Fall 2015 Pre-departure Orientation

PreDep Orientation Fall 15 DarkMake Your Journey to Your American University Smooth and Hassle-Free

So, you cracked the GRE and TOEFL exams and secured your coveted admit. Perhaps you even cleared the dreaded visa interview. Congratulations! But are you really ready to go? Not quite. One thing remains to be done – you and your parents have to attend Dilip Oak’s Academy’s Pre-departure Orientation for Fall 2014. Here’s why.

What is the Pre-Departure Orientation (and What’s It For)?

If you are joining an American university in fall 2015 and want to make travelling there (and the process of settling in) an organized, tension-free process, then Dilip Oak’s Academy’s Pre-Departure Orientation is a must for you and your parents. There are several matters that you have to think through and preparations you and your parents have to make before you can begin your education in America. The orientation will explain them all. For example:

  • Accommodation – where are you going to stay when you land up in America? Is there someone who can help you get temporary accommodation until you find more permanent accommodation of your own? And what important points should you consider when looking for a good place to stay?
  • Insurance – should you take Indian or American medical and travel insurance policies? Which one is better and for what purpose?
  • Travel and Other Formalities – are you aware of the foreign exchange and airport formalities, the port of entry procedures? Did you know that you have to get a Social Security Number when you join your universities? Also, are medical check-ups or any immunizations required?
  • Documents – which ones must you carry with you? Which ones should you keep at home? And what’s the best place to keep your passport and traveler’s cheques?
  • Planning for Emergencies and Other Situation – suppose your baggage is lost or reaches you only after several days, how do you manage then? Or, if you got your luggage did you remember that you would need American coins to get a luggage trolley? And did you remember to arrange to be picked up”
  • Food, Groceries and Cooking – your mother is going to be worried about how you are going to survive when you get to America. So, should you take every single kitchen vessel that she gives you and, what about all the papad, pickle and masala she is planning to load you up with? Can you get it all there instead or, only some of it? What should you take with you then? And what about cooking lessons?

That’s just a sample of the things you have to think through but, by now you probably have got the picture.

So, in the Oak’s pre-departure orientation program, Mr. Oak will guide you through all the complexities of going to America, adapting to your new environment and settling in there. He will even cover such day-to-day matters as driving and commuting, seeing doctors and what medicines to take. He will even get into clothing and laundry. With his decades of experience in the field and as a public speaker, he will make it an extremely informative and interesting program which you and your parents must attend.

What are the Other Benefits of Attending?

1. Get a free book with all the information in it
At the orientation, you will be given ‘Get Set to Go’, a booklet written by Mr. Dilip Oak, which explains all these matters in detail – so, even after the orientation, you have a written guide to go back to any time you have a doubt.

  1. Meet other students going to your university
    At the end of the program we form groups of students joining the same university so that you can make joint travel plans and staying arrangements at the university.
  1. Get contact details of seniors at your university
    To get this information, when you come to get your pass, simply fill up a form with your contact details and we will email you the details around a week after the orientation. With this information in hand, you will be able to contact your seniors in advance and ask them for help to:
  • schedule airport pick-up
  • make temporary housing arrangements and
  • help you cope with the initial settling process

PreDep Orientation ScheduleWho can Attend?

This orientation is for students (and parents of students) who are joining American universities in the fall 2015 semester. Please note however: you will be able to attend only if you (or your child) has received confirmed admission to an American university for the fall 2015 semester. To get passes for the program therefore, show the I-20 form issued by your university (or your stamped F1 visa).

When and Where is the Orientation?

Date: Sunday, 14 June 2015
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Venue: Ganesh Kala Krida Auditorium, Near Swargate Bus Stand, Pune – 411051

Where Can I Get Passes?

You can contact our office for entry passes from 1st June.

PLEASE NOTE: SEATS ARE LIMITED
COLLECT YOUR ENTRY PASS FROM THE ACADEMY EARLY

Pre Departure Orientation For Spring 2015 Semester

Congratulations! You’ve secured admission to an American university – and you’re rightly thrilled. But do you know all the formalities you have to go through in order to get there? And, even if you have thought about them a bit, do you know all the details relating to the important matters below?

• the student (F1) visa
• foreign exchange
• airport formalities (port of entry/immigration procedures)
• insurance
• medical checkups & immunizations
• initial formalities in the university
• accommodation (on- & off – campus)
• financial and other formalities for the first semester of studies

If you don’t know about these, then you need to find out because they are all a part of the next stage in getting to your university in America. There’s a lot to take care of, it’s all complex and crucial – and if you are a first time traveller it’s all going to be very new and confusing. You know that mistakes will mean headaches, delays and increased costs you can’t afford; and you know that there’s only one way to do this: that is to get things right from the start.

Worried? Don’t be. We have an excellent solution for you – Our Pre-Departure Orientation Program for students planning to join American universities for the spring 2015 semester. In this program Mr. Oak, with his decades-long experience in the field, will guide you through the complexities of going to America. The program has been organized just to make your journey to your American university smooth and hassle-free.

What are the other benefits of attending?


But that’s not all.
1. In addition to the orientation, you will be given ‘Get Set to Go’, a booklet written by Mr. Dilip Oak, which explains all these matters in detail – so you have a written guide to go back to any time you have a doubt.
2. You will also get an excellent opportunity to connect with other students going to your university – at the end of the program we form groups of students joining the same university so that you can make joint travel plans and staying arrangements at the university.
3. Finally , we will also provide contact details of seniors studying at your university so that you can contact them in advance and:

a. make temporary housing arrangements
b. schedule airport pick-up and
c. help you cope with the initial settling process

Who can attend?

Please note that the Pre-departure Orientation is only for those students (and parents of students) who have received confirmed admission to American universities for the spring 2015 semester. So, in order to get passes for the program, you must show the I-20 form issued by your university (or your stamped F1 visa).

When and where is the Orientation?

Date: Sunday, 23rd November 2014

Time: 10:00 am.

Venue:

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School Auditorium,
Opp. J.W. Marriott, Off Senapati Bapat Road,
Pune 411016

PLEASE NOTE: SEATS ARE LIMITED.

COLLECT YOUR ENTRY PASS FROM THE ACADEMY SOON.

Arriving at SUNY: Prospects Bright

A First Look at Travel, Accommodation, On-Campus Jobs and the Computer Science Course at State University of New York, Binghamton

SUNY, Binghampton

Whenever anyone starts that new phase of academic life called getting a “Master’s from the USA,” they feel excitement, anxiety and enthusiasm. After going through the strenuous visa process and finally getting your visa stamped, you eagerly look forward to traveling to the USA to start your Master’s course. I know that because I went through exactly the same process of application. My destination was SUNY, Binghamton.

Location, Travel and Transport

Binghamton, which is almost 130 miles from New York City, is well connected to other places by Greyhound buses and other transport systems. After you arrive at the port of authority, the hosts who are assigned to you, generally give you guidance on how to reach their place. I got in touch with students already pursuing their Master’s degrees in Binghamton and got to know that the shortest (and best) way to travel to travel to Binghamton is via road from New York city.

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