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International Student Advice |
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Managing Your Money
Driving and Driver's License
Housing Tips
Obtaining a Cell Phone
Converting Weights and Measures
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Managing Your Money
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Bring Cash and Credit Cards
It takes time to get organized, and it might take some time to open a bank account. You also should be prepared to pay cash, as credit cards aren't accepted everywhere. Like almost anywhere in the world, you should not carry large amounts of cash around with you. Instead, use these alternative payment methods:
Personal Checks
Many transactions require checks (e.g., paying your rent, MBA club fees, phone bills, or parking tickets). Be aware that if you pay at an establishment with a check, you will be required to provide a picture ID, such as a California driver’s license or passport.
Credit Cards
You will need a solid US credit history. If you don’t yet have one, you may want to start establishing your history by obtaining credit cards. When you first arrive, banks typically will not be willing to issue you a regular credit card. They will, however, issue you a “secured” credit card that is valid against a secured monetary deposit (Wells Fargo, for example, requires $300). This card will allow you to generate the credit history needed for a regular credit card. Once you qualify for a regular credit card, remember that not only banks, but also many companies (e.g., telephone companies, department stores, gas and oil companies) issue credit cards. Make sure to compare interest rates and annual fees when requesting a card.
Debit Cards
There are two types of debit cards:
1. ATM (Automated Teller Machine) cards allow you to withdraw money from your personal checking or savings account. In addition, most bank transactions, such as depositing, withdrawing and transferring money, depositing checks, or verifying account balances, can be performed at ATM stations.
2. Check Cards/Debit cards look like credit cards, but allow you to pay for goods/services or withdraw funds from your personal account. This is an extremely useful form of payment. You cannot withdraw more money than you have in the account; however, since a check card has a Visa or MasterCard logo on its front, shops that accept credit cards accept them. You can also use these to make purchases by mail, telephone or online.
Bank Accounts
In order to obtain checks, debit cards, or check cards, you will need to have an account at a local bank. Banks offer many different kind of accounts. The two basic types are:
Checking Accounts
Checking accounts give you immediate access to the money deposited in the account and are necessary to write checks. Unless you open an interest-bearing checking account, the money in your checking account doesn’t earn interest. Many banks offer free student checking accounts.
Savings Accounts
Regular savings accounts earn some interest. Money can be withdrawn; however, you cannot write checks on a savings account. Higher interest can be earned with special savings accounts, such as a Money Market account or a Certificate of Deposit. Usually, these accounts require higher deposit amounts, and you may have to maintain a minimum balance over a specified period of time. Again, look for free student accounts.
Tips
Shop around and compare the services and costs of different banks.
Some offer deals for students (e.g., free student accounts), especially the first few weeks after school starts. You don’t even need to go to the bank to open an account. Some banks offer promotions at places close to campus (popular spots are in front of the Martin Luther King Student Union at Sproul Plaza or in supermarkets such as Andronico’s or Safeway). Since Bank of America has an ATM at the Haas School, you might consider it as an option. Wells Fargo also has a strong presence in the western US, with two branches near campus. Another thing to inquire about is whether the bank you choose offers a secured credit card. Some banks have a six-month waiting policy before they offer any type of credit card, which will delay acquiring a credit history.
You do not need a Social Security Number to open a checking or savings account.
If you do not have or are not eligible for a Social Security Number and a bank employee insists that you must have one to open an account, ask to speak to the manager of the bank. Credit card applications usually do require an SSN.
Make sure you pay your credit card bills when they are due.
Not paying, or making late payments, can affect your credit history. This can have a negative impact on your future US creditworthiness.
Obtain either a California driver's license or a California ID card. Have your student ID card, your passport and some money to deposit when you go to open a bank account.
The California driver’s license and the ID card are both accepted everywhere for identification purposes. Once you have one of the two, you won’t need to carry your home country ID card with you. Keep in mind that your personal US checks might not be accepted unless you provide California identification.
Understand the importance of having a US credit history.
Establishing credit history is important in the US. Even if you don’t need or want a credit card, you must establish credit in the US in order to rent an apartment, buy a house, get a car, and even, in many cases, sign up for phone, gas or electrical service. All of these providers might want to be able to check your credit history to see if you know how to pay your bills on time. Even though, as a student, you can still get these services without a credit history, things can become complicated in the long run, especially if you decide to stay in the US to work. The sooner you start establishing a US credit history, the better.
The first step in establishing credit is to open a bank account so you can obtain a credit card. From there, many banks will allow you to have a “secured” credit card, which will start building your credit history. As your credit history improves, you will be able to obtain credit cards from different institutions, and get higher credit limits.
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Driving and Driver's License
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Applying for a California Driver's License or Identification Card
A California ID and/or driver’s license are important documents because they are used frequently to verify your identity. Apply for one of the two. Both are available through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Once you know what your new California address will be, you may want to make an appointment at a DMV office to get you Driver’s License or ID card.
California ID Card
Visit a DMV office (make an appointment for faster service).
At the DMV you will:
•Complete an application form, give a thumb print and have you picture taken.
•Provide your social security number (if you have one) and verify your birth date and legal presence in the US.
•Pay the application fee.
California Driver's License
At the DMV you will:
•Complete an application form, give a thumb print and have your picture taken.
•Provide your social security number (if you have one) and verify your birth date and legal presence in the US.
•Pay the application fee.
•Pass a vision exam, and a written test on traffic laws and road signs.
•If you have a license from another country, you will be required to take a driving test. You will have to make a driving test appointment using the DMV web site or by calling 1-800-777-0133.
Tips
1. Pick up the handbook and sample quiz at one of the California DMV offices. There are also sample quizzes on DMV web site.
2. Schedule an appointment (online) for the written exam and the eye test. Without an appointment, you can wait several hours.
3. To ensure that you bring the correct documentation, please check the DMV web site BEFORE you go to your appointment. Some documentation that you may need are your social security number (if you are eligible for one), passport, immigration documents, an overseas driver’s license (if you have one), proof of legal residence, and cash to pay the fees.
4. Schedule an appointment for the practical driving test after you have passed the written exam. A minimum of 20 hours of practice is recommended prior to taking the driving test. Some tips:
•If English is not your first language, you can complete the written test in a number of other languages.
•The El Cerrito office is usually less crowded.
•You have to be covered by the liability insurance of the car used for the test.
• Some car rental firms do not allow customers to use their cars for test purposes.
• The test for a car license is different from that for a motorcycle license.
Owning a Vehicle
The Kelley Blue Book web site provides values on new and used cars. It might be a good idea to check the blue book value of a car you are thinking about buying. Once you know the blue book value, it will help you better gauge whether the price of the car is appropriate. It is commonplace for car buyers to try to negotiate the price of the car with the seller – whether you are purchasing the car through a private seller or a car dealership.
Alternatively, Craigslist is a valuable source for great deals.
Car Insurance
Car insurance is required if you plan on driving in California. Shop around before you decide which car insurance to choose. A difference of 50% among offers for the same service is not unusual.
Some Options
•Allstate
•Century21st
•Geico
•Progressive
•State Farm
• For a yearly fee and a small enrollment fee American Automobile Association (AAA)-You can become an AAA member. AAA offers emergency road service, auto diagnostic services, free travel services, car and homeowner insurance, motel and rental car discounts, and other benefits. Location: 1775 University Ave., (510) 845.8890.
Note: If you don’t have a California driver’s license, your insurance costs may be substantially higher and not all companies will be willing to insure you without a California driver’s license.
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Housing Tips
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Information on the most popular places that students live can be found in the Haas Student Survey.
Finding a place to live in Berkeley can be a time-consuming experience. As you search, it can be useful to:
•Bring along your US credit report, if you have one. Otherwise, be prepared to provide the landlord copies of your bank account statement, your acceptance letter to Haas, or a recommendation from a previous landlord in the US.
•Be prepared to show that you are able pay the rent. Err on the side of more. It is better to have extra paperwork than to be missing a document that the landlord might want to see.
•Take advantage of all information resources. The UC Parents Network provides information on moving to and living in Berkeley. It is especially valuable for those students with partners and/or children.
International House
I-House is located about a block from the Haas School of Business. Students from many countries live here in small rooms with shared (dorm-style) hallway bathrooms. You must complete an application to live in I-House. Do not underestimate the effort that you have to put into the application. If you really want to live there, you will need to show that in your essays. Living in I-House will save you money on:
•Food. Room includes board, so you will save money on meals.
•Telephone bills. A telephone is included with the room. You have unlimited local calls (510 area code) and a network port in your room, so you can have access to a high-speed Internet connection.
•Furniture. Rooms are furnished.
•Languages: In addition, if your plan is to learn another language while completing your MBA, I-House is a good place to learn languages for free. There are special programs (language discussion tables) where you can practice a specific language.
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Obtaining a Cell Phone
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For information on which cell phone companies are the most popular, please see the Haas Student Survey.
As an international student, it can be challenging to be approved for a cellular phone contract in the US. This is because cell phone companies generally require a solid US credit history before they will agree to let you enter into a cell phone contract. Depending on the cell phone carrier you choose, there should be a couple of options for buying a cell phone.
Information about purchasing a cell phone without a US credit history may not be available on the companies’ web sites. Therefore, you may have to call the cellular carrier or stop by one of their local stores in the Bay Area. Information about cellular stores in the Bay Area can be found on the web sites listed below.
Every cellular company is different, but many have similar options. You will have to research cell phone companies and choose the best plan for you.
Tips
• Anytime minutes: Most cellular companies offer “anytime” minutes, which can be used at any time of the day. There are often “evening and weekend” minutes as well. These minutes offer free usage in the evenings (usually after 9:00 p.m.) and all day on the weekends.
• Coverage: There are a wide variety of calling plans. Some offer local coverage; others have national or international coverage.
• Deposits: Some cellular carriers require that you pay a deposit in order to enter a cell phone contract. This is not a prepaid service, but an option that would enable you to receive monthly cellular phone bills. The deposit can be expensive, upwards of $500 per phone, and is usually refunded to you after one year.
• Employer-provided cell phones: If your partner is working for a firm in the US, he or she may be able to get a cellular plan through work.
• Paying for calls: In the US, you pay to make and receive cellular calls. However, the cost of making calls does not vary according to the network you are calling. Some cell phone companies offer free mobile-to-mobile minutes – meaning that if you call someone with the same phone plan that you have, the call is free and not counted towards your monthly minute allotment.
• Pre-paid plans: Look for a prepaid cellular plan that does not require you to enter a contract or receive monthly bills – most of these plans do not require a US credit history.
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Converting Weights and Measures
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The United States uses the English system of weights and measures. The metric system is available, but people think in quarts and inches, not liters and centimeters. The following charts convert between the English and metric systems for the most commonly used measures.
| Length |
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| 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (cm) | 1 centimeter = 0.39 inches (in) | |
| 1 foot = 0.305 meters (m) | 1 meter = 3.28 feet (ft) | 1 foot = 12 inches |
| 1 yard = 0.914 meters (m) | 1 meter = 1.09 yards (yd) | 1 yard = 3 feet |
| 1 mile = 1.61 kilometers (km) | 1 kilometer = 0.62 miles (mi) | 1 mile = 5280 feet |
| Weight |
|---|
| 1 ounce = 28.35 grams (g) | 1 gram = 0.035 ounces (oz) | |
| 1 pound = 0.4536 kilograms (kg) | 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds (lb) | 1 pound = 16 ounces |
| Volume |
|---|
| 1 gallon = 3.7854 liters (L) | 1 liter = 0.2642 gallons (gal) | 1 miles/gallon = 0.42514 km/liter |
| 1 gallon = 4 quarts | 1 quart = 2 pints | 1 pint = 2 cups |
| 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces | 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons | 1 teaspoon = 5 ml |
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