For New
Graduate Students in the Department of Biological Sciences at FIU
Created by Thomas Pitzer
Edited by Adam Rosenblatt, Philip Matich, and Lilly Eluvathingal
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Welcome to the biology
program at Florida International University!
You are joining a growing and dynamic teaching and research
program. This pamphlet was created to
assist you in moving to the Miami area and beginning graduate studies in the
Department of Biological Sciences at FIU.
As in any new endeavor, the acclimation process can be cumbersome
without some assistance. This manual
should aid you in making a smooth transition into the program. Note: I
assume you have spoken with a prospective "major professor" and have
applied to the department and university at this point.
Before anything else, call
the Graduate Program Secretary, Erin
Dowd (OE-225; 305-348-4130), and make sure you are on track with your
employment contract and that your application for admittance has been
processed. Because email is the main line of communication between the Graduate
Office and the Graduate Students, you must contact her if/when you update your
email address. Additionally, go to the Campus Life office
(GC 2240) located in the Graham Center and get a "Student Handbook;"
this is a valuable resource for phone numbers, schedules, policies and
procedures, calendars, and general university information. A pdf version of the Student Handbook, as
well as other useful information, is also available on the FIU website under
the “current students” page. Be sure to
contact the University Graduate School
(http://gradschool.fiu.edu/ or 305-348-7442) to obtain the necessary forms and
timelines pertinent to your graduate program.
Next, contact your major professor to discuss any questions, problems,
or last minute details. She/he may have
more information for you as well. It is
a good idea to keep in touch, either by phone or email, with your major
professor during the time leading up to your arrival and entrance into the
program.
If you are going to be
awarded a Teaching Assistantship (TA), or think you are, you should confirm
with Lidia Kos (HLS 219A), the
Graduate Program Director (305-348-6678).
If you don’t talk with her directly, just email her at kosl@fiu.edu. Don’t assume
that you are going to receive a TA simply because you or your major professor
has asked for it. Once confirmed, email
or call Thomas Pitzer
(pitzert@fiu.edu or 305-348-1224). He
will have paperwork for you to fill-out regarding what you will teach and other
boring stuff. He also needs to talk to
you about teaching and New TA Orientation.
Also, make certain that you have a Social Security Card in hand when you
arrive; this is required for the TA position.
DON’T ASSUME THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING ALONG FINE
BECAUSE YOU DON’T HEAR OTHERWISE. You have to keep on top of everything because
we probably will not due to the large number of new and current graduate
students. It's easy to slip through the
system without a contract or lab to teach.
Once you are in Miami, don’t rely on leaving a voice mail or email
message to get what you need – always go in person.
What
follows is a review of important information for moving to Miami and beginning
the biology graduate program. It is not
meant to be a full and complete list of everything you need to do. Good luck
and welcome to the graduate program here at FIU!
IMMUNIZATIONS
Most new graduate students at
FIU don’t know there is an immunization policy until they get an “IM” hold on
their registration attempt. Please plan
to take care of your immunization requirements at least four weeks before you register for classes. The current immunization requirement (for
students matriculated from July 1, 2008 or later) is for 2 doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, 3 doses of Hepatits B vaccine or proof
of immunity, and 1 dose of Meningococcal
Meningitis vaccine. Students may
decline vaccination for meningitis and/or hepatitis B only if they sign a Waiver of Liability. If you have these
immunizations, provide the FIU Health Care & Wellness Center with a written
document signed by a physician (M.D. or D.O.), a nurse practitioner, or a
registered nurse via fax or in person on either campus four weeks prior to registration. If you have questions, call the Health Care and Wellness Center
Immunization Department (see contact information below or refer to http://www.fiu.edu/~health/immunization/index.html). Try to
mail or fax your immunization documents at least two weeks before you register to avoid having an “IM” hold on your
registration.
University Park (South Campus): Biscayne Bay (North Campus):
Immunization Department Immunization
Department
University Health Services Complex 3000 N.E. 151 Street
11200 SW 8th Street, Room 101 North Miami, FL 33181
Miami,
Fl. 33199 (305)
919-5675
(305) 348-2401 (305)
919-5312 FAX
(305) 348-3336 FAX M-TH 9:00am to 5:00pm
M-F 9:00am to 4:30pm F 9:00am to 4:00pm
Web: http://www.fiu.edu/~health/immunization/index.html
Email: immune@fiu.edu
If
you do not have a copy of your immunization record, contact your previous
undergraduate or graduate school. They
can make a copy for you.
The Health and Wellness Center provides immunization shots on an
ongoing basis; please see contact information above. The cost for each vaccine, per dose, is as
follows: MMR - $65 (x 2 doses required), Hepatitis B - $70 (x 3 doses
required), Meningitis - $130 (x 1 dose required). Payment can be made via check, credit card,
or money order; cash is only accepted at the University Park facility. Vaccinations can also be obtained from a
private physician or a Public Health Office (listed on the HWC website linked
above).
GETTING FLORIDA AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, VEHICLE
REGISTRATION, AND DRIVER’S LICENSE
If you are an International Student, this
section does not work for you. Please, check how to get your Driver’s License
in the section made especially for you.
You need to get a
Florida driver’s license in order to be considered a Florida resident. EVEN IF YOU DON'T DRIVE (A RARITY IN MIAMI)
YOU WILL NEED TO AT LEAST GET A STATE ID CARD FOR RESIDENCY PURPOSES. It is also good to have if you get pulled
over or want to get into local bars.
1.) Get your Driver’s license:
In
order to obtain a Florida’s driver’s license you are now required to have one
primary identification document (Certified US birth certificate/US passport/
permanent resident card/etc - Note that
you can no longer use an out-of state driver’s license as a primary form of
identification.) and one secondary identification document (Florida or out
of state driver’s license or ID card/FL vehicle registration certificate/etc).
These identification documents will vary depending on whether or not you are a
US citizen. Please visit http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/faqkeys.html#NUSC for more details. In addition to identification, you
must present proof of social security (SS card/W-2 form or pay check showing
your SS#/etc) and proof of residential address (recent utility bills/current
automobile insurance policy or bill/etc). For more information on required
documents please visit the website linked above. If you have an out-of state driver’s license
you will not be required to take a driving test in order to obtain a Florida’s
driver’s license. They just give you the eye exam and take your picture and you
can walk out with a new license. This
costs between $15 and $25. Make an
appointment with them before you go.
Often they will make you wait a long time or not help you at all if you
did not call ahead to make an appointment.
You can call 305-229-6333 for most of the locations. You can also make
an appointment online by going to https://www8.hsmv.state.fl.us/Oasis/web/pages/onlineAppointments.jsp and following the links. There is a DMV location
across from school on 107th Ave.
If no appointments are available, you can arrive about 30 minutes before
they open and join the line. This is a
lot faster than just showing up in the middle of the day, when the wait will
probably be outrageously long**.
2.) Get Florida car insurance:
You
have to have insurance that lists your residence as Florida before you can
register your car. That means that you
will have to pay Dade County insurance rates, among the highest anywhere. When
you go to get insurance keep in mind the incredible number of cars that get
stolen here and the number of accidents (often involving uninsured
drivers). Consider transferring your old
policy to an agent with your company in Miami.
Check with your insurance provider regarding coverage types and
requirements.
Once
you get your insurance voucher
proceed to step three.
Allow
yourself a few hours to get steps 3 and 4 done.
I recommend taking a book.
3.) Get a VIN verification form and get it signed:
There
is one more thing you must do before you can register your vehicle; you must
have a form signed by a police officer that says your mileage and VIN number
are correct. I’m not joking. The form
(form #82040 or #82042-according to the DMV website) can be found online at http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/forms-NUMBER_DMV.html. You may also obtain the form by going south on the
Turnpike to Exit 11 and then turning right to go to the South
Dade
Government Center (10710 SW 211 St.).
Here you will find the office where you can get the VIN verification form (305-232-3830). Get the form and go right
next door to the Miami-Dade police station and get them to sign the form. At least this is free!
4.) Get a Florida title and registration:
Now
that you have insurance and VIN verification, go back to the Government
Center. Unfortunately, they will now
require you to get a Florida car title.
If you bought your car less than six months ago, this may be very
expensive (ca. $150) because they tax you the value of your car, depending on
whether or not and how much you paid in taxes in the state you bought your
car. That is the only way you can get
your vehicle registered, though. Be sure
to bring your checkbook and your old title when you go. If you don’t have your old title, you will
have to re-order a title. If you are
still paying a bank loan for your vehicle, they will give you a form to have
the title sent from your bank to the Government Center.
You can find more information
about registering your vehicle in Florida at http://www.flhsmv.gov/dhsmv/newflres.html
Once you have done all of these things you have three things that prove
you are a Florida resident: driver’s license, car insurance, and car
registration.
Good luck!
*Some students have opted to
keep/change their car in their parents' name in order to avoid steps 1-3 and
the high insurance costs. While this is
a possibility, you will have to check on whether or not it is legal.
** It is often hard to get an
appointment in a timely manner; a two week- over a month wait is not
uncommon. It is better to just drop by
and try your luck. Remember to come
early! The office across from school on
107th can have particularly poor service. Try some of the other driver’s license
offices: 901 Northwest 39 Avenue Mon-Fri 8:00am-5pm, 7900 NW 27 Ave, Ste 150
Mon-Fri 8:00am-5pm, 4520 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Mon-Fri 8:00am-5pm. For other locations in Miami-Dade County
visit: http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices/miamidade.html
OBTAINING FLORIDA RESIDENCY
This section only applies to U.S. citizens or legal aliens. If you are an international student this section
does not apply to you. Please see the “Survival Guide for International
Students” section below instead.
If you are financially dependent
(rely on parents for 50% of your income and expenses or you cannot file your
taxes as an independent), then you cannot be considered a legal resident of
Florida unless your parents apply and are considered legal Florida residents.
When you arrive in Miami, make
sure your Florida address is on record with the office of Admissions and the
Registrar's office. Since different FIU
departments have different databases, you should also check that your address
is correct in the Financial Aid office and Library. That way, all school correspondences will go
to your Florida address. After one year,
the department will no longer pay your out-of-state tuition, so it is important
to have all residency requirements completed as soon as possible otherwise you
will bear the burden of paying the increased fee. This is important--get the following
documentation BEFORE YOUR FIRST SEMESTER
STARTS. The school wants information
from each of two groups:
Group 1 - Proof of Residency:
A. Proof of purchase of a
home in Florida
1.
Deed
B. Proof that you have
lived in Florida for 12 months
1. Lease
agreement
2. Rent
receipts
3. Canceled
checks (drawn on Florida banks)
Group 2 - Documentation
Establishing Bona Fide Domicile In Florida:
A. Driver’s License
B. Voter’s Registration
C.
Automobile Registration: Here's a
good one--you have to have Florida vehicle registration if you have a car even
if you have enough documentation from this group to substitute--so get it. You can't get around it. If your car is not
in your name, then you do not have to get Florida insurance or register your
car in Florida but then you cannot use your driver’s license or vehicle
registration as proof of domicile in Florida.
D. Proof of Employment (TA/RA
Contracts)
E. IRS Tax Forms
The school likes to see five of
these proofs and some from each group.
So the best way to do this is to get a lease, keep a canceled check,
register to vote, get a driver’s license, keep your tax returns, initial TA/RA contract,
and register your car BEFORE YOUR FIRST
SEMESTER. You can get around all of
this if you are active duty military or a full-time faculty member.
Information on automobile stuff
is in the previous section.
The Voter’s Registration Office is
located at 111 NW 1st Street OR you can register to vote at the Division of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) when you do your car stuff (call 305-229-6333 for locations) OR you
can get a voter registration form from the University Bookstore and mail it in.
The last day to apply for
Florida residency is generally the last day to pay for classes for the given
semester. It is a good idea to turn your
forms in ahead of time in case the Registrar's Office needs additional
information (You don't want to be stuck paying the balance of an out-of-state
tuition bill). The Registrar's Office
provides forms for reclassifying your residency. The forms are available at the Registrar's
Office, at the Registrar's information window, and on the web at http://admissions.fiu.edu/costs/General_Overview.php. When you have compiled all the necessary information
take it to PC-130--Registrar's Office. If you have any questions contact Ted
Randall at 305-348-2320.
REGISTRATION
Official Admission
You
should have received word from FIU and the Biological Sciences Department as to
your acceptance. This signifies that the Biological Sciences Department
received your forms, transcripts and test scores, and that you are accepted
into the Department. Check with the
Biological Sciences Department’s Graduate Program secretary, Erin Dowd, at
305-348-4130 (room OE 225) to make sure that your information is up-to-date and
on-track. Be sure to ask for the current
Department’s Policies and Procedures Manual which has a lot of useful
information. The Policies and Procedures Manual can also be found on the Biological
Sciences Graduate Program website at http://www.fiu.edu/~biology1/grad/policies&procedures01.PDF
To register for classes, you
must make certain that the FIU Admissions Office has all your necessary
documentation. A visit to the
receptionist at the Office of Graduate Admissions (room PC 140) will be
necessary. Just ask if you are missing
any documents and they will let you know right there. If you're not on campus
yet, you can call them at 305-348-2363.
You will also need to get a
Panther ID (PID) number. You can do this
by clicking here: Panther ID.
Follow the instructions on the screen. You should memorize your Panther ID
number because all of your records are now linked to this number, not your
social security number.
The following are the
location and hours for the Office of Admissions:
University Park/ Modesto A. Maidique (South) Campus
Charles E. Perry Building -
room PC140
Monday, Thursday, Friday
8am-5pm and Tuesday, Wednesday 8am-7pm
Phone: 305-348-2363
Biscayne Bay (North) Campus
Academic Unit I - room ACI
150
Monday, Thursday, Friday
8am-5pm and Tuesday, Wednesday 8am-7pm
Phone: 305-919-5760
Class Registration
The minimum number of credits
required for maintaining your TA status is ten (10) for the first semester, and
nine (9) for Fall and Spring semesters thereafter and six (6) for the Summer
semester. In your first semester, you must register for the 1 credit of
pedagogy (Teaching Biology). The college
will provide funds for the extra credit during the first term. Your major professor and committee will
suggest the appropriate courses you must take, and the remainder of the credits
will be filled with student research credits. The Biological Sciences
Department issues a graduate tuition
waiver for each semester. This pays for part of the tuition and you are
responsible for the remainder. You are also responsible for paying all
University fees (parking, health center, athletic, etc.). The Graduate Program secretary, Erin Dowd, will
send an email before payment is due detailing the exact amount you are
responsible for.
To register for classes,
follow these steps:
1. The first thing you should do is get your
Panther ID (PID) as this will make registering much easier.
2. You should have already met with your major
professor and decided on courses to be taken.
3. The next step is to check with the
Biological Sciences Department secretaries. They can check your course
selection and tell you if an 'Override' number is required to register for a
particular class that may be listed as 'Closed'. If so, the professor teaching
the class must give you an override number to enter in the PantherSoft system. E-mail the professor and ask for the override number.
You can find most professors’ e-mail addresses here: Faculty
4. If your classes do not require overrides
(they are “Open”), you can register via the web at https://my.fiu.edu/. Before you do that, you will need your PantherSoft
ID number, which you should have received by mail or via the internet when you
applied. If you did not, you can get it
from Erin Dowd in the Graduate Program Office (305-348-4130). Your initial password is your birthdate in
the form MMDDYYYY. For example, if you were born on May 12th, 1981
your password would be 05121981. Once you log into the system you may change
your password. Memorize these numbers, because all of your records are now
linked to them, not your social security number.
5. Log into PantherSoft at https://my.fiu.edu/. Enter your ID and password.
6. If you need to find classes in which to
enroll, you can search the list of classes being offered using the links Self
Service/Class Search-Browse Catalog/Class Search. Choose a term of enrollment
and you can search available classes by subject, catalog number or course ID.
This can be tricky, but try starting with Biological Sciences Department as the
subject group and use subjects such as BSC (Biological Science) MCB
(Microbiology) PCB (Process Biology).
7. Once you have identified the class
numbers and have all the necessary override numbers, simply click on the Self
Service link and under Enrollment you can find a link for Enrollment: Add Classes.
Choose the appropriate term of enrollment and add your classes. If you are
having trouble registering or need assistance with Panthersoft visit the
Biology office located in OE 161 and ask for Helen Forlong.
8. Pay tuition at the Cashier's Office
Charles E. Perry Building (PC). If you
don’t have the necessary amount handy, you can get a short-term tuition loan
from the financial aid office. FIU also allows you to pay the fees in
installments (there is small price for it). YOU MUST PAY BY THE DEADLINE TO
AVOID CANCELLATION OF ALL YOUR CLASSES, which will happen on the last day to
pay for classes. Please note that at the time this document was written these
deadline dates were provided on a tentative basis. It is your responsibility to
continuously check the academic calendars with the University Graduate School
(http://gradschool.fiu.edu) and Registrar’s Office (http://www.fiu.edu/~register/calendars.htm)
to be sure you are in accordance with FIU deadlines. Please be sure to check
the calendars at both offices to make sure dates are in agreement. Once you've
registered you will be able to view your semester bill in Panthersoft. This will
show the tuition amount. You can calculate the total due by subtracting the
tuition waiver. Check with the Biology Department (the Graduate Program
Secretary, Erin Dowd) for the exact amount of your tuition reduction, because
the Cashier’s Office will not know. If
you do not feel like waiting in the line (wait until you see it--you will
understand), you can simply drop payment in a special drop box in the main
hallway located on the first floor of the PC building or pay through
panthersoft with a direct deposit transaction, or credit card. If you have supplemental financial aid, the
amount you owe is usually subtracted from you financial aid check so you don't
have to pay anything out of pocket. BUT,
you should definitely check with the financial aid office, especially if it's
your first time, to make sure everything is on track. If your classes get dropped, you have to do
everything all over again.
**FIU now imposes a $100 fee for late
registration. Sometimes it's difficult
to get all your override numbers and register
before the deadline In order to avoid paying the fee, you can register on the
web for ANY graduate level biology classes that are open, just make sure that
your total credits are correct (9 for TA's for fall and spring). You can then CHANGE
your schedule during the add/drop period without being penalized. This may sound a bit backwards, but it is
much, much easier to avoid the late fee altogether than try to fight it after
the fact. It is really important to keep documentation of everything. So if you
register online, print out the panthersoft web page that shows you are
registered. Also keep printouts of what you owe and what you have paid.
Panthersoft information tends to change, sometimes unfavorably.
OFFICIAL FIU PHOTO ID
You will need an
official FIU identification card. This card allows you access to University
functions and sporting events, and acts as a library card. You can receive an
advance loan for books and supplies that will be credited to your card and can
be used at the FIU Bookstore (check with Financial Aid about this). You can
also add money to your card to spend at several food vendors at the University.
The ID is required for many transactions on campus including future
registration for courses. You need to be at the photo ID office as early as
possible to avoid the long lines. The office requires a picture ID and your
receipt of registration for classes. The initial ID is “free” (the cost is
included in your Tuitions and Fees). Replacements cost $15.
The photo ID office locations
and hours are as follows:
|
University Park (South)
Campus Graham Center (GC) 104E Monday - Thursday 9:30am-6pm
(Closed Friday) Phone – 305-348-3910 or
305-348-2297 |
Biscayne Bay (North)
Campus Wolfe Center (WC) 143 Monday
and Wednesday: 9am-1pm and 2-6pm (Closed Friday) Phone: 305-919-5406 |
EMPLOYMENT
Now it is time to submit your
paperwork for FIU employment. It is
important that you take these steps as soon as you arrive in Miami, because you
won’t get paid until several weeks after you complete this process. Contract processing has changed to make it
far more likely that you will get paid within your first month, but be prepared
in the event that you are not. You must
submit paperwork for Human Resources, and then sign a contract. The paperwork for Human Resources includes an
I-9 as well as a sign-on packet (11 forms total). Both the I-9 and the sign-on packed can be
found at: http://hr.fiu.edu/index.php?name=sign-on_package. Obtain or
download and fill in the forms, then turn it in to Payroll in PC 220. When you
turn in your paperwork, be sure to have your social security card, passport,
and drivers license or voter registration card with you as Erin must make
copies of those before she can process
your paperwork. Your contract, which you also need to sign, should be located
with the Graduate Program Secretary. Because you won’t get paid until this
process is complete (and until each of those 13 forms is processed), it is
generally a good idea to check up on this process to make sure that no one has
encountered problems with it along the way.
Check with Human Resources (305)
348-2181 or with Payroll
(305-348-2191) and if you applied for direct-deposit you may check with these
offices for its status. Even if you have applied for direct-deposit, this
will take some time to go through. You will most likely receive your first
payments in the form of a check that you will have to pick up at the payroll
window by presenting your Panther ID card.
GRANTS AND FUNDING
It
is important for you to seek funding for your research as soon as you have a
proposal. If you are a masters student,
remember most funding will only be available your first semester. Links to grants and other sources of funding
can be found at: http://www.fiu.edu/~biology1/grad/financials.htm.
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SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
As an international student,
a couple of things are very different for you. Be aware that there are a lot of
things that you should do as soon as you get here, so you won’t have problems
in the future (i.e. not getting paid). Here is a list of things that work
different for us. You might need to do something that I didn’t do (rules can
change), but take this list as a beginning for your life in U.S.A. and welcome!
1) Passport,
VISA and I-20
I would suggest you to go to
the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at GC 355 (305-348.2421)
as soon as you arrive to check if all your documents are correct and especially
when you need to renew your I-20 form, VISA and, passport. Each time you
re-enter the country you must go to this office so they can make a copy of your
I-94 (they need to have all your documentation up to date, this is very
important). In order to be allowed re-entry into the country you MUST have a
valid signature on your I-20; your I-20 form is given to you with a signature
that is valid for one year. Each time you will leave the country make sure you
check this signature to see it is still valid, if it isn’t, go to the ISSS
office to get it signed. MAKE SURE YOU MAKE THESE VISITS WITH TIME FOR THEM TO
PROCESS IT BEFORE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE! If your VISA and/or passport expired when
you are inside U.S.A but your I-20 is valid, you are fine. The only thing to be
aware of (especially if you are planning to go to meetings out of U.S.A.) is
that you cannot go to any other country and come back to U.S.A before renewing
your VISA and/or passport in your own country. So, be careful when planning
trips!
2) Social
Security Number
You HAVE to have a social
security number to get paid. While your SS# is not ready, FIU will provide you
a temporary student number, but they can take a couple of weeks to give this
number to you, so be aware that you may not be paid in the first pay check (but
when you are paid, you receive a retroactive amount, don’t worry!).
Talk with Erin Dowd
(305-348-4130) to make sure that you sign your contract and all the
information that they need are completed. To get a SS# you will first need to
ask Erin for a Certificate of employment that you will then have to take to the
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) for them to sign (this will
take them a couple of days).
You should prepare all the
documents necessary to get your SS# and go to one of the Social Security
Offices as soon as possible. Your Social Security number can take months
to be ready! Keep in mind that they do not care about you at all, so don’t be
ashamed of going to the office every week and asking about your situation.
To find an office close to
you, conduct a google search online ( http://www.ssa.gov
). There is an office very close to FIU
as well.
Having a SS# will be very
helpful for you in many other aspects like getting a credit card, buying a cell
phone, etc.
3) Driver’s
License
Even if you do not drive, it is good to have a
Driver’s license or an ID Card in Miami. You will need it for general
identification, to get into bars, and plus it is not a good idea to walk around
with your passport and VISA everyday. The ID card costs $25 and requires you to
have your passport, I20 and two documents for address verification (ex: Lease
documents, electricity bill, etc.).
You can drive legally in
U.S.A. using your passport until one month after you arrived. After this
period, you are an illegal driver!!! So, get your Driver’s license as soon as
possible. As an international student you are considered a new driver and it
does not matter how many years you already have your Driver’s license in your
country. So, you will have to take all the exams (eye exam, laws exam and
driver exam). All exams will cost you US $20-27 together. You will need your
passport, I-20, an FIU letter saying that you are a graduate student, and a
couple of other papers. For more information: http://www.flhsmv.gov. You can download the book to study for the driver’s
license exam in pdf form online or you can pick one up at an office; also
online you will find a list of the required documents, fees and you can
schedule appointment for taking the exams. Schedule your appointment well in
advance because available slots might be months away. You can try walk-ins but
this can result in hours of waiting or you need to get there early in the
morning. If you prefer, you can call 305-229-6333 for most of the locations.
There is one across from school on 107th Ave near Publix. Remember
you will need a car to take the exam.
After you pass the exams, you
will receive a provisory Driver’s license and the original will be sent to you
by mail within around 10 days.
Be aware that if you buy a
car, your car insurance will be more expensive than American citizens. This
happens because you are considered brand news drivers (as 16 years old kids).
As I said before, it does not matter how many years you were driving in your
country before you got here… I know, it is horrible, but there is nothing you
can do.
The car insurance is
mandatory here! Don’t drive without it! Traffic in Miami is dangerous! When
looking for car insurance get quotes from different companies because they vary
a lot in price (sometimes, more than US $200 in a six months period).
If you are not planning to
buy a car, you have to know the bus schedule!!! Depending on where you live, it
can take more than 2 hours by bus (and/or metro) to get to school. So, when
registration comes, you should pay attention to what time your classes will
start and if they are in the same campus or not.
WELCOME AND GOOD LUCK!
Written by Flavia Carneiro
Housing and other Useful
Information
PARKING
Once
you register for classes you will need to pick up your parking decal at either
the blue or gold garage. You can find
information on parking at www.fiu.edu/docs/parking_information.htm
Should you get a different car than the one you originally registered
with the parking office, you will have to register your new car and get a new
tag for $15.
USEFUL ADDRESSES (near FIU University Park
campus)