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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