Practicalities

&Communicating

Travelling

Making the best use of your money… and Harvard's

Becca Gong

Jenny Lee

Or Gadish

Sébastien Arnold

Toomas Laarits

Flying smartly

Sébastien

What you need to know Not all tickets are equal

Vary by cost AND flexibility Airline websites, Expedia, e-

bookers, kayak.com: 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

Seb

STA Travel

Your saviour STA Travel offers “Blue tickets” - low

priced, flexible student tickets 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 US-issued cards! –> Tip later)

Insure tickets against unforeseen events (e.g. change of exam dates!), regardless of where ticket was bought, for $50

Seb

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: 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 B6)

Forget about one-way tickets & keep the routing simpleSeb

How to get a better deal II

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

Seb

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)

Dress up Candy

Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of Nov) Thanksgiving dinner - turkey Families, big shopping spree Friday, parade on

TV Christmas (Dec 25)

Christmas dinner Tree and Presents

Easter (end of March till early April – changes each year)

Easter dinner Egg hunt

St Patrick’s Day (March 17) Celebrate by wearing green, eating green

foods, drinking Irish drink, and attending paradesJenny

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

New York Cancun Montreal

Florida Jenny

Saving money

Jenny, Or and Becca

Freebies/Saving money

BoardPlus e.g. Greenhouse Café in Science Center, Lamont Café

Brain Break (9pm 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

Jenny

Easy ways to save money

Online = almost always cheaper In stores (mostly supermarkets): “3 for

$9” is the same as “1 for 3$” You do not need to buy all three in order

to get the deal Websites such as www.slickdeals.net

provide great deals that comeand 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 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

Becca

Winter coat fund

If you’re:1) On Financial Aid2) From a cold place…you qualify for the Winter coat fund!

That’sright, Harvard will take you shopping

Budget for not just coat, but gloves/scarves/hat/thermal underwear/boots, other survival items

Becca

Beneficiary Aid

Bet you didn’t know that Harvard will pay for things like: Dental bills Optometry Bills Tutoring Bills….. to a % equivalent to your financial

aid. The form is online

Becca

Banking

Sébastien

Banking in America Banking is country-specific! Don't

assume that your American bank will work like your home bank 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

experienceSeb

Choosing your bank

Things to look out for: 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

Seb

Credit Cards Tough to get as an international (no Social

Security number/credit history) Two solutions:

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

Seb

Why you should keep your home bank account

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-bankingSeb

If you do use a foreign account… Don't use money transfers…

Slow and costly Instead:

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

Seb

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 costsGo shopping: Stuff sale in front of Science center CambridgeSide 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)

Emergency open 24hrs 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

Toomas

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

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...

The Coop

Toomas

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

Crimsonreading.org

Toomas

One of the greatest bookstores in the world

Friendly staff, great recommendations, unique selection

Used books downstairs, coursebooks too sometimes

Harvard Book Store

Toomas

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

Other bookstores I

Toomas

Lame Duck bookstore, Arrow stProbably 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

Other bookstores II

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: Library position Computer Helpdesk position (requires knowing how

to troubleshoot computers) Research (or other type of) Assistant

Step 3: Go to http://www.seo.harvard.edu/ Click on Students --> Search Job Listing Fill in the respective information from step 2.

Note: Work-Study

Or

Getting the job you just found

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

Or

Getting a Social Security Number

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

Toomas

Fellowships and grants

Becca

Travel Grants & Fellowships I

Grants and Fellowships can cover: Academic work abroad Internship funding for both PAID and

UNPAID internships Research “Purposeful travel”

Becca

Travel Grants & Fellowships II

Offered by: Office of Career Services (OCS) Various Regional Centers Weissman Internship Fellowship Harvard College Research Project Institute of Politics Radcliffe Grants Etc.

Becca

Travel Grants & Fellowships III

Application Requirements: Basic App Form Resume Budget (very important) Statement of Purpose Invitation Letter!

Becca

Travel Grants & Fellowships IV

TIPS: Start scouting programs/placements

before spring midterm frenzy Write a good, realistic, well-researched

budget Attend OCS workshops Talk to upperclassmen!

Becca

Keeping in touch

Or and Jenny

Keeping in touch

Facebook! Internet calling

Skype (free PC to PC) Yahoo! Voice Internetcalls.com Jajah.com (have to pay

sometimes) Calling cards go to

callingcards.com to compare rates

Jenny

Calling home

HIO has information on CellularLD International Wireless Long Distance Service.  Info can befound at www.cellularld.com/harvard

Cellphones

Cellphones cont.

Major Issues: Require deposit if you do not have a SS

number 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

Or