Good web pages listing important information for new students are coming to Berkeley and Immigration, VISA, and Tax Issues.

Things to do on arrival:

• Go to the Tang center at 2222 Bancroft Way to get your student health card if you have Berkeley SHIP health insurance.
• Change your address (click on Student Information). Go to 120 Sproul Hall to do so in person.
• To get a Social Security Card go to 2045 Allston Way, Berkeley. You'll need this to get a driver's license, to get paid, and often to open a bank account. You need your passport and VISA documents to apply for a Social Security card, and it takes about two weeks to process (so don't plan on being paid immediately on arrival in the USA, because they cannot until you have a social security number).

Berkeley is hard work. Many classes give you homework every week or fortnight, and as the lecturers can employ people to mark the assignments, you're likely to get assignments that require a few pages of working.

Nomenclature:

• ASUC: Associated Students of the University of California
• CARS: Campus Accounts and Receivables System
• GSI: teaching assistant(ship)
• GSR: research assistant(ship)
• reader: someone who grades assignments for a course, or a bound photocopy of lecture notes or parts of a text for a course
• SSN: social security number

Degree certificate:
If you didn't get your degree in the USA, then they'll want to see your original degree certificate with signature and seal.

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations):
Unfortunately, the American universities take these seriously, so you should too. Places for international students, and funding, are highly competitive. Study is recommended.

Many shops don't open until 10:00 a.m. Some places, such as banks, close at 4:00 p.m.