Field notes

Written for the family. Not for the algorithm.

Short essays on the practical parts of the first year in the US — the questions we answer most often, written up so any family can use them.

Pre-departure

What to bring from India, and what to buy after you land

The single most common mistake in the first month is overpacking from India and then overspending in the first US shopping trip. Here is the honest version.

2026-06-15·12 min read

Banking & SIM

Opening a US bank account as a new F1 student, step by step

Chase, Bank of America, and a few others all accept F1 students without a Social Security Number. The trick is knowing what to bring and what to say.

2026-07-03·10 min read

Parents

The monthly parent update, and why it matters

Students routinely protect their parents from the difficult parts of the first semester. A short honest monthly update prevents small worries from becoming large ones.

2026-07-14·9 min read

Career

Professional student organizations are your fastest route to an internship

For international students, joining the right professional club in the first semester consistently produces better internship outcomes than a stronger GPA does.

2026-02-18·10 min read

Housing

How to avoid housing scams in your first week

Nearly every scam we have seen a new student fall for follows the same pattern. Knowing the pattern is most of the protection.

2026-03-02·10 min read

Arrival

The first two weeks — a realistic schedule

A day-by-day view of what actually needs to happen in the first fortnight, sequenced so nothing depends on something that has not been done yet.

2026-03-14·12 min read

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