INDIAN STUDENT ASSOCATION

LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 1

Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
GENERAL INFORMATION
Lawrence Technological University is a Tier 1 private university located in Southfield.
Southfield is a city in the Oakland County of the state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit and
is part of the Metro Detroit area. Being a suburb, Southfield is a quiet, serene and humble
location. Everything one could ask for is within reach – Recreation, Eateries, City Library,
Indian Restaurants, and not to forget even an Indian Cinema Theatre are a few to mention.
However, the public transportation is a let down, and commuters need to have a dependable
transportation – Be it one’s own car or a ride.

This is all the important information you would need for now. Exploring the place once you are
here is the best way, rather than reading about it. Still need more Info? Browse around to get a
feel of what you are going to experience once you get here.

MEDICAL
• It is advisable to have a complete medical check-up done (including eye and dental) prior
to coming to the United States. Medical costs are pretty high, and we do avidly believe in
the expression – Prevention is better than Cure.

• Please carry prescriptions from your doctor for any chronic illness or any prevailing
medical condition.

• If you use spectacles/lenses, do carry an extra pair - A new pair of glasses is very
expensive over here.

• Get all the required vaccinations from India and the proof that you have taken these
vaccinations. This is not a Lawrence Technological University norm or requirement, but
we believe it is safe to do so since it has been reported that the immigration officers ask
for these documents sometimes (Very rare – Winning a Million dollars happens more
often).
 MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
 Tetanus
 Hepatitis B Series
*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 2
Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
As has been already stated, these immunizations are not required. To take them is one’s own
discretion. Additionally, if you do take a transfer, the University you wish to transfer to could
ask for proof of these vaccinations. Just as a reminder, these vaccinations are very expensive
here.

• Do carry a Medical Kit, which contains pills to treat:

 Fever
 Headache
 Cough, cold & body pains
 Band-aids (Cotton & Bandages)
 Ointments for burns, cuts, etc.
 Infections – Eye & Ear drops
 Diarrhea, Stomach ache
 Pain relieving sprays/ointments/pills
 Antibiotics
 Anti-allergic – Very important

INSURANCE
There are multiple choices of insurance, and being insured is of utmost importance in the United
States. We wish everyone good health, but bad times come without warning. Purchase Insurance
from back home. It is way cheaper than what you can get over here. ICICI Lombard provides
student health insurance which approximately amounts to Rs.17,000 per year. One cannot ask for
a better deal. However if you do find anything better, we would appreciate to be updated on it, so
the next batch of incoming students could benefit from your input.

WEATHER
Michigan is located in the northern part of the Country, and neighboring Canada. Owing to its
location, the state in itself is prone to widely fluctuating weather. There’s an amusing saying in
Michigan – If you don't like the weather in Michigan, wait five minutes. Now that’s how
undependable the weather is.

The temperature scale used here is Fahrenheit, but let’s go ahead and discuss the weather in
Celsius for convenience. In summer, it is hot and humid with maximum temperatures reaching
35oC. The winter is pretty cold, with temperatures reaching subzero temperatures of 32oC (Yes,
that’s right, Negative 32oC).

*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 3

Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
Click Here to check out today’s weather. There will be a lot of snow in winter, and get ready for
your first ever snow fight.

ACCOMODATION and EXPENSES

The Indian students of LTU will do what we can to accommodate you temporarily in our
apartments, until we find you a suitable place of stay. Coming to the permanent accommodation
aspect, the choices you have are:

• University North Housing Please click on this link to get the

University Housing Rates
• University South Housing

• Off-Campus Accommodation: Rent is approximately around $225/month for a 2 Bedroom, 2

Bath Apartment on a sharing basis of 4 per apartment. Other monthly expenditure is an additional
$200 (includes mobile bill, Electricity, Water, Gas for home heating, etc.). On an average,
$500/month gives you a lifestyle good enough to have fun.

The North housing is the costliest choice of living, then comes the South housing, and the most
economical is the Off-Campus Accommodation. However, don’t for a moment assume that the
costliest option is the best place to live.

Most students share Apartments off-campus. The distance from the off-campus accommodation
to the University is a minimum of a 15 minute walk. Finding accommodation is not a problem
but you must notify the currents students in advance, and arrive here at least a week prior to the
semester commencement, so that you can get settled well before classes begin. Regarding food,
there are plenty Indian grocery stores in the area where all essential food items are available. If
you decide to bring any food with you (e.g. pickles, spices etc.), make sure that it is securely
packed.

According to us, the current students of LTU, we strongly suggest you move into the South
Housing, in the worst case scenario of us not being able to find you any room-mates to share an
apartment or reside you in an existing off-campus accommodation of the current students. We

*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 4

Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
also strongly insist you get into the kitchen and start taking the much needed cooking lessons.
You will not regret any of the efforts, and will Thank us for the suggestion.

TUITION FEES
The I-20 you received from the University will have a record of the Fees for your entire
Academic term. To understand how much you would require to pay for each semester, follow the
instructions below:

Clicking on Tuition and Fee Schedule displays a pdf document. For ease of understanding, let’s
discuss this with an example of a Civil Engineering Graduate student:

The fee per credit hour for a Graduate student is $862, as is obvious from the image below. As a
graduate student, one is required to take a minimum of 6 credit hours, and is allowed to take upto
a maximum of 12 credit hours. A credit hour is nothing but the number of credits given for each
course/subject/thesis you take up. The below image demonstrates a better picture of the same,
and is common to all the Majors/Departments.

The other additional fees required to be paid are the Semester Registration fee and the
International Student fee. Both of which have been highlighted below.

*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 5

Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
This illustration is in context to a Civil Engineering Graduate course. Please use this as an
example to navigate your way through your respective department.
Clicking on the Course Description gives you a summary of the courses and along with each of
the courses is displayed the corresponding credit hours. The same is demonstrated below:

Summing it all up:

Remember that 6 credits is a minimum criteria, So the Fee for a Civil Engineering Graduate
student for:
• Two Courses = [($ 862 * 6) + $ 135 + $ 150]
= $ 5457

• Three Courses = [($ 862 * 9) + $ 135 + $ 150]

= $ 8043

• Four Courses = [($ 862 * 12) + $ 135 + $ 150]

= $ 10629

HOW MUCH MONEY TO BRING AND HOW?

• Now that you have calculated your Semester fees, we suggest you make a Dollar
Demand Draft of that amount addressed to the ‘Lawrence Technological University’

• Bring around atleast $3000 in the form of Traveler’s Cheques towards your personal
expenses

• Carry around $200 with you in your wallet. We also propose carrying $1 bills and
Quarters (25 cents). They will be extremely handy to make phone calls and to get
luggage trolleys.
*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 6
Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
 • DO NOT place the demand draft, traveler’s cheques or cash in your check-in bags.
They are safest when kept in a document folder in your hand baggage.

TIPS TO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE EASIER !!!

GENERAL
• Learn driving before you get here
• Bring your Indian driving license, and an International driving permit if possible
• Make copies of all your documents and keep a set at home
• Carry your Scientific calculator
• Bring 1 or 2 plug converters (The plugs in India are different from USA)
• Professional File folder – Useful for interviews
• Bring a backpack / School bag
• Important Text books or Reference books used during Under-Graduate studies
• Stationary – Pens, pencils, erasers, ruler, extra lead for pen-pencils, etc.

CLOTHING
In addition to whatever you wish to bring, we suggest:
• 2 sets of formal attire (and 2 neck ties for the guys)
• 1 pair of formal shoes
• 1 formal belt
• 1 suit – This goes for the Girls too
• 1 Sweater + 1 Jacket + 1 set of Thermals
• 1 Indian traditional wear
• 2 weeks worth of undergarments
• 2 sets of Bed sheets, Pillow covers, Towels
• Toiletries (Shaving kit, Soaps, Shampoo, Nail cutter, Perfume, Toothpaste, Comb,
Moisturizer, etc) – Enough to last the initial 3 months
• You can buy a heavier jacket once you get here. Normally, Indian jackets don’t cater
to the Michigan winter. Layering is the technique to staying cozy. So wearing
Thermals, a Tee, and a jacket is the best way to keep warm.

*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 7

Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
UTENSILS
Here’s a list of must-haves. But anything additional is good, considering you have
luggage space and allowance:
• 1 Pressure cooker (4–5 liter) • 1 Peeler
• 2 Deep cooking pans • 2 Plastic bowls
• 1 Small boiling pot • 4 Teaspoons
• 1 Tea strainer • Small PET bottles for salt, spices, etc.
• 2 Kitchen knives • 2 Dinner plates (Microwave safe)
• 1 Flat pan for making Rotis / Omlettes

TRAVEL TIPS
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is the place we request you to land at. We would
appreciate it if you could mail us a scanned image of your plane ticket, no more than one
day prior to leaving for the United States. This way we are better updated of your arrival.

• Dress comfortable for the journey – Something cotton, and maybe jeans. Wearing Shoes
and a jacket is suggested. Carry along a set of medicines for the flight, in case you get air
sick, or develop an allergy to the food. Anti-allergic medicines are a must. Also, don’t
forget to carry a pen and some mints.

• You'll need the following documents with you at the immigration when you enter the US:
 I-20
 Passport
 Any sealed documents that the US Consulate gave you
 Letter of admission/financial aid (if applicable)

• Carry all your Original certificates and documents with you in your hand bag.

• Carry important contact information along with you – University Phone number, Fellow
student responsible for Airport pick-up. Don’t forget to have their names.

• In case you did not know already – The ‘Port of Entry’ is the first American state you
enter. The immigration check takes place over here. The final destination is a domestic
*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 8
Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University
 flight journey. Just send us a scanned image of your ticket as already requested, and we
will make sure to be there when you exit the Detroit Metro Airport.

• Do not leave the airport on your own. In the event that you are not received by
somebody, please feel free to call one of the numbers listed at the end of this document.
Note that such a situation will arise if you don't inform us about the time of arrival well in
advance. It is also possible that the people who volunteered to pick you up may be
delayed for some reason. Please do not panic.

• Get a good rest the day before your departure. We wish you a safe flight and a wonderful
journey you are all set to embark upon. We hope these guidelines made things a little
easier for you. We look forward to having you aboard.

CONTACT US
The best way to contact us is through the LTU Indian Student Association Group on FacebookTM.
We request you to get in touch with the Admins of the group, since they are the most active in the
group. They will contact fellow students, and get in touch with you regarding your queries.
For Emergency Contact, Please call the current Admins of the LTU ISA Group

• Drushan Mavalankar • Sushant Ravi

Email: drushan@gmail.com Email: sravi@ltu.edu
Phone: 248-631-6937 Phone: 248-667-1001

• Amar Chaudhari • Randeep Singh

Email: amar1582@yahoo.com Email: randeep06@gmail.com
Phone: 248-688-2252 Phone: 248-346-1341

*NEW STUDENT GUIDELINES* 9

Compiled by:
Indian Student Association
Lawrence Technological University