AFTER YOU GET THE VISA
The fall semester starts somewhere between the third and fourth week of August. You may be boarding the flight somewhere between August 20th and August 30th. Buy as many books from India as possible. Start buying books as soon as you get your visa. You may end up paying 3000 rs. for a book in USA which is available in India for 300 Rs. for a low priced edition. You may not need all the books at the end but you will happy at least you had those which you needed. Some students keep ordering books by courier from India but still you spend more than you should that way. Get in touch with students of the college to find out what books will be needed. You will never get the complete correct list, since each subject is taught by various proffessors and everybody follows a different book and they may also keep changing books every year. Remember that international students are allowed one extra luggage in every airlines, so don’t worry about weights. Having 20 or 25 books with you will be ok. At least make sure you have the books for the core courses. Core courses are the subjects that you have to take.
Reach at least one day earlier, at the very beginning the first couple of days landing to USA may not be smooth. At the very beginning, you will be busy looking for a housing, making new friends, adjusting to the new environments. You will also be looking for a job. Because of all this its recommended not to take the tough subjects, specially the core subjects in the first semester. Best professors will already get booked by the old students by the time you arrive.
