to attend college or else you wont be issued an 1-20 to obtain the F1 visa to enter the US. Even after the 1-20 is issued, you will need bank records or statements (if you are being sponsored by a family member in the US) to show financial security before the student visa is issued. You must be able to proove that you have funds available for your first year or so.

Most international students I know have paid for their first semester and then found an assistantship of some sort on campus that will give a tuition waiver OR have tried to get an assistantship through the school before coming to start their first semester.

* As an international student you are only allowed to work 20 hrs per week ON CAMPUS. Depending on where you live, that income could help with paying for books or health insurance which is required

*International students can open US bank accounts with your passport and an address and some $$$ ofcourse. Most US schools have orientation for IS students and at the orientation they will provide you with all the info you need to settle in etc....

* Getting a roomate and sharing an apartment can always help with cost of rent and utilities.

* Living of a credit card is NEVER a good way