All the students are advised to join newstudents yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newstudents/
You can post your Itenary so that the India Association can make necessary arrangements for your pick up.You can also post any questions you have .Also try to be in contact with students who belong to same city.
 

Things to do while in India

The most important thing to do is, if your parents do not know how to use e-mail, chat, etc., please teach them. It will help you a lot. Scan your documents, family photos, etc. and store them online. (use yahoo briefcase, etc.)

Get copies of your transcripts, recommendation letters. 

Birth certificate is mandatory. You must get it for driving license. 

Students in most Univ.s own cars. Comparatively, about 50% of the students own cars here. Learn car driving. Is an IDP(International Driving permit) required? It is not very necessary. Just learn driving, that's all.

Vaccination : Get vaccinated for MMR, Hepatitis-B. 

Medical check-up : Try to get dental, ear, eye checkups. If needed get other check ups done too. If you wear glasses, get your eyes checked. The insurance here does not cover eye, ear, dental problems, etc. Better get these fixed in India itself.
 

Things to leave behind at home
    A few blank signed papers(So that your parents can authorize work on behalf of you).
    Prescriptions of spectacles.
    Any other prescriptions.
    Your measurements for clothes. 
 

Things to remember while in transit

Filling the form on the plane : before your port of entry, you will be given declaration forms to fill. They will be given by the flight attendant. You will have to declare that you are not carrying any Agricultural products, etc. do not remember the details). Also, the commercial value of the goods you are carrying should be less than $100. 

I-94 : At your port of entry, you will have to make sure that you are given the I-94. There exists a chance(however remote) that the person might forget to give you an I-94. It is mandatory that you show your I-94 to get admitted. In case you forget, you will have to go back to the port of entry to get it.
 
 

Checklist of essentials

Clothes 
Usually clothes are machine washed once in two weeks (Laundromat) - hence 2 weeks  supply of clothes (+ one week backup) is needed.  Get all clothes little  loose - clothes may shrink in machine wash & you will probably grow fatter. In summer it is around 35 to 40 degree celcius and in winter the temperature goes down to -3 degree celcius. 

o 14-15 sets of undergarments, socks, handkerchiefs 
o 15 good shirts/T Shirts  and 5-7 pants (jeans or cotton), girls get your jeans from india since the fitting is apparently not good here. 
o a good swimming trunk + few shorts 
o a tie + 1-2 belts 
o  bedsheets (2-3), comforters (Thick blankets used in winter) cost around 20$ here. 
o lungies/dhotis/pajamas 
o thermal underwear (2-4) 
o extra woolen sweaters 
o Get a raincoat Or you could buy an umbrella here. 
o A jacket would cost a minimum of 35$ here. So you could a couple of them from India. These jackets should be able to withstand freezing temperatures.
o Get woolen gloves and caps for protection in winter as well. 
o Get formal wear, atleast one set, for campus interviews or other occasions since it is very expensive here, girls should also get formal dresses. 
o Get atleast 3-4 sets of traditional Indian outfits. 
 o Shoes : The leather shoes are cheaper there in India so you should be getting all your leather shoes from India. Sport shoes are cheaper and better off here,buy them here. 
Note : 
 o don't take Indian files (empty) or punching machines - filing 
 system is different in the US (3 holes, A4) 
 o don't take paper 
 o don't buy purse (wallet for carrying cards can be bought in US) 

 Note: Make sure that you first know the allowed baggage weight in the airlines your coming so, that you don't have to pay extra for extra weight your carrying.

Food stuffs 
 o Mirchi/masala powder 
 o Elaichi, clove, cinnamon, Teg patta, rai jeera. 
 o Ginger paste, garlic paste 
 o Appalam/Vadam/pickles 
 o mustard packet 
 o tamarind paste 
 o asafetida powder 
 o Indian instant coffee + Indian tea (takes some time to get used to American stuff) 

Below are some South Indian food stuffs that may be taken : 
 o 1 - 2.5 kg packets of "Sambar Podi" 
 o 1 packet of "Rasam podi" 
 o 0.5 box of "Masala podi" 
 o 1 box of "Pasuppu podi", "Upma podi", "Vatha-kozhambu podi", "tamarind rice podi" 
 Note: 
 o actually pickles are not allowed - but you can take them in solder-sealed tins. [students are usually not checked for these] 
 o take all dry food stuff in sealed plastic packets 
 o Don't come loaded with foodstuffs as you may have (small) problems  with the customs. You will have a problem with customs if you have any fresh fruits, vegetables plants or cooked meat on you. 

Vessels 
  o big pressure pan (with spare handle, 3 safety valves, 2 weights, 1 base plate, 3 gaskets) [note: big pressure cooker may not be  needed as rice cooker can be bought in the US] 
 o rice server & other  servers 
 o tongs 
 o small bowls ("kinnum") 
 o rolling pin  
 o plates  
 o kadaie (optional) 
 o cook book - e.g. "Cook & See" by Meenakshi Ammal. 
 Note: no other vessels needed. No tumblers needed. Try to share & bring the vessels with others coming to your Univ. Non-stick kitchenware is cheap in the US. and you can buy a full set. 

Pickup

The University of Mississippi is about 76 miles from Memphis, which is the closest international air port to olemiss.
 You Need to provide us with your itenary and be in contact with one of the comittee members so that we can come pick you up from the airport in a shuttle service which will cost 50$ as it is provided by the International programs office-University. You can pay after you reach here.

Checklist   Pickup FAQ   Other students coming to olemiss
 

Frequently Asked Questions

About accommodation
There are many Indians here and most of them share an apartment. Most students stay in Anderson Estates apts.  There are about four in each 2 or 3-bedroom apartment.  Anderson Estates is 20-min walk from the Univ. Another option is to stay in the Village(Small apartments owned by the University available only till Spring 2007).There are 1-bedroom and single room ie Efficiency apartment available at Village.It is just a 10min walk from the village to Univ. 

You need not worry about accomodation before you arrive. One common question asked by everyone is, "Where do I stay once I arrive? Do I have to book an apt before I start?". No. You book the apt after you come here. Till then you stay with the Indians here. 
 

Ideally, what date would be right for me to reach there?
I had come a week before the school was to start. At the time it started on 21st of august and I came the previous weekend. On 13th. Then that week is the registration week. You have to be there for that. There are quite few formalities to be completed in that week. You need it and also the time to orient yourself. There is international student orientation etc. so its quite good. Everyone come by then. There is no use coming too early, and senseless to come later than that. 

Regarding winter clothing
Is it ok if I bring some sweaters and then buy jacket and stuff there? Will it be affordable? 
Winters here are not such a big deal. It hardly snows here at oxford clothes are pretty costly. Dont over prepare while  coming here(oxford) but then clothes are a lot cheaper in India. Here one jacket costs more than $30.So it makes sense to get some jackets and sweaters from India .

Food and utensils
Its better to get all the food items and utensils as mentioned in the list given on the web-site. It is really required and things are quite costly here.

Can u also advise me regarding the route and airline that I should take from Bombay/Chennai?
We came via Frankfurt, Atlanta and Memphis. You can come Via London to Memphis also. Get the best airline deal. Contact your agent. 

Memphis, TN is the nearest airport. The code is MEM. ( I think)

NOTE: There are new regulations now concerning a transit visa for travelling through some of the European countries (like London). PLEASE ASK YOUR TRAVEL AGENT ABOUT THIS. This is a new rule and there have been cases where the travel agents didnt know about this and the students have suffered. So dont assume anything and clear things up before you board a plane

Predominantly, what clothes do Indian girls wear there? 
Get a saree..for some very special occations that happen here and girls wear both types of clothes to school. Jeans and Punjabis... mostly jeans;get whatever you are comfortable in.  Oh yes get atleast one pair of formals (western) for interviews and stuff. Very costly here and not even tailored. 

About financial aid
The chances of finding an on-campus job in the first semester (which DOES NOT waive your fee) are quite good, once you reach the campus. The chances of finding an assistantship (which WAIVES your fee) in the first semester depends heavily on the department and you are STRONGLY ADVISED TO contact someone in the department you are going to join for obtaining the right information.Till now all 
have got some form of aid or anothers(THOUGH LATE). So the chances are not ruled out.A strong trial from your side shall get you some sort of financial aid.

How much money to get..
Initially get about $6100. You need that in all. About $5400 for fees and rest for the first month or more, till you get your first paycheck and fee reimbursement. Just to be safe. If you get aid Youll be able to send back atleast 4000 off the 6100. And then you can easily support yourself and even save. So come don't let the finances stop you... 

English proficiency test
It is a very simple test, simpler than toefl. If your scores are less than 250 you have to take up the test and if you do well you do not take the course else you have to take english course. Its nothing to worry about, if you done well in toefl you will do well here as well. The course is namesake, just attendance is required. That's all.

Textbooks
Textbooks are prohibitively costly here and you will save a great deal if you get the right books. If u can, please find out from your friends , the list of books that you should definitely bring from here since books here are very expensive.