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After You Arrive

Welcome to UT Dallas! 

Now that you have arrived in Richardson, we know you have many needs as you set up your new life here. We’ve put together some information and resources for you in hopes that it will help you in the settling process. 

 

 

Groceries and Household items 

Grocery Stores near campus or that provide international items

  • Super Target – General groceries and housewares, 16731 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75248
  • Walmart – General groceries and housewares, 
  • Super Walmart – 425 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075 or 
  • Walmart – 15757 N Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75248 
  • Patel Brothers – Indian market, 6205 Spring Creek Pkwy, #201, Plano, TX 75024 
  • India Bazaar – Indian Market
  • India Bazaar – 1425 E Belt Line Rd, Richardson, TX 75081
  • India Bazaar – 832 Spring Creek Pkwy Suite 100, Plano, TX 75023

 

Furniture 

We will have a Big Howdy Furniture Giveaway at the start of the semester, but we are still working on details for this. Please watch the Furniture tab at utdbighowdy.com for information on signing up for this effort. We usually are able to offer beds, dining tables, desks, dressers, chairs and couches. Sometimes we have housewares (dishes, lamps, towels, bedding, etc.) to offer too. We will not be able to help all students with furniture and housewares, as we don’t have enough supplies for this. Keep in mind as you make plans for your apartment, each student chosen to receive furniture from the Big Howdy will only be allowed ONE large item (bed, desk, dining tables, dressers, chair OR couch). 

 

If you would want to purchase items you need for your new dorm or apartment, here are a few suggestions. 

 

Stores for New Furniture

  • Super Target – 16731 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75248 (In store, offers dishes, bedding, towels, lamps, air mattresses and some small furniture. Sometimes the store has desks as well. Mattresses and bed frames can be ordered online).
  • Super Walmart – 425 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075 (In store, offers dishes, bedding, towels, lamps, air mattresses and some small furniture. Mattresses and bed frames can be ordered online).
  • Ikea (beds, desks, dressers, housewares, bedding, lamps, etc. – basically anything you would need for an apartment) –  7171 Ikea Dr, Frisco, TX 75034 

 

Thrift Stores (used furniture)

 

Restaurants 

We know you might want to grab some food that tastes like home or you might desire to try some new flavors. Here are some ideas for you! 

 

Indian

 

Chinese 

 

Korean 

 

Others 

  • The Halal Guys – 746 Central Expy #120, Richardson, TX 75080 (serves Halal food)

 

American

 

Coffee

 

Boba Tea

 

Banks 

On campus, there is no bank, only a Wells Fargo ATM on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Because of this, it can be helpful to open a bank account at Wells Fargo BAnk to avoid ATM fees on campus, but this is not necessary. 

 

***Due to covid, you must make an appointment to open a new account and cannot just show up to a bank for this service. Check the bank website (like Wellsfargo.com) to set up an appointment.

 

To open a new account, you will need to bring the following: 

  • 2 Forms of I.D. – a Passport and current Visa paperwork will count for this, also Social Security Card, a debit or credit card with the your name on it) 
  • Address in home country 
  • Proof of new address for Texas – a utility bill or lease agreement (something that has your name and address on it)
  • Valid email address
  • Your U.S. phone number (previously, you could give a friend’s phone number if you did not yet have a personal U.S. number. This is no longer the case. You MUST have your own number before opening the account).
  • At least $25 to deposit into the new account 

 

Banks near campus 

  • BB&T – 409 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075, (972) 758-5600 
  • Bank of America – 2210 N Coit Rd, Richardson, TX 75080, (972) 792-2470 
  • Chase Bank – 16831 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75248, (972) 407-3410 
  • Wells Fargo 

 

Cell Phones 

We know many of you will come with a smartphone, but will need to buy a new sim card and set up a phone plan. Some phone companies will allow you to use your international phones; others require that you buy a U.S. phone and plan. 

 

Most companies allow students to go in together to get one account with multiple lines. This usually saves quite a bit of money if you are willing to do this. But because most international students will not have a U.S. Social Security Number when you arrive, you will be required to do a month-to-month plan and pay out right for any new phones purchased (rather than have a financed option).  

 

Info you need to bring with you to open an account, buy a sim card or new phone: 

  • Payment method (a credit card from your country will work as long as it is run through Visa or Mastercard, U.S. debit/credit card, cash, etc.) 
  • Passport 
  • Visa (I-20 paperwork) 

 

AT&T 

  • Most phones that are unlocked are compatible with the AT&T network. 
  • The best option for an international student will be a prepaid sim card/account. This doesn’t require a Social Security Number or credit check. 
  • AT&T can add several lines on one account, usually from 2-10 lines on the same account. 
  • If a student’s phone is not compatible with the AT&T network, then they can buy a phone and a prepaid sim. 
  • To get a new phone and finance it through monthly payments (rather than purchase it completely upfront), a student will have to have a U.S. Social Security Number and a credit check (which most new international students will not be eligible for this). 

 

Cricket 

  • 101 S Coit Rd #403, Richardson, TX 75080,  469-435-9366
  • Most international phones will work on the Cricket network but they do need to be unlocked beforehand in order to take the new cricket sim card. At the Cricket store, the salesperson can check the phone on their system to see if it’s unlocked and compatible with the Cricket network. 
  • If a phone is not compatible with the Cricket network, the store has new phones to purchase, ranging from $90-$220. 
  • Cricket is running a plan right now for 4 lines for $100 a month. Several students can go together for this offer. 
  • Cricket is a month-to-month plan only.

T-Mobile (now merged with Sprint)

  • 7615 Campbell Rd Ste 100, Dallas, TX 75248
  • 15707 Coit Rd Suite A, Dallas, TX 75248, (972) 788-2425
  • Most international phones will work on the T-Mobile network.
  • T-Mobile requires a U.S. Social Security Number and a background check in order to have a contract and unlimited data plan. Because most international students don’t have a s.s. number, this will not be an option for them. 
  • T-Mobile offers prepaid month-to-month options that can be used on a sim card and international phone or through purchasing a new T-mobile phone. A student doesn’t have to have a U.S. Social Security Number for this type of purchase. 

 

Verizon Wireless

  • 900 N Coit Rd Ste. 2702, Richardson, TX 75080, 972-234-3171
  • For unlocked phones, students can purchase a Verizon sim card on a pre-paid month-to-month plan. 
  • These plans usually run from about $35-$65 a month. 
  • Multiple students can go in together to get multiple lines on one account in order to save money.

 

Other top up (month-to-month) options: 

  • Walmart does have some month-to-month phone options back in the electronics section. This also might be an option for students. 

 

****The UTD Indian Student Association will have stalls for phone, bank and credit card set up at the Chatham Apartments at McCallum in late July and early August. Usually ISA puts this information out on the student WhatsApp, but if we learn of specific times, we’ll try to post that information. 

 

Covid Vaccines

  • If you would like to get a Covid Vaccine once you arrive, please check with the UTD Health Center. The Health Center will have the most up-to-date information for helping you obtain the vaccine. https://studenthealthcenter.utdallas.edu/ 

 

UTD Bus System (Comet Cruiser) 

  • UTD offers the Comet Cruiser to anyone in the area (students and non-students). These buses run to the McCallum Apartment area, the Frankfort area, the Renner area, the City Line Dart station and Walmart (on Fridays and Sundays only). 
  • To find the Comet Cruiser map, visit https://services.utdallas.edu/download/Comet_Cruiser_Map.pdf
  • To find the Comet Cruiser  schedule, visit https://services.utdallas.edu/transit/cruiser/
  • Students do NOT need a school I.D. or payment to ride the bus. It is free for anyone. You can jump on the bus the very next day after you arrival in Richardson to get to the campus or to stores along the route. You do NOT have to go through UTD orientation before using the Comet Cruiser Bus. 
  • For the DART bus or trains in Richardson and the greater Dallas area, students will have to pay. Once you go through UTD orientation and get your Comet I.D. Card, you have a chance to apply for a student Dart pass and have this fee covered. But in the first days you are in Richardson, you will need to pay if on the DART train or bus. 
  • To purchase a Dart bus or train pass, you have a few options:  purchase a ticket on the bus with cash or from a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) found at all DART Rail stations, pay through the GoPass app or with a GoPass Tap card.
  • If purchasing a fare on the bus with cash (bills and coins accepted), exact change is required. The bus operators cannot provide change. 
  • DART Fare info – https://www.dart.org/fares/fares.asp
  • DART Route info – https://www.dart.org/schedules/schedules.asp 
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