Miscellaneous

Housing

Both on-campus and off-campus housing options are available.But on-campus housing has lots of demand and mostly not available unless you apply 3-4 months in advance.Most graduate students rent apartments off-campus and there are several complexes within 10-15 minutes walking distance which is ideal for new students. One bedroom apartment rents are around $600 and two bedroom ones are around $700-$800. Most new students share rooms with other people, in which case your rent becomes around $200-$300. If you would like us to book an apartment for you let us know well in advance - if you have some people who have agreed to stay with you, that's even better.You can contact the other new incoming graduate students and make arrangements to share an apartment.Also check the classifieds for people looking for apartments.Try to arrive in Newark around a week or so before the orientation. That will give you enough time to overcome the jetlag and look for an apartment and roommate.

On-campus Housing Off-campus Housing

Conover Apartments Park Place Apartments

College Towne Apartments Towne Court Apartments

Graduate House Pinebrook Apartments

Miscellaneous

Medical :

We strongly suggest that you go for a comprehensive eye and dental examination. The university health insurance policy does not cover these. A typical eye exam is about $75 and a pair of spectacles is $200. Dental problems are even more expensive to correct - anywhere in excess of $500! So we repeat, please take care of any eye/teeth problems before leaving India. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, ensure you carry an extra pair and the prescription.
Bring your immunization records if possible. The university requires incoming students to take TB (Mantoux) test as well, so please try to get that done in India.

If you are on prescription medicines/drugs, carry sufficient supply to last at least a few weeks. Bring your doctors. prescription in case the customs officials ask for it or you need fresh supply here.Also bring some basic drugs for Headache,fever,body pains etc.

Cooking and Groceries:

Unless you aren't too particular about what you eat, invest some time in learning basic cooking skills before leaving home.Dining out can be expensive.
There is an Indian Grocery store a few miles away where you can find rice, dal, spices and flour. For vegetables and other things we generally go to Pathmark. There is a university shuttle in the evenings to go for shopping.

Weather:

Newark is pretty moderate by US standards. Summers (June-August) are hot and humid with temperatures around 35C. We get a reasonable amount of snow in winter (December-March) and it can get as cold as -15C. Spring and autumn are the best times of the year.

Driving :

If you are a good driver get an International Driving Permit which is valid here for one year and makes it easy to get a US license. If you cant drive you may better take driving lessons before coming here. Driving lessons are costly in US (you can as well buy a car with the amount you spend for lessons).