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Upon Arrival
Pick up from Airport:
CSSA will arrange volunteers to pick up new students from the Baltimore/Washington International
Airport (BWI). If you need to be picked up, please contact Lei Shi
at shileiapplication@gmail.com.
Check in with Your Department and Advisor:
Let your department know you are here. Get information about the
departmental/program new-student orientation. Schedule a meeting with your
advisor to discuss classes for which you should register. If you do not
have an assigned advisor, contact the graduate program director in your
department for instructions. If you are a Graduate Assistant, complete and
sign the tuition remission forms in your departmental office.
Orientation:
The Orientation will be held by the university and department for
international students. The most important thing to do is to apply for the
Social Security Number (SSN). Also you should get your student
identification card and apply the email account at OIT. If you are a TA,
you need to attend the international TA evaluation workshop. http://www.umbc.edu/gradschool/life/orientation_fall.html
Registration:
Talk to your advisor and select the courses you are going to take. Register
by STARS phone registration system or myUMBC.
If the course is full already, add yourself to the hold list, attend the
first class and try to obtain the permission from the instructor. Note:
It's YOUR responsibility to add the course to your schedule once you're
given closed course permission.
Remember to bring your original diploma and certificate when you check in
with the Graduate School. Also need to check in with the Office of
International Education Services to get the preparation documents for
applying SSN.
Health Insurance:
As a TA or RA, you will enjoy the benefits of health insurance for Maryland
state employees. Please talk to the personnel office of your department
about it or consult with senior students. Also, you need to check in with
University Healthy Service (UHS) by providing you completed healthy form.
Banking:
The most popular banks are Chevy Chase bank which have a branch and several
ATMs on-campus, and branches in Giant. You can open a student checking
account with your passport as soon as you landing here. The student
checking account is free, and will include a debit card, which can be used
when you shopping off-line. You can safe transaction fee by using credit
transaction.
Housing:
Normally, graduate students live off-campus. We Chinese students live at
either Nunnery Lane or Westland Garden, both of which are on UMBC shuttle
line.
Westland Garden
(sometimes also called as Westland Blvd.) has 1 bedroom apartment and
townhouse. It is within walking distance to school. The rent is around $710
per month for one-bedroom apartment besides the cost of utilities.
Nunnery Lane
has 2-bedroom apartments. However, it is a little far from school (20min by
shuttle). The rent is around $715 per month besides the cost of utilities.
There are also some good places where you can find apartments for living.
The rent is a little more expensive. However, before you get familiar to
the new environment, we don't advise you to do so.
UMBC Shuttle Line:
UMBC Shuttle serves the nearby area. You can look at the map and schedule
on http://www.umbc.edu/transit
The most useful shuttle lines for Chinese students include:
Arbutus/Irvington
Line: Westland Garden, Mars, Nunnery Road, Giant.
Express Line:
BWI MARC/Amtrak Station.
Route 40 / Rolling
Rd Line: Han Ah Reum Market, Walmart.
The route and schedule may change at the beginning of semester, and there
maybe no services or limited services in holidays, so be sure to check the
services to meet your needs.
Sightseeing:
The best known attraction is Baltimore's Inner Harbor, one of America's
oldest seaports. Fun and educational attractions literally surround the
Baltimore Inner Harbor, such as National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland
Science Center, and Harborplace Market. There are some other places around
Baltimore worth visiting, including Washington DC, Annapolis, Ellicott
City, Ocean City, New York and Shenandoah National Park etc.
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