TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. How to Apply to an American College by Yourself II. How to get a US Student Visa III.How to Study Abroad at SUNY New Paltz from Japan IV. How to get a Student Visa in Saudi Arabia V. A Music Therapy Exchange Student at SUNY New Paltz VI. How do you Pay for Tuition VII.How can we Adapt to a New Culture VIII.How to Make Friends by Joining IX.How to Find a Nice Place to Live X. How to Maintain a Long-Distance Relationship with your Partner XI.How to get your Textbooks for Class XII.How to buy a book on Amazon XIII.How to Apply to an Internship at a Museum XIV.How to get a Drivers License XV.Driving in America as an International Student XVI.A Room for Yourself XVII. Check out Room
HOW TO APPLY TO AN AMERICAN COLLEGE BY YOURSELF By: Junhe Zhang Would you like to study abroad in the one of the strongest country in the world, America. Each years, a plenty of international students are coming to the US for the top level of education in the world. As a international student who was studying abroad in America, I can tell you that apply for an American college is not as hard as you thought. The all you have to do that is just following all the directions below tightly. First of all, a personal resume. A personal resume is very important for every one who want to apply for something. A creative resume can help you catch readers' sight, so that they want to know more about you later. As a student, your resume must contain your life experience so far, events that you participated before, and some of your insights on life. Try to make the college think you are a man of ideas. Secondly, a recommendation letter. Almost every American universities are concerned about letters of recommendation. Usually two letters from your present school, but for insurance purpose you'd better prepare three. Those letter must be writen by the authoritative people in your school like the president or vicepresident. Let them say something good about your daily performance could be really helpful. Thirdly, financial guarantee. If you are not a scholarship student, then you have to prepare this. Usually undergraduate students don't have scholarship. College has to make sure you have enought money to support yourself in the coming semesters. In my case, my parents have to deposit at least 100,000 dollar in a authoritative bank in my country for at least 1 year, and have to should the NEWPALTZ the deopsit recipt. The more money you prepared the more chances you have. Fourth, health certificate. If you have prepared every thing aboved, you are very close to your beloved college. As a international student, you are a guest in their country. You must don't want to bring some diseases to the US as their first sight gift. To make sure you can give them a good first impressive, you need to go to the college's main page for studying abroad, to find out the list that contain all type of vaccination you have to vaccinate that your college required. The last one, TOEFL/IELTS transcript. At first, you have to know that each college has their own English score require for TOEFL/IELTS. Like SUNY NEWPALTZ your TOEFL score has to reach at least 90, or your IELTS score reachs 6.0. If you can hand in those one of these two types of exam and satisfy your university's requirement. You can take undergraduate courses immediately after you have paied your tuition fee, or you have to take ESL classes just like me.
As a conclusion, I just introduced a general summary of how to apply the US colleges. Most of details you have to check out on your own. A good university can really change your life and give you some unforgettable experience which you will very treasured. Even some whole life friends you can find in there. So, my opinion is, don't just because you are lazy so that missing the one of most important experience in your life. Do some research and find your dream college right now.
HOW TO GET A U.S. STUDENT VISA BY: QUANG NGUYEN
Nowadays, it seems more and more people want to widen their knowledge. It is true that study abroad is the best way to understand another culture’s point of view. Moreover it is also a life changing opportunity for people to makes their dreams come true, expand their horizon, create benefit for their future job. However, getting a VISA to study in the United States is a difficult and confusing process. The application process for a study abroad VISA is different for each country and comes with a complex system. However, based on my own experiences, I have compiled a few helpful tips to get you thinking on the right track to obtain a VISA more easily. Before you go, you need to take a look at “The U.S. State Department’s International Travel Country Specific Information” website to overview the location of The United States embassy and any counselor offices. The next step is to visit the Border Agency website of your host country and find the “student” or “studying in…” visa application. People who are applying for a VISA must also receive an acceptance letter from their school or university they want to study at. They will send you an email first and you need to wait until the letter is delivered to your home. It includes the acceptance letter for studying abroad, the I-20 (also known as the Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students), and other paperwork, depending on the university. When holding the I-20 in your hand, you will see the bar code on the right side of the paper. Above that code, there is a SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitors Information System) number. After that you need go to “https://www.fmjfee.com” to pay about $200 for your SEVIS number and print the receipt once you have finished.
The next step is that you need to go to the Consular Electronic Application Center website “https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/” and open the DS-160 form, which consists of personal information. This must be filled out and submitted online prior to your interview at the Embassy or Consulate. When you finish this step, you need to upload your photo of identification and print the confirmation of DS-160 with the bar code right after that. Now you will go to “http://www.ustraveldocs.com/” in order to create an account and fill some basic information, like your address, family members names, personal ID, passport number, DS-160 number, ect. In this page, you will go to the “Personal information” tab, and click the “Payment” tab. On this page, you will know how to pay the fee for the interview with US embassy and counselor officer. This will cost about $160 for each person. When you have finished your payment, you will need to wait three business days (except Saturday and Sunday) before you get the confirmation email from the Embassy that they received your payment and this will be sent to your email address. Once you received the confirmation email, go back to the “Personal information” tab. The “Schedule” tab will appear and in this tab you can make an appointment for your interview. The last step is to arrive thirty minutes to one hour prior to your interview time. Make sure you bring all the required documents which are your passport, photos, I-20, letter of school, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS payment confirmation, appointment time interview page, and your personal files. The most important thing you need to keep in mind is to be confident when talking to the Embassy officer and to explain your main purpose of why you want to study in their country. Expectantly, this will help you to understand this complicated paperwork and to get the VISA to study in the United State. I hope it will make your dream come true.
HOW TO STUDY ABROAD AT SUNY NEW PALTZ HARUKA OKADA
D
o you want to study abroad at SUNY New Paltz? SUNY New Paltz is one
of the great universities in America. There are a lot of wonderful students, kind professors and beautiful surroundings. It is really good place to study abroad. There is an exchange student program between SUNY New Paltz and some universities in Japan, so I would like to tell you how to be an exchange student from Japan. There are three steps to be an exchange student from Japan to study here. First of all, you need to apply for your university in Japan. You need to write down your profile, the document that says why you want to study abroad and what is the merit to choose you as an exchange student. Your documents should be submitted with your picture and an English ability test such as TOEFL or IELTs score. When you prepare these things, you can submit to your university. Also if there are a lot of applicants, you need a
Secondly, once you pass your documents inspection, you need to have an interview test. Generally, there is a limitation to how many students can go to study abroad. Hence you need to compete with the other applicants. You would prepare an answer to questions which would be asked, to give interviewer a good impression. Basically, you will be asked the same things as you wrote for the documents, so read your documents carefully again. Also it would be better to wear a suit to make your impression better. If you pass the interview test, your goal is around the corner. Thirdly, you need to get a student VISA. Once you get a permission from SUNY New Paltz, you need to go to a US embassy in Japan. There are four US embassies, in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka. You can choose a place that is close to your home. Before you go there, make a reservation first on the internet, and then you can go to take an interview examination. On the interview day, you need a passport and the permission paper from SUNY New Paltz. Just be careful about your luggage, you cannot bring big luggage, water and electrical materials. You will be asked questions about your purpose. You should prepare your answer before you go there. So these are three essential processes to study abroad at New Paltz. If you finish all these three processes, you just need to wait for wonderful experiences in the United States. You will have a exciting, interesting and precious experience.
How to Get a Student Visa in Saudi Arabia By Naz Alnasar
I
always thought it would be such a mission-impossible to do the process of getting an F-1
visa on my own, but it actually turned out very easy, and I am sure you thought of it as that way, too. An F-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for those who want to study in America. However, many people have a wrong concept and they think it is very complicated and too hard to do, so they will apply through special offices or agencies that require a large amount of money, while in fact, they can simply do the procedures at home and on their own computer, as well. Plus, it costs less than what they would pay for the agencies. There are five specific steps to get a U.S student visa in Saudi Arabia. There are some important documents that you must have in order to issue a student visa, but you should be aware that they might take some time. A better way to arrange your time is to get the essential papers from the school you are applying to first. So those required documents are: a valid passport, an I-20, a bank statement that shows you are eligible to pay for the school’s tuition and two high-quality 6x4 photos. Once you have the documents, you can apply for a student visa online through the U.S embassy’s website, which is http://www.ustraveldocs.com/sa/. You will have to fill out a long application called DS-160 that asks for various personal information and other questions regarding your educational plans. The information you will be giving must be correct and true to avoid fraud.
Thirdly, you must pay a $200 fee to admit your I-20, it is called the SEVIS fee, and you will have to pay another $150 for the appointment. Keep in mind that it is very important to print out the fee receipts because they will be asked for in order to prove that you have made a payment. The SEVIS fee is a onetime payment, so you won’t have to pay again if you change your I-20 or renew it in the future. The fourth step, after you complete and submit the DS160 application, you can choose the best appointment that suits
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your schedule from the options that will appear on the website’s page. You can reschedule the appointment you pick out if something comes up, or you can also request an emergency appointment if your time is limited. But, you are only able to do that within two days before the first appointment you choose in the first place. You will find those choices on the same page for scheduling an appointment.
Finally, be well-prepared for the interview before you go. I suggest getting enough sleep so you can show up early in case there are going to be many people waiting in line. Make sure you have all of your documents in a file so it is easier for you to present any paper they ask for. The interviewer will provide you with any information you might want to know about your case. To sum up, it is a very smooth process to get a student visa. All you have to do is get the required documents, fill out the online application, pay the fees and schedule the interview appointment. Also, be ready for the interview and keep all of your essential papers in a file. I hope you find those steps clear and helpful.
A Music Therapy Exchange Student at SUNY New Paltz Bolin Liu
As an exchange student from China, studying at SUNY New Paltz is totally different. Not only in life styles, but also in cultures they are diverse. So, when I came to America I felt awful and had difficulty. To adapt to studying here for a music therapy student, asking, reading, and practicing are the three most important skills. Asking is the most important if you want to study well in New Paltz. When you arrive at SUNY New Paltz, you will find nothing is similar to China. In America, you cannot have close friends in your classes, you cannot understand almost everything that your professors said, even you don’t know what the homework is and finish it on time. However, if you are careful, it’s not hard to notice that everyone is friendly and kind. Both classmates and professors are very enthusiastic to help you do anything. Also, being a music therapy student must participate the discussion in the class. So when you talk in the class you must have some questions that you didn’t know before, then ask about them to professors or classmates. You don’t need to feel embarrassed to ask them, almost all the Americans won’t be impatient about any questions. You can go to your professor’s office at his or her office hours. They will ask you something that they have taught in the class, and ensure you have understood them. Also they will be very happy if you ask them the problems that you have about Music Therapy. Dr. Viega is a very good professor. If you are shy to ask other professors, you can find him. I’m sure he will be very amused by being asked.
After accommodating the rhythm of the life, you will find reading is also a big bump. You can understand almost everything that teachers say and complete the homework very well, but the knowledge is very deficient. That’s the common question to every student. Especially to music therapy student, because all the knowledge about the methods and materials of therapy you can find in the books. Then you should read all the books that you can find, for instance from the professor or upper-
classmen. If you read enough arti-
cles, your English and termi-
nology in Music Therapy is easy to
master. It can also make your
knowledge systematic and clear.
Then the last one is practic-
ing. You can easily grasp all the
skills through reading the text
books about music therapy. But
when you go to the nursing
home or hospital you will find you
cannot control the contest
about the session. So try to hold
every chance to practice your
skills. You can go to the nursing
home or stay with children as
much as you can. American clients
are different from Chinese cli-
ents. To experience people’s char-
acter is very interesting and
challenging. If you can deal with
both kinds of clients, it means you may be a good music therapist in the future. If music therapy students can follow those three skills, it won’t be a big challenge to study at SUNY New Paltz. Trust yourself you can do everything you want. Don’t worry about the diffi-
How Do You Pay for Your Tuition? By: Yiru Du
SUNY New Paltz is one of the nation’s best value public universities on The Princeton Review. There are over 8000 students, including about 400 international students study in here. If you get the offer and decide to study at New Paltz, you are lucky. When you get here, one of the most important things is to pay for your tuition. First of all, you need to know the deadline of your tuition and do that before the last day. Every semester has different due date for tuition. It is always around one month from the day the semester starts. However, you have to know that your meal plan will be closed if you do not do anything in the first two weeks. The specific deadline shows on the website in my.newpaltz.edu. You need to login your user name and password. Your will see a page of welcome. You can click ‘money’ on the left side then click the ‘My Student Account’ on the top so you can see all of the information about your deadline and account: every fee of your tuition. When you clear your total fee, you will finish the first step of the journey of your tuition. Anther important thing is to talk with your advisor about your classes. It might like is not related to your tuition, but you have to consider any academic class you want to join, or any ESL class you want to drop out of. That will cause some change in your total fee. So you need go to the office that is located in the northeast of the campus. A new building with a big clock named Van Den Berg Hall. At the end of the second floor, you can see an international
student office on your right side. You can reserve a short time between twelve to two o’clock every day with your advisor. She will satisfy your request as far as possible. Now you have done all of your work to prepare. You will want to pay it as soon as possible. So the question is where is the Student Account Office? You might know the glass building in front of the campus: we called that Sub. There is a red tall building, Haggerty Admin Bldg. next to it. When you go to the second level and turn right, you will see this awaited office. You cannot find it? Do not worry. This hallway is circular, so you cannot miss it. It is time to pay your tuition. Wait a second. Did you bring your student ID? If you did not, sorry, you cannot pay them without your ID. If you brought it, congratulations. The last step is showing your ID and sliding your card. Then you can be an official student in SUNY New Paltz.
There are some other things you need to watch out for. There are three general ways to pay the fee: debit card, credit card and traveler’s check. The debit card has the daily quota. It depends on the spending limit of your card. Frequently, you cannot pay a huge amount of money in one day. So you are better off calling the bank to raise the limit one day in advance. For the credit card, you need to do the same thing if you use the credit card. In addition people usually pay with a traveler’s check. It cannot pay for your tuition directly. You need to transfer the money into a local card. You cannot do anything perfectly; things also can create some misfortune you cannot control. Such as the time difference between your country and America, anything wrong with the bank even the trouble from your sponsor. You need to do something if you are forced to delay to pay your bill. Going to the student account office and tell the problem you have to the secretary. They will help you with so many things like delaying the tuition deadline, opening your meal plan or paying the late fee. In short, paying for your tuition is one of the most important things while you study at New Paltz. The tuition process is intricate and will make you crazy: it will take up all of your time and patience. However when it is done, you will have accomplished a lot. You will be easier to do it the next time. I sincerely hope this essay will help you.
How Can We Adapt to a New Culture Elisa Miralles When a person moves to a foreign country, they leave behind the culture with they have grown to find a completely different culture. Living in a foreign country means being exposed to lifestyle, cultural aspects and meeting new people; this can be difficult while interesting. The difficulty in adjusting can be defined as culture shock: Learning to manage the language, being away from family and friends, and feeling homesickness are part of the process of adapting to a new culture. However, if you stay positive and keep an open mind, you will overcome culture shock and you will begin to appreciate new things. To achieve this, first don´t think it will be easy. Being in a foreign country, without family or friends, it won´t be easy, you must be ready for difficulties, because that way, if something happens it won´t cause any shock. If at times you feel alone and you don’t get a complete integration don’t worry. Remember that any process of adaptation takes time. Second, keep your mind open. Forget how things were done at home and try to adapt to the customs of the country where you live now. Don’t prejudge without knowing. Just because you’re used to something different doesn’t mean that the rest is neither better nor worse, it is just different. In the first days of your stay you will see new things that you won’t understand or you will see them strange but try to open your mind and you will realize the benefits of knowing more about different cultures. Third, work hard to improve your language skills. It is not easy to express yourself in a language that is different from your mother tongue. Try to be around people who only speak the foreign language, it also helps to watch television, read books and listen to music in this language, ultimately try to practice as much as you can and you will learn the language faster than you thought.
Fourth, it is important to make new friends. The best way to overcome difficult times is to make new friends and get involved in activities that you normally would do in your own country or activities that interest you. Be yourself, friendly, open- minded and honest with yourself and you will soon have many new friends. Fifth, get to know the new country where you live. Explore as much as possible, becoming familiar with where you live will always be easier to make you feel more confident. Go for a walk through different places with friends or alone and try to travel to the different cities of the country. This will help you to have a better adaptation. Life has its difficulties everywhere, especially when you are in a different environment, but if you stay positive and open minded you'll adapt easily and will look at the experience as a form of personal growth.
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS BY JOINING By: Ayaka Okada Do you want to make American friends? Your English skill will improve by talking with Americans in your daily life. Also, many American people have a friendly personality. Therefore, your American life would be a more fun time. I think you know how to make friends because you have been doing it in your life so far. That is why I am going to present new way to make American friends at SUNY New Paltz, by joining a campus club. The process of how to make friends is just five steps. First, you should go to the club fair. At the beginning of the semester, the club fair takes place on campus, SUNY New Paltz. If you want to join any campus club, I recommend you go there. You can get information about the clubs and you will see how they are. In addition, you can ask something about them at each booth when you have questions. They are so kind, so do not worry about your English skill. They would help you and welcome you. When you go to each booth, they will give you their flyers and let you write your name and email address. If it is a club which you are interested in, keep their flyer and write your information on a sheet, which they have. You might get some important information like the date of first general meeting after that club fair. Second, I recommend you check their official page on Facebook, Instagram or SUNY New Paltz website. Recently, Facebook and Instagram are very popular among young people, especially university students, so many clubs have their page on those social network services. If you get their pages, you can see their pictures and information about practices, sport games, parties and events that they are going to have. Some clubs have a channel on You-Tube. If a club that you like has it, you can watch the movies which they uploaded. Dance teams tend to have their channel on YouTube, so check it if you want to watch it. Thirdly, you need to take part in the general meetings, which campus clubs will have regularly. Almost all of campus clubs usually have a general meeting soon after they promote their club at the club fair. Therefore, some clubs might have it on the same day. If you are interested in many clubs, you have to choose some clubs which you mostly like. Then, go to general meetings and decide which clubs that you want to join. In case that you want to join a dance team, the first meeting is going to be a workshop for dance. It is just for fun and it is not required that you know how to dance. Then, you can go to practice. Practice days depend on the club team. Some clubs have practices couple days a week, but some clubs have it almost every day. Perhaps it is good for you, but sometimes it may interrupt your study time so arrange your time schedule. Anyways, in the campus club, you would have conversations with Americans, especially if you say something to Americans with no hesitation. The situation will let you talk in English a lot. It would be a very good opportunity for you to talk with Americans.
However, if you do not talk actively, you might feel uncomfortable and you cannot say anything, even if you have questions or confusions. Feel free, talk with them and have a good time. They might ask you to go to have lunch, brunch or dinner if you become close to them. Keep that in your mind and enjoy it. Finally, you should take part in their events. They have some events during a semester. If you take part in them, you might meet with many Americans outside of the club. You can make friends there too. It is also going to be a great opportunity. In addition, there are Sorority clubs on this campus. They usually wear a T-shirt or a jacket for their club and have a lot of events. If you go to their events and see their performances, you can see unique cultural things of each region. You could learn about one of the American cultures from it. It is going to be really fun. This university has many people who have a good personality. You can talk with Americans anytime and you can make friends also if you want. If you follow these steps, you could have American friends. They would make your study abroad experience a great one. Now, let’s try it. Have a wonderful foreign life at SUNY New Paltz with these five steps.
HOW TO FIND A NICE PLACE TOLIVE IN NEW PALTZ Mingqiu Zhang
E
veryone likes to live in a nice place. Especially for the students who study in different cities or countries, they usually have to leave the family for a long time. They often feel lonely and help-
less. A comfortable room is quite necessary for students to stay. Before I came to New Paltz, I didn’t get enough information, so that I do not quite like the room which I’m living in right now. But after half a year, I learned some experiences, and I can tell you three steps for finding a nice place to live. Before you come, you may not know anything about New Paltz, so the first step is searching on the Internet. You can find New Paltz in Google map; it’s a small city with a beautiful mountain. On the map you can find the location of the college, and you can mark the shops and the classrooms that you always need to go to, then you can decide which area you prefer. When you get your offer from the school, you must get the house information at the same time. You just need to enter the addresses of these houses or apartments on the map, and after that you will find some houses which match the areas you like best. The landlord always leaves some useful information on the page, like the size of each room or how many people will live in this house. Some houses even show the pictures online, so you can check them directly. Also, sometimes you can find feedback there too, it’s a very good way for you to know whether it’s a good house or not. After searching, there might be some places that catch your attention. You can’t wait to know more details about them. The next step is to contact the landlord. Though the webpage, you may find the contact number or email addresses for landlords. You already decided the area you would like to live, so you can narrow down the
searching area. Call the landlord and ask for more pictures and compare the costs of rent. Be careful that arrangements in New Paltz are always different with other cities. You have to rent most houses or apartments for at least one year. So make sure that you talk with the landlord. After that, you may like a few of them; they must have a nice price, comfortable room and perfect establishment. So, the last step is going to the house directly and making a deal. Before you search online，to go to each house is unnecessary, because it’s a waste of time. But right now you have to do this; because the pictures always show the best side of each house, you have to check it by yourself , so don’t forget to make an appointment with the landlord first. When you arrive there, you can check if the sunshine is good or not, whether the space is big enough for you, and you may see your future roommates. At that time, you have already made sure the area is convenient for you and checked the price you can afford, and even met your future roommates. I think you can make a good decision right now! I hope you can find a comfortable place to stay in New Paltz and enjoy your time in college.
How to Maintain a Long Distance Relationship with Your Partner Yelim Kwon
M
en and women both have an equally hard time dealing with separation that is
involved in a long distance relationship. However, it’s not impossible! If both you and your partner make an effort, then distance will not affect your relationship. For those people, I have three tips about how to maintain a successful long distance relationship. First, show your love to your partner. You have to show your love as much as you can. Always keep in touch. These days phone calls, text messages, even video chat can help you to keep in touch with your partner. When you talk to your partner try to have a deep conversation creating intimacy between you and your partner. I try to talk to my boyfriend every day before I go to bed. We usually talk about how our day was and what happened to us. It is not a fancy conversation, but simple things made our relationship deeper. Also do not hide your feelings. Do not think it is okay because your partner cannot see you. Tell your partner if you are not feeling well, angry or even disappointed at him. Express yourself and tell them everything. Second, do not fight with your partner. When you cannot see each other and live different lives, it’s easy to get into fights. However, fighting is the worst way to express yourself. When the arguments start, try to understand them. Think twice before you say something you’ll regret. One of the best ways to avoid the argument is to trust your partner even though you can’t see them. I used to fight with my boyfriend a lot because I did not trust him with all my heart. Small things made me anxious and insecure. Now I trust him and believe everything that he tells me. Trust is important, especially for people who are involved in a long distance relationship. Do not assume anything about them if you are not sure. There is no “what if….”, you do
not have time for something that did not happen. You should spend that time to love your partner and have a great time with them. Third, find something you can do with your partner. I suggest reading the same book or watching the same movie while you and your partner are apart. After you finish your book or movie talk about it. Share your feelings or thoughts with your partner. For example, my boyfriend and I both like to read books. So during the weekend or free time we choose same book and read them together at the same time. If I have questions I can ask him immediately because he is reading with me. After each chapter we share our thoughts and feelings. Surprisingly, it feels like I am with him. If you and your partner do not have interest in books or movies, make plans for you and your partner’s future. Prepare before you meet them. It will make you happy when you think about the future with your loved one. If you miss them write some letters or buy some presents for each other. Think about how to make them happy; then you will eventually be happy. Yes, being in a long distance relationship is hard. However, if you try to maintain a positive mindset in long distance relationship, then you will taste the sweetness of a successful relationship. Just remember the three tips and try with your partner. Do not think the distance will separate you and your partner. If you use the distance as a tool for your relationship, then it will make you stronger as a couple.
How to Get Your Textbooks for Class By: Daisuke
Tsukamoto
Did you know a textbook which you need may be out of stock in the Bookstore of SUNY New Paltz before you try to buy the textbook? Basically, you will be able to buy it in the Bookstore or Amazon.com, but you will get the textbook after your classes start. To get the book before classes start, you have to procure the textbook by yourself. However, a textbook which you need will be bought by another student who needs same textbook as you if you wait too long. Therefore, I will show you how to buy the textbook correctly and quickly before you try to buy it. At first, check which textbook you need. After your classes start, your professor will specify what which textbook you use in each class. Ask about them if professor did not do it. Then, go to the website called “My New Paltz,” click Registration and Class Schedule. The next screen will show classes which you take this semester. On this page, there is an icon in the shape of book beside each class, you can confirm textbooks if you click the icon. After that, check stocks and price in the Bookstore. you can check them in the Bookstore in “My New Paltz.” Ask your professor about it if you could not find a book or the website is sold out of a textbook which you want. Simultaneously with the check, write the title of the textbook and ISBN (International Standard Book Number). It is very important to take note of them in order not to buy the wrong textbook. Besides, if you would like to order your textbook somewhere else, use this ISBN and search it on Amazon.com or another website. Then, go to the Bookstore to look for and buy the textbook with the notes you took. Though there are a lot of textooks in the Bookstore, textbooks are arranged and classified for each major on the bookshelves. Look for a textbook which you need first. If you are not sure where it is, solicit a clerk to help look for it. Below the stock of books, there is a tag which says the price, ISBN, and professor’s name. Confirm them once you find the textbook. According to your preference, decide to Rent or Buy the textbook. Prices are very different price between renting and buying. If you rent it, you must bring it back to the Bookstore by the end of semester, and it is impossible to write directly or dirty in textbook.
Thus, I recommend you buy it if possible because you can keep it over the end of semester, write directly in it, and it will be helpful to improve your English skill because you can continue learning after you finish your classes, although it is more expensive than if you rent. Finally, make sure the textbook which you bought is correct by asking your professor. If you bought the wrong textbook, go to take it back to the Bookstore soon because it is possible to return it. Use the textbook which you bought valuably in your class, if it is not wrong. In the end, it is important to get a textbook which you need correctly and quickly because it is preparation to start your classes, and it may be out of stock in the Bookstore. I think it is easier and faster to get a textbook that you can confirm directly in Bookstore than Amazon.com
How to buy a book on Amazon Zhaochen Han
N
First of all, we need to find the book. Enowadays, more and more stu-
tering the Amazon home page and sign in. If you
dents choose to study abroad, such as myself. I
never used Amazon before, you need to use your
found that books are always expensive in the US,
mailbox to register an account. Next, you should
and you can’t even buy a book in the bookstore
type the book’s name in the search bar. Once
sometimes due to demand. So, knowing how to
you do that, you can see the cover of book and
buy a book online is very important for us. It
find the book which you want. Click the picture
could not only help us save money but also save
and you can choose to rent or buy it. Whatever
time. If you think the book is too expensive, you
you want, you just need to add it to your card.
can just buy a used online and it’s cheaper than a
Then, you can proceed the checkout.
new one. But in the bookstore, you almost never
The second step is adding your personal
find a used book. Buying books online means you
information. It includes your name, your mailing
don’t need to go out, and you just wait for your
address, the zip code and your phone number. If
book in the mail. This way is very convenient.
there are any problems, they can connect with
Let’s look at the steps of buying a book online,
you immediately. For example, you will be told
specifically through Amazon.
when the package has shipped or if they lost
want your books shipped to you. The faster ship-
At last, you need to bind your bank card
ping speed is, the more money you need to pay.
to Amazon to complete the payment. You can do
There are about three kinds of shipping method:
this by entering your credit card number and bill-
One-day shipping, Amazon prime shipping and
ing address.
free shipping. One-day shipping is the most ex-
After these steps, click continue and you
pensive way, but you can get your book on the
can find that your order has processed. You will
next day. If you are exigent of your book, you’d
receive an email informing you of your order,
better choose it. Then, Amazon prime shipping
and from this point, you can track the package
method is the most suitable way for students,
until you receive it. By ordering my books on
because the shipping wouldn’t take a long time
Amazon I saved more than $100 this semester,
and it’s totally free, every students can get a free
and I would definitely do it again. It’s much
six-month prime by giving student ID, and you
better than waiting on never ending bookstore
can get your book from 2 days to 5 days. The
lines.
third way is free shipping, it makes sense because you don’t need to pay for shipping, but you can’t get your book in a short time.
How to Apply to an Internship at a Museum By: Ruoyi An
H
ave you ever thought about having a job in a museum? The museum gives a mysterious impression to most people: within there is not only preservation of the history of human beings, but also the capability to indicate the tendency of our future development. There are many museums in New York City to which you can apply for a volunteer job or internship. Today, I am going to talk about how to apply for an internship in museum, step-by-step. The first step is that applicants need to go many museums to choose one that they are interested in. There are many kinds of museums that display Modern art, nature history, antique and independent art, and they all have different characteristics. The applicant can choose the museum which is connected with their major or interests, and they can do some research online before they go there. Another good way is they applicant can know the information by asking professional people who are familiar with the museum work or they have a field trips to find the “right� one. This is the most important step for all the applicant, because it will determine how long they can work on their internship. In addition, the applicant needs to think which kind of position suits them, based on their major and what they are good at. Every museum has a different program: the Nature History Museum focuses on animals and ancient fossils; the Rubin Museum features South Asian Buddhism and Himalayan works of art. Everyone has talent and everyone is unique. As an applicant, you need to find something that makes you different from others, and it will help you to make a decision about the position that you can do. The difference can be the knowledge that you learn in the school or a kind of unique talent. People who are paleontology majors will easily find work in the Nature history museum, and people who can speak the Tibetan language will easy to find a job in the Rubin museum. Do some researches online about museums that you want to apply for and choose the best position for yourself.
For the next step, the applicant needs to go to the museum’s official site to read the requirements; different museums have different requirements for their applicant. The applicant needs to write a resume which covers the basic information, which includes the name, the address, the phone number and the special information about work experience, skills, education information and why they choose this museum. Everything in the resume must be true and the applicant needs to use a clear way to describe the experiences and information. The applicant can mention some experiences that can be relative to the internship. If the applicant has experience working in another museum, it many increase the chance that you to get this job. The other thing is schedule; nobody wants to make the internship have a negative influence on their daily routines. If you are a student, you need to have enough time to study and prepare for exams, so making a flexible schedule is good for hopeful interns. The final step is that the applicant needs to send the resume to the museum and prepare their professional knowledge for the interview. Find someone who has a professional background to help your to check your resume; it will improve the chance that you get the internship. Above all of things about the resume, the applicant needs to control more professional knowledge and skill for the job. The applicant who works in the museum must remember all the time-lines and historical background about the exhibits that the museum displays. These preparations will help you do well during your future work. There are many details that applicants need to focus upon in every step that will help them get the job. For most students, having an internship in a museum is not an easy thing, especially for the first time. If you can’t don’t succeed the first time, try more times, modify mistakes and pay more attention to it. Don’t forget, there are many museums in New York City, and there are also many chances for you. Do not give up, and try as many times as you can, then you will receive a good experience.
How to Get a Driver's License By: Zhongni Liu
T
he United States is a country living on wheels. I could only imagine what it is like before I came to the United States. In July 2013, the first time I left China and came to the United States, my feeling was the sun is very strong, and there were not a lot of people walking on the road, they even call a taxi in the small towns. The first problem is that American people want to go to the supermarket to buy some articles for daily life, how to do that? How long does it take to walk to the nearest one? It was 20 minutes at least, which was a nightmare for me. I really needed a car. Then I asked classmates if I can use Chinese driver's license for half a year in New York, but I must to get a New York driving license. After I noticed the query from the DMV website, I summarized a set of New York state driver's license method, can be divided into five parts. First, to apply for a driver's license you need to have 6 points of ID. Passport and I20 can get two points for foreign students, SSN can get two points, a bank card or credit card can get one point, an insurance can get one point. Most of the international students don’t have SSN, it’s just for American citizens, so we need to get a certificate from the international office, and then go to the social security administration to obtain a letter to prove why we don't have SSN number. After preparing 6 points, you can take materials to the DMV and fill out the form. Most of the counties have a DMV office. You can use the zip code to find the nearest DMV office on the website. For New Paltz, the Poughkeepsie DMV office is the best choice. When you arrive at the DMV, the first step is filling out a green form that includes some basic personal information. Then give it to the DMV workers with your materials.
After the application is approved, there is a very important step - the written test. Before starting the test, the staff will take a photo for you. Try to look good, because it will be the photograph on the driver's license. After that, you can begin to answer the questions, and there are six languages that you can choose. There are only 6 mistakes allowed in 20 questions, so you need to be careful. If you can pass the exam successfully, congratulations to you to have come halfway to the driving license. In a few weeks, they will send you a learning permit, it looks like the official driver's license. Then you can use the permit to drive, but the condition is that the co-pilot needs to be 21 years old or older, and accompanied by 3 years of driving experience. After passing the written test, you need to watch a six hour safety film. The film will be played in a high school or university. After you get the certificate, you can make an appointment for the road test. Most of the road test appointments can be made in one month after the film, it’s a good chance to practice driving. It is important to remember to prepare your friend’s car for the road test, nobody will provide one for you. The content of the road test is very simple: turn left, turn right, stop signs, side bearing parking and U turn, but it is not easy to do all the steps successfully, the sole purpose is to ensure safety of the entire test. If you pass the road test, congratulations! You have won the New York state driver's license! Those are the steps is to obtain the New York state driver's license. The whole process takes a couple of weeks. The written test and road test can be tried again. Practice as long as possible, be careful in the exam, and it will be easier. Actually, I was so lucky, because I passed all the tests without any objection, and got full marks. After I received the driving license, I bought a new car. That is so convenient for me, and I can visit anywhere I want. Driving a car is one of the essential skills to everyone who lives in the United States.
Driving in America as an International Student Alfredo Moyano Would you like to go to jail in America just because you don’t follow the driving rules? If you are an international student, you should know that every country has their own rules. One of the major differences between the United States and other countries is the driving system. America is a country where the laws are respected by most of the population. When a person is driving, the responsibility is enormous, since the laws are very strict. Here are three tips for safe driving in this country. First of all, it is essential to have a driver’s license when you drive in America. The process to get a driver’s license is very long. First, you should go to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) and ask for an appointment to do your road test (which can take about one ort wo months), and then if you give your exam well you get your license, otherwise you have to do this process all over again. It is important to have a license because in this way you can recognize the different signs in the road. Second, you should familiarize yourself with the traffic signs in your area. In New York, in comparison to a lot of places, has different signs due the cold weather, it is common to see the “icy pavement” sign or the “be careful with the dears” sign. In different counties people doesn’t yield the pedestrians or signs, but in the U.S this is very important if you don’t want to get a ticket. Lastly, there are some strict rules when you are driving a car. Some of them are for example: Talk in the phone is completely banned, of course drink and drive too. You can even be stopped because of a flat tire, driving very close to the shoulder or center line and driving inadequately. There are also some different rules from another countries like: Everybody has to stop when a school bus stops, even tough you are on the opposite side of the road. So everyone should be aware of those factors when driving. In conclusion, most of American people drive carefully, probably because tickets are very expensive and to assist to the court is a complicated and very problematic process. That’s why foreign people have to adapt to the American system. This are some of the requirements to drive safely in America.
A Room for Yourself By: Yuhao Wang
If you have a room of your own, you will be free, quiet and comfortable. Renting a house will be cheaper than living in school. You will not only get one single room, but also save more money. However, renting a house is difficult for international students. Right now, I will tell you the details about how to rent a house. The first step is important! You need to make a decision to rent a house with your friends or rent a house alone. It depends on you, because if you rent a house with your friends, it will be easy to communicate with your friends and house owner. Then, you can decide how many rooms you want to rent. Second, you need to find a house. The way is easy. You can just click the school website. It has an Off-Campus housing bulletin board. It is useful. Most of the houses are near the campus. You can search to the house that you want, and you can also ask your friends in the outside for information about the rent. Then, select the appropriate price using their opinion for reference. Third, you have to contact the house owner. They always put their E-mail or cell phone numbers. It’s will be easy to find them. I think using cell phone will be better to contact them. Then, you can make an appointment with house owner. Next, you can go to see the house. You need to ask the house owner about the price of rent, does it include all utilities and Internet fee, and how much is the deposit of one month. For most of houses you need to pay the deposit of one month. You must be sure of the environment surrounding the house. The environment will affect your rest. For example, near the lake your room in summer will have a lot of insects, car lights and sound will wake you up at night. The final step is also important. Be careful, you must decide how long you are going to rent the house. Usually it is six months or one year, and most of the houses don't accept credit card payment method. So, you must prepare enough cash to pay your rent. Some houses are not allowed to have pets or smoking. If you meet the conditions and satisfied with the house, then you can meet with the owner to sign the contract. In the end, I hope this information will help you find your house. Living off-campus can exercise your independent ability. Especially in cooking, I think you will be a good cooker, but you will probably become lonely. Therefore, don't forget to enter in club activities organized by the school. There you can get free lunch, friends and a happy campus life!
Check Out Room JunYong Lu
Do you know what you should do before you leave the hall that you live to enjoy your vacation in U.S.? A lot of international students live on campus during their studying in America. Most of them do not know what they should do before leave the hall. There are three steps they should do to check out their room; have the close hall meeting, clean room and let the residence adviser check the room. The first thing the students need to do is go to the close hall meeting. There will be a close hall meeting at the end of the semester. This is an important meeting, every members in this hall should attend, all of students sit together, and the RA will give a short presentation. At this meeting, the RA will tell students some important messages. For example, how to clean their room, tell the time when the hall will close, and the open hall time, so students can make their time schedule. In addition, if students have any problems, they can ask the RA. When the meeting is finished, they should sign their name on the sign-in sheet. If someone is absent for some reason, the RA will knock their door, and have a short conversation. The second thing they should do is clean their room. When the students move to the room, the room has been cleaned by the RA, but during one semester, there is dirt on the floor. They should clean the floor. After that, they need to clean all the furniture, not only the surface, but also the inside. Then they must take out all their personal things, including clothes, the TV, the refrigerator and so on, leave the room empty, the same as how it was when they moved in. The last thing is to let the RA check the room. When the students have cleaned their room, and have gone to the close hall meeting, then they should make an appointment to contact their RA. Then the RA can come and check the room. They will check if the room is
clean, if the space is empty and if the items are without damage. After the RA checks the room, students will be allowed to leave. These are all the steps that students have to do before they leave the hall. School is not like at home, because there are many rules people need to follow at school. Do not lose any steps or you may get punished that you can not leave on time, but if you do these steps correctly, you will be ok. Likewise, do these things before the day you leave, so you will have more time to prepare.