HOWTOGEORGIATECH!

A Complete guide to incoming Desi Yellow Jackets

2016-2017

WELCOME PACKET
BY

INDIA CLUB
GEORGIA TECH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FIRST THINGS FIRST
After obtaining the visa
Immunization
Health Checkups

HOUSING OPTIONS
Off-campus housing
On Campus Housing

PACKING TIPS
Recommended Medicines
Clothes
Shoes
Accessories and Misc. Items
Toiletries
Utensils
Food Items
Stationary and Books
Baggage
*Read this section carefully*

4
4
4
4

5
5
7

9
9
9
10
10
11
11
11
12
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12 to 17

TRANSPORTATION

18

Buses
Outside campus

18
18

FOOD
Dining Halls
On Campus
Off Campus
Cooking

SPORTS
Intra-Murals
Pick Up

REGISTRATION
Things to know
Campus Resources

20
20
20
21
21

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22

25
25
26

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PARTYING
How to talk to ladiez
How to talk to Men

28
28

CLUBS AT GEORGIA TECH

29

WHAT TO DO IN ATLANTA

30

GT INDA CLUB

33

FAQs

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First Things First

After obtaining the Visa
1.
2.
3.
4.

Learn driving and get a driving license and/or International Driving Permit.
Ask your mom to help you learn to cook some basic things.
Apply for a bank loan (if necessary)
Make your passport valid for 6 months more than your stay indicated in your I-20.

Immunization
Find out which immunizations are required and recommended (on the Medical History form) and get everything
done on time. Some vaccines, like Hepatitis B, require 3 doses once each month. So start early. These vaccines are
very costly in US and you certainly do not want to start spending money the moment you land in US. Some vaccines
you will have taken at a young age, try to recollect the old paperwork, or trust the doctor that vaccinated you to fill
out said medical forms with ballpark dates.

Health Checkups
Get a full medical and especially dental check-up done well in advance. Get that root canal done, cavities filled,
molars removed, everything! U.S doctors and dentists have high rates. With dental, students are required to pay the
cost, as dental care is not covered under health insurance in the U.S. (including the Campus-offered Pearce and
Pearce insurance). Also, doctors and dentists expect you to make an appointment of two to three weeks in advance
which is too long to suffer with any condition.
Get your eyesight checked - get a new prescription signed by a doctor and bring it with you so you can use it to get
new glasses here if required. On Average an eye exam in the states is $40-$80 (Even at optical express, student
center, where the rates are much cheaper). Buy at least one extra pair of glasses and a years supply of contact
lenses. Lens solution is readily available and you need not pack a large bottle of this.

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Housing Options
FAQ: Since I have to register for the fall and spring semester together, is there any way I can experiment with oncampus for 1 semester and then shift to off-campus?
Yes, you can stay on-campus for 1 semester and then shift off-campus. However, off-campus apartments will offer
cheaper rent for a 12-month lease compared to a 6-month lease, and most apartments prefer to begin leases in the
July/August period. It is assumed there are better choices for off-campus apartments when you start in Fall than in
Spring. There are always exceptions to this rule, you may still be able to find a good deal for an off campus place
starting in Jan. Do note that if you choose to move in the middle of the academic year, you may be spending valuable
time hunting for an apartment, packing and moving.
The restrictions for on-campus housing allotment are far more relaxed for grads than undergrads. You can change
roommates after 1 semester and try to room with friends that you have made the first semester. On campus
offerings for grad students are GLC (Graduate Living Center) or Tenth and Home E&F.

OFF- CAMPUS HOUSING

Are off-campus accommodations close to the campus? Are buses available?
The apartments can be anywhere between 5-25min walk from campus, in the Homepark, M street, Centennial Place
and Atlantic Station areas. Most areas can be serviced by the campus buses, stingerette service and saferide. Here
is the Tech Transport link:
http://www.pts.gatech.edu/ride/routes_schedules/Pages/routes_schedules.aspx
Check out all the options tabs on the left hand side.
What is the monthly cost of living? What is the apartment rent like?
The cost of living is obviously dependant on how lavish or frugal the individual likes to live. Costs will be lower, the
more shared the accommodation is. On an average:
Rent
Grocery
Utilities: Gas, Electricity, Water, Sewage
Cable TV with Internet
Internet only

$650 (own room) ; $400 (shared room)

$150-200 (does vary according to what you eat!)
$80-120 (whole apartment)
$70
$30

These numbers are rough estimates. Please note that rent varies significantly and get up-to-date information
through the yahoo group archives and websites of apartments. Look for old posts or ads for roommates. Utility bills
also vary from apartment to apartment and while for example Electricity and Gas are metered, waste management
and sewage are flat rates. Internet and Cable costs vary from provider to provider.

Specific Apartment Choices

Perform a Google map search to get acquainted.
1) Home Park Area
Can walk to campus, or walk to the nearest green route bus stop. Stingerette has limited coverage here.
Pros: Close to campus. Rent is around $1200-1400 for a two bedroom apt. Utilities not included. This is where most
desis stay. 10th and State Street has the best apartments.
Cons: Besides 10th and State Street, most apartments are old, poorly maintained and poorly insulated. Heating bills
in winter can run double or triple of what is normal, up to $300/apt. Safety is a concern here, and it is advised to

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walk in groups, use the stingerette, and possibly carry some mace. Houses can have less efficient or tampered-with
fire alarm systems, again increasing safety concerns. Generally unfurnished.
2) Centennial Place
Blue Route (see GT transport link above) and Stingerette come close to here.
Pros: Close to campus. Rent is $850-$1000 for a two bed room apt. Utilities not included. Many desis stay here.
Better apartments than homepark, better landlords respond more quickly to maintenance issues. Well insulated.
Cons: General safety concern level similar to that of Homepark area.
3) Windsor over Peachtree
Pros: Very good apartments, Very safe. On North Avenue. Rent is $1500-1700 for a two bedroom apt. Right across
from Bank of America and next door to North Avenue Marta Station. Heating and water included. Electricity comes
out to $40 per month. Has a small gym and swimming pool. 24/7 security.
Cons: Far away. A 20 minute walk from apartment to Library. Tech trolley and Stingerette will drop you at a point
that is 10 min walk from the apt.
4) Marietta Street Apartments (M street) and West Mar Student Lofts
Pros: Very good apartments. Less than quarter of a mile from GaTech campus. Rent varies from $900-$1500. Utilities
not included. Gym and pool featured. West Mar has a shuttle from campus. Most students walk to campus.
Cons: Crime can been an issue.
Midtown Apartments:
Use Tech Trolley at Publix or Marta stops to get to campus
5) 100 Midtown
Pros: Very close to Publix, Tech square. Close to all the frequented nightclubs and bars of midtown Atlanta.
Cons: Some rooms dont have any windows (the apartment complex used to be a hospital) and the regular issues
with noise and safety since the location is central to the city.
6) The Plaza at Midtown
Pros: Much nicer apartments than 100 Midtown, Publix is in the same building. Very safe with security guard,
doorman - all guests are escorted directly to specific apartments. Short walk to Marta station and other happening
places in Midtown.
Cons: Pricey
Atlantic Station (Art Foundry, Park District, AMLI)
Use Green Route to get to campus
Pros: Pool in the complex, many desis live here. Apartments are really nice.
Cons: People have complained about management being uncooperative.
Other options/Notable mentions
[Monthly Marta passes available for $60 for unlimited trips to and from campus, tech trolley picks up from Midtown
Marta to go to main campus, AMLI and Post Properties are good options throughout the city]
Wesley Townsend (need to take Marta to campus)
Post Gardens (Marta)
Alexan Lenox (just in front of Lenox Marta Station)
Post Renaissance (can bike to campus)
Post at Lindbergh (Marta)
Lakeshore Crossing (Marta)
Amli at Lindbergh (Marta)
Overlook at Lindbergh (Marta)
401 West Tenth (bike, walk)
Gables 820 West (bike, walk)
Cornerstone Village (bike, walk)

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Cityscape at Midtown (bike, walk, tech trolley)

Solace on Peachtree (4 blocks from campus, can walk)
Alexander on Ponce (Campus Buses (Tech Trolley, Stinger Buses), Bike, Walk)
Check this link for approximate location of some of these apartments from Georgia Tech:
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=georgia+tech&daddr=Centennial+Place+Apartments%2C+Atlanta%2C+GA+
to%3A935+M+Apartments+to%3AM+Street+Apartments%2C+950+Marietta+St+NW%2C+Atlanta%2C+Georgia+30
318+to%3Aamli+apartments%2C+atlantic+station+to%3APark+District%2C+17th+Street+Northwest%2C+Atlanta%
2C+GA+to%3Atenside+apartments&hl=en&ll=33.775152%2C84.397831&spn=0.0305%2C0.066047&sll=33.777828%2C84.399204&sspn=0.030499%2C0.066047&geocode=FXVkAwIdh1D4-iHZp3PoHCGaiw%3BFe9EAwIdO0b4iHfIK29Op3ZYA%3BFVlnAwIdHQj4-iHrUh6c58qeUimzybtHkgT1iDGrmBn6fIO-XQ%3BFbRlAwIdRQj4im76jM8kgT1iDH__8h4sXZY2A%3BFZCUAwIdvyb4-iF_5PtsI-iMFg%3BFSmXAwIdIyP4iF9Rbbd9BKXhClp4J4q8QT1iDG8JDawz6X7wA%3BFcJ3AwId5wf4iHMlXUQUmRhJCm3XrE07QT1iDFuwA85RoO4wA&mra=ls&t=m&z=15

ON-CAMPUS HOUSING
The Georgia Tech Housing website has a lot of information on how to sign up for housing, rates, facilities etc.
Please direct any specific questions to the representative listed on their website:
http://www.housing.gatech.edu/index.cfm

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Graduate Living Center, 301 10th Street NW.

How to get to campus: 6-10 minute walk, Green route, Stingerette (7pm to 7am)
Pros: Close to campus and connected well by Georgia tech shuttles during the day and on-call services until 2am.
Key access for safety after hours, and on a busy street hence very safe. Patrolled by Georgia Tech Police.
Approachable student and professional housing staff, Office will sign for all packages.
Rent is around $3000, but please check the link above for more accurate and current information.
Fully Furnished, Good lighting in all Rooms. Price is fully inclusive of water, electricity, high speed GT internet and GT
cable connection. Has recycling facility, open-air grilling areas and vending machines.
Ideal for short stay e.g Masters Students.
Easy access to weekly grocery shuttle (Target, Publix in Atlantic Station) by GT Bus service (short distance to walk if
bogged down with heavy bags).
Each floor has a Resident Assistant who you can answer any questions you have. Some RAs rent our housing vans
and will take you to Walmart and Kroger also (cheaper stores than Target).
There are several flexible meal plans you can opt for and the options are decent even for vegetarians.
Socially, you will have more fun, and get to meet a lot of people from different backgrounds.
Many organized events for social networking, career exploration and exposure to various other cultures and
backgrounds. Celebrate all major American Holidays with events and free food in the building.
Living on campus means you are more aware of all the events on campus through newsletters and flyers delivered
to your door.
Cons: Considered expensive as you cannot share a room. The all-inclusive price scares away many students. However
you have the freedom to take long showers, keep all your lights on, and the room at 20 degrees when it is hot outside
e.t.c and be as environmentally irresponsible as you like.
You may not know your roommates, but if you sign up in advance and provide your roommate preferences and you
can get around this.
General limitations of on-campus housing apply in regards to smoking, alcohol, noise levels, pets, even the ability to
light candles. The rooms are small for the price, you have to share the bathroom.

Tenth and Home Buildings E and F, Single Residents, 251 10th Street NW
How to get to campus: 6-10 minute walk, Green route, Stingerette (7pm to 7am)
(See GLC for on-campus style housing pros, all apply here as well)
Pros: Bigger rooms than the GLC, and very comfortable. Washer Dryer included in each unit, as opposed to the
common laundry facility available in the GLC. Tenth and Home E&F apartments are also fully furnished (the other,
family units are not).
Cons: Pricey. Most units are occupied by Families (A to E) so there is an older group here. Less sense of community
than with the GLC

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Packing Tips
There are so many things one needs to carry, as you are shifting your life to a completely new place! If you have a
friend who is going to the same university, for the same semester, share a few things. This saves space and money.

Recommended Medicines
Crocin tablets (paracetamol 500 mg)- 3 strips, For fever, body ache, and headache, One tablet three
times a day as necessary, Above 60 kg please use 650 mg tablets (thermol/dolo)
For fevers, mild pain relief Actifed tablets 2 strips, (casuses drowsiness)
A costlier but much better alternative is Alerid (cetrizine) or Neoloridin(loridine), less sedation and next
to no side effects
Azithromycin 500 mg tablets (aziwin) - 3 strips, One tablet once a day for atleast 3 days, for bacterial cold
or Respiratory infection (dark yellow colored mucus, fever).NOT for ordinary cold (white mucus, watery
secretions)
Sporidex 500mg capsules - 2 strips, One tablet twice a day when necessary as advised (please dont use
on your own. This stuff needs a prescription to be used properly, meant only for persistent troublesome
infections)
Avomine tablets - 1 strip for air/ motion sickness. One tablet as necessary (causes drowsiness)
Lomotil/Andial tablets- 15 (for diarrhea), best treatment for which is plenty of fluids, rest and bland food
Omeprazole 20 mg - for gastritis, once or twice a day
Digene tablets- 20 mg - for stomach discomfort, One each three times a day.
Spasmoproxyvon capsules - 3 strips, for abdominal colic pain, backache, menstrual pain etc. One tablet
every 6 hours
Domstal tablets - 10. For vomiting,Has to be taken at least half an hr before food
Electral powder - 4 packets. To rehydrate after vomiting & diarrhoea
Novalgin - 2 strips for headache & bodyache. One tablet as necessary.
Brufen 600mg tablets - 2 strips, For arthirtic joint pain. One tablet three times a day after food.
Avil Tablets - 1 strip, for allergy (use cetrizine/loridin for less sedation), One tablet as necessary.
Volini/ Relaxyl ointment - 1 tube, applied as pain balm.
Band Aid assorted 12
Soframycin skin ointment - 1 tube
Nimesulide tabs - For severe headaches and pains. (banned in the US), 100mg upto 3 times a day
Ciplox capsules 500 mg - 2 strips. 1 capsule twice a day. For Infective diarrheas
Vitamin B-complex capsules and/or Multivitamins (Just in case your starving yourself out there)

Clothes
Jeans: 4 to 6 pairs
Shorts: 3-4. (guys, get the longer ones that go 2-3 inches beyond knees, girls, anything goes)
Cotton T-shirts: 8-10
Cotton shirts: 4-5
Night clothes: 2-3 pairs
Formal suit & Ties - 1-2 pairs. You rarely need them: for Convocation ceremony and interviews only
Undergarments, a lot of them! 10-15 pairs. This is important, you may go to the laundry once in 2 weeks!!

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Socks: 8-10 pairs you can bring even more because you would be wearing shoes most of the time. Do not
take nylon socks. Cotton ones are better. Bring at least 2 nicer socks to wear with formal shoes.
full sleeved Sweater: 1, or you could get a hoodie of Georgia Tech here during Barnes and Noble sales
Jacket for colder weather: 2, bring what you already have, you can get a good winter coat after you come
here. You will need to invest in one here that is made for this type of weather.
2-3 belts including one formal leather belt
Kurta-pyjamas/Churidhaar/Sari/Ghagra Choli: 2-3, for ICGT events! Dont be left out and don't forget
extra naadi!

Shoes
SPORTS/TENNIS SHOES/SNEAKERS: 1 pair (For walking to class and/or exercising) Sports shoes are real cheap in
US, especially during thanksgiving and Christmas sales. Dont spend too much money for these, bring the ones you
have or get some moderately priced ones so that you need not buy them immediately after coming to US.
LEATHER/SUEDE SHOES/BOOTS: 1 pair. Preferably waterproof, with good grip for cold and wet weather (rain
/snow/hail/sleet e.t.c) Ensure shoes have good, firm grip to prevent breaking head, bones.
SANDALS/SLIP-ONS/FLATS: 2pairs. open, for comfort, class, casual affairs. Get two pairs of them. You could get
something to match your ethnic wear. Girls, bring along a pair of nice heels too.
Wear your shoes during travel to save space. If you seem to be short on space, bring the ones you will wear the
most. Except leather, most other types of shoes are cheap in the US. For some weather conditions, Indian leather
shoes may crack.

Accessories and Misc. Items

Sunglasses: 2
Wallet: 1(must fit ID, insurance, Driver license , debit and credit cards, cash) ; or Organizer
Caps: 2
Umbrella: 1
Purses/Handbags for girls: 1-2
Calculator 1 no.
Pass port and stamp size snaps 36 each,
Torch Alarm clock.
2 Turkish towels and two hand towels/napkins.
2 thin single bed sheets.
One air pillow
Woolen gloves, fleece blankets, hangers, can be purchased here in regular grocery stores. Dont bring a raincoat.
You wont use it.

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Toiletries
Shaving kit & Blades (5).
Brush (3) & toothpaste (2 tubes) ( (temporary, can buy new ones here).
Soap, soapbox, Shampoo (2) (get a couple to last you until you make your first grocery trip in US).
Body Spray/Deo/Anti-Antiperspirants/Perfume/Aftershave (1 or 2 of whatever you use should be enough)
Combs & hair oil (regular Indian brands are available in Indian store here also).
Nail cutter, nail file
Small scissors, Safety pins bunch.
Mini-sewing kit with some buttons (learn how to sew!)
Hair ties/clips, for girls, makeup

Utensils
Depends on whether you plan to cook alone or with your housemates. Most people don't get time to cook daily, and
food is made for two days at a go - so keep this in mind when you buy vessels, etc. These things are definitely more
expensive in the states.
2-3 plates, Glasses, Cups and bowls (for cereal-cornflakes), Forks, spoons to eat with
Coffee Mug to leave at office on campus, or travel mug to travel to class with
Serving spoons (1)
Cutting Knives (2)
Cooking vessels (Kadai/sauce pan/Deep Pot), try to get something nonstick
Non-stick frying pan/tawa
Large Plastic spoons and ladles for cooking in the big pots + flipper/spatula for chappattis
Hand-held Peeler, grater
Pressure cooker - 3 liters
1 pressure pan (Prestige), ask your prospective roommate to get one too
4-5 Tupperware boxes for carrying food to college, reheating in microwave, storing food in fridge.

Food Items
Spices: Haldi, Dhania, Jeera, Garam masala, red chili, Asafoetida/Hing powder
Mustard and Jeera seeds, Elaichi, Clove (good for coughs too), Cinnamon, Bayleaf
Ready Made Masalas: Rajma, Channa, Pav Bhaji, Tandoori/Butter Chicken, Sambar Powder
Tamarind paste
Rice, Moong and toor dal in small quantity for initial use.
Indian instant coffee + Indian tea (it takes time to get used to the American stuff)
Well packaged and sealed home-made pickle. The variety available here is the usual oily store stuff.
Most Indian food items are available even in small cities in the US. Don't bring too many ethnic foods as you may
have problem with customs. If you do bring Jeera, tell the customs officer who will ask you directly if you bought
cumin seeds that you do NOT have any.

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TIP: Try to get "instant" stuff, as people don't have much time for cooking in the US, and you probably find it quicker
and easier to eat outside while you are settling down in your first few weeks. Pizza is your next best friend!
*You are not coming here to cook like a chef, be sensible in what you bring!*

Stationary and Books

You can get most items on campus for free during grad Expo, freshman orientations and from your office if you have
an advisor already. Bring a minimal amount, if at all. Common use items such as staplers and scissors are available
for use everywhere (libraries, student center etc.) Nonetheless, you may find it useful to carry some basic things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Pencils 2 mechanical ones is enough, Pens 5-6

Eraser 1
Notebook 1/2
Scribbling Pad - 2
Stick on pad 2

Don't bring Indian files (empty) or punching machines - filing system is different in the US (3holes, A4). Loose paper
sheets are not necessary.
Try to buy some common required textbooks in India. You may be able to get a list for it by pestering your seniors
on various forums such as fb and the ICGT yahoo group. Some general suggestions for books are - Clarks Tables, a
booklet for units conversion etc. [note: there should be no legal hassles taking Xerox copies of books - but don't
flaunt them to Americans/profs]
You could bring some Non-technical books (fiction/religious). [Note: second-hand storybooks are cheap in the US]
Don't worry yourself if you can't bring any of the stuff listed above - most items are available pretty cheap in the
US (Made in China). Exceptions are leather goods, formal wear. In a month or two you will be able to get anything
you want.

Baggage
Luggage is an essential thing you will have to buy. Plan for this well, luggage is expensive and should be retained for
years, now that you will be doing lot of traveling in flight. Plan for 2 (or 3 in some airlines) large size suitcases (checkin), and one back pack and trolley (carry-on). You can also plan to use this Backpack for college. Buy a good handbag,
as big as your flight will allow you to carry, it will be useful while you are doing laundry and need to haul clothes from
one place to the other!
Check the rules of your airline for the dimensions of allowed baggage: ex. 2 pieces of baggage with total liner
dimension (L+B+H) not exceeding 270cms (106"), with total linear dimension of each piece not exceeding 158cms
(62"). The weight of each bag should not exceed 23kg (50lb) [note: Sometimes they are not particular about this,
and you can plead that you are a student going for the first time and are carrying lots of books e.t.c]
Carry-on baggage with linear dimension not exceeding 115cms (45") on board fits beneath the seat.

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Actually Start Packing!

Start well in advance
Put identification marks and labels on both the inside & outside of your luggage for you to be able to
identify your bags.
Make sure to carry:
o Important application materials (SOP, Reco, etc.)(Soft copy)
o Original important documents (I-20, visa, tickets.) keep one set of copies in each luggage piece.
o Copy of all the certificates/documents
o Medical history files/forms

Things to be kept in hand baggage

Some medicines (including for air-sickness)
Novel/mags/books for in flight reading
Sweater/Shawl (it WILL be cold in flight)
Original important documents (I-20, visa, tickets.) - (see documentation, below)
Enough money (little cash, traveller's' checks), bring the receipt of the TCs - in case you lose the originals
Address book/phone book, (US friend contact information/address of destination)
Enlisted steps to be followed in case of emergency (accident, theft, etc.)
Have a set of copies of visa, passport, I-20 in each piece of luggage.
Depending upon the weather in your area get a folding umbrella.
PEN (2-3) to fill out important customs and immigration forms before landing in the USA.

Documentation
Carry all documentation safely, and have 3 sets of photocopies of all (see visa documents from getting the visa
section). Leave one set of copies at home in India and take two sets with you.
Visa, Passport
Xth, Inter (10+2), Degree marks sheets, Convocation Certificate of Under graduation.
I-20 and acceptance letter from the university.
Take all the I-20's with you if you have more than one.
Copies of your photos (passport size)

Money
Other than you fee requirements you may have to take $1000-$2000 from (for example) Thomas Cook/American
Express /any Foreign Exchange bank like SBI, SBH IOB etc. Get the cash in the form of DDs or TCs after you buy
your ticket. Typically, get a DD for the entire fee you have to pay, $1000-$2000 in TCs, and $100 in cash: a
combination of notes (tips, food, minor expenses, your ICAT volunteer ;) and coins (vending machines and
payphones). Other than your fee, you may have to pay the security deposit for your accommodation, rent and

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groceries for the first month, groceries for the first month and other basic utilities like toaster, rice cooker etc.
which may come up to ~ $500. Have a RBI permit ready for the dollars you are carrying with you, just in case.
Carry some Indian currency as well: Rs.300 - Rs.500/- for airport tax and Rs.600/- for the $20 you'll get inside the
airport.

Important things to do/leave at Home

Give power of attorney (authorization letters) to your father or brother or to someone on whom you rely
Put your signature on 10 plain A4 sheets of paper, write you name below and keep these at home. They
may need it for any purpose like authorization to collect marks sheets, Provisional certificate, Transfer
certificate, Bonafide certificate, Degree certificate, Migration certificate from the university, applying for
the refund from the college etc.
Leave a List of addresses/phone numbers at which info about you can be obtained.
Leave one copy of all your important documents, relevant parts of medical history files.
Arrange to collect/redirect mail from your room/hostel.
Arrange to apply/collect/mail your transcripts (about 20 in number preferable)
Leave a set of your tailoring measurements.
Confirm your ticket a couple of days prior to the flight directly through the airlines you are flying no
matter how reputed your travel agent is.
Get your application material if you wish to reactivate your applications at a better place for the next
quarter/year with a set of transcripts in case you apply all over again for a PhD. Remember your B.Tech.
Degree certificate (laminate it in thin plastic if possible).
Apply for ICAT India Club Airport Transportation

In the Last Week before Departing

Confirm the schedule of the plane (inform the people coming to pick you up of any such change).
Find out the name of the person who is coming to pick you up at the airport. Remind those people of the
flight timings, airline no, your name. Share this information with your people at home, especially the
persons US number.
Check and recheck all the documents you are taking with you. Be well-organized
Bid adieu to all concerned.
Communicate with you ICAT Volunteer (if applicable), to decide how you will meet them. Your options
are:
o ask for an announcement to be made over the PA system. Get a card, write your name & hold it
up to help your volunteer find you among the masses of people.
o Share a photo with your volunteer/fb each other and/or discuss clothing that you may be
wearing.
o Wait at a place that you have talked about together (if domestic flight: baggage claim your
exact carousel where you picked up your bags/nearest exit they have numbers from N/S 1to 7,
if international flight: right outside after physically exiting the airport building)

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On the Day of the Flight and on-Board

Since it is going to be a long flight wear something comfortable (cotton dress + full arm shirt). Wear your
shoes - in flight you can remove them (some airlines give in flight shoes - else relax in socks).
Check all the documents once again, make sure the most important documents are with you, easily
accessible and safe in the hand baggage.
Be at the airport 3-4 hours before the departure.
Collect $20 at the airport (part of it in $1).
Relax during flight, sleep as much as possible.
For vegetarians - watch out before you eat - you may get non-veg even if you had asked for veg. Veg food
is generally bland - fruits/juices are good choices. (Before ordering anything on board check if, you have to
pay for it separately). Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Once out of India be very careful (from sheer experience of seniors). Don't trust anyone. Don't hire a taxi
(unless emergency) till you reach your destination. If required don't hesitate to spend money.
Customs and Immigration forms will be given to you in the flight that lands in India. Fill these out as much
as possible in the flight. Do not make any mistakes, as crossing something out means you have to fill a
new form again. You will need your Passport and Visa to fill out these forms. Keep them handy.
o Filling out the form: be honest and check yes if you bought food items. However, Answer NO
to all questions regarding import of huge cash amounts, drugs, guns etc.
o Enter some small number or NA for the $ value of goods you are carrying.
o This is VITAL. Otherwise, you will be stopped at customs, your bags WILL be checked and you
MAY have to bid goodbye to that homemade jeera powder/pickle etc. (not to mention the added
inconvenience of having your bags searched, standing in another line for 30-45 minutes etc.

Once off the Plane:

Landing in Atlanta through Domestic Flight

You will enter the airport and be in a common hub. Follow signs for baggage claim.
You might have to take the train. There will be an escalator down to go to the in-airport train (in
basement/lower level of airport) to take you to baggage claim. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you are
confused about where to go. This train is ONLY INSIDE THE AIRPORT. There is a station called the baggage
claim and Ground Transportation, Get off here.
Once you are off the train, there will be a BIG escalator taking you back up to ground level.
From there you can either go right or left. One of them is the South terminal and other is the North
terminal. (There are directions as to which terminal to go to as per your Airline)
Once you reach baggage claim you will notice that there are different pillars numbered from 1 to 8. These
are the carousels/belts from where you will pick up your bags. There will be a screen there which will tell
you which carousel corresponds to your flight.
Pick up your Baggage. Here, carts will cost money. You can either try to manage your bags or pay some
quarters for a cart to make life easier.
Wait where your ICAT volunteer and you have previously discussed and be patient, remain calm. If
nobody turns up after some time (say 0.5 hour) make a collect call (at public phone dial a "0", get the
operator & ask for a collect call) else call: (HAVE ALL THESE NUMBERS READY)
o Your Prof / Department
o International Students' Office/ Admissions Office
o Any ICGT Graduate Member
If no one is coming to pick you up, please proceed out of the airport following signs for Ground
transportation and take the Atlanta Airport Shuttle (http://www.taass.net/)

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Landing in Atlanta Internationally

There is a new International Terminal In ATL. Please familiarize yourselves with this link:
http://www.atlanta-airport.com/internationalterminal/passenger/arrivals.html
Once you are out of the plane you will be directed to the immigration counter. (In the new terminal, less
than 10 minutes!) Keep your I-20, passport, admission, aid letters handy. They will be required to fill out
the Immigration and Customs forms appropriately.
The immigration officer might ask a few questions like: Is this your first time in the US? Student? F-1 Visa?
Which University, Why?
The I-94 is a Department of Homeland Security document which was previously stapled to the passport. It
is now completely online. More info on I-94 is available here:
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html;jsessionid=HRXjVyvVpWGFJC8YC1bgSbq92cX2v2NRptL56Fj2nyy
znJlPC1nT!-1676962991. You will be able to access the I-94 after a day usually.
When you are out of immigration, put all your important documents away, safely. Keep your passport and
Customs form out only.
Customs is next. If asked tell them that you are a student, F-1 visa, school, dept., coming to US for the first
time. If he asks you if you have food items say yes (honestly) BUT Sir, they are dry items, well-packaged,
and prepared at home.
IF you are asked to open your baggage do so slowly - do not mess up the place. If asked about the masala
powder tell them that they are "dried Indian spices" to make traditional Indian food like curry. Rarely they
might ask you to go the agris dept nearby - its a pain. If asked about "vibhuti" tell them that it is a holy
Hindu powder.
Note: In most cases, you will not be asked to open your boxes at all & you will be simply waved through.
You will enter a cavernous baggage claim area. Locate the correct carousel and fetch your luggage. Pick up
a cart to carry the bags. They are free. Pick up your bags as they come out on the conveyor (suitable eyecatching labels help here, carousel number is announced in flight). Hopefully the identification
marks/ribbons/ropes you tied on your bags will help you now.
Note: If you don't get your baggage, ask/look around for the missing baggage counter. You may have to wait 0.5 1 hour here if this happens.
Exit the airport through the one common exit door. Your volunteer will wait for you here. Hopefully you
will have shared photos (fb!) or other recognizable qualities such as clothing color e.t.c

TIPS:
Never leave your baggage unattended.
Once you reach your friend's house (or your intended destination) call home & inform them of your
reaching safely. If you get your hand on Internet, do type few words of your experience and email it.

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After Arrival
Attend orientation, check-in with OIE
Get your student ID (Office is in Tech Square, take Tech trolley there)
Pay the Tuition and Fees online (computer available in all buildings + Student Center/Library)
Register for classes online
Introduce yourself Prof if you have got an RA or a TA. Email them first, to get an appointment time
Open a bank account (Wells Fargo, Bank Of America are good options)
Get a phone
Find an apartment and/or roommates.
Look up the procedure to get your Social Security Number
Generally your seniors or your dept through all these will guide you. So don't worry too much. A new
chapter of your life unfolds here! Work hard to make your dreams come true! We wish you success in all
your future endeavors!

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Transportation
Buses
Red Route
The red is very useful and is the most frequent of the busses. The Red route goes from North avenue apartments to
the student center to the crc to west campus,to howie etc. Im not going to go through all the stops but this way you
know which way it goes (clockwise)
Blue Route
Blue bus goes counterclockwise around campus. It follows more or less the same rout as Red route.
Green Route
The Green Bus takes you on a magical trip to Narnia, or so they say. Please dont take the green unless you know
exactly what youre doing. Ive been here for 3 years and have yet to mess with the green route.
Tech Trolley
The trolley can be really useful for off campus and short trips on campus. It goes by Publix and Barnes and Noble
which is really useful and goes through Howie, CRC and student center. It then stops at the student center and
goes back towards Barnes and Noble so you cannot use the trolley to get to North ave or east campus.
Midnight Rambler
The Rambler starts pretty late but is great for getting around at night. Reliable and efficient this will take you all
around campus after hours.
Grocery Shuttle
On the weekends, normal bus services are suspended, but there is one (or two) Stingers that run around campus
and go all the way to Atlantic Station. Its super convenient if you want to go to the Target at Atlantic Station and
get some things or just spend the day at Atlantic Station. But the sad part is that the shuttle stops at 5, so cant
really catch that late movie and come back for free.
*Note: Download the GT buses app so that you can find out where the buses (not that the app is accurate or
anything, but still better than nothing)
Stingerette
This is the most used mode of transportation after the dark. However, completely unreliable - it could come 5
minutes early to 50 minutes late and when you get a call that your driver is there run, as fast as you can, run! You
have a minute or two and then the ill-tempered stingerette will leave you and will bring you to the place it most
reliably does, right back to where you were.

Outside campus:
Uber/Lyft
Probably the easiest way to get around in Atlanta. Its cheap, efficient, and reliable. Whatever you do dont throw
up in one, all the money you saved using Uber will be made up for how much they charge clean up.

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Marta
The Marta is great for certain places, ie airport, lennox, both sports arenas. Very safe and very straightforward it's
$5 for a round trip but there are many options by amount of trips or days, youll probably just use the 5$ one the
most.
Zipcar
With a valid license and a $15 annual fee you can rent out a car at an hourly rate. Its about $10 an hour but you
can find some cars that go for about $8. There are a lot of rental cars on campus and theyre very reliable. Its a
good option, just be careful when driving. Atlanta is really weird in that it's full of one way roads, god forbid you
have to learn the hard way(like me). Also theyre conveniently located around different places on campus, so you
can reserve the one closest to you!

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Food
Dining Halls
Mostly you wont be going to Dining halls. But if you are brave enough to try out the hot, spicy American food (yes,
that was sarcasm) you can check out this linkhttps://www.gatechdining.com/

On Campus
Apart from dining halls, there are many other places to eat on campus. The Student Center is the real big one. In
the second floor theres an assortment of restaurants that are a step above of fast food
http://studentcenter.gatech.edu/dine-shop/dining/Pages/default.aspx . On the first floor is Subway, Chick-fil-a
(milkshakes are a must), Taco Bell, PANDAEXPRESS(!), and Pizza Hut.

Biotech Quad
The Biotech Quad has the Coffee Snob cafe (IBB building). Their Jamaican patties and sandwiches are really good
(although slightly expensive and they dont take Dining Dollars). Theres another cafe in the biotech quad (near
MoSE). Theyre supposed to have dosas there, but they seem to be never open when I attempt to go. Also,
smoothie place at the CRC has amazing smoothies and shakes!

Highland Bakery
The big Highland Bakery as a place next to the Biltmore Success Center (near Tech Tower) and has smaller cafes
around campus, like in the basement of the College of Computing, and in the Architecture building. They have
good sandwiches and coffee if youre in a rush.

Clough Commons(CULC)
Clough has the most popular Starbucks, where a good chunk of either your parents or your money is gonna go.

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Tech Square
Theres a lot of really good options there. The restaurants on the right side of the street all accept BuzzFunds, so
TinDrum, Rays, Waffle House (open 24x7 all 365 days btw), Barrelhouse and some sandwich place that no one
really goes to. The ones on the left sadly do not accept BuzzFunds, but Moes is always a go to.

Off Campus
Theres a bunch and I mean bunch of places to go eat off campus. Some popular websites to order online from a
variety of restaurants include:
GrubHub is your friend for ordering online (download the app, because it is extremely handy).
Check out CrunchButton too for places that arent on Grubhub (like Chipotle and Zaxbys!).

In midtown (Peachtree Street) youll find literally thousands of restaurants. Your mission, if you wish to accept, is
to go to every restaurant! Some good choices include TacoMac, Vortex (amazing burgers, but you have to be 21 to
get in these days), SweetHut (MUST go here if you like bubble tea or just desserts in general), Cafe Intermezzo, and
Escorpion. To get to these places, you can take the Trolley or the Stingerette to the Midtown MARTA station, walk
up a block and voila thats your street. Also, theres a Wingnuts near the engineering bookstore (Wingnut
Wednesdays is an amazing deal). So basically, just go any direction for a mile or two its the best part of Atlanta or
you know, use Google.

Indian restaurants
These are generally not closeby. You may have to take marta or rent a Zipcar/ask a friend to take you here.
Caf Bombay, Chat Patti (next to each other)
Mirch Masala, Chinese Dhaba (next to each other in patel plaza)
Gokul Sweets (behind patel Plaza)
Madras Sarvana Bhavan
The Viceroy
Madras Chettinad (my favorite)
Sri Krishna Vilas

Cooking
The best place to get groceries is either Publix, which is near Tech Square, or Target, which is in Atlantic Station, or
the humongous Walmart in Howell Mill road. Trolley stops right outside Publix, so you should definitely utilize it
when getting groceries. You can also take the Grocery Shuttle to go to Target on Saturdays and Sundays. Story
time, I had a friend who took a suitcase to get groceries. It did make taking things back easier so be creative!

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As for desi items, you can bank on Patel brothers in Decatur to have everything you need. Also, there is this small
little Bangladeshi store in the 14th street where you can find the much needed frozen rotis and naans, and some
desi ghee and curd, and dal ofcourse.

Sports
Intramurals
Here at tech there is a vast, and I mean vast number of intramurals. For example we offer intramural bowling so if
theres a sport you wanna play its probably there (sorry no cricket). Intramurals are a great way to meet people and
make some really close friends, worked for me! For intramurals you have two options, housing or independent.
Independent is when you make your own team with friends or people you know, think its about $50 for the whole
team. Housing is when your dorm makes a team and you play for them. Housing tends to be less competitive and is
also free, plus the whole friends thing.

Pick Up

Basketball
Pick-up basketball is probably the easiest one of everything to play. All you have to do is go to the fourth floor of the
CRC. The front two courts are only for full court 5 v 5. The court on the left can get really competitive at times and if
football players, or ex basketball players come they normally play on the court on the left most evenings. The court
on the right, anyone can play and amateurs so good players will play there. The middle two are most of the time half
court and the far two are for either full or half but are normally taken for badminton.
All you have to do to play is ask around where youre trying to play and ask who has next? If theyre full say you have
after them, if they have room for more people ask if you can run with them and 99% of the time theyll say ok. One
time when I was playing with some really good people they told me I was too short to play soooo besides for that
Ive never been turned down!
Times to go
Normally around 3-4 is when people start showing up to play at the CRC. It start clearing out around 8-9ish?
*Disclaimer, this will vary throughout the semester. Midterm week youll see a dip, towards the end of the semester
youll see a dip, and at the beginning of the semester there will be more people there.

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Ping Pong
Theres a ping pong room on the 4th floor of the CRC, its got 3 tables and you can rent out paddles and balls from the
desk on the fourth floor. The paddles arent very great though so if you want to bring your own that would be better.
Smith residence hall also has a ping pong table, so if you live there youre good to go, otherwise make friends who
live there!

Badminton
If you want to play badminton just go to the desk on the fourth floor and ask them to rent out badminton stuff theyll
show you what to do. The last two courts have lines for badminton which is why its always played there.
Indoor Soccer
Very similar to basketball the doors are near the glass wall where you can look into the arena. Go around the back
where there are benches and people probably waiting. Then just see when you can play!
Racquetball+Squash
Available in the first floor, all you gotta do is get rackets and a ball from the desk and then see if theres a court
available!
Working Out
Up to you if you wanna workout, but working out is pretty great! Beginning of the semester youll have half the
Georgia Tech population at the CRC spread throughout the day. Every week that number will be halved so dont lose
faith if the CRC is too full at first. If youre looking for workouts India Club will be providing some this semester! The
fifth floor has an indoor running track as well.

Club
Club sports include badminton, tennis, chess, and some others. Trust me everything you wanna do is here at tech!
Its all about seeing when they meet and contacting someone and going to their meetings. You can check Jacket
Pages to see when clubs meet and who the presidents are!

Tournaments

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Throughout the semester there will be different tournaments that come up. India club has a sports tournament each
semester, shpe has soccer tournaments, and different frats and organizations will have tournaments as well. Its all
about seeing when something is!

CRC Classes
The CRC offers a bunch of classes, where they have professional instructors come to teach you. Theres a lot of
martial arts classes like Hapkido (definitely suggest trying this one!), Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do, etc. Something I regret
would be not signing up for one of these classes during freshmen year. You can take belt tests, make some really
good friends and maybe even become an expert by the time you graduate! Other than that theres dance classes,
Zumba and some other fitness classes. Check out the CRCs website if you think you might be interested in doing
something like this. Be warned though, that these classes have to be paid for! You can try them out during the first
two weeks of each semester, but after that if you wanna stick with one, you gotta roll out the dough.

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Registration
Things to Know
If you are from CS or ECE, you are most likely to hear your fair share of registration horror stories, people having no
classes, and everything filling up. Trust me, it's going to be okay. In all my years at Tech Ive never had anything too
bad. Here are your best friends for registration:
CourseOff
CourseOff will have all the available courses each semester and you can basically make your potential schedule
beforehand. Furthermore you can do it for the next semester and plan a year or two on advance.
Course Critique
Here you can look up teachers and their statistics. Like GPA how many people get As, Bs,Cs, Ws and etc. GPA
MATTERS! Take the easy teachers trust me its worth it!
*Theres actually a new cool extension that combines CourseOff and CourseCritique, so you can look at everything
at the same time, so make sure you download that!
Registration occurs in two phase for each semester. Phase 1 towards the middle of the on going semester and do
NOT worry if youre left with 6 credits by the end of it. The advisors and departments work their magic in time
(mostly) for Phease 2, which starts about a week or two before the next semester and goes on till the end of the
first week of classes. So you can check out your classes and definitely drop them like theyre hot, if you find a
teacher already has you panicking. So this gives you time to find a different teacher or class if needed. If youre
going to take summer classes you sign up for both summer and fall classes in the Spring semester. If theres a
prereq first sign up in the summer and then sign up in the fall and you will be good to go. Take deep breaths, relax,
you got this! Also, talk to your advisors! They are really good sources of information and help you make sure youre
on track to graduation in, what we all hope to be, 4 years.
Waitlists & Overrides
Just some information on how Waitlists and Override requests work during registration.
Waitlists
So classes have a certain cap as to how many people can be in them. But theres usually a waitlist for all the classes
in case someone drops the class. Sadly, the waitlist has limited spots as well. So if you want to get into a class, I
would suggest adding yourself to the waitlist (if its open). Youll get the option if you just try to register for the
class. And you can see your spot on the waitlist in the Student Detail Schedule. So if youre higher up, the chances
of you getting a spot are much higher obviously. But do not fret if you find yourself at spot number 60. I have been
at positions like 20 or so on the waitlist and still gotten into the class. The advisors tend to look at the waitlists and
may or may not open up more spots in the class during Phase 2. Also, people change their minds and drop classes,
so yay more spots.
OH, if you are first on the waitlist and a spot opens up, you get an email notification, that tells you to register
within 8 hours or so. Theyll tell you the time in the email. So dont be a know it all and wait to register, because
once that deadline passes, youre at the end of the waitlist again.

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Override
You can request for an override into a class if you think that you have a compelling reason to convince the registrar
that you MUST take a certain class that semester. Only some classes are applicable for this, so make sure its an
option. The override request is under Registration, so you just fill it out, cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Campus Resources
www.GTIndiaClub.com. Your avenue to the Indian Community at Georgia Tech. Provides a calendar of our
events and information of what India Club is up to.
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/ - There are three main parts to this site: study abroad, international student
and scholars, and faculty resources. International students and scholars are defined as F-1 or J-1 visa
holders who study and/or work at Georgia Tech. Study abroad includes information for prospective,
current, and returned study abroad participants. Faculty resources include information for faculty teaching
abroad, on the establishment of international partnerships, and other resources for GT professors.
http://studentcenter.gatech.edu/ This is the website for the Student Center where you can get information
about all of the Student Centers activities and programming.
http://health.gatech.edu - In the case of a health emergency, you can visit our Wellness Center website.
http://www.crc.gatech.edu - The Campus Recreation Center hours are located here, along with all the
information about recreation, special classes, and sports clubs you can join.
http://www.bursar.gatech.edu - This is the website for the Bursars Office, where you can get information
regarding tuition, fees, and other financial inquiries.
http://www.registrar.gatech.edu - This has all degree information, academic calendar, final exam schedule,
and many of Georgia Techs policies.
http://www.finaid.gatech.edu - Information about financial aid such as grants, scholarships, etc.
https://oscar.gatech.edu/ - easy access to registrar / bursar e.t.c (one-stop shop)
http://www.service.gatech.edu -Provides various opportunities to take part in volunteer and service
projects around Metro Atlanta

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http://jacketpages.gatech.edu/ - A highlight of campus events and hotspots to visit such as restaurants,

attractions, etc.

Partying
Entirely up to you, some of you guys will love it, some of you will hate it. In the name of YOLO you also
only go to college once so give it a try. Important things:
18 to enter
21 to buy drinks
You need some form of ID
BUZZCARD IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE FORM OF ID(Dont say I didnt warn you)
Examples are
o Drivers License
o Passport
o Anything with a Date of birth really

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How to Talk to The Ladiez

If youre reading this section youre more hopeless than I thought. Just be yourself and think before you speak.
Despite what all your friends are saying, you got this! And always find a balance, there is a too strong, and a too
weak for everything, so find that balance.

How to Talk to Men

Here at tech you dont need to do anything. Just sit and smile. As a damsel in distress all your superheros will come
to save you...Or you know, dont wait for that, cause thats pretty lame. Theres a lot of nice guys at Tech, but
sometimes it takes a while to find them, so dont get disheartened if at first you dont succeed. May the odds be
ever in your favor!

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Clubs at Georgia Tech

Definitely do! Hands down the greatest club you could join is India club here at Georgia Tech(yay shameless
marketing). But seriously though no matter how much you study companies want to see some leadership. Something
that shows that you really stick out and are better than other people. Couple this with a good GPA and companies
will come at you like College kids to free food! Check out JacketPages for all the clubs available and go to all the
different events hosted by the clubs. The first few weeks or so, a lot of the clubs will be tabling on Skiles Walkway,
so find one that you fancy and go crazy!

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What to do in Atlanta

Piedmont & Centennial Park

Two parks that you and some friends should go and chill out if you like that kind of stuff. Grab a
frisbee walk around, talk, get some food both are good places to check out. The cool thing
about Centennial Park is if you look at some of the paths youll see bricks all etched with names
of Athletes that performed in the Olympics back when they were hosted in ATL!

Nightlife
There are a lot of bars within reasonable driving distance (Buckhead being the most popular),
unfortunately that means you have to be 21. Apart from that you might want to check out
Atlantic station or try out a new restaurant in Midtown. Youll never run out of restaurants, trust
me!

GT Nightlife
Every couple weeks therell be some parties, or SCPC will have an event. One of the big ones
are movie screenings which are fun little events, check out the SCPC section for more details.
Other than that go to a dorm lounge, gather in someones room and play cards, watch a movie
etc.

SCPC events
SCPC offers a wide variety of events some examples are Six Flags day, GT aquarium, Sting
Break, Ice Skating as mentioned before movie screenings. Generally cheap and the quality is
always top notch (transportation will be provided too!). SCPC will rarely let you down!

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Aquarium
SCPC offers deals once a year but nevertheless if youre really itching to go dont let the discount stop you. Check it
out, ATL has one of the greatest aquariums in the Country!
Six Flags
Same case as the Aquarium six flags is a GREAT place to hang out with friends, and trust me, youll have a blast!
World of Coke
The world of coke is a surprisingly nice place to visit. They gave you a cool tour of the place and a brief history lesson.
On top of that they let you taste all the different Coke products around the world. Is absolutely great, so many
different flavors your taste buds are in for a treat!

Atlantic Station
About a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute Uber Atlantic Station is a nice little square with a lot of shops and restaurants.
On top of that its one of the closest places with a movie theatre so theres a great reason to go! Shops include,
Express, H&M, Old Navy, Target, and Dillard's. Kilwins has the best ice cream, so definitely try it! A quick google
search will provide you with everything youre looking for!
Football
Even if you are a diehard cricket/soccer/football fan, watch American football or hand-egg ball whatever you want
to call it. Definitely show some Yellow Jacket spirit and go out to the Georgia Tech football games! The tickets are
free and theyre a lot of fun. THWG!
Miscellaneous
In addition to all this, theres a lot of other activities and places you can go to in Atlanta. The restaurant and bar
scene is very popular. But you can also go to SkyView (a giant ferris wheel where you can see all of Atlanta), SkyZone
(an amazing trampoline place), Paintballing, Shoot the Hooch (white water rafting on the Chattahoochee River,
which is supposed to unbelievable fun!), etc. Also, theres a lot of great lakes and cabins where you can go spend a
long weekend or a break with your friends (check out AirBnb for cheap house rentals). Theres also a lot of concerts
and shows that happen in Atlanta all the time. Examples include Suits tour, Russell Peters, and pretty much any artist
worth their salt stops by Atlanta. You can also go to the Georgia Dome or Philips Arena to catch a football (American),
basketball or a baseball game. So make sure you explore this amazing city!

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GT India Club
Lastly, but most importantly, a brief overview of the events hosted by India Club (yay marketing
again)!

Graduate Orientation
To start off the fall semester, there are graduate orientations held by ICGT for getting you
acquainted with the place. You can meet a lot of new people and learn about more activities and
opportunities, so make sure you stop by!

Garba
One of the biggest events hosted at Tech! Occurs midway through the fall semester and must
come to if you like Indian music and dancing! The first few hours are traditional, Garba, dancing
for the celebration of Navratri. A lot of running and spinning and twirling, so you definitely should
try it out even though it is extremely hard. After that, you can bust out your party moves and dance
without shame as the lights go out! Attire is generally Indian traditional (so guys knock yourself
out with the dupattas you get to wear)

Diwali Dinner
An amazingly delicious dinner hosted towards the end of the fall semester. Theres Indian food, music and
entertainment. What more could you possibly want? Oh also, dress up in your classiest Indian stuff, as
opposed to the standard sweatpants and t-shirt that we all love (guys can opt out of the Indian and wear
a suit though)

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Sports Tournaments
Theres one each during the fall and spring semester. Sports include basketball, soccer (or football, for the ones
who prefer the correct terminology, like me), badminton, squash, racquetball and ping pong. Sign up with your
friends or go all out and get some Georgia Tech pro players to play on your team and destroy everyone else.

Cricket Tournaments
So is cricket (the not so national, albeit national sport of India) not featured in any of this at all, you ask? Fear not,
India Club would never let you down like that! Two cricket tournaments are held each semester and you can come
out to the Sacs field and play to your hearts content. Be warned though, some of the grad students who play are
crazy good.

*As a side note, some of the Indians get together and play cricket on some weekends, so if you wanna get
involved, talk to some of the India Club people at the aforementioned Freshmen Mixers (see that marketing right
there)

Holi Playing
Spring semester we have the traditional holi playing where you throw color and water and anything possible on
each other and end up not recognizing yourself. Its super fun and people have been carried and held under water
taps in order to get them soaked, so dont say we didnt warn you.

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Holi Show
Possibly the biggest event hosted by India Club during Spring Semester! You can come and watch a bunch of dance
teams perform, listen to amazing singing, and some hilarious emcees who will all ensure that you have a jolly good
time in general. And for all you party animals, theres an After-Party right after the show (which will happen at a not
so sketchy place, hopefully)

*As a side note (again), if any of you are interested in Indian/fusion dancing, you can join one of the dance teams at
Tech (even though there are wayy more than necessary). You can make a lot of friends that way and you get to
perform at different competitions and events. So if thats something youre into, make sure you try out!

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Miscellaneous
India Club has a bunch of other events and perks that it offers. Some additional events include
InHarmony, a music show, and ICGT Week, where you get free food.
Also, India Club is going to offer a lot more this year than ever before. some of those include:

Airport Pickup
If you need a ride from the airport when you first land into the ATL as a young padawan, sign up on our
website and a chauffeur will come and give you the luxurious ride that every entering student rightly
deserves (or you just get some jaded old senior).

Tiffin Service
If youre craving Indian food, then this is the place to order from! You get homemade, extremely good
Indian food delivered straight to your dorms every week. So make sure you order in bulk and you can get
your deliveries the Wednesdays of each week.

Mentorship
Get a mentor who can show you the ropes, especially since weve already made the mistakes. It can be
really helpful and you will definitely learn a lot. And we promise, we dont bite.

So make sure you sign up for India Club membership, at a mere 20$, for VIP access to all
of these events, services and more!

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Frequently Asked Questions

*Disclaimer: All facts and figures should be double-checked and confirmed through the resource outlined, as the
following information is simply a reflection of some of our ICGT members experiences at Georgia Tech.

MS degree related
(Most of these questions do apply for PhDs as well but use them selectively)
How long does it take to finish the course? I have heard that they dont offer all courses in summer? Then what,
according to you is the best option? Fall, spring, summer internship and then fall next year?
The duration of the course is specific to the student and more so to the department. It is almost impossible to
speculate the exact time frame required to complete your degree. It depends on several things namely internships,
thesis/project work, etc. Typically internships are done in summer so you will not be taking any classes that semester
thereby prolonging your degree. Similarly if a student wishes to pursue thesis or project option as against special
problem it may take the student an extra semester to complete the research commitment. Some students also do
CPT (curriculum practical training)/co-ops for alternate semesters but dont exceed 364 days i.e. just less than 1 year
else your duration of OPT (optional practical training) will be affected. These figures are provided with the sole
purpose of helping you plan your degree and in no way are exact. Please contact the Office of International Education
for more information. The duration of your course also depends on the number of pre-requisites you will be required
to take especially in the case of students moving to a different field of study after the BE.
http://www.oie.gatech.edu/
Is it possible to finish MS in one year flat, without doing internship? What is your advice on this? Does it affect
future job opportunities?
Internships and CPTs are very crucial in helping you get jobs. You will develop contacts and they may come in handy
when applying for jobs. In most cases the companies you work for during your internship will absorb you full time.
The alternate view here would be the if the student does not have funding he/she would like to push themselves
and try to finish your degree within a year but again without jobs the degree does not do any good so try your best
to land an internship.
Which option is better: Thesis or non-thesis? What are the pros and cons?
Thesis If you are really interested in research. Be aware that you might not graduate on your planned timeline. You
advisor gets to decide if your thesis has substantial material.
Non Thesis this is good in that it wont stress you out but you have to take more courses to compensate for the
research hours in your thesis option.
How many courses should we take per semester?
This is a very specific question and depends on what the individual student can handle. Dont sign up for more than
4 courses, but the most preferred number is 3 as the assignments, tests and project schedules will keep you on your
toes and taking 4 in the same semester is pushing too hard. But again if you are up to the task please do sign up for
as many as you can.
In your first semester dont sign up for challenging courses or at least dont sign-up for more than 1 challenging
course and possibly take a math course to ease your way into the education system in the US. It does take a semester
for everyone to get accustomed to the system here so dont be too ambitious but use your discretionary powers and
dont follow seniors blindly.
As always take multiple opinions and also talk to the professors if needed. It is advisable that you sign up for more
than the required amount of courses in case of schedule clashes. At the end of first week in any semester you should
have an idea on which ones to drop and which ones to keep. That is the most sensible way of selecting a course as
in many cases the courses may have been offered earlier by a different professor and impressions that
you get from your seniors may not always be current.
How and when do we select the courses? Can I do this from here in India or only when I come there?
You can look up the course schedule available at https://oscar.gatech.edu/ and browse to the Georgia Tech Course
Catalog for more information. We have what is called as registration time tickets and you will be allotted one such

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time ticket once you have finished a semester at GT. The irony is being a new student you will not get to register
until a week before classes begin. (Please check with the registrar and official school calendar on the exact dates).
This means students who have been at Tech for more than a semester will register for courses before you get an
opportunity and the end result is popular courses may fill up even before you get a chance. But there is always a way
out by applying for an override.
A override happens when you submit a request to the department or in Oscar for an override and the prof/dept will
consider your case individually and approve/reject your request based on whether he thinks he can take you as an
extra student over-capacity. Every department, and for that matter, every course is handled differently and you will
have to contact the professor individually and/or the department for more information on the procedure. You will
be given preferences for courses offered by your own department.
What about summer? How many courses OR full-time work OR other options?
You are not required to sign up for courses in summer semester. Hence students typically apply for summer
internship and come back in the Fall. It is a competitive world out there hence you will have to apply before the
beginning of Spring or asap.

Regarding Job Placement after Degree

What is the procedure for on-campus placement here? How do students get placed?
We have job fairs where several companies are represented and in some cases also accept resumes and call for initial
interviews. These are good places to get internships. Go to Gatechs career website to learn more
http://www.career.gatech.edu
Do students get internships in the summer? What companies come for campus interviews for my major?
Student typically find internships in summer, especially if your field is not bound by citizenship requirements. For a
list of companies that come to campus for career fair, visit the following website for more information:
http://www.career.gatech.edu/employerprofile/
This is not a comprehensive list, there have been many more employers that frequent the Georgia Tech career fair.
I heard that summer internships can start up to a month after the end of the spring semester. What do people
staying on-campus do for this period?
On-campus accommodation is done on a semester basis so some students who dont intend to take classes in
summer either stay off-campus or just take a break and possibly visit relatives or even go to India. Many other
students land jobs i.e. co-ops or internships and then arrange for stuff to be kept at a friends place or paid
commercial storage facilities.

On-campus jobs/ RA/TA

How soon after I come to the U.S can I get an on-campus job?
There is no specific time frame, it could be a week or even as long as a semester. There are some people who have
not found jobs even after a year but that is the worst case scenario and it also does not account for jobs they might
have rejected because of schedule clashes with coursework or jobs they are not skilled at or dont like doing.
What is usual pay scale for an on-campus job?
The on-campus jobs will pay you atleast the minimum wages i.e. $6/hour but you will in all likelihood get jobs that
pay much more. You can apply here: http://www.studentcenter.gatech.edu/jobs/Pages/sc_jobs.aspx
What sorts of jobs are most common (library, cafeteria etc)?
There is no such thing, as it depends on the requirement of the department which can vary greatly. At any given
time, there could be multiple vacancies at the library but more people work at the cafeteria. It depends on personal
preference and schedules as well.

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What are the chances of getting a T.A. or R.A.?

The chances of getting an on-campus job are brighter than getting an RA or TA. Most professors at Tech are involved
in world class research and may not respond to your emails as a prospective student. The best way to get RA/TA is
to contact the students in the lab/dept and enquire if there are any openings. They invariably have more current
information than anyone else. They will have knowledge of people graduating or students who have shifted to other
labs and/or work for other professors and created vacancies in their previous jobs. Once you know there is a vacancy
then send a specific email to the professor describing what research you want to take up in the lab, and why you are
well suited for it. It would be a good idea to attach your resume, and kindly ask for an appointment time to meet in
person.

Health
Are there recreational facilities at Gatech? Assuming we do find time for some recreation, are there any extra
charges for the use of these facilities? Is use of these facilities restricted to on-campus students?
The CRC (Campus Recreation Center) facilities are not restricted to oncampus students. They are infact open to all
students who have registered for coursework at Gatech. If you are an active student who has registered for courses
you will already have paid what is referred to as mandatory fees. This fees includes among others health fee, athletic
fee, transportation fee, technology fee, recreation fee. Even if you are funded as a RA/TA the student had to bear
the mandatory fees the department only supports the tuition.
http://www.crc.gatech.edu/

Social Life
Are there lots of Indians there?
Tons!!!
Hows the social culture? I have heard lots and lots and lots about severe racism present in Georgia.
The social culture is pretty good. Tech is in midtown so you have to be a little bit street smart. Do not worry about
racism. India Club has loads of activities to keep you busy and all we require from you is your participation!

CONTACTS:
You can always reach out to any of the board member of India Club Georgia Tech. We would be more than glad to
help you out at Tech. The contacts of Executive Board of ICGT are provided below:

, Undergraduate President
Graduate President
, Vice President (Operations)
, Vice President (Operations)
, Vice President (Marketing)
, Vice President (Marketing)
, VicePresident (Logistics)
, Vice President (Finance)
Vice President (Finance)
Vice President (External)
,Vice President (External)
, Vice President (M.A.D)

249.879.7347
404.615.2462
404.667.6650
404.514.9551
404.953.2425
269.254.2058
678.761.2955

404.980.4171
470.535.4449
480.225.8275
678.492.4065
404.769.8602

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