1. What is ISA?
Indian Students Association is a registered student’s organization at WMU. You can read more on ISA in the about section.
2. What is the Application Procedure to attend WMU?
To apply for admission at WMU as an international student you will need to include following thing in the application packet
• Application to university, For online application
click here or use paper application
• Application fee, DD, check or online payment
• Department application fee (optional, check department website)
• TA/RA/GA application (optional, check department website)
• Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• GRE score (optional, check department website)
• TOEFL score
3. How to find concerned department?
Please visit
http://www.wmich.edu/directories/departments/ to access individual department website.
4. Why and when should I take Pre requisite Courses?
Most department assess your academic career thoroughly before offering admission and in case they find you need help to come up to speed with certain subject they will be listed as pre requisite. It can be either because courses you took did not cover certain aspects of the subject and needs more study or they do not understand content of similar course that you might have taken as part of undergraduate studies. Please contact your concerned department’s advisor for more questions.
5. Can I get a TA/RA/GA and how to apply?
Most departments at Western employ students as TA/RA/GA. Application to these posts can be done at the time of admission; which is usually separate application that needs to be included in application packet. Application can be accessed at departmental website.
To apply for RA, please contact concerned professor that you wish to work for, through email. Employment to RA is at his/her discretion.
6. How do I Change my Department?
You can change department at the time of admission or you can talk to concerned department and OISS for detailed instructions.
7. How can I get an On-campus Job?
WMU employs student in various positions, most prominent on-campus jobs are working as teaching assistant (TA), research assistant (RA) and graduate assistant (GA). Other than these there are other full time/part time jobs with various departments. International students can work at most 20 hours/week, most split their time at various places that pay hourly compensation or in one of the three forms mentioned earlier.
8. Do I need to purchase health Insurance Coverage?
While your stay in USA it is mandatory to have health insurance. WMU provides health insurance; it is automatically purchased for you and is billed to your account. You can also get waiver from purchasing university insurance by substituting with private provider that matches following coverage requirement
• Annual deductible can be no higher than $500
• Minimum of 80% coverage after the deductible is met
• Minimum of $100,000 prescription coverage
• Minimum of 20 visits of outpatient physical therapy coverage
• Minimum of $500 outpatient mental health coverage
• Must be translated into English
• Must cover a pre-existing condition, six month waiting period is allowed
• Must have at least $10,000 medical evacuation and $7,500 repatriation benefits
9. How to find a contact in WMU people Directory?
You can access WMU people search through
https://www.wmich.edu/peoplesearch/
10. Coming to Kalamazoo?
Kalamazoo is around 2 hour drive from both Chicago and Detroit. You can fly directly to Kalamazoo/Battle creek airport, take Amtrak or Greyhound. In case you are driving you can come through 1-94, take exit 74B for US 131 and exit 36A towards Kalamazoo.
11. Do we provide Airport Pickup?
Yes, please contact seniors to check if they are available to help with it, otherwise Kalamazoo’s taxi association provide free one time service to drop you at your proffered destination while coming from India. However you will have to show your I20 and qualify as new admission.
12. How to contact seniors?
Please send your concerns through email or leave a message on facebook.
13. How do I find temporary Accommodation?
Please contact ISA well ahead of time, and we will try to accommodate you.
14. How do I find Permanent Accommodation?
You can find permanent accommodation either on-campus or in off campus apartments. Check
http://www.wmich.edu/housing/apartments/ for on-campus options. To live off-campus please can talk to seniors/ISA to check if they can accommodate you and they will try to help. Instead you can also find a place on your own, most Indian students live in
• Tree house apartments
• White hall apartments
• Kendall Manor
• The Pointe
• Seville
• Campus court
15. How many Dollars to carry initially?
Its left up to your discretion, however we suggest to bring at least $1000 in cash, so that it will help you during initial period till you setup back account. Its strongly discouraged to carry large sums of money in cash, please bring a travelers check or DD for other purposes.
16. How do I open a Bank Account?
The International Admissions and Services (IAS) will help you with opening bank account at on campus PNC bank during international student orientation.
17. How do I Transfer Money from India to my account?
Please talk to PNC bank staff for wire transfer information that you can use to get money transferred.
18. How do I get a mobile phone?
You can get a cell phone with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint or other careers either on a prepaid or pay as you go plan. In case you don’t have SSN they will require you to pay security deposit before they can issue a phone.
19. How can I get a Social Security Number (SSN)?
You can apply for SSN after you get a on-campus job at social security office at Drake Road.
20. Do I have to bring my International Driving License (IDP) / India License?
You can use your IDP for six months after you come to USA, and later you will have to get a Michigan state license to continue driving.
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