Packing Guide for MS students
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ADMIT !
You have completed some challenging admission processes, visa interview preparations and now you are excited towards your travel ! The journey from now on will be towards making you more independent and responsible. You will be away from your family and country, thus you need to plan your travel and luggage accordingly.
Here is a list of things you need to carry and some tips that would have helped me better if I had known them prior to my flight.
Documents that you need to bring
Make sure to securely pack these documents, if possible in a folder with an index sheet to help you know which documents you have in the folder. You will be adding more documents as you travel to USA - Offer letters, SSN related documents, updated i20’s, i94, Tax documents, residential proofs like electricity bills etc.
If you are required to produce any of these documents in future, make sure you keep them back safely in the same folder once its purpose is met.
Make sure to visit all the banks you have an account in and make them a joint account with your parents
| Transcript from your bachelors university in a sealed envelope (If your university has asked for it) |
| Admit letter from the university |
| Original Marksheets - 10th, 12th and Bachelor’s |
| Passport and any travel documents as mandated by the airlines / TSA |
| I-20 |
| Medical history files that would be important for you |
| Doctor’s prescription for medications if any |
| Vaccination record copy |
| Copy of Lease document if signed |
| Cash upto $2000 or per your plans. You will be required to declare your currency in the customs form in flight |
| International driving permit is recommended or you can drive on Indian license for a year in most states here. Check the rules that apply to your state. |
| Passport sized photographs 2-4. Dimensions of passport photos in USA is different and costs ~$15-$16 for a 2 to 4 photos. |
Utensils
Lighter utensils the better except for cooker and kadai
| Utensils | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Microwave safe tiffin boxes, these are cheap here. Check here |
(1-2) |
| Knife | (1-2) |
| Simple chopping board | |
| Spoons and forks | (2 each) |
| Spatula - non-stick and metal | (2-3) |
| Scooping ladle | |
| Frying skimmer | |
| Plates | (1 steel, 1-2 ceramic/microwave safe) |
| Bowls | (steel, microwave safe) |
| Coffee mug | |
| Steel glasses | (2) |
| 5 Lt pressure cooker | |
| Extra gasket, valve and whistle (if required) | |
| Kadhai for vegetables | (1-2) |
| Pan | |
| Empty water bottle | |
| Can opener | |
| Masala organizer and small spoons | |
| Potato peeler | |
| Mittens |
Food Items
| No. Items | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Coriander & cumin powder | 250gm each |
| Chilli powder | 250gm |
| Turmeric | 250gm |
| Hing Powder | 1 bottle |
| Whole masala | Cumin,mustard,clove,cardamom,cinnamon,bay leaf,black pepper |
| Garam Masala | 200 grams |
| Pav Bhaji Masala | 2-3 pkts |
| Shahi Biryani masala | 2 pkts |
| Fried rice masala | 1 big pkt |
| Kitchen King masala | 2 pkt |
| Amchur powder | |
| Any other home made masala | |
| Pasta/Soup | 2pkts |
| Tea powder / Coffee powder | |
| Salt and Sugar can be bought here | |
| Thepla / Paratha / Laddoo for flight and 1-2 days |
Cleaning supplies
| Squeegee for cleaning slabHow it looks | |
| Scotch Brite scrubs | |
| Metalic mesh scrub | |
| Dish soap, buy bigger one here | Small pouch |
| Chapati board & roller |
Personal items
| Tshirt | 5-6 |
| Jeans | 4-5 |
| Pajamas / Shorts | 4-5 |
| Hoodie | 1-2 |
| Winter Jacket | 1 or buy here |
| Winter gloves with fleece | |
| Thermals | 2 sets |
| Socks | 10-12 |
| Undergarments | 15-20 pairs |
Laundry costs ~$2.50 to $3.00 for wash and ~$2.50 for drying. So doing laundry twice a month is recommended to save a little. Laundry are located in the basement of the apartment buildings and are shared by all residents. Hanging clothes outside if you have a balcony is not feasible as the winds are strong at times.
| Laundry Bag | |
| Plastic Hangers | |
| Formals | 2 Pair |
| Small Iron | |
| Shoes | Sports, formal, slippers |
| Tooth brush and paste | |
| Shaving Kit | |
| Stationery | 2 pens, small stapler, small scissor |
| Towels | 2 |
| Bedsheet | 2 |
| Pillow cover | 1-2 |
| Light shawl, buy a comforter here | |
| Napkins | 4-5 |
| Body Soap | 2 |
| Handy sewing kit | |
| Sun glasses | |
| Perfume | |
| Screwdriver kit (optional) |
Electronics
| Laptop |
| Mobile Phone |
| Chargers |
| Watches |
| Earphones |
| Calculator (if you have one) |
| Powerbank |
What to buy here
Common things
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Toilet cleaning liquid
- Floor mats
- Broom and dustbin
- Dustbin bags
- Floor lamps (if needed)
- Grocery from (Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Shop n Stop)
- Search for Dollar Tree Store around to get things for $1
- Air freshener
Personal things
- Table / Desk - Used and cheap from facebook marketplace or new per choice
- Chair
- Fan
- Bed frame and mattress
- Shampoo
- Body wash
- Comforter (Thick blanket)
- Organizer drawers for clothes
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