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Prospective Students
For new students who are coming to University at Buffalo, there are several things that you need to prepare. We will provide you with step-by-step information that focuses on average Indonesian Student preferences.
When you are accepted to the University at Buffalo as an international student, you will receive a package containing acceptance letter, health form, other documents and the I-20 form. You are now ready to move on to the next step.
As an international student, your Visa category will be F-1 Student Visa. (*Some students under scholarship may have a J-1 visa). For U.S. Student Visa application, please visit the official U.S. embassy Jakarta Website: http://www.usembassyjakarta.org/
Complete your medical checkup in Indonesia. Make sure you complete all the immunizations required by the form (e.g. two shots of MMR, a shot of Meningitis etc). If your health document is not completed accordingly you will be asked to complete your immunization in a U.S. medical institution. It will cost around $10 USD for each injection in the U.S.
IMPORTANT!
IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED that prior to coming to the United States, you should have already found a place to stay in Buffalo.
On Campus: the best is to stay when you first arrive in Buffalo as a student would be the University Residence Halls & Apartments. The choice includes University Apartments or University Dorms The idea of living in on-campus accommodation when you first arrive will give you knowledge about the environment in Buffalo. After a year or so, you will know your area well and you are ready to move off campus.
- To apply for on campus residence halls and apartments click here http://www.ub-housing.buffalo.edu/
- Residence halls are opened each semester the weekend before semester begins.
- You can check in the Residence Halls during the International Orientation week at an Additional cost.
- For Apartments you need to sign a one year least contract
- For University dorms you also need to sign a one year lease contract but, check out http://www.ub-housing.buffalo.edu/leasebreak.php on lease break details
Off Campus Housing
Off Campus: For those who wish to stay off campus when you first arrive, try to get a location within North Campus area: AMHERST. You should find apartments within the proximity of 1 Kilometer from University at Buffalo, or UB Shuttle Stops (University Shuttles allow you Access to campuses from certain locations around the University).
South Campus area has good choices of apartments on the North West Side of the Campus. Try to find apartments at Callodine Ave. Again, But be advised that South campus has a high criminal rate and mugging has been going on quite often.
- Check the distance by inserting the location of your place of accommodation and University at Buffalo north campus at Google maps http://maps.google.com .
- Try to get area zip code of 14228, 14221, 14226.
- Getting a Car
If you plan to get a car, note that decent cars in the U.S. can range starting from $2000 and more. It may sound cheap but you should keep in mind that insurance is expensive and you must have it to drive your car. The cover on average costs in between $500 - $ 1000 or more for six months depending on your back ground. In addition to that, you need to apply for a U.S. drivers license to be able to apply for a car insurance.
- What is meant about ‘your background; written above is that insurance company will determine the charges based on your personal credential. Then again you are an international student without any record in the U.S. Therefore insurance companies will charge will be very high at first, and then consecutively drops if you don’t have any traffic violation record and etc.
- Buffalo weather has excessive snow. Winter driving can be difficult. You should consider this factor prior to buying your car
- For U.S. New York State driver’s license information please visit the New York State Department of Motor Vehicle’s website http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/ .
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If you plan to stay at North Campus area, more than 1 Kilometer from University without any intentions to buy a car, it would be quite troublesome. We have experienced for many years that there are students who didn’t want to buy a car and insist on staying far away from campus. Most of them cannot withstand the winter and were frustrated. The winter here is quite a challenge.
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BUFFALO WINTER
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Buffalo winter is one of the harshest winters you can ever experience. It will be the worst experience for students are used to tropical weather. Unless you unless you’ve been to Moscow or Antarctica you won’t find anything like it. The temperature can drop up to -30 degrees Celsius during snow storm. For those of you planning to stay off campus, It is strongly advised that you stay within a radius of less than 1 Km / 0.8 miles. DON’T ASSUME that you can handle it by living far away from Campus. We have experience students frustrated due to their assumptions thinking that they can handle it.
“Don’t stay too far from campus” – From a former UB Indonesian Student
“I hate the weather” – From a former UB Phd Indonesian Student
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Wondering what kind of things to bring to Buffalo? We recommend you to bring limited stuffs to the U.S. then buy the rest over here because it’s cheaper.
- Clothes, 3-4 weeks set of clothes, if you need more you can buy it here. Depending on which intake you are arriving in Buffalo, if it is in the Fall Season, you can some with summer clothes, and purchase your winter clothes here. But, if you are coming in the spring intake, make sure you are prepared with winter clothes the moment you arrive in Buffalo (It’s cheaper to purchase winter clothes from Indonesia at a Factory Outlet)
- Shoes
- Personal medication, especially the ones you cannot find in the U.S. e.g. panadol, etc
- Toiletries
- Important documents, Passport, Visa, I-20, University Acceptance letter and etc
- Electric converter, for your personal electronic devices
- Things that make you feel like home, such as family photographs, your girlfriend’s present etc
Here are lists of items you can get in Buffalo
- Winter boots, you’ll need one here for the winter
- Winter clothing, to save you from the arctic weather
- Mobile Phone, you need to get a cell phone plan in the States. Most come with a phone itself.
- Laptop, it is cheaper to buy in the U.S. if you haven’t bought one
- Textbooks, get a list of textbook from your course and always buy online as it has better price
- Stationery
- Rice cooker, water filter or other electronic appliances, you should purchase them in the U.S. instead of bringing them because the voltage is different from Indonesia
Please contact us before you arrive in Buffalo. We'll be happy to make the necessary arrangements!
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