ISU info 3

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:37:45 -0700

7. Housing availability. What do most Nepalese prefer?

Both On-campus and Off campus Housing is aviliable. Majority of students live in apartments off campus, few in on campus howing, and few in Residence Halls(Dorms). Its your choice where you want to stay. However, its a very good expereince to live on campus at least for one semester as it gives you a great opportunity to meet new people, and learn the culture. Below is the link for ISU housing which has prices and pictures.

ISU HOUSING

Off-campus Housing is available and most of the Nepalese students at ISU do stay off campus. The prices depend on your choice of apartments. Feel free to contact us for more information.

8. How to search for an apartment? How can I find some one who can share the apartment and the expenses with me? I was very delighted on hearing about the NSA @ ISU.
Please, get in touch with the committee members of the association via mail. If other students have contacted us or if somebody is looking for roommates we will be glad to provide you that information.

9. How many Nepalese Students are at ISU, What are they studying?

There are roughly 40 students at ISU. There is also one Nepali family. The total number of students have been increasing continously. Nepali students at ISU are in almost all the departments, Engineering(different departments), Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Business administration, computer information system, Biology.
There is a very good harmony between nepalese students here at ISU. You can check out the pictures from Nepalese Night, Dashain, Tihar ,etc in the pictures page.

10. General information to every student coming here/what things to bring?

ONE, WHICH MOST OF THE STUDENTS FOLLOW IS: -

It might be a good idea to bring some reference books but text books might just be a extra load.

Optionally, you might want to get dictionary, calculator, cookbooks, and recipes from your mother etc.

Clothes:

T-shirts , shorts, skirts (very common in the Summer, it gets pretty hot in summer)

Full sleeve shirts

Sweaters

Getting a winter jacket or overcoat: - ( The winter is long and cold, North face Down jackets are cheap in Nepal compared to here, its good to bring copuple)

Sportswear

Suit and ties (suit not absolutely necessary, you can do without one).( Nice to have a pair)

Traditional wear is a matter of choice, though it is hardly required. (Its good to wear in cultural nights, people here love it)

2-5 jeans (most common), casual pants

2-3 formal trousers

Belts (one formal leather belt and the others as you please)

Towels and napkins

Enough pair of undergarments

Footwear:

Sneakers (they are used a lot.).

Good formal leather shoes

Chappals / Sandals. (Again depends on what you feel comfortable in)

5-6 pairs of socks
Linen:

2-3 double bed sized bed sheets

1-blanket (these 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 bed sheets and bedspreads that you get from home fit poorly. It is better to buy these items here.

We suggest you to come here and buy such stuffs.

Cosmetics:

Shaving blades

Brush and toothpastes

Soap, Body wash, Shampoo (Just a few till you go for your first groceries here)

Combs and hair oil

Small mirror (just in case)

Nail cutter

Small scissors

Medicines:

2 pairs of extra spectacles or enough pair of contact lenses for a year. (Eye care and Supplies are usually expensive)

Ask your family doctor for a list of Medicines to carry along when you come here.

Complete important check-ups and vaccinations like MMR, Hepatitis B, TB, Chest X-ray, Eyes, and Dental etc. Complete the health documentation that you may have to submit when you arrive here. (ONLY FOR YOUR SATISFACTION)

Utensils:

Most Nepalese students cook in their apartments. So you will need all the basic stuff needed for cooking.

A large (for 3-4 people) pressure cooker with spare gaskets and safety valves is probably the most important kitchen item you can get. A 3 liter one should be sufficient but you might want to consider a larger size.

A few steel or non-stick vessels to cook vegetables in. There is a lot of non-stick cookware available here too, so It might be better not to carry the extra weight.
Dinner plates, small plates, bowls, spoons, tumblers, cooking tongs can be bought here so dont worry about those

Food Items:

Get a couple of bags each of garam masala, dhania powder, pickle bottles (preferably sealed ones), pav bhaji masala, biryani masala etc.etc. Cumin, turmeric, curry powder etc are found for cheap here too.

Some quantity of dal, pulses etc.

Money:

If you are planning to stay off-campus housing you'll be required to pay an initial deposit (one month's rent) and first months rent in advance.

Plus there will be initial expenses in settling down during the first month. All this can add up to around $500 or more (Keeping on the safe side). BUT CARRY NOT MORE THAN 200$ CASH IN HAND (YOU MIGHT NOT NEED MORE THAN THAT)

IT IS BETTER TO GET YOUR FEES IN THE FORM OF DEMAND DRAFT IN FAVOR OF IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY, POCATELLO, ID, U.S.A AND THE REST MONEY IN UR NAME (DD OR TCS). Traveler's cheque are usually the best option

Traveler's cheques and personal drafts are easy to use and should pose no problem at all.

Miscellaneous:

Get a set of transcripts just in case.

Get 2-3 passport-size snaps

Get an address/phone diary with all important contacts

Have a set of copies of visa, passport and I-20 in each piece of luggage.

Nepalese songs CDs etc.

Get a good leather purse that has several sections of 'visiting card' size. You'll need those for the bunch of credit cards/key cards/id s etc you'll accumulate in no time here.

If you have glasses, get a thorough eye-check-up and get 2 extra pairs of glasses. Good spectacles can cost anything up to $100-$200.

Keep passport, visa and I-20 and other admission documents in the handbag you'll carry on your shoulders all the time.

Confirm your ticket a couple of days prior to the flight directly through the airlines you are flying no matter how reputed your travel agent is.

Things you should not get:
Clothes hangers (you might get a couple for starters, but they are of a different size here), electrical appliances, blank notebooks etc.

Get all kinds of first aid medicines, with prescriptions.

Remember it is 110 volts ac here. So electric appliances will not work here.

Opening an NRI account might be a good idea if you want to transfer money to India (Though not at all necessary).

Things To Be Done In Advance:
Certain things have to be done in advance, i.e., as soon as you get your aid - much before the flight.

Apply for Visa. Finish Emigration / Income Tax clearance.

Send your acceptance letter by three modes - FAX, phone, letter and maybe e-mail.

Block air tickets

Learn typing- OPTIONAL

Learn driving- OPTIONAL

Learn to cook- IF YOU WANT TO GOOD FOOD!!

Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20

Get medical checkup done (Hepatitis B normally takes 6 months for 3 doses)

Get cassettes/CDs recorded which you may like to take with you

After landing in the US:

Once you are out of the plane go straight to the Immigration counter. It might take 0.5 -1 hour here. Keep your I-20, passport, admission & aid letters ready. They might ask a few questions like - is this your first time in the US? Student? F-1 visa? Which University? They will attach an I-94 card to your visa.

Go to the baggage to fetch your luggage. Pick up a cart (you get this at a machine for $1) to carry the bags. Then pick up your bags as they come out on the conveyor (suitable eye-catching labels help here). If you don't get your baggage inform the inquiry section

Cart your baggage to nearby Customs. If asked tell them that you are a student, F-1 visa, school, dept., coming to US for the first time. If asked to open the baggage do so slowly - do not mess up the place.

Note: In most cases you will NOT be asked to open your boxes at all & will be simply waved through.

Now go and wait at the nearest exit for the guys who are supposed to pick you up.

Never leave your baggage unattended. Don't go out of the airport until somebody comes & picks you up. If you have doubts about the guy who comes to pick you up, don't hesitate to ask for his ID. (All this is of course being a little extra cautious)

Once you reach your friend's house (or other destination) call home and inform them of reaching safely.

A few things of importance in after (arrival) life: -

Your first work is to meet the International admission’s office. They keep a record of you (passport, visa details etc). When you leave the US (temporarily or permanently) you have to go there again.

Then get your University ID card (Bengal-ID), - some paperwork in the dept.- Meet the HOD/your Advisor, register for classes.

All further information will be given through the through International admission’s office.

VERY IMPORTANT: - PLEASE FAX YOUR TRAVEL DETAILS TO THE INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS OFFICE, BECAUSE THEY HELP TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR PICK UP!!!
TRAVEL DETAILS FORM (.doc)

Note:
1. Everything listed here are just information.
2. There is no such thing as "authentic" information here. The articles listed here may or may not help you. It is up to the reader to decide what to do and what not to do.
3. We sincerely hope this list comes handy to all the new students.

Please fee free to contact me via email if you have any more questions.

ISU info 2

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:37:43 -0700

FAQs
1. How to reach Pocatello from Salt Lake City (SLC), because most of the flights have SLC as final destination. I would like to know how to reach Pocatello?
Travel options from Salt Lake City
1. Salt Lake Express - “Trailways”
Web site- www.saltlakeexpress.com
It is a shuttle (bus) drive
Duration of the travel -2 to 3 hrs
Cost: $25-$32.50 only
Destination you have to reach- Pocatello
Remarks: best option
2. Taxi
3. Flight to Pocatello from SLC
We would suggest you to go with the first option!
And if you send your itinerary to Mr.Shawn Bascom (you’ll have to fax it!), he can arrange for your pick up from Pocatello (Trailways destination) to your final spot on campus! TRAVEL DETAILS FORM (.doc)

2. Can I get temporary accommodation?
Please contact the officers/members of Nepalese Students Association to see if you can stay with anyone for few days. You can usually one night accomodation from Campus Housing and will be $10/night after that.

3. How much money shall I bring there (I mean for tuition fees and other exp.)?
Please follow the amount shown on I-20 as we are not capable of providing financial advising.

4. Can we find Nepalse spices and stuff in Pocatello?
There are no Nepalese or Indian stores in Pocatello. However, you can find most of the spices in the local grocery store. You will not be able to find mixed spices or Aachars and stuff.

5. Is there no need for blazer/any coat?
Its safe to bring at least a pair of formal dress. You wont use it very oftem but it will be handy. Mostly, it is used in the Interview, some formal functions in the University and during your Graduation ceremony.

6. What are the funding options that are usually available after first semester at ISU? Or, is TA funding only available to grads? What are the active researches going on at ISU?
Funding is on competitive basis, you might get it if you have extremely good scores and good academic background, you can apply for one.
Research is pretty good in some departments, we cannot comment on all the departments. Please visit the websites of individual departments and get in touch with the students and Professors.
We have included links to few departments page to give you a rough idea of the kind of research performed at ISU.

Department of Chemistry

Pharmaceutical Science Research

Biological Science Research

Physics Research

Engineering Research

ISU Research Page

ISU info for Nepalese students

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:47:11 -0700

Welcome to ISU information page. This page is is designed in an attempt to help prospective ISU students from Nepal. We do not proved any immigration , administrative , or scholarship information,. However, we have tried our best to answer most of the frequently asked questions that we usually receive from the prospective students. Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.