CoveredCA and International Students - Clarifications

There are many rumors going around about CoveredCA and it's impact on the insurance rates for International Student. Some students have called the University asking about a mail that invited students to come to an address at 14th Street describing a discount or a waiver they might receive in buying the Insurance.

It is true that the link for CoveredCA are available on our University website. But this link is only for domestic students. International Students are not eligible for CoveredCA. This might seem unfair to us as International Students. But there is an important reason behind this.

If you remember, we had submitted financial documents to SJSU and to the VISA authority proving that we had all the necessary funds needed to complete our Masters Education. Although we are still allowed to do on campus jobs, we are not supposed to apply for any subsidies or government sponsored packages. We will not be eligible to such waivers and subsidies at all regardless of what anyone says. Also, IPS and the University does not validate the CoveredCA insurance for International Students.

As applying to CoveredCA is not recommended, please ignore all mails and people who tell you it's a good idea to apply regardless of what the final date is. Taking any help from the government and the public agencies violates our VISA status. So, please be careful!

P.S. According to unconfirmed reports, from the next semester the Insurance plans will not have any age bar. Regardless of how old or young you are, you would be paying the same as everyone else if you are a student at SJSU. The IPS Office shall send an email to everybody with an update anytime soon. 

Parichay S14 - Welcome to SJSU, San Jose!!

Hey Newly Admitted Spartans, Welcome to San Jose State University!

The Team at Indian Students Organization feels happy and proud to have you here with us. As was mentioned at the Orientation Resource Fair by our Office Holders, we intend to help you to settle down and try to help you fight the longing for home.

Based on the questions we have received up until now, we would like to share some information with you. Firstly, accommodations. Though it is true that forming groups before hand and then leasing apartments together is a very good idea, but sometimes it doesn't pan out so well. Sometimes, there aren't so many apartments available for leasing. Other times, you don't have enough people. We suggest you to go through the available accommodations posted on our group. Split up the group if it isn't working as planned. Make friends with existing lessees. It actually comes to your advantage as the house is all setup already.

Secondly, courses. We know there are many of us kept on the waiting list of classes. But please do not worry, most cases meeting the professor on the first day of classes always does the trick. They will be giving you add codes to the classes and you shall be able to join the classes officially. So being on waitlist is not a problem.

Then comes the phone. Well, you have two options for it. Getting a prepaid card or starting a postpaid plan. If you are getting prepaid, all you need is a phone and about $30. Go to any mobile store like T-mobile or AT&T and ask for a prepaid SIM. And you are good to go!
And if you would like to go for postpaid, then it's a longer process. But it sure is a lot cheaper if you do it right. T Mobile approves postpaid and contract phones for students based on their VISA. So you can take your VISA to any T Mobile Shop for the postpaid phone.

Last but not the least, be wary of help. Other than ISO - SJSU and Hindu Yuva, there is one another group which offers help to students. It's the Amway group.This group offers almost any kind of help to students. Including SSN and sometimes even money. We at ISO and Hindu Yuva do not expect anything in return from students. This group, on the other hand, asks you to come to meetings and conferences of the Amway Group. We do not say that joining them or going to their conferences is not good. But if you are not interested in Groups that want you to buy their stuff and add people to their group, it would be better to avoid such people.

We hope to have cleared up some of the most important stuff that you need in these first days with this post. We shall aim to clear more of your questions in Parichay. To conclude, we advise you to create more relationships, build your network but never forget your old friendships. Involve in as many events and groups as you can, meet and greet as many people as possible. Let's meet at Parichay! Welcome to San Jose! Welcome to Sparta!!

My First Day at SJSU!

It was a bright sunny day when I started walking towards my class. the university campus looked even more beautiful as lots of welcoming events were held for the first day of college. I was nervous, excited, confused all at the same time when I entered my class. nervous because I could see all new faces, excited because I have been waiting for this day since quite a few days and confused because I had no idea what's going to happen next.. my professors were friendly and helpful and they gave us the introduction of their respective subjects and it was nice to meet couple of new fellow students.. I am hoping to see them in next class too.. what catched my eyes on the first was, a girl with purple hair in my class!!

I heard a dialogue in one of the hindi movies that first experience is always memorable and a good one.. well I would like to say the same for my first day at san jose state university.

- Shweta Parekh

In a state of mixed emotions, I entered the premises thinking.. this is it.! The inception of the most important phase of my life..The excitement of meeting new people..skip of a heart beat after seeing a girl having enticing looks..the rare phenomenon of having a "happy-face" and non-drowsy state of mind even after attending 150 minutes long lecture..savoring these exquisite moments of change..the first day of my college..definitely one of those days which i would never forget.

- Parth Shah

Finally the time has arrived for my long awaited class, traveled tooo far for these lectures, but I really don't know what to expect. Let them just begin .. I'm up for a good challenge.I arrived to the class 30min early to grab a good seat, due to overwhelming crowd in SE.

By the reviews I heard about him I expected that he would be cheerful and grab the attention of crowd, but rather he lacked interest in what he is teaching, maybe due to his tiresome long working hours, he tried to do his best.

In my earlier experiences, I would be always looking forward for the class to end, but here I just wanted to know more and more.

The time just flew, grasped a very good amount information about how the classes happen here and what to expect from the professor and what not to do. Finally It came to an end and my classmates form a biggg queue to clear their doubts, I don't understand why do they get so many doubts... They might be thinking, "Just ask the prof, why to waste time searching for everything!!". 

- Harishwar Reddy Terupalli

Parichay 2013 - An Amazing Experience!!

Early that morning when I awoke, I had no idea that I would have such an awesome day! As I was walking towards the venue, all I could think of was how much I had worked in the past one and half week and how drained of energy I felt.

But as I saw everyone coming to the venue in twos, threes and even groups, each of them flashing me a wonderful smile I started forgetting the pain and drain of the past few days. With every glint of recognition I saw in each of the eyes, my heart soared to the heavens. The heartfelt morning wishes of delivered to me by guys and gals alike actually made my morning not just good but awesome.

Around 11 AM, the number of participants had already crossed 150. I had predicted an audience of 200+ at the time of preparations and my excitement grew as the numbers reached my expectations. It was a huge surprise when a record breaking 250+ students turned up for the event. Much more than the number who RSVP'ed "Coming" in Facebook. My happiness knew no bounds at the crowd I saw standing and adjusting in the hall.

While Tanmay, our President, went on answering questions, I tried my best to be discreet, sneaking peeks at the crowd and feeling happy at the smiles. Every fresher who came was very supportive to us through out the event and understood that we were handling a crowd beyond our expectations. At break time, as every one collected their slices and came out, I stood by the door watching each person come out and hoped no one would feel bad that the food served wasn't hot or filling.

My most favorite moment of the day was when Tanmay wanted the students to guess my name and the whole audience nearly shouted out my name. I expected everyone to know me by face after seeing me so many times throughout the IPS Orientation Process but never did I dream of everyone knowing my name. It was such an awesome moment for me that I almost ran out and danced to my own music.

By the end of the day, many of the freshers had talked to me and each time they accepted my paltry and incomplete answers without complaint. I probably didn't give satisfying answers to a lot of their questions but they accepted the fact that I tried.

The next best moment of the day was when I woke up from my short nap and saw 20 friend requests awaiting my acceptance from freshers. As I turned in for the day at about 1 AM, my spirits were flying in the skies at the amazing responses we received as feedback.

To the freshers who attended Parichay 2013, I can only say this to you:

"You people made my day!! You are all simply awesome!!!"

Thank you every one and welcome to San Jose State University once again.... Keep smiling...

Parichay ka parichay!!!

Welcome! Swagatham! And swagath hai sab Fall - 2013 vidhyarthi ka San Jose State University me!!

As I started off writing the first post of the blog, my brain was overflowing with so many ideas that it took me nearly a day to decide just how to start this post. Yet, it seems that a description of my own thoughts would be a much better option. So here goes:

Most of us who come here have a career path in mind, no matter how vague. As such, please allay your fears, you are in the Silicon Valley, whatever destination you have in mind, it's in your reach now. But I would like to share a few pointers I have heard over the days.

Firstly, increase your network. Most jobs and stuff here runs on contacts and references. Who you know is a very important aspect of life here as much as who knows you. Creativity is the next most important requirement coupled with skills. The classes in your courses will be helping you in realizing your dreams. But not if you find ways to escape doing that.

Parichay - Fall 13 is a platform arranged by ISO for all new students regardless of origin to talk to seniors and alumni who take out special time to come counsel and advise you. An ideal student can make use of this platform by connecting to Alumni working in dream companies and follow them up with emails for advice and updates. Let them know of your achievements and projects you have worked on. Introduce yourselves to as many volunteers and peers as possible.

A personal advice from me: make new relationships, treasure old ones. You might not know when whose help you will need. Involve in as many events and groups as possible, so u can get to know more people. Welcome to Parichay!! Hopefully we shall meet there...