Macalester College

Roommates and housing

The single biggest decision of your first semester. Take your time, and never rush into a deposit.

• Start looking 2-4 months before term. On-campus housing has its own application deadlines, so ask the Macalester College housing office what they are.
• Consider a short first lease or a sublet while you are still new. It is much easier to pick good roommates and a good area once you are on the ground in Saint Paul.
• Before you pay anything, see the place on a live video tour and check the landlord is real. Housing scams target new international students, and wiring a deposit for a place you have not verified is the classic one.
• Read the lease for the length, deposit, what utilities are included, and whether subletting is allowed.
• Talk through a roommate agreement on day one: cleaning, guests, quiet hours, sharing food and cooking, and how bills are split. Cooking smells and food habits cause more arguments than money does - say it early, kindly.
• Sharing with other Nepali students is comfortable, but mix it up - roommates from other backgrounds are the fastest way to make American friends and improve your English.

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Banking and money

Set up a US bank account in your first week or two, and be careful with money transfers.

• Large national banks and many credit unions open accounts for international students. Typical documents: passport, I-20, visa, proof of your US address, and your school ID or admission letter. Requirements vary by branch, so call ahead.
• Compare monthly fees (many banks waive them for students), the ATM network, the mobile app, and fees for sending money abroad. Ask about a student checking account.
• Start with a debit card. Learn how credit scores work before applying for a credit card, and never lend your card or ID to anyone.
• When you receive money from Nepal, compare the exchange rate and not just the headline fee - the rate is often where the cost hides. Keep records of where your funds came from.
• Scam alert: no real government agency will phone you demanding payment by gift card, crypto or wire transfer. If someone claiming to be immigration or the IRS does, hang up and tell your international office.

Food and groceries

Good food is not a luxury when you are far from home - it is how you keep going.

• Compare a meal plan with cooking for yourself. First-year students are sometimes required to have a meal plan, so ask Macalester College before you decide.
• Find the nearest Asian or South Asian grocery for dal, rice and spices - search for it in maps, and ask the community below.
• Cooking in batches on Sunday saves a large amount of money over a semester.
• Many campuses run free food pantries and cheap-meal programs. It is not embarrassing - it is exactly what they are for.

Social life and community

You will get through this faster with people around you. Go to the first thing, every time.

• Search for a Nepali Student Association at Macalester College. If there is not one, the international office can often tell you how students start a club.
• Go to the clubs fair and the international student orientation events in your first two weeks - that is when everyone is looking for friends.
• Festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Holi and Nepali New Year are the best community meetups - check upcoming events below.
• Volunteering and intramural sports are easy ways to meet local students.
• Keep in touch with home, but do not stay only in the Nepali bubble - the goal is both.

Getting around

How you get to campus changes your whole budget.

• Check whether Macalester College has a student transit pass or campus shuttle before you buy a car or plan on ride-sharing every day.
• You will need a US driver's licence to drive - the process depends on the state, so check the state's motor vehicle office.
• Living near campus in Saint Paul often costs more in rent but saves a lot in transport. Do the sums both ways.