Frequently Asked Questions
and Answers (2001)
Q: Where is Iowa City?
A: Iowa is located in the region of the United States commonly referred to as
the Midwest. Its neighboring states are Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska,
South Dakota, and Missouri. Iowa City is a community of 60,000 with a cosmopolitan
mixture of diverse cultures and lively downtown shops and restaurants across the
street from campus. Many people say that Iowa City is Cultural Capitol of Midwest.
You can participate in different cultural events and activities here all year
round.
Q: What is the climate in Iowa City?
A: Iowa has four distinct seasons: summer (June through early September), fall
(through mid-November), winter (through early March), and spring. Students coming
to Iowa should be prepared for all extremes of weather. The average annual precipitation
is a little less than one meter. Summers are warm and humid, with temperatures
ranging between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius. Winters are blustery with temperatures
averaging -5 degrees Celsius, occasionally dropping as low as -18 degrees.
However, please don’t worry about the cold winter and hot summer, because
the classrooms and offices are air-conditioned throughout the year.
Q: What is the time difference between Beijing and Iowa City?
A: Normally 14 hours later than Beijing, but 13 hours in summer (between the
first Sunday of April and the mid November).
Q: How many Chinese are there at UI and Iowa City?
A: There are more than 500 Chinese students from mainland China studying in
University of Iowa this time of the year. There are also more than 100 hundred
students from Taiwan, Honking, and other Chinese speaking students from Southeast
Asia. There are also many Chinese postdoc and researcher working in UI and UI
Hospital. So it is estimated that the Chinese speaking population in Iowa City
reaches 2000.
Q: Is it easy to get access to Chinese food?
A: There are several Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese grocery stores and restaurants
here. You can get much Chinese stuff, but not all, you want in the Chinese grocery
stores. You can ask other Chinese who have cars to take you for shopping on
the weekends. There are several Chinese restaurants close to the main campus,
for example, Beijing Buffet, Yanjing Restaurant, Taste of China, Easy Place,
China Star, Etc. A fast meal is about $3-5.
Q: How about the living expenses in Iowa?
A: Monthly rent for a room is roughly $200- 400 per person, depending on its
quality (and your luck). Food costs less than $200, if you cook for yourself.
SO it’s relatively cheap living and studying here.
Q: How to rent a room?
A: There are three main locations of campus apartment in Iowa City: Hawkeye
Court, Hawkeye Drive and Parklawn (Actually, there are several other apartments
available, but few Chinese students live there) The following is the rent for
those apartments.
LEASE YEAR 2001-2002
Parklawn Monthly
Efficiency $299.00
1-Bed $377.00 |
Hawkeye Court
1-Bed $346.00
2-Bed $393.00 |
Hawkeye Drive
2-Bed $475.00 |
Hawkeye Court and Drive are kind of far from the campus, but they are both on
the Cambus line and the Cambus is free. Parklawn is close to the campus. Please
note that it is somewhat difficult for new students to successfully apply for
those apartments, because current students usually begin to apply since early
April. However, some of them apply for 2-Bedroom and they need roommates, so
please check our BBS frequently to see if there are such apartments available.
In fact, many new students live in those apartments shortly after they come.
For off-campus housing, plenty of them are available either within walking distance
from the campus or along the bus line. Usually a 2-bedroom apartment costs more
than $600, including facilities. Apartments near to campus may be more expensive.
To find a cheap and reasonably priced house off campus, it's better for you
to arrive at OSU at least 10 days before the deadline given on I-20 Form. You
can also ask a friend for help, but keep in mind that it is not appropriate
to ask someone that is not very familiar with you to find a room for you. There
is legal responsibility involved upon signing the leasing contract. You can
live temporarily in the house of your host-family for a few days until you find
a place. So, you should prepare to arrive earlier in order to settle down prior
to the start of classes.
Most on-campus apartments are half unfurnished, which means you have stoves,
refrigerator, but you don’t have bed or even mattress. Furniture is usually
easily available however. Situations in Off-campus apartments may differ.
The leases for off-campus housing normally last for one year. If you want to
move out earlier, most of the landlords allow you to sublease your room to another
person. As for on-campus dorms, if you move in during the summer quarter, the
lease will be renewed quarterly, but if you move in after the end of the summer
quarter, the lease will be 9 month long and sublease is not allowed, except
for the case that the spouse of a married student comes. A security deposit
(usually equal to the monthly rent) is required for any kind of housing, and
every month's rent should be paid in advance. On the day when signing your lease,
you will have to pay the deposit and the first month's rent. So, please reserve
about $500 for housing when planning your budget.)
Q: How can I get pickup at the airport?
A: FACSS can arrange someone to pick you up at the Cedar Rapids airport if you
need. People from the FACSS, Chinese Churches and some Chinese students will
be such volunteers for you. One important issue is: do not ask more than one
organizations or persons to pick you up. We understand that you have concerns
about whether the person will show up, but we will definitely pick you up if
we received your message and have confirmed you.
Usually, you should WAIT in the "luggage claim" area where your luggage
comes out on a circling belt. Don't leave until you meet somebody there. In
case no one meets you at the airport, you can call up any of the FACSS committee
members (please keep some phone numbers at hand) from the airport using the
pay phone, then either wait or take a Shuttle to Iowa City.
[Important !!! If for any reason, you cannot come with the flight, please DO
inform us. If you have arranged someone else to pick you up at the airport,
please DO let us know by any means.]
Do you need us to pick you up? Click here.
Q: What stuff shall I take to US?
A: Please refer to the “Things to bring” page for the detail.
Q: How much money shall I take to US?
A: Since you need to buy a lot of stuff and to pay for the housing deposit during
the first month, it is highly recommended that you take at least $1000. If you
have $1500 at hand, you will be at much ease. You can also ask your friends
here to lend you some money for a short term. You should prepare some small
bills at hand when coming to the US, in case you need to make a phone call or
to rent a cart to carry your luggage. There are changing machines at the airport
to change bills to quarters (25c coins). A local phone call costs a quarter,
and the rent for a cart is 6 quarters.
Q: I'm offered a teaching assistantship, and it is said that I have to pass
the Speak Test to become a qualified TA. Can you tell me more about it?
A: If you are granted a teaching assistantship, you will be required to sit
for what is called the "SPEAK test," to assess your command of spoken
English. If you perform at an acceptable level on the SPEAK test, you will be
required to take the "LECT test," in which you will make a presentation
to some audience. You will receive more information about these exams from your
academic department. (Research assistants are not required to take these tests.)
The Speak Test is identical to the old version of TSE test given by ETS. A
TSE score of 60, which is quite impossible to get, is also accepted as a proof
of TA qualification.
Some tips for preparing of the Speak Test:
1. First, find some related materials such as the TOEFL bulletin to get familiar
with the style of TSE (if the old version is not available, the new version
would be fine).
2. Second, speak as much English as possible to cultivate your fluency and confidence.
The LECT test requires you choose a topic in your field of study and make a
presentation of it to audiences (normally several English teachers of UI). You
will be allowed about 7 minutes to finish your presentation and those audiences
will then ask you some questions concerning your topic, which may last about
3 minutes. Try not to make your topic too complex, and try to calm down and
make the presentation as clear as possible.
You are not allowed to teach a class if you do not pass the LECT, but you can
still lead the student discussion if you pass the SPEAK. You will be required
to take some English courses if you don’t pass both of them, which won’t
be counted as your credits.
Q: How to find someone here for help?
A: You can find helps here in various aspects from finding a room, pickup at
airport, to providing information. Most Chinese students are willing to help
new students. Don't be too shy in asking for help. Those who helped you want
nothing back but that you'd help others when you became senior.
Visit FACSS Web site frequently, you can get the latest news and help.
Q: How early should I arrive before the quarter starts?
A: At least 10 days before class starts. What you need to do before class include:
- Rent a room
- Orientation by OISS
- Take English replace test (you may not be required)
- Contact advisor
- register courses
- Other requirement by advisor, department, and school.
Q: Which airline should I take? Can I book ticket from US?
A: There are many airlines flying from China to US. Previous students have taken
Northwest (US), China Eastern, and a few Korean or Japanese airlines. There
are no direct flights from China to Cedar Rapids. You need transfer at other
city(s). At the first stop in America when passing the US custom, you have to
pick up your luggage by yourself and have it transferred to the following flight.
Later the airport staff’ll usually do it and you won't need to worry about
it until arriving in Columbus.
Price varies among airlines. Generally speaking, flights with more transferring
stops are cheaper. But you may feel extremely tired to travel in such a long
distance with a lot of transfer stops. Sometimes you'll have to wait for the
next flight for hours. Please try to find a flight with the best quality/price
ratio.
We doubt if you can book ticket from US (you may if you have credit card).
As far as we know, the price gap is not too much. If you have friends or relatives
in US who can pay you air fair in advance, you can ask them to buy ticket for
you in US. Otherwise, you'd better buy it in China.
Q: If my spouse or my parents want to come to US, what material do I need to
prepare?
A: For you spouse or your children to come, you will need at least:
- A bank statement to show how much money you have;
- An I-20 form for your spouse or your children (from OISS, Office of International
Students and Scholars);
- A letter from graduate school to confirm your status as a full-time student;
- An invitation letter from you to invite your spouse or your children;
- Copy of your own I-20, passport, visa and I-94 form.
For your parents, you will need at least:
- A bank statement to show the amount of money you own;
- An invitation letter from OISS;
- A letter from your department to show your status as a full-time student;
- The W2 tax for your income tax return;
- One month's paycheck (not the real one, the upper part);
- An invitation letter from you to invite your parents.
- Your relevant material (I-20, passport, visa and I-94 form etc.).
Q: Do I need to learn to drive in China?
A: It is very easy to learn to drive here. If you're thinking of learning it
solely for the purpose of driving in US, we suggest you not to take the trouble.
But if it does not cost much and you have enough time, go ahead. It's easier
to drive in US if you've learned something about driving in China.
Q: What is the power voltage in US?
A: 110 V (not 220 V). So electric devices brought from China will not work unless
you have a converter. You may want to bring one from China if needed.
edited by 2001
FACSS