Studying in the US - year abroad - what do we need to know?

[emsiewill]

DD2 is due to start her year in the US (this will be the third year of her degree - she's studying American Studies at Hull) in August - she's going to the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.

I was wondering whether anyone whose DCs had done the same thing would have some words of wisdom for us? We've just had a meeting at the uni about it, where some students who came back this year had some interesting things to tell us, but I'm sure there are a lot of things we haven't considered.

Even better if anyone has actually been to the same uni - or is there right now! (you never know!).

Thanks in advance for your help.

[DreamingofSunshine]

I did American Studies 15 years ago and still think it was one of the best (and hardest) things I did, but made such a difference to my outlook and definitely helped me get onto a graduate scheme post university. I hope your DD has a brilliant time and I'd encourage anyone considering it to give it a go

[MouthyHarpy]

And if she’s under21 she MUST take licensing laws seriously. We had a student threatened with deportation because she was found drinking alcohol underage. Our place warns students stringently about this. But some silly ones still think they can get away with it.

Most undergrad teaching in the US is scheduled differently. Classes often meet 2 to 3 times a week over a semester. And there will be lots of small assignments - pop quizzes, short essays or reports, and exams.

And the US is expensive in stuff that we buy fairly cheaply. It’s a weird reversal: what we consider as basics (groceries) are often expensive; what we consider luxuries (eating out, pedicures) are usually cheaper than in the UK. Although the pound is rubbish at the moment (thanks, Brexiteers) so the US is just all round expensive.

If she doesn’t drive she’ll need to travel out of town mostly by bus - there are lots of bus services (not just Greyhound) and they’re mostly fine - the reputation of buses as unsafe is no longer true. Amtrak does have a good corridor service down the east coast and into the Carolinas, but it’s relatively expensive - although really comfortable and the passengers much better behaved than UK train passengers. Indeed, the general level of manners and public civility in the US is much better than in the UK, although it’s harder to make friends in the US, I think. But at college (or “school “ as they call it) your DD should make an effort to get out into student activities and make friends that way.

She should have a wonderful time - US college life can be a tremendously stimulating and mind-broadening experience.

[emsiewill]

Latest report from dd, she is safe in Charlotte with all of her important documents (which she thought of before I told her to take them with her). She is staying with her American friend who has also taken in another 5 Brits - Southern hospitality obviously a real thing!

Dd was most excited to have found a "Wales / Cymru" T-shirt in a Goodwill in Charlotte - she said she was definitely going to buy it (because they are so hard to come by here )

[Herefortheduration]

One of my S.Fla friends has just posted this on fb, lol

[BubblesBuddy]

It also depends if it’s losing strength etc!!

[BubblesBuddy]

I don’t know about how far away to go! It’s great she has a friend who is helping out. I think a lot of students stay near home to go to university in the US so maybe getting further away is more difficult. It also deigned if it’s losing strength and what direction it’s moving in. The Bahamas haven’t seen it move for hours!

[Herefortheduration]

Your dd is there so I have no further advice other than to enjoy every minute of it. I did my full 4 years at an American uni and just loved it. The other students will be very friendly and will make sure she's ok, their families will just adore your dd... the accent helps A LOT with that, lol.

I also rode out several hurricanes as I was in South Florida, they're an experience I can tell you. Very eerie when you're waiting for them to hit as there's no wildlife around at all and it's completely still and silent. Glad she has somewhere safe to go.

[emsiewill]

@BubblesBuddy thanks for thinking of us! The campus is being evacuated today - she has to be out by 5pm their time (10pm here).

She's made a friend who has invited her to go & stay with her family in Charlotte, which is about 3.5 hours away by car, and I assume that's far enough away (if she hadn't had somewhere to go, the uni would have sent her to their campus in Charlotte, so I I guess it must be a good place to be).

She's very calm about it all (her default setting). I am starting to get an obsession with the webcams of Wilmington! They said this year would be full of new experiences & they weren't joking!

[BubblesBuddy]

emsiewill: I do hope your DD will be OK with the hurricane on its way! I am sure the university will have briefed students but I am thinking of you! (And her!)

[Lara53]

Re jobs - depending what visa she travelled on she may well have to apply for a work
Permit which takes 90 days to process exactly! NC is a beautiful state. My DH spent a year there working for Glaxo as a student. We have visited the Outer Banks which I’d recommend if she has time! I’d move there any time!!

[CointreauVersial]

Interesting reading....DD1 is about to start at UEA, studying Psychology with a Year Abroad, and wants to go to the US for her third year. So hopefully I'll be able to find this thread when I need it in a couple of year's time!

[emsiewill]

@pollyannaperspective - thanks for the info, unfortunately, that isn't one of the options given by the uni. We can try to pay by credit or debit card, but it's apparently likely they won't be accepted and there is also a fee on top. The only other way is this convoluted electronic payment system. We'll only have to do it twice though (once for each semester), so it's not too much of a pain.

[pollyannaperspective]

emsiewill we have a DC at university in the US and use Flywire for payments - fees and accommodation etc.

[emsiewill]

Thought I'd update this thread (just in case there's anyone interested). Dd is safe in the US, flew out on Saturday, had to change flights in Charlotte, NC, which we were a bit nervous about, but it all went fine. The uni put on shuttle buses from the airport to the campus, and by all accounts her arrival was very smooth.

Getting her visa went smoothly as well in the end. Luckily we have relatives in London so her and her boyfriend stayed with them for a couple of days and made a bit of a break out of it.

We didn't go with the Uni medical insurance in the end - once I'd done some investigation, I realised it was about 5 times the cost of buying a standalone policy. The one we got covers everything that is needed, and has been accepted by the uni. Our doctors' surgery gave us a list of all of her vaccinations, with the relevant dates. She didn't get herself organised to get the ones she was missing (Tetanus and Hep B) while she was still here, so will have to pay for them over there, but they aren't massively expensive (in fact cheaper than in a travel clinic over here).

I would say the visa, the medical insurance and the medical / vaccination history were the most complicated bits of bureaucracy we had to deal with. I haven't yet paid for her accommodation and meal plan (compulsory, no self-catering option available in her dorm), and it seems like paying for it by bank transfer might be a bit complicated, involving a trip to the bank with a bit of paper from Western Union, but time will tell.

Have had a video call with her today, so we've seen her room and a bit of the rest of the dorm. She says the weather is hot, but what has really hit her is the humidity - like nothing she's experienced before she says. She's made some friends, and had a day at the beach with them yesterday, with her first lectures today. She seems happy and relaxed and it's put my mind at rest to have had a chat with her.

This stream of consciousness may not be of interest to anyone, but perhaps someone in the future may come across the thread and learn something useful - I know I did, so thanks again to all those who contributed.

[Alaimo]

Most things have already been said, but it may be worth looking in more detail at the university's medical insurance and what it covers. I spent a year in the US on exchange with a specialist travel insurance that could be used for a period of up to 12 months abroad, and which included almost everything. In contrast, my flatmate had taken out the university's insurance, which did not cover travel by ambulance for example.

It might be worth looking into if she can get a State ID card while she is in North Carolina. I lost my passport while studying in the US, and it took me months to get it (my student visa in it) replaced. If she has a state ID she should be able to use that in most/all circumstances where she might be asked for ID.

Regarding jobs, I actually really enjoyed my campus job. The hours were incredibly flexible (often just 2-3 hours in the morning or afternoon, they'd fit them around my classes), and it was a great way to meet both American students as well as non-students and to get out of the 'international/exchange student bubble'.

Travelling home: probably about 1/2 the international students I knew travelled home at Christmas, but almost no-one did during the easter/spring break holidays. Quite a lot of people travelled home quite soon after the end of the academic year, so (depending on how she feels) I'd probably recommend she considers staying in the US during the spring break to maximise her travel opportunities.

Oh and finally, she may be slightly shocked in how strict everywhere can be when it comes to alcohol (I was). I was not allowed entry into one local restaurant with my parents because I was underage, and in my halls of residence the wardens/resident assistant would come to every flat every night to check no-one was drinking (and this was in a very liberal part of the country!).

[BubblesBuddy]

Wilmington has two statues to Confederate soldiers. It was the major supply port for the Confederate Army. It has historical links. The University of course does not (and it’s a fairly new university) but it’s always good to know the history of an area without agreeing with it. Knowledge is power.

[SenecaFalls]

I've lived in the Southern US all my life and my father's family are from the coastal area of North Carolina. You might see Confederate flags in some rural areas, but you won't see them in Wilmington and you certainly won't see them on a UNC campus.

[BubblesBuddy]

Having been to North Carolina, there are Confederate flags openly on show in gardens etc. If she had one taken down in the UK, she might find this area of the USA a bit of a cultural shock! There are people there who clearly identify as Confederates. So it’s best to keep quiet about this. Ditto Trump!

[mathanxiety]

The best idea for banking is to get a bank account with a bank that has ATMs on campus if at all possible. At orientation there will be reps from different area banks looking for their Christmas bonus students to sign up. You can research ahead of time what banks have ATMs on campus in UNC and if there are UK affiliates or branches it might be a good idea to talk to them.
There is no such thing as an overdraft in the US. One dollar overdrawn will result in a fine plus repayment. You can have a warning set to a certain amount (down to the last $100 for instance) so you will not overdraw.

Orientation should also have many stalls with student organisations looking for new blood. She should dive in as much as possible.

Get WhatsApp if you don't already for calling and texting. Try Republic Wireless for a phone and payg arrangement. Data can be increased (prices increase too).

She will need to check her vaccinations - contact the UNC student medical service asap and send them the record of what she has had so far. She will definitely need a meningitis jab but wait until you hear from the medical service what form this must take, if it is a series, etc. There may be more, including a TB test (not BCG but a TB resistance test with verified results.

She should definitely consider a campus job. It's a great way to get to know people. Best bet with this in mind is possibly something in the cafeteria.

Hope she will have a blast.

[pearldeodorant]

Monzos are fab, I use mine daily as I'm living abroad currently.

The phone network 3 has a thing where any contract works abroad in America called "at home". Look into it as I also use this and once we discovered it a few friends changed over to it. You could ring her from any UK number and it would be charged as though she's still in the UK so v good for your peace of mind too!

She will love it! Best of luck to her!

[alreadytaken]

apparently Monzo is what mine has, so worth taking a close look.

[emsiewill]

Thanks everyone who has posted, I'm taking note of all of the hints and tips being given & they are all really useful.

It feels like we have a mountain of bureaucracy to climb before she goes, but I guess it's just a case of breaking it down and getting it done.

[SenecaFalls]

She will see lots of them (Confederate flags)

Not on any UNC campus, she won't.

Wilmington is a lovely part of the country, and interestingly is the port where many British settlers, especially Scots, entered. There is a lot to see just in North Carolina, and I am sure she will get invitations to visit friends in other parts of the country.

[alreadytaken]

Just checked back on what someone else was doing about cash and they used Caxton too www.caxtonfx.com/ I think my child is using some sort of banking ap and a debit card that they assure me has no overseas fees - but we only got involved in checking they had thought about it and then providing the emergency credit card.

[Leeds2]

My DD is just coming to the end of her third year of an undergrad degree (not at Wilmington. Coincidentally, my sister was offered a place to do American Studies at Hull - she is now in her early sixties, so it has been around for some time!).
She had no difficulty setting up a bank account - from memory, a representative of Bank of America was at orientation, and reeled her in!
Visa wasn't difficult either, the university sent a form confirming she was going to be a student there, think she had a form to fill in and then an appointment at the Embassy in London. Had an appointment in the morning, and went back to collect the visa the same afternoon. I would apply for that as soon as she has the paperwork, as the appointment list was very full! I think DD found it a bit of an odd process, as two people's applications were rejected whilst she was having her interview, and one ended up crying and rolling around on the floor. She said it was then she realised that she should've been a bit more careful filling her own form in!
The thing that caused us both a lot of stress was the medical questionnaire, which all new students were required to submit. It was very, very detailed and needed dates for lots of vaccinations, some of the usual ones and some which she had never had. So she had to get the missing ones, and pay the GP (£60?) for filling in a form. A couple of the vaccinations were rejected by the university, can't remember which ones but it was due to US having different time scales for gaps between different doses. She paid to have these done at the university hospital, and it wasn't actually a problem - just seemed it when we were trying to fill in the form at home! Please make sure you have the insurance - my DD was admitted to the hospital during the first week of orientation, and I have never been so glad that she was on their list of people allowed treatment!
Not driving hasn't been a problem. Students aren't allowed to park on her campus anyway!
She worked from her second term (she told me international students weren't allowed by the university to work in the first term, I don't know why) in a college cafe, and has since then got a job in an admin office on campus in an area she is interested in. There seem to be loads of jobs around if a student wants them, and some can be helpful in terms of "CV building" as well as earning money - her friend had a position doing something with fish in aquariums, which is an area in which she wants to work.
The university website advertises that if an international student is alone over Thanksgiving, staff will invite them to spend the day with their family, which I think is lovely! DD actually went to her roommates for her first Thanksgiving, but I found it nice to know that she did have options.
She hasn't found the lack of ability to buy alcohol a problem and, indeed, there always seems to be someone with an older brother/friend etc who will buy it for them. But she has been to visit friends at UK universities, and has been amazed at how prevalent alcohol is. She has said to me that she prefers the US system in this regard!
Sorry, I have probably gone off in a rather rambled and incoherent manner, but do ask if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer.