The University of Texas at Dallas is a public research university in the University of Texas system. The university is known for business, space science, natural science, computer science, and electrical and computer engineering. Now, we will provide a guide to pre-admission preparation, affordable UTD housing, and more. This guide will help you gain insight into campus life at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Geographical Location
UTD is located in the DFW metropolitan area of Texas, USA, which is the fourth largest metro area in the United States. The university is located just 18 miles from downtown Dallas, making it easy for students to get downtown. Not only that, the university is less than a 30-minute drive from the airport. Students can travel directly to Dallas from Tokyo, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more.
Climate
Dallas is a subtropical warm climate with four distinct seasons and ample rainfall. Concentrated precipitation occurs in May, June, and October. Dallas has mild, sometimes warm winters and long, hot summers. Outside of the desert Southwest, Dallas has the highest average summer temperature in the country.
Student Accommodation
Students can choose between on-campus housing and off-campus housing. What needs to be noted is that it’s always better to secure student accommodation as early as possible. Otherwise, there may not be that many options for room types, duration, etc.
On-Campus Housing
The advantage of on-campus student housing is that you can meet more local students, improving your language skills and knowledge of the city. However, the school has a limited number of dormitories, often on a first-come, first-served basis. So you need to apply early. School dormitories are usually rigorous management, with access control and other regulations. If you can not accept, you can consider off-campus student apartments.
Off-Campus Housing
There are many options for off-campus housing. The rent is affordable, and some off-campus student apartments allow pets or are equipped with student-only utilities. Student housing around UTD rents from $649 to $3,030 per month, according to uhomes.com. The platform has many room types for UTD housing: single rooms, shared rooms, studios, and 1B-3B. Students can choose the most suitable housing according to their budget and living preferences.
Preparation before Admission
Before studying in the UTD, students are required to complete the following tasks according to the requirements of the website:
Checkups and Vaccines
First-year student must often undergo medical examinations and vaccinations before entering the school. You can download the physical examination and vaccination forms from the school website. You should bring the form to your local International Travel Health Care Center for a checkup and vaccination. It is worth noting that no matter what kind of vaccine, as long as it is required on the form, it must be completed; otherwise, it will fail to enroll.
You must reserve at least one month for medical examinations and vaccinations. Most schools require students to get two shots of the MMR vaccine one month apart. Therefore, you must arrange to finish this work before going abroad.
Insurance
When you see the tuition bill from the school, you will also see the school’s health insurance. In the United States, medical insurance is a must to buy, so schools will purchase medical insurance for international students by default.
At the same time, the United States has off-campus insurance. This type of insurance is usually more affordable and offers a broader range of options. Students can purchase off-campus insurance to replace the school’s medical insurance. However, it is essential to note that you must contact the school to confirm that it allows students to use it.
First Day of School
If you have completed the above tasks, then you can start the following work:
Open a Bank Account
Typically, UTD students choose to open a bank account with Chase or BOA. Opening an account is very simple, and you only need your passport to open an account. At the same time, you need to open up mobile banking (paperless). This will significantly facilitate your daily transfers.
Buy a Phone Card
Many mobile phone carriers are in the United States, and T-Mobile and AT&T are common. You only need to show your student ID to take advantage of AT&T’s offer. You can buy a Family Plan for 2-5 people with friends to split the phone bill. If you use a Family plan with three people, you only need to pay $20-30 monthly.
Shopping
Since the plane can only check a maximum of two 28-inch suitcases, there’s a limit to how much you can take. When you arrive at the school, you can buy the items at the shops around the school.
- Groceries: HEB, Target, Walmart and Kroger, among others
- Furniture: Home Depot
- Clothing: Pavillion North Shopping Center and Pavillion Court
- Mattress: Sleep Station
Of course, you can also buy daily necessities online. You can log in to Amazon using your school email and get a six-month Amazon Prime membership. If you want to save money, then UTD’s second-hand group will meet your needs. You can buy furniture or other items unused by your upper-level students online at a more affordable price.
Conclusion
We have summarized some of the essential things first-year students must know when arriving at the University of Texas at Dallas. We sincerely hope every new student can report smoothly. You will start a new learning road full of challenges and opportunities at UTD with expectations and enthusiasm. May you achieve fruitful results in your future study and life!
Fakhar Nazir 
Aamir Ghumro 
IQnewswire