Moving to the United States of America for higher studies? It will surely prove to be an overwhelming and exciting event in your life! Going to a new country is an immensely electrifying experience particularly if you are preparing to pursue higher education from USA. There are quite a few things that one needs to know prior to shifting. There is a plethora of cultural facets, getting to know things about the transportation used there; linguistic differences and a well informed perception about the place will make your stay really smooth. One should make it sure as a student that he/she considers everything they have to keep prepared well in advance and have full knowledge of all the deadlines you have to meet in case.
There's a lot of speculation and advising that applies to any Indian student moving to USA for higher studies and here are a few points to keep in mind-
The foremost thing is to try to get ready for the so called ‘culture shock’ by previously learning about the conduct and customs followed in your new country and crafting little strategies to deal with those emotions in case you feel homesick or quite overwhelmed.
Adapting to the American standards of personal hygiene is very vital for your stay in the country. It shouldn’t be a taboo to mention the fact that a number of Indian students have a lacking sense of hygiene and self-care and one might be in the habit of not showering daily with soap, wearing deodorant, or washing their clothes before most uses. Therefore, you might end up with an unpleasant odour which might go unnoticed on your part, and you may never even realize it when you marred your impression.
Another valuable thing to remember is that health care is quite expensive in USA. Therefore it would be advisable for an international student to get a health insurance once they reach there.
It is a quite known fact that less populated areas in the country are less expensive too. When the budget is one of your primary concerns, head on to reside in smaller towns and try to avoid highly populated areas. Hotspots like California and New York are far more expensive because literally everyone wants to live there. Once you’re properly settled you’ll find ample of chances to visit states all across the country.
If you plan on living in a shared accommodation in USA and have decided upon having shared expenses, it would be highly prudent on your part to keep a record of all your expenses even if they have been previously settled. If you owe money to someone by a written record, do not clear it up without a written record in turn. Although most places in the US accept online rental, still keep pdfs or screenshots of these rent receipts. The exact thing pertains to Bank statements, daily basis utility payment receipts etc as well. Also download your bank statements after regular basis as the online systems do not keep them uploaded forever.
Rest, keep a smile on your face and hope for the best!