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First of all, congratulations to all of you who were admitted to Notre Dame. You might be wondering how your life will be in the USA. In fact, we all remain a bit concerned before coming here for the first time. We, the Bangladesh Student Association of Notre Dame (BDSA-ND) members, are here to help you in every possible way. We know it’s hard for anyone to cope with a new culture and environment where you know very few people, but we’ll try our best to make you feel comfortable during your stay at Notre Dame.

Getting into Notre Dame

Choosing airlines: You can select any reputed airline from Dhaka to Chicago, South Bend, Indianapolis, Kalamazoo, or Grand Rapids; Qatar, Emirates, Turkish, Etihad, etc. are preferable. The flights will have one stopover: one in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, or Istanbul (Europe)). If you choose Etihad, your US immigration process will be completed in Abu Dhabi. It is also noticeable that, except for Turkish, the second leg of the flight will be 15+ hours, which can be exhausting.

Transport from the Airport: We are lucky to have a lot of international airports surrounding us.

  • South Bend International Airport (SBN) is the nearest one. Anyone can pick you up from
    here if you arrive here. But the tickets here may be costly.
  • Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is the most popular choice for incoming
    students. Flights are usually cheaper here. It’s a two-hour drive to reach Notre Dame
    after arrival. If you select this option, make sure to find someone to receive you there.
  • Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is two and a half hours away from Notre Dame.
  • Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport is one and a half hours away.

Option 2 is the most popular choice among incoming students so far. You may also stay in Chicago if you can find someone to stay with. Moreover, the flights are usually less expensive here. Option 3-5 are usually more expensive. You can check all of them and try to see where you can find the cheapest option. For all the options (except option 1), you need to find someone to give you a ride to reach Notre Dame. There are several options:

  • There is a person who provides lifts to students for money. His name is Fernando J Dominguez (https://www.facebook.com/fernandoj.dominguez.9). Cell: +1 574-252-9588. His usual rates are $230-$280 for a ride from O’Hare Intl Airport to South Bend. He has provided this service to many Bangladeshi students in the past. You can use the Airport internet to communicate with him upon arrival.
  • Also, there is this Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191816755054555) where you can post to see if anyone is interested in picking you up/sharing the cost of a ride.
  • You can use UBER/LYFT from O’hare to South Bend. Usually, it costs from $150-$200. However, as you may not have a credit card or sim, you may ask someone to book a ride for you.
  • You can use public transport like trains and buses. For the first time, it is not recommended as it may feel hectic after a long journey to ride a train.
  • The last option is finding a ride based on personal relationships. A round trip from South Bend to O’Hare takes 2.5+2.5=5 hours, so it might be tough to ask someone for this commitment.

After Arrival

After arrival, there are several things to do. You will get a checklist from the graduate school and the department. However, there are some common things:

  1. Take a SIM card, which will be needed to fill out forms and roam around the campus. Initially, Mint Mobile offered cheap options. However, you can form a family to check options from T-Mobile, AT&T, Google FI, and Verizon, as they have good coverage and more features.
  2. Check your home before settling in, as there can be problems with the previous tenant.
  3. If you need a bed frame and mattress for an unfurnished home, please order earlier with someone’s Amazon or Walmart account.
  4. Visit HR at Grace Hall with your passport, I-94, and I-20 to enroll in the payroll.
  5. You need to collect the ID card from the same building.
  6. Open a bank account. Take all your documents, including a signed lease, to prove your residency in Indiana. Usually, it is easier to open an account with an I-20 and without an SSN at Chase, and it is very well-known and near campus. You may need to make an appointment earlier.
  7. Get your appointment letter from the department and apply for the document from ISSA to apply for SSN.
  8. Attend the graduate orientation as they are very informative.
  9. You need to pay 75 dollars as a semester fee. You can do that after having your bank account.
  10. Make an appointment with UHS if you do not have all the vaccines.

In any case and ride, don’t hesitate to contact the Notre Dame student community members or BDSA-ND members. For any visa-related issue, please consult with the ISSA instead of any other person.