Practicalities Communicating & Travelling Making the best use of your money… and Harvard's Becca Gong Sébastien Arnold Jenny Lee Toomas Laarits Or Gadish
Flying smartly Sébastien
What you need to know ¡ Not all tickets are equal l ¡ Airline websites, Expedia, ebookers, kayak. com: l l ¡ Seb Vary by cost AND flexibility Cheap fare, but lots of restrictions (particularly min/max stay, routing and date change) Perfect for intersession or spring break You'll want a more flexible fare for trips home (change of plans, complicated travels)… without paying full-fare
STA Travel ¡ ¡ Your saviour STA Travel offers “Blue tickets” - low priced, flexible student tickets l ¡ ¡ ¡ Seb Change of dates is $25 + fare differential (compare to ~$200 + fare differential for conventional ticket) Office on Mount Auburn Street (all forms of payment) Or www. statravel. com (but only accepts USissued cards! –> Tip later) Insure tickets against unforeseen events (e. g. change of exam dates!), regardless of where ticket was bought, for $50
How to get a better deal I ¡ ¡ ¡ If you see it, BUY IT!! Book early (about three months before) and online - or last minute (risky) Larger airlines = better deal (generally); pointers only: l l l ¡ Seb Europe: BA, LH/UA, AZ Asia: US majors (AA, UA, NW) cost less than Asian carriers Lots of low-cost in the Americas (check out B 6) Forget about one-way tickets & keep the routing simple
How to get a better deal II ¡ ¡ ¡ Seb Use a hub – direct flights are often more expensive (though not always) Weekdays vs. weekends Think of alternative routings (different airlines or plane + train combination? ) Think about "where" you buy your tickets (Home vs. US) And frankly… Forget about the miles
And a few very quick tips… ¡ ¡ Airline website: choose seat (immigration queue!), meal and check -in Know your rights (others won't): "terms and conditions", www. mytravelrights. com and rule 240 (US only)
Staying here Jenny
American Holidays ¡ Halloween (Oct 31) l l ¡ Thanksgiving (4 th Thursday of Nov) l l ¡ l l Easter dinner Egg hunt St Patrick’s Day (March 17) l Jenny Christmas dinner Tree and Presents Easter (end of March till early April – changes each year) l ¡ Thanksgiving dinner - turkey Families, big shopping spree Friday, parade on TV Christmas (Dec 25) l ¡ Dress up Candy Celebrate by wearing green, eating green foods, drinking Irish drink, and attending parades
Alternatives to traveling home during breaks ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Freshman can't stay in dorms during winter break Stay on campus (check dining hall dates) Research grants Go home with a friend Stay with host family, if you have one Student groups go on trips e. g. a cappella tours Trips l New York Cancun Montreal l Florida l l Jenny
Saving money Jenny, Or and Becca
Freebies/Saving money ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Jenny ¡ Board. Plus e. g. Greenhouse Café in Science Center, Lamont Café Brain Break (9 pm onwards in dining halls) UHS – cold season Barker Center coffee in the mornings Trolley, mall bus Peer Advisors, Academic Advisors, Entryway outings Studies, experiments e. g. writing, psychology experiments Charlie Card for T rides House events e. g. movies, food Dorm email list
Easy ways to save money Online = almost always cheaper ¡ In stores (mostly supermarkets): “ 3 for $9” is the same as “ 1 for 3$” ¡ l You do not need to buy all three in order to get the deal Websites such as www. slickdeals. net provide great deals that come and go ¡ Ask us for advice!!!!!! ¡ Or
Financial Aid Benefits Becca
Student Events Fund (SEF) ¡ SEF is a program offered to students on full or near-full financial aid l l l ¡ Becca Criterion changes every year Applies to all student events ticketed through the Harvard Box Office(Concerts, many house formals and parties). http: //www. fas. harvard. edu/~sef/ - request ticket, and it will be waiting at the door. You must claim it though, or else they get mad
Winter coat fund ¡ If you’re: On Financial Aid 2) From a cold place …you qualify for the Winter coat fund! That’s right, Harvard will take you shopping 1) ¡ Becca Budget for not just coat, but gloves/scarves/hat/thermal underwear/boots, other survival items
Beneficiary Aid ¡ Bet you didn’t know that Harvard will pay for things like: Dental bills l Optometry Bills l Tutoring Bills …. . to a % equivalent to your financial aid. l ¡ Becca The form is online
Banking Sébastien
Banking in America ¡ Banking is country-specific! Don't assume that your American bank will work like your home bank l l l ¡ Seb ATMs and e-banking (how to use them and what you can do with them) Ways of paying (use of cheques, etc. ) Fees and minimum balances (transfers, credit cards, savings accounts, etc. ) Delays (deposits and transfers) Security ("zero tolerance", use of American cards abroad) Research well… The rest will come with experience
Choosing your bank ¡ Things to look out for: l l ¡ Seb Fees (transfers in particular if you'll need them) Availability of ATM machines Will your money travel easily with you? Interest rates, customer service are probably not that important Main banks: Bank of America, Sovereign Bank, Citizens Bank, Cambridge Trust
Credit Cards ¡ ¡ Tough to get as an international (no Social Security number/credit history) Two solutions: l l Seb Get one from Harvard Credit Union (Holyoke Centre) or Bank of America (non-SSN card) ¡ But starting balance is low (circa $500, less than a ticket home) and conditions tend to be unfavourable ¡ Good idea if you intend to stay in the US later (build up credit history) Don't get a US credit card ¡ Use your American bank card: works like a Visa, you just can't spend more than what is on your bank account (…) ¡ Use your home credit card, if you have one
Why you should keep your home bank account ¡ ¡ Seb Can use your home credit card – but don't withdraw money with it unless you have to! (Cash Advance Fee) Fewer transfer costs: domestic transfers are cheaper (generally free) than international ones – think of summer employers and mummy/daddy (if applicable) Limit loss to changing currencies (lose maybe 2% each time, plus risk) and FX rate on transfers and withdrawals is generally very fair Access your money easily with your bank card and e-banking
If you do use a foreign account… Don't use money transfers… Slow and costly ¡ Instead: ¡ l l l ¡ Seb Use home ATM card to take out USD Deposit them into your US account Delay if over $500 Tip: fill your account this way to use your debit card as a credit card
Settling into Harvard Toomas
Setting up the room I Harvard gives you a bed, a table, a chair a dresser and a shelf So you may need: ¡ Bedding, towels, hamper ¡ More lights, mirrors, futons, tables, storage ¡ Fridge, microwave ¡ Decorations, glassware, silverware ¡ Yard Ops will lend you vacuum cleaners etc ¡ Toomas
Setting up the room II Wait for all roomies to arrive ¡ Make sure you agree what to get and how to split the costs Go shopping: ¡ Stuff sale in front of Science center ¡ Cambridge. Side Galleria ¡ Goodwill on Davis Square ¡ Salvation Army at Central Square ¡ Target ¡ Online ¡ Toomas
Words of wisdom Don’t go to Harvard Student Agencies ¡ Don’t believe what Harvard Student Agencies claim ¡ Do read the Unofficial Guide to find places of special interest ¡ The first week is the key ¡ Toomas
University Health Services (UHS) ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Toomas Emergency open 24 hrs 7 days a week – the best decision in any case Free stuff Student health fee: Urgent care, primary care, drug benefits Not free optometrist, dentist, vaccinations etc Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance: hospitalization etc Pay attention to what Becca says Know your rights and be persistent
Book shopping Toomas
Books ¡ You’re at Harvard so you must love books Differences between the use of books in courses, read the syllabi, ask the professors ¡ All required materials are on hold in Lamont ¡ Don’t even think about the suggested reading ¡ Toomas
The Coop Has all the required materials for all the courses ¡ Only place to get course packs (usually) ¡ Great way to browse courses ¡ Too expensive ¡ Reimburses 6 -7% to members ¡ Membership is 1$ so go figure. . . ¡ Toomas
Crimsonreading. org ¡ ¡ ¡ Organized by the Undergraduate Council A marketplace for students, great for selling your own books next term, too Compares prices on different websites Plus ¡ Check websites on your own ¡ Coursepacks are sold in front Science Center Toomas
Harvard Book Store One of the greatest bookstores in the world ¡ Friendly staff, great recommendations, unique selection ¡ Used books downstairs, coursebooks too sometimes ¡ Toomas
Other bookstores I Grolier Poetry, Plympton st ¡ Great poetry Shoenhof’s foreign books, Mt Auburn ¡ The place to find books in your own language James and Devon Gray Booksellers, Arrow st ¡ Antiquities Brattle Book Shop, Park st ¡ Used books Toomas
Other bookstores II Lame Duck bookstore, Arrow st Probably the coolest place of all ¡ Everything from original Borges’ manuscripts ($80 000) to Flaubert’s scrap paper ($1 500) ¡ Affordable second-hand books ¡ Friendly staff ¡ An art gallery next door Toomas
Earning money Or and Toomas
GETTING A JOB
Finding a job ¡ ¡ Step 1: Decide whether or not you want to work this semester or not. Step 2: Decide what kinds of jobs you might want, such as: l l l ¡ Step 3: Go to http: //www. seo. harvard. edu/ l l Or Library position Computer Helpdesk position (requires knowing how to troubleshoot computers) Research (or other type of) Assistant Click on Students --> Search Job Listing Fill in the respective information from step 2. Note: Work-Study
Getting the job you just found ¡ ¡ Or Step 1: If the offer was not placed long ago send an email to the contact person asking if the position is still available. If the job description does not say what is required for an application ask in the email. Step 2: If the position is available send in your resume and any other application requirements. Step 3: Go to the interview early and looking nicely. Step 4: Show up to work and make lots of money
Getting a Social Security Number ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Toomas It’s useful so just get it; the closest thing to a national identification number Need a job, an employer letter and HIO letter Take passport, I-20, I-94, and letters to Davis Square, preferably at 9 am Do not bring guns but something to read Wait for a few weeks Do not lose it, report if you do SSA reps will be on campus Sep. 6 to guide eligible FIPpers over application process
Fellowships and grants Becca
Travel Grants & Fellowships I ¡ Grants and Fellowships can cover: l l Becca Academic work abroad Internship funding for both PAID and UNPAID internships Research “Purposeful travel”
Travel Grants & Fellowships II ¡ Offered by: l l l l Becca Office of Career Services (OCS) Various Regional Centers Weissman Internship Fellowship Harvard College Research Project Institute of Politics Radcliffe Grants Etc.
Travel Grants & Fellowships III ¡ Application Requirements: l l l Becca Basic App Form Resume Budget (very important) Statement of Purpose Invitation Letter!
Travel Grants & Fellowships IV ¡ TIPS: l l Becca Start scouting programs/placements before spring midterm frenzy Write a good, realistic, well-researched budget Attend OCS workshops Talk to upperclassmen!
Keeping in touch Or and Jenny
Keeping in touch ¡ ¡ Facebook! Internet calling l l ¡ Jenny Skype (free PC to PC) Yahoo! Voice Internetcalls. com Jajah. com (have to pay sometimes) Calling cards go to callingcards. com to compare rates
Calling home ¡ HIO has information on Cellular. LD International Wireless Long Distance Service. Info can be found at www. cellularld. com/harvard
Cellphones
Cellphones cont. ¡ Major Issues: l Require deposit if you do not have a SS number ¡ ¡ Or Soln: Ask roommates, siblings who live in the states, etc. to sign up for you (or just pay the deposit) Ask for personal advice about each service from us or go to each respective store and ask around
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