Info for Incoming Students
Congratulations to all of you who’ve made it into Georgia Tech! It is a great accomplishment and you can be rest assured that your career here will take you far. We would like to give you a warm-hearted welcome to this wonderful community! Before you get carried away with your summer escapades, you might want to start planning your arrival to Atlanta. From the wisdom of several of our PSA members and alums, who have lived through the trials and tribulations of being an international student, we’ve come up with a guide for all of you who will be new to Atlanta and Georgia Tech… things some of us wish someone had told us. We hope this helps you in your transition. We look forward to meeting you once you are here and hope to help you out however we can.
What should I do before coming to Atlanta?
What should I do before coming to Atlanta?
Firstly, if you are an incoming freshman, we highly recommend that you register for FASET and Freshman Experience (FE). These will be your best resources during your "settling-in" phase. Any PSA members who have been through these programs will testify that it is the best way to get to know other freshies.
Next, make sure that all
the paperwork you'll need is ready. Go to the health
center website to check the medical records and immunization forms
you will need to bring. You will not be allowed to register without them. We
would also recommend that you bring updated transcripts/syllabi if you are
planning on transferring credit for some advanced courses you have taken.
You can look up information about the
books you’ll be using at
the campus bookstore website.
Familiarize yourself with the immigration procedures and make sure you register properly at the port of entry (airport at which you enter US.)
If you are an incoming graduate student, and intend to do PhD, we highly recommend you go through your school's website and familiarize yourself with the PhD Candidacy examinations, also known by other names as PhD Qualifiers, PhD Prelim. Some schools test you on your undergraduate knowledge in that case we recommend you bring your undergraduate text books with you and start preparing for the Candidacy exams. The sooner you clear it the more chances you have for securing a GRA (Graduate Research Assistantship).
Once you have finalized your itinerary, email the caibnet members your itinerary and we will be glad to pick you up from the airport. We will email you back to confirm that someone will be there at the airport to pick you up. We also recommend that if you know someone in Atlanta try to arrange temporary accommodation with them till you finalize your housing. In case you don't know anyone in Atlanta, let us know and we would try to accommodate you with the current students till you finalize your housing.
Get familiar with transportation services at the Atlanta airport, in case you have to get to campus yourself. You can come to campus by taxi or by using the underground rail (Marta). Taxi rates come up to about $35 (rates are standard, you will not be ripped off J), give cab driver the address and he will take you there. The marta costs $1.75 per trip and Georgia Tech runs a shuttle from the N4 marta station to campus.
We recommend you stay on campus for the first few semesters, it really makes life easier and you can concentrate on your studies and settling down, but its expensive.
If you decide to live off-campus, plan to arrive in Atlanta at least a week before start of classes, so that you have sufficient time to look for housing.
It may sound obvious but, try to
be prompt with submitting documentation and try not to miss any of the
deadlines that Georgia Tech has informed you of.
These are things the Department of Housing recommends every incoming student to bring. They can be found at the housing website. We edited their list, taking into account the fact that international students generally have to live out of two suitcases.
Things you'll need:
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shower tote bucket, soap, toiletries
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towels, washcloths
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shower shoes (for traditional residence halls)
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extra-long twin bed sheets (36 x 80 x 6)
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blanket, pillow, pillow cases
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laundry bag
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clothes hangers (you could bring a few and buy more here)
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alarm clock
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Ethernet cable
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Computer according to specs at (http://www.sco.gatech.edu/)
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power outlet strip (14 or 12 gauge wire)
Things we've added to the housing list:
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cultural clothes. Most people feel like they won't have the opportunity to wear them, but we'll make sure you will.
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a warm jacket. It doesn't really snow here, but the temperature does go down to well below freezing and the winds can be harsh.
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a graphing calculator. Most Techies will invest in a TI-89 at some point.
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pakola ... j/k .. you can get pakola here too :)
Things that'll come in handy, but can also be bought after you arrive:
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desk lamp (no halogen bulbs)
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iron
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sewing kit
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stationery and office supplies
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medicines, first aid supplies
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plastic dishes, silverware
You could also buy the following with your assigned roommate, if you feel the need:
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TV/VCR/DVD
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microwave (most community kitchens do provide microwaves)
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4.5 cubic ft refrigerator
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carpet
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telephone (Caller ID service is provided)
Things to do upon arrival:
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If you are staying on campus check in with your community housing office to get your keys and move in.
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Locations:
East Campus: 711 Techwood Dr NW
West Campus: corner of McMillan Street and Turner Place (between 6th and 8th Streets)
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Obtain student ID (Buzzcard) at the Buzzcard Center located in the Student Center. (Will be obtained during FASET if you choose to attend it)
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Check in with the Office of International Education with your passport, I-20 or DS-2019 and I-94 forms. They will stamp your I-20 or DS-2019 so that you are authorized to work on campus.
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Submit medical forms at the Student Health Center
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Set up a bank account. Most convenient services for students (with on campus ATMs) are provided by
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Wachovia (located across the street from the Student Center)
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Bank of America (located a few blocks away from East Campus)
During the beginning of fall semesters, these banks will also have tables set up on campus in order to sign up for a free student account. Some may require you to have a Social Security Number before applying.
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Register for classes online at http://oscar.gatech.edu (Also done during FASET)
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Apply for a social security number after ten days of having arrived in the US.
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Location:
SUITE 2860
401 W PEACHTREE ST
ATLANTA , GA 30308
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Office Phone:
(800) 772-1213
TTY: (800) 325-0778
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Apply for a credit card. Options are limited for International Students, but we recommend the American Express Blue for Students Credit Card. Apply here. A credit card isn’t immediately necessary but helps you develop credit history early on. Having no credit history can often affect you negatively when making certain purchases
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You may be interested in on-campus employment opportunities. These jobs are competitive and you will probably not be able to find one immediately. Places that you might want look into for work include the Campus Recreation Center, Student Center, Library and Academic Departments.