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Dear New Friends, Welcome to Brown University! We sincerely welcome all of you to be parts of our Brown University Chinese Student and Scholar Association (Brown CSSA). It would be our honor to help you settle down and get used to the life at Brown smoothly. After you accept an offer, we guess you must be very eager to acquire more information about US, in order to make an adequate preparation. Most of us have experienced such a period: searching BBS for all kinds of descriptions and former experiences about the life abroad, surfing the web for all related contents about the local conditions, such as public safety, apartment rental, climate, commodity price, monthly expense, etc., or even google-ing the satellite maps of the local area to see what the campus is like. We believe that you must have many channels and sources to patch up a general picture of US in your mind. However, most people will find the real US is more or less different from what they have imagined or been "told". Therefore, here we have to claim that all the information below is only for your reference. You might need to make some judgements comparing with other available materials and some adjustments due to your personal conditions. Below are several points that might be helpful for your starting! (1). Preparation for Life & Study at Brown If you have any questions, please feel free to contact with us. We hope you have a good start and wish you the best luck!
Sincerely yours, Brown CSSA (1). Preparation for Life & Study at Brown Preparation for life and study abroad is really a complex topic. The complexity is from the individual diversity. No laws could fit every case. Considering this, we prefer to talk more on the general conditions of our life at Brown, together with a few suggestions on your package to bring. It is like providing you with a background, then you may design your own package list due to your lifestyle!
(1A). Climate & Clothes at Providence Providence has a pleasant climate. The four seasons are very clear and even. Spring and fall usually last for 2-3 months, respectively. In spring and fall, the temperature is very comfortable. Some T-shirts with long sleevs, and a relatively thin quilt might be very appropriate. Perhaps, an good umbrella is also useful, especially for Providence's rainy spring and fall. The "hottest" period in summer usually only lasts for one or two weeks. But, the so-called "hot" seldom exceeds 35`C, which seems like a piece of cake for those friends from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Heifei, Wuhan, etc. As for summer clothes, most people would recommend you to change your T-shirts daily. But, it is not necessary at all times. Probably, it is better to say, always keeping neat is the first principle. Besides, sun glasses are pretty important to protect your eyes from the intense sunlight of North America. In winter, the temperature could reach very low, say around -10'C as high, under significant snowfall and blizzard conditions. However, no matter how cold it is outside, the temperature inside public buildings is usually kept around 14-18'C. Therefore, the trick in dressing is to put on a thick outer wear against the cold outdoors, and take relatively thin wears inside, which allows you easily and quickly to switch between the big temperature difference. Besides, as the winter's dry air might induce great static electricity on some materials, outer wears with an inner surface made from cotton are recommended. Or else it would be pretty painful every time when you take off the outer wear. At winter nights, the outside temperature mostly falls down to below -5 'C. But at home, most of us won't turn the radiator or heater very high, in order to save the expensive gas fee. So it is recommended to bring some thick quilts. Below is a table of weather averages for Providence. You may catch some general ideas of Providence's climate features from it and decide your dressing in each season!
(1B). Commodity Price and Monthly Expense [Note]. All the information in this section is totally in personal views. Just for your reference. Please double check other materails to avoid being misled! Generally, it won't be surprising that most things in US are more expensive than in China, especially for most of the commodities. However, it is not necessary to bring everything from China, because most of them are affordable within your scholarship. Of course, there still are some exceptions, like luxuries and high tech products, whose prices in US are much lower than in China. Especially when you find some great deals, either coupons or rebates would save you a lot of money. Hence, most of us would choose to buy DV, camera, lap-top(notebook PC), etc. in US. (But we have to admit such a tendency that the price difference of these high-tech products between China and US seems to be reducing year by year.) The typical monthly expense at Brown for singles is to pay half of the monthly income after tax for rental, utilities, food and commodities, and to save the other half for a new PC, camera, travelling, or a used car. Generally speaking, you won't feel your financial conditions tight if you live a simple life. And most people could afford a used car in their second year at Brown. Come back to commodity prices: (b). For food: most Chinese students at Brown cook by themselves. The common price to have a lunch or dinner around campus, mostly on Thayer St., is around 4$-8$ per meal. However, self-cook would only cost you probably half the price with the same meal content. So monthly, it generally costs you about 150$-300$ on meals, which depends on self-cook or not. It is NOT very hard to buy Chinese vegetables or sauces at Brown. There are several Chinese mini markets at Craston within 10-15 minutes' drive from Brown. Please refer to Life at Brown. (c). For textbooks: Usually, the price of a textbook is above 50$. Even though Brown has a fantastic liberary, which doesn't set upper limit of the number of borrowed books for grad students, it won't do any bad if you bring your own books. After all, it is always worth to have some great professional books either in English or Chinese at hands. BTW, you may mail your books by sea from home to Providence. Though there is a slight possibility of lost, it is still the best and most economical way, as we seldom heard of lost during post transportation. (d). For housing: The most common rents for two or three bedrooms are about 300-500$ per person per month, which depends on the conditions and locations of the houses. For some apartments, the utility fees, such as gas and electricity, are included in the rents. But if you pay it by yourselves, it usually costs about 100$ per person per month at yearly average on the premise of an economy using. From a overall view, the total amount on rents and utilities is about 400-500$ per person per month, no matter utilities are included in rents or not! (f). For the others: Pricerite or Walmart sell pretty cheap commodities, such as shampoo, body wash, paper towels, laundry liquid, dinner plates(1~2$ each), bowls(1~2$ each), plastic container(~15$ 6-8 pieces), rice cooker(~20$ each), etc. If you are preparing your package to bring, it is usually suggested to bring just a little shampoo, body wash, and similar stuffs. Enough for the use of one week is OK! Besides, you may consider to bring some internet cables, USB cables, etc., which might be unbelievably expensive in US. You may refer to some former experiences in other BBS's. Nowadays, the upper limit of packages' weight on international airlines are smaller than before. It also varies with different airline companies. Therefore, you'd better make sure of this weight limit before you begin to design your package list. Below are some samples of the package lists for your reference. Sample Package List for Girls and Boys (pdf)
(2). Airport Pickup & Temperary Housing
Brown CSSA will pick up new students on their request at T. F. Green International Airport (Airport code: PVD) at their first arrivals. Please contact browncssa@hotmail.com and provide us with your infomation as listed below. As the CSSA could NOT get a whole list of the new comers, if the individual didn't submit the request, we would assume that the individual has arranged everything well by himself or herself, and CSSA will not make any arrangement for him or her!
[Note]: Some departments would pay for their new graduates to attend summer school. If you have such chances, please do not hesitate to take part in it. Summer shool is well designed for foreign students to accommodate to English language and culture. It provides with a three weeks' dormitory. During the period, you may walk around the surrounding area and hunt for apartments for rent. As for this condition, we do NOT recommend participants of the summer school to come early, say, one week ahead, because it is totally unnecessary to do that. Summer school would give you more than enough time to familiarize the surrounding conditions and find a housing! If you don't have an oppotunity to attend the summer school, please don't worry. We would try our best to arrange temporary housing for you on your request. Even though experience before tells satisfactory quick solutions of all the requests, we still cannot guarantee your temperary housing. We would be sorry for any inconvenience if it is unfortunately in this case. Anyway, we will try our best! Usually, new students would be arranged to live in senior students' apartments before they find their own apartment. Please remember it is a huge favor from the senior. This is a good tradition of our Brown CSSA. We hope this could be kept on year by year, which requires the efforts of each of us. There are some points we'd like to mention about being a good guest. 1. Your apartment lease will usually begin on September 1st. If you cannot move to your own apartment before this date, talk to your host again. When we asked temporary housing help for you, we implied that you would move out before the semester starts. If you are in trouble, you might want to consider Brown Guest House. They charge about $30 a day (reasonable price and close to campus). 2. Please pay for the long distance telephone you make there. If you need pay for local phone calls depends on your host's phone plan. 3. Please pay for utility fee, such as gas and electricity. In some cases, you may be asked to pay a little rent. Please ask the people who accommodate you. 4. Please be considerate when you stay at your temporary place. Also, please be understanding when you ask help from other but he or she is busy. Your thoughtfulness will be highly appreciated. (3). Things to Do after Arrival
[Note]: Within the first month of your starting, your I-20 and Passport are the most important documents for you. The loss of either of them will cause you a big trouble! Do keep them safe and well! In principle, after you finish all the items listed in (3A), you don't need to bring them on you any more! *Download a pdf version to bring with you as a reference!
(a). Go to the Office of International Student & Scholar Services(OISSS). You need to bring your passport, I-94 (the immigration entrance card stapled onto your passport at the U.S. Custom), and your I-20 form. The stuff will help you process some crucial forms and documents, which are concerned with your tax status and your application of the Social Security Number(SSN). To complete this forms, you might need to write down an address of your home address in US. As most of the new friends are temporarily living in some seniors' home, you could just fill in the address of the temporary housing. After you get your own apartment, you could always come to OISSS and change it! Please make sure you are clear with every policy told by the stuff, as they mihgt be important to your life in US. e.g., "every time before you leave US, you need to get a signature on your I-20 for your future return!" You probably will get several forms or documents from the OISSS. Among them, one is for your Brown ID card, which you need to hand it in in the Brown Card Office; one is for a certificate letter filled by your department, which will be used when you apply your Social Security Number; another is the FNIS Instructions concerned with your tax. By the way, you may ask about the tax waiver form (not necessary for fellowship). [Location]. (b). Go to the Brown Card Office to pick up your Brown ID card. You need to show your passport and hand in the document got from the OISSS. With your Brown ID card, you can access many Brown facilities , such as most Brown teaching buildings, libraries, gym(OMAC) and Swim Center, etc. ,by sliding your card on the card reader. For the entrance of some buildings, your card need to be authorized by particular offices. e.g. the card access of your department is authorized by the department office. [Location]. (c). Activate your Brown Network Account. With your Brown ID number, you can activate your Brown Network Account, either by on the public computer right outside the Brown ID Office, or on any computer wherever you could access to the internet, or by going to CIS (Computing & Information Services) helping desk on your left hand side after you enter the lobby of the CIT building. Go to Brown Account Activation System (http://activate.brown.edu), and follow the steps! Once you finish the processes of activation, you will get a Brown NetID. Please do double check and remember your User Name, because sometimes the system will generate a "weird" name with several particular numbers in it. This user name, along with your passwords, can be used as the login account in nearly all the Brown Online Services, such as your Brown Email Box, the Library Josiah System, the Banner System, etc. Besides, you could use this NetID to login the public computers, such as those in CIT building and libraries. (d). Go to bank (Citizens and Sovereign are both near campus), open a checking account and a saving account. Please bring your passport, Brown ID card, and your Brown Offer Letter, on which many necessary information are available. Besides, You need to bring a local address with you, which is safe enough for your checks, debit card, and PIN number to be delivered to. Provide the customer representative with all the required information but leave the "SSN (Social Security Number)" blank. Right after everything is all set, you will get a checking acount number, a saving account number, and a letter to the Payroll Office. Now you may deposite your money into those two accounts. After the representative give you the receipt, remember to check the account number right or not! 5-10 business days later, you would receive your formal checks, debit card, and PIN number via mails. If you haven't received anything until then, you must contact with the customer representive ASAP to avoid a threft of your account.
(e). Go to Bursar's Office to fill in Payroll direct-deposite form, pay the students activity fee. Payroll direct-deposite is to deposite your scholarship automatically and directly into your bank account twice a month. You could choose the percentage of deposite in each account. After you get out of the elevator, Payroll office is the two service windows on your left hand side. Brown student activity fee is required for all the students. You could pay it with cashes or checks on the service windows on your right hand side after you get out of the elevator. [Location]. (f). Go to your department office, inform the department that you have arrived. Give the department secretary the cerficate letter from the OISSS, which is needed to be completed; Ask the department to set up a mail box so that you could receive your mails; Ask for the keys to your office or other public rooms and the card access rights to your department building; Ask for the department schedule of the new comers' orientation; Provide your secretary with your temporary telephone number and address for emergency contact if you have any of them; Write down the important phone numbers of faculty/staff for emergency. Besides, You may inquire about the courses required or available for the first semester, committee members or (temporary) supervisors for your graduate study, etc. (g). Look for your housing AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Note that you have only one or two weeks hunting for it but you'll have to stay in it for about a year. To find a nice place with a good price is like a bet - you need luck. Since you have so little time, aim at a reasonably good apartment!
(3B). Important but NOT Urgent (a). Register and apply for SSN (Social Security Number) after two weeks you enter US. Please go to OISSS for detailed information about the required documents and process! (b). TA and RA should go to Graduate School to fill in the I-9 form. [Location]: (c). Inquire about your health insurance plan at Office of Insurance and Risk. The Brown Health Insurance Plan is mandatory and free for the graduate students. Probably around the beginning of September, you could receive the Health Insurance Card. If you arrive early, you'd better ask when your insurance plan will start. Without an insurance cover, you have to pay expensive fees by yourself if you need seeing a doctor. Sorry that we are not sure how Brown subsidizes insurance of graduate students' family members. You can choose some other insurance company for your family members. But the benefit is not as good as Brown's offer. Professional Service, Inc. (PSI) is one of the choices. (http://www.psiservice.com) [Location]: (d). Go to Banner Project, do online registration. Banner is the name of the computer software that Brown has purchased in order to integrate its student information data including admission, registration, billing and financial aid. You may register your courses through this system. It should be said somewhere in your package when and how to register. (e). Go to Faunce Arch to find out the Classroom arrangement according to the courses. Or your department web has the information. (f). Go to Brown Bookstore to look for the textbooks. They are arranged by departments and course codes. Ask the senior students if you can borrow the books from them before you decide to buy. (Textbooks are expensive!) "www.addall.com" is a good aid if you buy books online. (g). If you don't cook, you can go and have your lunch in Ivy Room at the intersection of Thayer Street and George Street near green campus, or buy fast food in those restaurants along Thayer St. (north from Waterman St.). (h). If your new home is unfurnished you should think about getting some furniture such as mattress, table and chair. You may get some second hand furniture or daily used stuff such as bike from Yard Sale around in weekends.. Brown has a news group: news.bboard.forsale, there are some useful information in it. (j). Apply your own credit card after you get your SSN. Usually Citibank, AT&T, American Express are easier than others. Though the first one may be hard to get, it will be easier after you build up enough credit history.
(a). Browse around to get familiar with Brown campus, especially with the buildings' names, such as Barus & Holley building, McMillan building, etc. (b). The police phone number is 911 or x3-4111 (Brown Department of Public Safety). Ask for help if you have any trouble. Avoid walking alone at night. We highly suggest you to take SafeRide by an easy call at x3-1778. If you wanna or have to walk home, you'd better bring small amount of cash in your wallet such as 20$. You may need it in some emergency conditions. Please follow their way and give your cash to the robbers. Do not try to act against at this condition. Your life is invaluable. (c). To avoid frauding, NEVER release your SSN or Credit Card Number to any individuals on phone or on-line, except that you are sure the numbers or the web addresses are official. SSN is the most important number for you in US, so keep it well. If you have recieved a call or an email to ask for your SSN, it MUST be frauding, no legal institution would operate in this way! (d). Be cautious with your important documents, especially your passport, I-20, and SSN card. You don't want to lose them. (e). Go to your department secretary whenever you have questions in terms of school issues. Do NOT feel embarrassed to ask something that you don't know. (f). You can get phone cards online for low price( you can use your debit card for temporary use, credit card is a better choice). (g). Mark your calendar with scheduled events of school. DO go. (h). There are some activities worth to try: (I). Physical education courses: check the flyers for more details. The Brown Physed classes are cheap and good! Most of them are introductory level, which mean you do not need any background. Under construction!
updated: Aug 13, 2007 |
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