NEW STUDENTS

HSC GMU would like to congratulate on your admission. It is great to know that you have chosen GMU as your next school. We're pretty sure the team at the Office of International Programs & Services has already given you a lot of useful information for your impending voyage. We want to provide you with our own suggestions, primarily to help you benefit from our experiences of crossing the seven seas and avoid our mistakes.

This page contains a brief list of stuff that you need to pack and the things you need to do before you leave India followed by how to have a stress-free arrival at GMU. We then progress to what you will need to do after arriving at Mason and settling comfortably.

Books » Textbooks are really expensive out here. So buy all the books that you think that you would like to study out here. Try to contact your advisor or someone in your department to find out what books are used for the typical courses. Get all the good general reference books that you already have. A couple websites have been listed where you can buy used books for cheap. (www.half.com, www.amazon.com)

Optional » Dictionary, scientific calculator, cookbooks, etc. Books, unfortunately, will also be the heaviest portion of your luggage, so choose wisely!

Casual Wear » Jeans/shorts and T-shirts are standard wear here. Shirts and trousers (and ties) are not so common. Get what you feel comfortable in. A disadvantage of shirts and trousers is that that they have to be ironed after the heavy wash/dry cycles of the laundry machines. Do not get too much clothing

» Firstly, most people gain weight after arriving here since food (especially cheese, chocolates and ice-cream!) is so cheap and plentiful.

» Secondly, the "trendy" clothing here is as out of phase with the trends back home.

» Thirdly, jeans and T-shirts are pretty cheap here.

Formal Wear » Suits would not be worn till you have your first job interview or major presentation, often around a year or more later. Most people buy this when they visit home the first time, which usually occurs earlier than their first need for a suit. Even otherwise, suits are not a must for interviews and unless you have one we suggest that you don't buy one.

Traditional Wear » Traditional wear is a matter of choice, though it is hardly required for guys. Ladies probably might want to get a few salwar-suits, a couple of saris and/or any other traditional apparel.

Footwear » Sneakers, good formal leather shoes (which are much cheaper in India), chappals/sandals, hawai slippers with extra straps will all be useful. Again depends on what you feel comfortable in.

Linen » 2 single bed size bedsheets, a couple of pillow covers and a light blanket. The blanket can be left if space/weight is a consideration. They are available quite cheap here. Do not get too much linen. The beds here are usually larger than the beds back home, and the bedsheets and bedspreads that you get from home fit very poorly. Its better to buy these items here.

Winter Wear » Winters are pretty cold. It is advisable to bring couple of sweatshirts and a medium jacket. Winter wear is cheaper and better here. The interiors are weather-controlled anyway. Leather items are terribly expensive here, hence get your supply of leather goods.

Laundry » Laundry is usually done every two weeks though some with enthu do it every week and some seldom do it once a month. So get enough underclothes, socks, shirts/Tees, jeans etc. to last you 2-3 weeks. The more underwear and socks you get, the better.

Utensils » Almost all graduate students cook in their apartments.

» A large (for 3-4 people) pressure cooker with spare gaskets and safety valves is probably the most important kitchen utility to bring along.

» Get at least one pan (preferably non-stick) to cook vegetables in.

» Consider getting dinner plates, small plates, spoons, tumblers, knife, forks, (all these either 1 or 2), cooking tongs, tea strainer, ladles for serving, sauce pan, frying pan.

» Plastic spoons, knives, forks and microwaveable containers are cheap at the local grocery stores, and need not be packed.

» Get couple of larger spoons for serving/cooking. Basically, depends on your style of cooking.

Food » Condiments and spices, small quantities of standard masalas, sambar and curry powders, pickles, and some sweets (for us!) are recommended. Pack everything well, especially the oily and/or pungent stuff (like pickles), otherwise your clothes will look and smell like dish-rags at a dhaba! Almost everything is available at the Indian grocery stores but you might consider some of the stuff for starters. Do not bother getting daal, rice, flour etc. They are quite cheap here and there is no need to increase the weight. There are about 5-6 Indian grocery stores and about 4-5 indian resturants in a 10 miles radius.

» Get the following in small quantities so that you don't have to ask for a ride to the Indian store on the very first day: tea leaves, instant coffee powder, dhania powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, mustard seeds, jeera (cumin), heeng (asafoetida) etc. (whatever you think you'll use in your cooking).

Medicines » Your favorite medicines for minor ailments like fever, cold, cough, stomach-ache, etc. and any other personal medication, antiseptic cream.

» If you need corrective vision, two spare pairs of glasses or contact lenses as the case might be, is strongly recommended. A doctor's prescription is required to buy spectacles and contact lenses here and the doctor's fees are exorbitant and the insurance does not cover eyesight. So get your eyes checked before leaving.

» Get all your personal medical history papers, especially the results of a complete medical checkup. This will save you the cost of a medical check-up and vaccinations here, which can cost around $20.

Cosmetics » Toothbrush and paste, comb/brush, shaving kit, nail-cutter, cold cream, lipsticks, powders, make-up, etc. Shampoos and deodorants can be purchased here, unless you have brand preferences. Hair oil if you use it.

Miscellaneous » Needles, sewing thread, spare buttons, scissors, photos of deities (if religious-minded), family photos, music cassettes, cds, ethnic stuff as gifts or personal use, an up-to-date address book of all your acquaintances, friends and relatives in the USA-Canada region. Get lots of cassettes if you are interested.

» Don't get electronic items like radios and cameras. Don’t bring any electrical appliances as the domestic supply voltage is 110 volts, 60hz instead of 220volts, 50hz as in India.

Last Minute Tips » Get your medical exam done. Check your eyesight and visit your dentist. Get spare spectacles/contacts. The Health Center accepts forms filled in India, even those by private doctors.

» Make arrangements with a contact at Mason or your relative who can pick you up from the airport on your arrival and/or put you up for a few days. Keep their phone numbers handy incase you need to call them from the airport.

» Take a crash course in driving (!).

» Learn cooking. Ask Mom for all her secret recipes.

» Get a good haircut. Haircuts here cost around $13 a pop.

Reaching Fairfax » Some people might have friends/relatives in US/fairfax, so they usually are picked up by them.

» If not, you can contact any of the students listed in the contact list. Please include your flight details in the mail. Also let him/her know about your journey again at least 2 days before your arrival.

» If you haven't had the opportunity to contact anyone here, you can still arrive at Fairfax with minimal trouble.

» Students who have booked their tickets till Dulles airport can avail the airport shuttle service or taxi services which costs around $40 -$50..

Money » For off-campus housing you'll be required to pay an initial deposit (one month's rent at least) in advance. Plus you'll have initial expenses in settling down. This all can add up to around $1000. If one has financial aid, it usually takes about a month (or a month & a half) to get the first paycheck. An initial safe amount to bring is about $1500. If the need arises, you can (and should) borrow some money from senior friends/relatives/us (notice how we put ourselves last!). Traveller's cheques and personal drafts are easy to use and should pose no problem at all.

Bank Account » It is convenient to open a checking account. Most checking accounts have have no monthly fee. Banks also provide Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards that allow you to withdraw money around the clock. Almost all transactions can be done at the ATM machines obviating the need to go to the banks. All banks will accept the Traveller's checks that you got from India. Be prepared to show your passport, documents to prove student status at GMU, and a Social Security Number (SSN). You usually will not have a SSN at this time. Tell the bank you will apply for it, and inform the bank when you do receive one. When you sign up for an account, ask them about their monthly fees for services and any surcharges applicable. Mason has got 2 oncampus banks "United Bank" & "Apple Credit Union".

Making Phone calls from the Airport » You can make phone calls from the numerous phones at the airport. Have some change handy. There are coin dispensing machines in the airport where you can exchange $1,$5,$20 bills for change. If you have any 1-800 number, it is free and so you can dial from any phone without any payment. Usually all public phones have numbers. So to save money you can contact your party and give him/her the public phone number. Stay near the phone and expect your call.