Transitioning into a new country to pursue higher education is a very exciting phase of life! It gives you the opportunity to meet and interact with different types of people, try eating food from other cuisines, experience weather conditions you haven’t been used to, visit various new places, the list goes on and on. But above all, you get to start living an independent life, which can be both an exhilarating and challenging experience. For many of you, this may be the very first time you’re living so far away from your family members and home environment, and even perhaps, the very first time you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone. That was the case for me, at least!
When I initially came to Ann Arbor, I remember being in awe of this beautiful college town and the incredible campus infrastructure, but at the same time, a little overwhelmed when I thought about the steps I needed to take to sync myself with this new life as fast as possible, considering the fact that my classes were going to start soon. If you face yourself in a similar boat, and I’m sure many of you will, firstly, you’re not alone, and secondly, you’re at the right place! In order to swiftly get settled in Ann Arbor, I’ve listed here some of the simple, yet important things which I did during my first few days after getting here, and I feel these should be on your checklist too. Hopefully, you’ll feel comfortable and at home here soon, just like this furry little friend I met on campus the other day!
Pro tip! If you want to know the first thing to do when you see a camera, the squirrels here know a thing or two about striking a good pose :)
Collect your Mcard.
Your Mcard (official UMich identification card) is a valuable asset, which (literally) unlocks a lot of doors for you here on-campus, so collecting it should be the first thing you should do. You will need it to gain entry to any facility with student access - from academic buildings, libraries and laboratories, all the way to sports and recreational facilities. In addition to this, you can get free bus rides on TheRide buses using your Mcard, which is, needless to say, super helpful!
Visit this page for more information on your M-Card and how you can collect it.
Check your housing for damages and promptly report them.
Once you’ve moved into your house/apartment unit, be sure to thoroughly look around and check for already existing damages. Even if it’s something as small as a scratch on the floor or a furniture piece, or some faulty equipment, make sure to take photos/videos, note the condition, and document everything with dates. Most landlords/property managers will give you a checklist to report all of this in the initial few days, but if they don’t, be sure to contact them and let them know about everything you’ve noticed.
This may seem unnecessary, but can be very helpful in saving you from having to pay for damages which you haven’t been responsible for, when you eventually move out of the property. Also, be aware of maintenance procedures in your community so that you know who to call if something needs fixing!
Explore bus stop locations and bus routes. Mobility is very important, especially for students. While there are a number of transportation options in Ann Arbor, buses are the most economical and, in many cases, the more convenient options. Take some time to find locations of bus stops near your place of residence. There are two main types of buses which you’ll be using – the MBus and TheRide, both of which are free to use (although you’ll need to swipe your Mcard when you enter any bus which is part of TheRide system).
Considering this, utilizing bus routes to go around campus will give you a good sense of your surroundings and confidence in your ability to travel freely without depending on anybody – all without having to spend a cent!
Create a local bank account and get familiar with local payment platforms.
Although it is a good practice to carry cash and a forex or international credit/debit card with enough money to help you with your living expenses for a month when you travel from home, you should create a local bank account and get a local credit/debit card as soon as you can after getting here. This is a useful article on banking in Ann Arbor.
Also, make yourself familiar with popular digital payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App etc., which most people use for transferring money between their bank accounts quickly. These apps can be especially useful when you have to settle minor expenses with friends and colleagues quickly.
Get a Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card.
Kroger is one of the largest general retail store chains here, and you will find yourself visiting a Kroger store very frequently to get groceries, food etc. When you go to one for the first time, sign up for the Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card. It’s free, and will help you save a lot of money for every purchase you make in the long run.
Last but definitely not the least, get used to saying with pride and passion - Go Blue!
Written by Ashwin Soorya Prakash
Summer Orientation Peer Advisor
Graduate Student
India
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