The very first thing you need to keep in mind----bring ALL your documents: passport, I-20, transcript. Please make sure to bring them all with you when you take a flight, pass the customs, and go to school for the documents check in. Even remember to bring your documents whenever leave the U.S.. I had left my I-20 in my dormitory when my first time went back to China during the winter break. Then when I came back to the states I couldn’t pass the customs until my friend sent my I-20 form to me. Anyway I was so lucky.
Once you choose U of M, you must get prepared for the winter in Minnesota. You will believe that any clothes will be warm enough for the winter here.
From my personal experience, I would not encourage you to buy too many clothes before you leave. Just bring what you have for different seasons, then enjoy the shopping later. For example, I have a few of clothes are in the bottom of drawer that I’ve never touched. Especially for girls, girls like to follow the latest trend of fashion of outfits. So the local dressing style might leading your taste of choose clothes. In short, save room for your baggage to bring something that is necessary, and shopping for clothes here.
Should you worry about eating? Of course you shouldn’t. The only thing you ought to worry about is how to stop increasing weight and maybe you need to lose your weight when you leave here. You can never imagine how many delicious foods here. Restaurants in different countries are located in U of M because it is an international university. You can find Mexican restaurant, Korean restaurant, Japanese restaurant and Italian restaurant. You can even see a Vietnamese restaurant. All of them are perfect. Of course you will not miss the best Chinese food to eat by reason that Chinese restaurant is always packed and everyone likes it including me.
As for living, usually freshmen are required to live in dormitory, however a few people were moved into off campus apartment during their freshman year. But as my point of view it is better to live in dorm at least for the first semester. I would say it is really helpful to adapt to college life sooner and better. Particularly, for international students, living with native speakers will improve your English rapidly.
U-pass! Going everywhere. U-pass is a prepay unlimited bus card you can get for the whole semester. I bought one at the beginning of the first semester because I live in one of the school resident hall which is located off campus. For student who is going to live in other dormitory, campus connector is really convenience. There are both east bank and west bank routes. East bank is towards St. Paul campus. If you live in Bailey Hall you may have to take the campus connector as daily transportation.
Subjectively, the most important thing you may need to get prepared, yourself. Take few minutes to think about your motivation, why are you going to study abroad? Why is it better than stay in your home country? What will you get or lose when you are going to study abroad？Then make a plan and set a goal for yourself as a college achievement.
Last but not least, one of the biggest challenges for international students must be homesick.Language barriers and differences in lifestyle may cause the feeling of loneliness. I believe you will come over it
Welcome to the University of Minnesota!
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