FAQ's
1) What is the amount I should bring and in what form?
Ans. There can never be a clear and precise answer to
this question. It all depends on the individual.
Tuition:
There are basically two types of tuition's here, the
in-state (its tuition for each semester is approx. half of the out-state
tuition) and the out-state (which applies to international students).
The out-state tuition for each semester is approx.
Fall $3100 (3 courses)(+/- insurance of $600 for the
academic year)
Spring $3100 (3 courses)
Summer $850 (1 course)
Fees have to be paid in full. For more details check
http://www.southalabama.edu/intnatsrv/cost.html
Living Expenses:
The average a student spends on living expenses is about
$450 - $500 a month. This depends on the individual. The break up is as follows,
Apartment rent (could be shared by 2/3 roommates if so
approx. $150) $300 - $ 400
Deposit (First month only) $75 - $ 100
Basic Groceries $ 100
Utensils, Bed sheets, etc $75 - $100 (normally brought
from India)
Telephone ( depends on usage) usually $ 100
Utilities (Electricity,) $ 30
A student can usually manage his living expenses with what he is paid by his part time employer. The fees should be brought in the form of a Dollar Draft in the name of University Of South Alabama.
The living expenses can be brought as a Dollar Draft in
your name.
You need to carry only about $100 or so in hand. This is
only for emergencies, generally you will not have to spend any money enroute.
2) Will it be possible for me to get financial aid or Graduate Assistantship as soon as I come to Mobile?
Ans. That is a very tough question to answer. Luck plays a factor in this. For those students who come in without aid of any kind, it is going to be a long search. You will have to keep contacting your Professors and lecturers and ask them about your chances of getting aid. RAs or TAs are not just restricted to the departments they are enrolled for.
So basically a student will have to visit each department and give his resume there and hope that he is called for an interview. Usually the Departments advertise if they have any openings.
3) How easy or tough will it be to get a job?
Ans. Jobs are fairly easy to come by. There are different kinds of jobs on campus. A student is not just restricted to his department. He can work anywhere on campus as long as his paymaster is the University.
4) What is the sort of jobs I will get and how much will they pay?
Ans. A lot of students work in the Library, shelving books or manning information desks. Some of them work in the computer labs.Also some work in the Dorms, catering. The minimum pay is $5.15 / hr which is usually what is paid. A student can work 20hrs a week in a regular semester ,Some jobs can be full time(39hrs) during the vacations.
5) What about accommodation?
Ans.The University of South Alabama is a commuter school. A vast majority of the students, including students from India live off-campus.Sharing an apartment is quite common. The apartments may be one or two-bedrooms. The approx. rent for a One-bedroom apartment is $365 and for a two-bedroom is $415. These costs do not include utilities(phone/cable/power).
On campus accommodation is a little more expensive. For details, check out
http://www.southalabama.edu/intnatsrv/housing.html
We will help you in finding accommodation. Temporary accommodation will be arranged for a maximum of five days. This will be free of charge.
6) By which date should I come?
Ans. There are students who come in by the last week of
July and there are some who come in by the first week of August.
Whatever the time make sure that you are here for the new
student check in and orientation. So that means you will have to reach
Mobile on or before the day of orientation. The school
officials will make exceptions only in rare cases.
7) Which is the best air route to Mobile?
Ans. You will have to talk to your travel agent about that. Usually everyone comes into a Port of entry like Atlanta, clear customs and immigration, then usually fly onto Mobile. There really is no best air route, it entirely depends on where you are flying in from India.
8) Will there be someone at the airport to pick me up?
Ans. Don’t worry, there will be a student at the airport to pick you up. The airport is not that big and so it will not be too difficult to find you. Someone will surely turn up. If the student is late, make sure you wait in the airport. Do not leave the airport in any circumstance. If no one turns up, call up one of the numbers of the committee members and inform him. Keep the phone numbers handy. Keep some loose change in hand too. If you do not have any, identify yourself to one of the airport or airline authorities and request them to contact us.
9) What if I miss a connection?
Ans. Inform the airlines and try and get the next flight. Call in and let us know so that we will know the exact time you will be coming in.
10) What is the weather there like and what clothes should I bring?
Ans. The weather is varied here. In summer it can go all the way to 40 degree Centigrade and in winter it goes down to 0 degree Centigrade. So bring your clothes accordingly. The cold weather starts by about late September and goes on all the way till March. A couple of pullovers and a jacket would do fine. Also bring a blanket and a muffler.
11) What about textbooks, should I bring any and if yes, which ones?
Ans. For this you will have to contact the students of the respective departments. Also most of the books you would need are already available here at the library. So it is really not a very good idea to bring a lot of textbooks rather that space can be saved for something else.
12) What if I get sick upon arrival?
Ans. South Alabama has a student health services center for which you pay $600 every year. Here you will be given basic and immediate medical aid.
Check out http://www.southalabama.edu/intnatsrv/insurance.html
Mail one of the committee members or me for any other
questions or clarifications.
Please visit the office of international services at :
http://www.southalabama.edu/intnatsrv/
This page is courtesy of the ISA committee of 2000-2001.
Last Updated: Sunday, May 20, 2001 01:52:44 PM