General Information
The Indian Graduate Students Association Drexel University Swagatham ! Pragathi, The Indian Students Association congratulates you on your acceptance and welcomes you to Drexel University.
Drexel has a varied international atmosphere, providing ample opportunities for interaction with foreign students from all parts of the world. Drexel also has a large Indian student population (approx 150 students). Pragathi, a voluntary organization, was formed with the objective of helping new Indian students coming to Drexel. The activities now span from organizing cultural and social get-togethers of the Indian community to making every one feel at home.
The purpose of this letter is to give you a few tips which will help to arrive safely in Philadelphia and make the transition into the U.S. life a smooth one. For any additional information you can contact any one of us (between 8.00 - 9.00 am, IST). In case you reach our voice mail, please leave a message regarding the information needed and time you plan to call next. This will help us in providing you with any assistance, thereby reducing the number of calls you have to make.
Please contact us at least a month prior to your arrival so that we can make arrangements for picking you up from the airport and for temporary accommodation. You can email the information of your travel plans (time, date, airlines) to the contact numbers given below. Additional information on course work and careers are listed in the respective departmental letters.
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Travel information
Flying into Philadelphia: If you plan to fly directly into Philadelphia, please make it a point to inform one of us (if you need help on arrival) of your schedule. We will try to make arrangements to pick you from the airport. In the event that we could not make it to the airport, please try to call any one of us from the airport and one of us will come and pick you up or direct you. The modes of transport from the airport include:
Airport Shuttle - $ 10(per person); This is a door-to-door service. Contact number of Lady Liberty (shuttle service): 215-724-8888.
Train - $5.50 (per person); you can reach the 30th street station, Philadelphia (which is close to the campus).
Taxi - $20 to campus (request to be dropped off at the Drexel Main Building, 32nd and Chestnut Streets).
Preferably try to contact one of us and don't travel alone, especially in case you are arriving in Philadelphia late in the evening or at night.
Flying into other places : If you land in New York, direct shuttle services are available from the airport to Philadelphia (door-to-door) (approx. $ 40).
If you plan to fly into other places follow the above instructions after you reach Philadelphia. Under any of the above cases please inform us before hand so that we could try to arrange for temporary accommodation.
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Housing
Temporary accommodation will be provided to you in one of our houses for 2-3 days which should give you sufficient time to search for room-mates and find an apartment for yourself. Leases are signed for durations ranging from 3 months to 12 months. 1BR apt are available for $600/month and 2 BR apts $1100 approx. Most Indian students stay in apts. ( usually in groups). Most of us cook our own food. This helps keep the food expenses low (around $100 a month). It is a good idea to pick up some basic cooking skills before coming here. All common Indian spices are available in Indian stores nearby. Do not bring any Indian electrical appliances as they will not work here. Most apartments are not furnished and you might have to buy furniture after moving in.
For those of you interested in living in an international community, you can stay at the International House, a residential housing complex that has students from more than 70 countries, including the United States. Fellowships are available that pay partially for the rent. These entail 10 hours of in-house work a week. For additional information check website http://www.ihousephilly.org
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Clothing
We suggest you buy enough (formal and informal). Winter clothing (gloves, sweaters etc. ) is cheap here and tailor made for the climate (-10 C to 5 C in winters). All leather items are cheaper in India. So it is handy to get a leather jacket. Other personal things that would be needed could be:
Spectacles (2-3 pairs), since they are costly here.
International drivers license would be preferable.
Umbrella.
Bring any sports equipment you may need (Drexel has a great gym) TT paddles, Badminton racquets, Cricket Bats (we play cricket in flood lights, on astroturf in in summer and almost every quarter)
If you play any musical instruments, please try to bring it along . You can be an artist at our functions.
Don't bring office Files and Punch as they are different out here.
Please bring traditional dresses to wear on special occasions.
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Financial aspects
Students without financial aid should come prepared with the amount recommended by the University (stated on the I-20), or enough for at least 2-3 quarters. One can earn upto a min of $300-400 p.m from on campus part-time jobs. Maximum being 1000 - 1200 p.m. F-1 students are not allowed to work off-campus. Initial expenses are as follows:
House Rent Per Head: $250 to $450
(Provided you share apartment. Studio apartments are costlier)
Cellphone: Subjective
(Normally around $55 for a basic individual plan)
Food expense : $100-150/month
Other expenses include mattresses, comforters, kitchen supplies, etc. Even students with financial assistance should bring a minimum of $1500 for the initial expenses.
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Health Insurance
Insurance is mandatory for all students. This amount can be paid in installments. Please get the Immunization form filled and get the medication done before coming to Drexel. If you haven't receives the Immunization form then let us know through mail and we will send a copy of the form. For more information regarding health insurance, visit the ISSS's website.
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Important Information
During travel make sure to keep at least two sets of clothing in your cabin baggage in case your luggage gets misplaced and does not arrive on time.
Do not carry large amounts of cash with you. Traveler's cheques are preferable. Keep small denominations of currency ($1's, and 25 cents(quarters) ) handy. For use in public phones.
To contact any one of us from within Philadelphia, you need to dial only the last 10 digits.
Please bring medicines if needed and medicines for common cold, headaches, fever etc. (optional)
We plan to have an orientation program ( by Indian students) to provide other information during the week of the Orientation programs at Drexel.
Keep your documents ( I-20 and passport ) with you always. You will need them at the airport while clearing customs.
Do not bring blankets as you will find better ones out her which are made as per the whether conditions in Philadelphia.
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Contact Information
If you have any problems after arriving at the airport, feel free to contact our PRO's
Dhanush Chandrasekaran: dhanushc@gmail.com
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After arrival Information
ISSO Registration
When you come to Drexel, You have to register yourself with the International Student's Office. The advantage is that they will keep your record, help you in case any difficulties and will also provide you with letters required to get your Social Security Card. It is located at Creese Student Center on 33rd and Chestnut Street.
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Documents to be taken to ISSO
1. Passport,
2. I-94
3. I-20
4. Once you get the SSN, then you can give them a PhotoXerox Copy of the same
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Social Security Number
It is the first thing that you need to do after coming to USA. You need to give your SSN for all kind of transactions, let it be getting a bank account or getting a part time job in the university. The process to get the SSN is as follows:
1. Go to the International Student's Office which is located in the Creese Student Center at 33rd and Chestnut Street, and tell them that you have to apply for a SSN. They will give a letter stating that you are an International student at Drexel University.
2. Go to the Social Security office located at 3901 Market Street, The Market, 2nd Floor with the letter obtained from the ISSO, I-20, Passport, TA/RA/GA Appointment Letter (if any) and I-94.
3. Fill up a form , take a number and then they will call you.
4. After giving the form they will send you your Social Security Card within 3-4 weeks. Please keep it in a very secure place and don't loose it. It is one of the most important documents.
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Drexel ID
This is another Important card thats need to be made. The process is very easy and you get the ID, almost immediately.
1. Go to 124, Creese Student center with all the documents mentioned above and your current class schedule.
2. If you have your SSN, then you can take it too.
3. You will get your Drexel Photo ID in few Minutes (Smile :) Please !!)
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Immunization
This is for people who haven't gotten their immunization done in India earlier, either they were lazy or didn't have time to do it. Any way here is the way to get the Immunization form.
1. Get the Immunization form from the Division of student life, 215, Creese Student Center at 33rd and Chestnut Street) or Drexel Insurance office.
2. Go the Drexel Health Center, 39th and Market Street, which is located inside the Presbyterian Medical Center.
3. Go to the Reception desk and tell them they you have come for Immunization.
4. They will ask you for the form and then they will give you all the Doses required for the Immunization. Also you will have to pay them a good amount for the process.
For more information contact the Dean of Students or Immunization Official
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Bank
After coming to Drexel, Somebody has to take care of your funds. There are 4 major banks in and around Drexel University. You will have to show the same documents to the bank --- SSN (not required), to open a new account. You have the option of opening both, Checking and Savings Account.
1. Sovereign Bank: Located at 3201 Market Street.
2. PNC Bank. Located at 3535 Market Street.
3. Citizens Bank: Located at 34th and Chestnut.
4. HEW Credit Union: Located at Drexel University, Macalister Hall, Next to the Drexel University Bookstore.
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Credit Card
Ah ha , here comes a good part. Now you can also get the power of a Credit card on campus. Infact credit card companies such as Discover, GTE Visa, MBNA, Citibank and many other come to Campus and ask you to fill out their form. So fill the form, and if approved then u will get the credit card. Also be very careful while applying for credit card, if you apply for all the credit cards then you might end up getting all of them.
Finally be careful with your credit card, don't loose it and enjoy the priveledge of a Credit Card.
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Penn ID and Learners Driving Licence
This ID might be important for some people. Since some people may not have Driving Licence, its not possible in any way to show your Date of birth, Indirectly your age. So you will need to carry your passport for the same, as that is the only official document stating your Age, which will be accepted. But there is a way out, with Penn ID. It has proof of your age and also your identity.
1. Go to PennDOT (ARA Towers, Lobby Level, 11th & Market Street) to make your Penn ID, also known as State ID. Also you will have to go to this place for your Learners Driver Licence.
2. Take your SSN, Passport, and I-94.
3. And you will get ur ID, then itself. The working hours are: Tuesday till Saturday from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.
Please visit Pennsylvania's official website for driver license (http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/) for details. We hope that you find the above information useful. Also if you think that there is some more information that could be useful for the arriving students, please let us know.
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Useful URL's
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