The MBA Orientation packet sent out by the school provides a list of what you, as an International student, need to take care before registering for classes.

Your first task as an incoming international student is to register with the International Student Services (ISS) to ensure that all immigration documents are recorded and in-place (the ISS office is located in the University Center in room 402).

Your second task is to take care of your health insurance. There are several immunization and health insurance requirements so you should go to the Student Health Insurance Office to take care of that. The office is also located in the University Center in room 200 just next to the cafeteria.

Additional highlights described by the information packet include addressing:

Prepare for and take the competency exams for the MBA program:
  Make sure you attend the review sessions
  For the written exam, you should know the format for a memorandum

Check eligibility for waivers to classes already fulfilled by previous education:
  The best person to talk to will be the MBA advisor

Attend the USF MBA and the International Graduate Student orientations:
  You must attend both orientations. It will be the only opportunity to get information about everything that you should know to be a successful student at USF.

Buy your books:
  As you will see, books can be very expensive with some of them reaching as much as $140 in the USF bookstore.
  Here is a list of resources that you can take advantage off and save some money:
    USF MBA Text Book Exchange - A resource for USF MBA students to buy/sell/exchange their textbooks.
    www.campusi.com - This website will search all on-line book databases and will find the cheapest deal.
    www.campusbooks.com - Compare Prices on New & Used Textbooks.
    www.bigwords.com - Compares college textbooks, books, DVDs, video games and music.
    www.amazon.com - Here you can buy both new & used books.
    www.ebay.com - Auction website where sometimes you can get real bargains!
    www.abebooks.com - Another great on-line book store.
    www.half.com - Another deal site.

As an incoming graduate student, you have the option of living on-campus or off-campus. This is a big decision to make, so check on all possible options before committing to any living situation.

But be aware that for the same amount that you pay for a room on-campus (sharing with a roommate), you can get your own studio off-campus!

If you choose to live off-campus, make sure you walk around and get a feel of the neighborhood's atmosphere before committing. Please note that to apply for off- campus apartments, many landlords will ask for a credit history, which, if you have not lived in the United States for an extended period of time, may be impossible to obtain. But landlords know that so they will work out a plan with you.

Water is usually included but other utilities, i.e. electricity, water and gas, will be separate from rent payment, so make sure you consider these details with the building manager. The rent contracts are usually for a period of one (1) year.

USF's Office of Residence Life is a complete and extremely helpful resource to consider help from and contains information on both on-campus and off-campus living options. One of the best resources to find Apartments, Jobs, Cars, etc, around the bay area is Craigslist.

While you are looking for an apartment, you may need to stay in a hotel. The Hospitality Management Program at USF has an EXCLUSIVE USF HOTEL RESERVATION PROGRAM for USF Friends & Family that you may want to check out.

San Francisco is a fantastic city! Whatever your background or interests, you'll find this town to be one of the most liveliest and energetic in the world. You'll find food and cuisines from all cultures, a nightlife brimming with excitement, sightseeing and museums as well as a strong sports history that San Franciscans swear by.

SFGate.com provides news and events happening around the city and the greater Bay Area. Also check out the Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, free newspapers available on many street corners which contain event and activity listings.

If you want to do some exercise, the USF Koret Health & Recreation Center offers an outstanding swimming pool, a work-out gym, several basketball courts, a racquetball court, etc, and it is completely free for students.

Getting around San Francisco is simple and cheap. The MUNI buses run on almost all parallel streets from east to west, north to south, costing only $1.50 per trip (or $45 for the monthly pass). 511.org has information on transit in the greater Bay Area, outside San Francisco.

Here are a few sight- seeing activities you should engage in when you arrive in San Francisco: Fisherman's Wharf for great seafood. Take the ferry to Alcatraz or Angel Island. Chinatown or Japantown for some fine local Asian cuisine. Union Square for all those who enjoy nothing more than a day of shopping. Golden Gate Park for a nice walk through greenery and peaceful settings. The San Francisco Zoo, located in the Sunset. North Beach, a concentration of bars and (mostly) Italian restaurants. The Castro, a flavorful neighborhood with great sights and sounds. The Mission district - a colorful locale with a knack for Latin and Central American foods. The Haight St - home of the hippie revolution, with fantastic restaurants, bars and shops. The Exploratorium - a museum for the scientifically minded.

Planning on staying in the Bay Area to work after graduation? Or just want to take up an internship to gain some valuable work experience? There are several resources that you can take advantage of:
 The MBA Career Services located in the Malloy Hall, room 113 will be your best resource to help you find a job in the Bay Area.
 Another alternative is the general USF Career Services Office, located in the University Center room 429.
 But if you would prefer an on-campus job, then you should click here.

Here are additional job search engines that you can explore:
 Monster.com
 Careermag
 Craigslist
 Yahoo! Hotjobs
 Flipdog
 Careerbuilder

Due to rules and regulations, while studying on a student visa, International Students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week for on-campus work. Off-campus work is also limited to 20 hours per week - an application for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) will have to be made to authorize off-campus work before paid-employment can begin.

Note: The CPT mentioned in the previous paragraph is different from the Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is an extra year allowed, also through application, to international students who wish to stay and work in the United States after graduating - contact the ISS Office for more information.