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Pre-departure from India
Post-Arrival in US
Housing
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Inform Us
Please let us know about yourself and your plans about reaching Lehigh.
This will help us make the required arrangements. Fill in the following form and click submit.
Pre-Departure From India
When do I inform you about my flight details?
You should inform us about your flight details at least 15 days before you depart from India.
Which airport should I touch down at?
Ideally you would want to touch down at Newark because it is the easiest to reach Bethlehem from there. You could also touch down at New York, as a second option. We do not recommend touching down at Philadelphia as transportation to Bethlehem from there is not convenient.
What is the weather like in Bethlehem?
The summers here are rather warm and a T-shirt and jeans will do just fine. Temperatures are usually in the mid-thirties (degrees Celsius). Spring is the best time of year when the weather is cool and pleasant, with temperatures in the twenties (degrees Celsius). You will need a light sweater at the maximum. Winters are really cold with temperatures below freezing (0 degrees Celsius) lot of the time. There will be snow from December to March. Sometimes there is heavy snow, but most of the time it's quite bearable. You will need proper winter clothing like a winter coat, sweater, gloves and a winter cap. Thermal underwear is required if you're especially sensitive to the cold, but not essential. No special snow boots are required though.
What kind of clothes should I carry?
You should carry your regular wardrobe of T-shirts, shirts, jeans and trousers. Americans don't dress very differently than we do. You should definitely have a light sweater and a light jacket in case it gets cold on the flight or when you touch down. You should carry a set of formal clothes (suit, blazer and trousers, tie) in case you have to attend a function or go for a meeting. You should bring a pair of formal shoes in addition to the ones you are wearing. You could also carry a set of your ethnic dress in case you have to attend a cultural gathering. People are appreciated more when they attend cultural functions in their ethnic dress.
Should I get a winter coat from India? Do I need gloves and a monkey-cap?
The winter here gets quite severe, so it would be better if you get your winter coat here itself. But you should bring a jacket anyway to see you through the initial stages. Gloves and monkey-cap are a must and can be brought from India.
What utensils should I carry?
You can bring a 2-liter pressure cooker, frying pan, small vessel for boiling milk, plates, cutlery, sieve (if you drink tea), kadhai, belan, chakla.
Should I bring food and spices from India?
For your initial period of stay you could bring instant foods like Maggi Noodles and biscuits. Bring some rice, sugar, tea and coffee powder. Also carry the spices that you will require to prepare food here (that's if you plan to cook). Common spices would be chili powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, dhania powder, zeera, hing, elaichi, cloves, black pepper, and any other dish-specific spices.
Should I carry electric/electronic items from India?
You should not carry electric items like electric irons. The voltage and frequency here are different from those in India. Even the plug points are different. These are inexpensive items and can be purchased here itself. You could carry a walkman and a camera though.
Do I bring textbooks from home?
Books in India are much cheaper than those here. Once you have decided on the courses you plan to take then you can consult with the professors and seniors and buy the corresponding books from India itself. You might also want to carry some of your basic undergraduate books.
How much money do I carry apart from tuition fees?
You should bring around $3000 from India if you do not have any financial aid. This should see you through the first semester. This could be broken up into $2500 in traveler's cheques and $500 in cash. For those who have financial aid, $1500 should see you through because you will be receiving your paycheck within 15 days of college starting. This amount should cover your one-year's medical insurance ($600) and rent deposit ($250) as well. You need to carry some cash because you might have to make payments for a bus, taxicab or at a restaurant in the initial stages after arrival here. Once you deposit your money in a bank then you will obtain a debit card that you can use for payments anywhere. The money you carry in cash should be broken into 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1-dollar bills. You could also carry some coins in the form of nickels (5 cents), dimes (10 cents) and quarters (25 cents). These will come in handy if you need to make a call from a public telephone booth when you exit from the airport.
I did not receive my I-20. What should I do?
You might not have received your I-20 because your documents have not reached Lehigh or because there might be a problem with the postal services. Mail does get displaced even in the US. The best way to ensure receipt is to be in constant touch with the Graduate Coordinator of the department you are applying to. The Graduate Coordinator first reviews your documents before forwarding them to the International Office. So first contact the Graduate Coordinator to check if your documents have reached. Then contact the International Office to see if they have dispatched your I-20. Ideally you would want to give ample time for this process, so plan your application process accordingly. Don't expect to have everything expedited at the last moment in the middle of a holiday season like Christmas or New Year. Many people are on vacation at these times.
Post-Arrival in US
What if I come to the airport and there is no one there?
This is assuming that someone is coming to receive you at the airport. But if that person isn't there when you exit the airport, then you should have that person's phone number ready with you so you can make a call from a public telephone booth. You will receive a list of contact numbers of the Indian graduate students at Lehigh.
Can I call home when I come out of the airport?
Yes, you can call India after you come out of the airport. We will provide you with a calling card before you leave India provided you have requested us for one before leaving India. The calling card can be used at any public telephone booth.
How do I use a public telephone?
In order to use a public you will need quarters (25 cents), dimes (10 cents) and nickels (5 cents). Instructions for using the phone are printed clearly on the phone itself.
Will there be anyone to receive me at the airport when I arrive?
Currently, Lehigh University does not provide a pickup service. Most incoming students catch a bus to Bethlehem. There will be someone to receive you at the Bethlehem bus terminal.
How do I catch a bus to Bethlehem?
There are three main ports of entry in the US for coming to Bethlehem viz. Newark (New Jersey), New York Airport (JFK) and Philadelphia Airport. Ideally, you would want to touch down at Newark. This place is the closest to Bethlehem. You can easily catch a bus for Bethlehem as you exit the Newark airport and the ticket can be purchased at the airport itself. The JFK airport in New York should be your second option. If you decide to touch down at JFK Airport instead then the same bus passes through Newark airport on it's way to Bethlehem. Look at the bus timings carefully before planning your flight. You don't want to be stuck at an odd hour with no bus in sight! We strongly advise you NOT to touch down at Philadelphia. It is out of the way and unsafe. The schedules can be seen at these links:
Newark - Bethlehem (Transbridge Lines)
New York - Bethlehem (Transbridge Lines)
Will there be anyone to receive me at the bus stop at Bethlehem?
Yes, there will be someone to receive you at the bus stop at Bethlehem. But in order for this to happen you need to keep us informed of your travel and arrival plans. Sometimes people arrive in the US and then go on to visit their friends and relatives before coming to Bethlehem. So please inform us when you plan to come to Bethlehem and we'll be there to receive you at the bus stop.
Housing
Where will I stay when I reach Bethlehem?
When you reach Bethlehem you will be staying with one of the graduate students till you find a place of your own. There are hotels close to college as well if none of the graduate students are in a position to accommodate you. The arrangements about whom you are going to stay with should be made before you reach here because people may be busy or otherwise unavailable when you arrive, and may not be in a position to host you on short notice.
Is it better to stay on-campus or off-campus?
Most graduate students are staying off-campus. Off-campus housing is less expensive as compared to on-campus housing. There are on-campus apartments available as well, but arrangements for these have to be made well in advance (months before arrival sometimes!).
Can I get a list of apartment complexes?
The Graduate Life Website has a Housing Page that includes some very useful information:
- List of all local apartment complexes and a map that shows their locations
- Excel spreadsheet that contains all the same rentals provided by Residential Services, but ours is sortable and searchable and students can access it online so they don't have to wait until they arrive here.
- Roommate Finder Form: Students who are looking for a roommate can fill out a form and then try to find a roommate from among the other people who fill out the form
How much rent will I have to pay?
There is quite a variation in rent depending on the location, space, and utilities. The average amount paid though is around $275 per month.
Are there apartments available close to college?
Yes there is off-campus housing available close to college. Most apartments are a couple of minutes walk from college.
Life at Lehigh
Is there an Indian Student's Association at Lehigh?
Yes, there is an Indian student's association at Lehigh. It is made up of both undergraduate and graduate Indian students.
How many Indian graduate students are there at Lehigh?
There are around 55 Indian graduate students currently studying at Lehigh. Most of them are directly from India, while others are of Indian origin.
What is transportation like in Bethlehem?
One can navigate inside Bethlehem by local bus or by taxicab. If you want to catch a taxicab then you have to call for one. There are local bus stops just outside college.
How do I navigate inside the Lehigh campus?
Lehigh has it's own bus service that runs inside the campus. The campus is spread over a large area and navigation between extreme points is time consuming if done on foot. The bus stops are strategically placed for convenience, and one can get to any place on campus using this bus service. However, some people prefer to walk it out or travel by bicycle.