Travel to Ann Arbor
The best way to reach Ann Arbor is by taking a flight to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (also called Wayne County Airport - abbr. DTW or DTT). Ann Arbor is a 30 minute drive from the Detroit Metro Airport. Instructions for getting to Ann Arbor are given on the Arrivals and Pickups page. Please ensure that your passport will be valid for the period of your stay here (Indian passport need to be sent to the consulate in Chicago for extensions and this process might take a week or two). Always carry your passport, VISA and I-20 on your person or in your cabin luggage. When entering the US, you will be given the I-94 form (which keeps your arrival and departure record). You should always keep this form with your passport (it is a good idea to staple it to your passport). If you are coming from India and plan to call home from a public place, you should consider buying an international calling card. International calling rates from public places (e.g. airports/hotels/etc.) are extremely high. You can, of course, purchase good calling cards upon reaching Ann Arbor.
Upon arriving in Ann Arbor
Here is a list of things you will have to do upon reaching Ann Arbor:
- Make arrangements for permanent accomodation. For tips and information on how ISA can help in this process, please read the Housing Arrangements page.
- Meet your department secretary and inform him/her of your arrival.
- Go to the registrar and get your M-Card made. Activate your computer accounts.
- Go to international center. They will provide you with maps and instructions about banking, transportation, health insuarance, and other things that need to be completed.
- Apply for your Social Security Number.
- Once your permanent accomodation is decided, you will have to get a telephone connection and change electricity and heating to your name.
- Register for classes.
- Recognising the different cultural backgrounds of international students, the international center and the Office of New Student Programs organise many orientations during the first few weeks of Fall (starting in August). You should check out their orientation schedule, and attend the events (they also conduct trips to the supermarket and picnics) that interest you. This is a good way to learn about life in Ann Arbor and make new friends.
Academics and Funding
Most of the information about course requirements and courses is readily available on individual department websites. You should browse through the website of your program and find out information about courses that interest you. Text books are very expensive out here. Graduate students should bring along important text books or reference books they used during their undergraduate studies. For engineering graduate students, knowledge of a programming language and MATLAB is useful (though you can easily pick it up once you get here).
Research Assistantship appointments are decided by individual professors. It is generally difficult for students (even belonging to the same department) to ascertain whether a professor has projects or funding. Your best bet would be to approach the professors directly. Teaching Assistantship positions are handled by individual departments. International students are usually not considered for TA appointments in their first semester at U of M. Campus jobs are usually available. You are allowed to work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week. You can earn upto $600/$700 through on-campus jobs, which will be sufficient to cover your living expenses. However, on-campus jobs will not pay for your tuition fees.
If you have additional questions about funding or specific questions regarding your department/courses, please write to Nabanita Datta (nabanitadatta AT gmail DOT com)