How to get a health insurance, housing, etc?

Health Insurance

Most colleges, universities and language centers require that their students have health insurance. This is important since an emergency medical visit to a hospital can cost thousands of dollars. Should a student require a major medical operation, the cost could be over $100,000. The school you attend should provide you with information on the cost of health insurance, just as they do for tuition and books. At your request, they should provide you with all the information on the health insurance they provide before you apply or leave your country. If you are already covered by a private health insurance company in your country, it may cover you in the United States. Consult your insurance company.

Housing

• Dormitories: Colleges and universities typically provide on-campus housing for their students in dormitories. You, as an "international" student, may be required to live in their dormitory for as long a year. Dormitories typically have two to four students to a room. The "dorm" rooms may have their own bathroom or all students on a floor may share a large communal bathroom. Some dormitories are "coed" in that men and women live in the same dormitory building. Most coed dormitories will have the men and women living on separate floors, however. If this is important to you or your parents, be sure that your college provides you with this information. Most dormitories do not have kitchen facilities in the rooms so that the dorm students must eat in cafeterias. Some dormitories do have small kitchens. Often universities have these types of dorms for graduate students.
• Host Families: Some English as a Second Language departments of universities and language centers provide host families to international students. The host family is a great way to get to know Americans and their culture and learn English. However, the experience varies from family to family and some students may not have the positive experience that they want because of cultural differences between them and the family. Some host families only wish to host a student for a month, some will host a student for up to a year. Host families may also live far away (30 minutes or more by bus) from campus. You should inquire as much as possible about potential host families before you decide to stay with a family versus another type of housing such as a dorm or apartment.
• Apartments: Most apartments require that you sign a contract or lease for 3-12 months. You will be required to make a security or damage deposit of one month's rent. You may also be required to pay the first and last month's rent to reserve the apartment. Some apartments are furnished, others are not furnished. We recommend that you pay a little more for a furnished apartment so that you do not have to spend time buying the furniture when you arrive and selling the furniture when you leave.
• International Houses: These are houses that colleges, language centers and universities provide for their international students. They typically house only international students but may have American students as well. Students basically become one big "family" in these houses in that they share cooking, cleaning, shopping, and social activities like parties together.
  Find out as much as you can about the housing you want before you commit.

Transportation

You can easily purchase a bicycle, car or motorcycle. A used car in good working condition can be purchased for as little as $2000 ($1000 can buy you a car that works but be prepared to spend money to maintain it.) If you do not buy a car or bike and decide to live somewhere that is not within walking distance to school, make sure there is a convenient bus route. You should not want to walk more than 15 minutes to a bus stop (and it should be in a safe area).

Safety

America is getting a reputation for not being safe. Drugs, crime and guns are thought to contribute to making the streets unsafe. While America is not as safe as it was 50 years ago, it is still a safe country. Television and newspapers tend to sensationalize the problems that occur. You can avoid most safety problems by following these guidelines:

1. When you first arrive to your school, ask an administrator or teacher what you should do to be safe. They should tell you which areas are safe and which are not, during the day and/or night.
2. When you are walking to an unfamiliar area, try to go with someone else or a group, especially at night.
3. Never stop and talk with a stranger who asks you for money, to change a bill, or wants to sell you something. Try to walk quickly, with a purpose, like you know where you are going.
4. If you someone tries to rob you, do not resist. Give them your wallet or purse.

Basically, do the things that you do in your country to be safe and you should be safe in America.

If you need more information, contact us at Conversa Language Center.

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