Learn to read the map, learn to drive , learn to cook, contact the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, always ask around if you are going to do something which you don't really understand.
When you first come here, you may feel stressful and anxious to everything, for example, language barriers, studying, living and working. Remember that you are not alone and it is NORMAL for most of international students if not all. Please don't hesitate to ask for help from your advisor, peers, and friends. They want you to succeed! I can survive, so you can too.
Have plenty of sleep and rest before your flight, it will bring great jetlag effect especially you are traveling east.
Do not have to bring full set of everyday accessories, since the supermarket here has all you need. (except your favorite clothes)
Figure out where you are going to stay as soon as possible since a valid us address is a must for many applications. And the location should be close to campus.
Try to learn how to drive and have some basic knowledge about car if you can.
Before semester start you should make sure that all your textbooks is within your reach, because they are indispensable for your course study and never buy a book online expecting it will be shipped to you within a week. Sometimes it takes a month, sometimes it comes out to a REFUND!
Having a laptop with you is helpful in the first couple of weeks.
Try your best to find some family plan for your mobile, by joining plan you can get your own number in your first day in US.
Contact all your classmates, knowing who are they and where are they going to stay, also introduce yourself.
If there is some language barrier, it is important to open your mouth, no one care if you made a mistake. Also watching some American Soap Opera, such as FRIENDS, is really helpful!
Apply SSN as early as possible, since it takes month for them to issue the card. And your number is a prerequisite for your application to credit card. The nice thing is you can open your checking account (with a debit card) on the first day of your stay, because they simply require nothing else except your visa/passport.
To have a convenient life in US, you should learn how to drive a car before coming. Kansas City is a city on the wheel, so if you have time in the summer vacation, take the course.
The more friends you have, the less lonely you will feel.
©
The University of Kansas Medical Center