Getting Cellphone

Hi, this is Natsuki! 

Today's topic is cellphone. If you look at the page 46 of your orientation booklet, there is the list of companies you can refer to, but here I am going to write some general advice.

Exchange students and other students who are going to stay here only for the short period of time, it is often difficult for you guys to buy a plan, because the contracts often last for 2 years. Also, if you don't have the social security number, you are usually required to pay deposit at the beginning of the contract and you may not get it back until the end of the first year of your contract. The amount of deposit varies, but it could be several hundreds dollars. So typically, one-year or one-semester students buy minutes, and top it up as you go.

Many undergraduate students may not have social security number (you can't have SSN unless you have a job), but may be planning to stay in the States long enough to buy a contracts. You guys will be required to pay deposit, but I thought it's worth it. Your deposit will come back eventually (unless you do something terribly wrong), and you can get better rate.

If you have social security number, and are going to stay here for a while, there shouldn't be much trouble purchasing any sort of plan!

If you have your cellphone from back home, try to bring it just in case. You may simply be able to switch sim card, and not have to buy a phone.

Please note that you cannot use address of your temporary housing or international student services when you make a contract. So be sure to know where you will be living after the orientation, when you go to buy a phone!



Either you get cellphone or not, make sure to call your parents back home as soon as you arrive here... Orientation leaders don't want to receive any more phone calls from mothers crying and asking if her kids arrived safely or not!