 Hi all. I hope everybody's doing well. My name is Diana Martinez and I'm a second year master's student at the School of Environment and Sustainability. I just finished my first year at Michigan and it's great to be here. Hi everyone. I am Basila. I am a rising fourth year in the Biological Chemistry, rising fifth year in the Biological Chemistry Department. I am from Kerala, a South Indian state. I'm happy to be here. Hi everyone. I'm Ariel and I'm a rising third year in the drawing PhD program of Psychology and General Women's Studies. And I am from Taiwan, but I did my undergrad here, so I've been in the US for 67 years now. Hi everyone. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. So anyone in the world. So first, before I introduce myself, I want to say congratulations on your admission to University of Michigan. We're really happy to welcome you to be one part of us. My name is Yixing Li and I'm going to be the second year master's. So I just finished my first year here. And this is my first time to study abroad and from China. So as you like, I'm still like getting used to the whole everything. So it's happy to be here and I'm from School of Education. Yeah, so excited for this panel. Okay, thanks y'all. So I'd love if we could just move through these questions and the order that y'all introduced yourselves. And what I first like us to address is what do you wish that you knew coming when you were in your first year here? I think after a year has gone by, I still haven't figured this out, but I think it's coming together. And this distance in relation to housing. When I first moved and I first went to visit in June, I was like, okay, there's so many housing opportunities, and it was so great. But I think there are little things here and there that I kind of wish I had asked and I still wish I had asked now to my peers, you know, like where is the best housing or like, what do you do when you pay your bills and type because each state and across the world, it's very different. So still, I'm still navigating this but I think I'm getting better at it. I can say that I applied much earlier than I did when I first moved to Michigan. And it's just a matter of like asking people right and putting myself out there with their with their with the school or with landlords about like housing situation. On the list, it has been a great learning adventure. And if you have any questions about that, if you ask me, I know I feel like it's a topic that we hardly talk about because we're focused a lot of like in what our department has to offer or in our classes which is also very important as well. But sometimes we forget to ask like questions about housing. Yeah, I think I'll go next. So I was the first international graduate student in my department like one of the three international students who first came in the department. So it was kind of difficult because the department had a lot of resources like the domestic students had visited the campus at least three times before they started their first year. They already knew the department they had tested the waters they knew all the students in the department. So there was some in execution challenges to extend this very good opportunity to international students as well. So I wish I had reached out to the department on my own because it's a very good thing to do and the department's kind of expect all the incoming students to probably find their people even before you move in fully there. So if I had done that it would have helped me in a lot of things like finding an accommodation or like even finding a commute to the airport or something like that. Or even like important things like getting the social security number or getting my tax papers just because the department was not familiarized with the international students it was kind of hard. So those things might be good to know how many international students are already there and is the department equipped to handle that. And in addition to that I also wish I had more familiarity with the resources on campus. I come from a residential science institute in India. So everything was at one place but University of Michigan is very huge and really spread out. So it would take some time to find the resources be it's like recreational centers or mental health resources or even finding the clubs you like there is a million so it would be good to know all of this. My suggestion is more general by which I had I knew to value my break and rest time more. I know especially a lot of international students the stakes are higher for us we put a lot of pressure on us and we think other people put a lot of stress on us. And I guess one thing that I've learned is it's okay to let the ball drop sometimes. So if you need to let go of something that's totally fine. It would it would feel horrible at the moment you feel like you're missing a lot of things. But eventually you'll find that it's probably better for your mental health for your general well being. And so I wish and things elevated pretty quickly in grad school. I think that's true for both masters and PhD students it's just like boom, it starts. So be prepared for that and be prepared to schedule breaks and rest between your work time. I think I'm going to go next. Um, so the one thing I wish I knew on during the first year on so as an international student. I think it's very important for everybody to know to understand like adjusting to a new education system take time. Um, so probably like when you like come to Michigan like you're going to you're going to realize you can spend like probably one to two months, like to really adjust to the new environment. So hopefully you're faced new challenges really to like language proficiency. And cultural differences, then this is one thing I really caught it like cultural shock is a lot. There are a lot of differences like in the classroom, or even like in your digital digital life, and also you you're sometimes going to feel like you're older but it's okay. You're, you're a no one thing and I wish I would I and you at that time like, like all the things they are very common experiences among the audience international students and it's okay to ask for help. There are a lot of like resources like we can reach out to like for example like a school services like there are some of them. There are some of the like organization where groups like they're organized by students where they're organized by your department or even recommend. And also there are some external resources later, you can also reach out to like by asking your program manager or your professors, they're really happy to help. And also like, um, also I feel like the non academic on issue like really trouble trouble me a lot. Like, probably like before you enter your graduate study graduate program you, you may think like, Oh, like that my graduate study my research, they're like, it's a top priority like in my, in my life right now but actually like really even like doing golf for shopping can drive you crazy, because there are a lot of differences. But one thing I think that we should really knew that time is like, it's, it takes time to just do everything. The same program as me. Yeah, thank you. That was really informative. And along the line, can you share with us what you wish you had done your first year. First of all, first we just spoke about what you wish you knew your first year but now what do you wish you've done. So for me, Michigan is huge like you all are keep saying this and I agree. It has been one of the biggest institutions that I have also attended in my academic career. So, I think, and I keep saying this to myself to, but try to put myself out there explore other departments to gather classes, go for other clubs around campus like the university is huge you all know this right. And I didn't know this to and feel like I'm still exploring the university, and sometimes I feel like I'm just stuck with them the same like general region that I tend to forget to go other places, even even to find other studies places you know, and if you go to other studies places you're going to find other people, and other people are going to bring you to other places and other opportunities and other connections and even other social opportunities to you know. So I think for me will be continue to explore the university there's some really cool spots to study there's other places that I hear oh you should go study there and I'm like why am I still doing in this general region you know. So I think for me will be like exploring the general places that there is on campus, other department and other clubs there's some really cool clubs within the university. I feel like Monday to Sunday at school, even in the times when it's pretty cold I feel like there's still like some movement around. So just continuing to explore, making putting myself out there, and even asking a stranger hey how's your day going while getting coffee while you're getting lunch or while you're looking for a book you know you never know what that would bring. Yeah, I think I will hardly like agree with what Diana just shared I mean that would be top priority in my list to and also as a science graduate student and specifically an experimental biologist. I think I did prioritize a little bit to read more science literature I did read enough but just from the perspective of how to do academic writing myself. I was very confident about my communication skills so I thought oh when I have enough research output, I would just naturally start writing papers, but I wish I had prioritized reading and writing specifically for academic literature more specifically. In general, I wish I had exercised better work life balance. I was I am extremely motivated grad student. So it's always difficult for me to acknowledge the importance of break but I wish if I had done exercise. I mean, even that's a muscle like how to do a take breaks. So I wish I just had understood the importance of that and then really learn how to incorporate more things that I enjoy like running or doing group exercises or hiking. Just on campus, even I could set up a reaction and just go around and our but has some of the best network of parks. So I just wish I had done more of that. Again, speaking as a international PhD student. I think it's, I wish I had communicated more clearly about summer break expectation with my mentor. Because summer here in Michigan is very long it's four months. And a lot of faculty faculty members they don't necessarily have the mentoring experience with an international student and they like they don't really. They think that they didn't really realize that for international student a home trip could be could should be at least like a month or something, because of why it could be you know like 15 hours or something. So a lot of faculty member don't realize that. So I feel like it's important to think to talk to a mentor about like what are the expectations for summer, because for at least for most of the PhD students. Summer is kind of the time for research because during the semester you have to teach take class have to do other stuff. So they do expect you to do like research during summer but they don't realize that your home is very far away. And you, and it's hard. It's first of all hard to be far away to be far away from home. And, and yeah so I wish I had communicated that more clearly with my mentor. So speaking of a summer, I would like to mention a little bit about the winter. The winter is really a harsh and never. So I, I come from the south of China so where it's pretty hot so when I, when I just span my first winner you never that was really unbelievable so the one thing. So my, my suggestion is more like on non academic. So, because previously, I was bringing a lot of summer clothes in my suitcase but I really like it's really one thing I should, I really regret so for the winter tips. So either you can like on get prepared on to keep warm for yourself, or you can travel to the summer places. So this is one thing about the winter and also I wish I could explore more about the campus so actually there are a lot of places on that I could do the self study or even do a little getaway for example like I, I mainly study it on central campus but I, I almost never, I haven't, almost never been to like Norse campus but I've been there only like once or twice but actually there are a lot of amazing buildings that you can really do self study for example like robotics is really amazing one. And, and also there are a lot of high control that you can really explore and also there are like a neighboring places, including that Detroit or other places that we hang out with your friends by meeting new people there. That's really awesome so I really wish I could explore those places and again ready for the winter. Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Thanks y'all. Okay, so we've just discussed what you wish you've done in your first year. Now, can you share what the best things were that helped you when you first got here. When I first moved and when I knew that I was going to go there and like made my choice to go to Michigan. I actually use LinkedIn to connect with faculty. And I didn't know if it was going to work or not because like y'all mentioned like during summer like a lot of faculty are doing research so they might be busy. So I just decided to try and connect it with all my faculty within my department. Thankfully, everybody did reply and I exchange conversations about classes. And they recommended all their students to talk to, which was very helpful for me and connecting and learning more about my department what my department was like and what the academic world within my department was. And that was to me very helpful. I suggest that if y'all haven't done that yet. LinkedIn it was a very resourceful way of navigating me my academics and then from there. Other students will recommend other students to other for other clubs or other interests of mine. So to me that was very helpful. I don't regret it. I was it was nerve wracking at the beginning. But with that being said it was probably one of the best things that I done. Because that until now like my great mentors are still within the same people that I reached out through LinkedIn. I think my answers also would boil down to just people. First, I am from a research institute and I moved for a PhD in science so a lot of my friends were going through the same transition at the same time, starting grad school and also moving abroad so I knew a lot of people who were facing the same kind of challenges. And then secondly, I knew my would be roommate through some common connections. So I didn't move in with a total stranger. I was moving in with somebody I knew so I tried to talk to her a little bit and get to know each other. And that also helped to warm up a little bit, and she was an Indian too so we had a lot of commonalities. And thirdly, I started my PhD with a really good group of people so we were a large group of really diverse students. As I also mentioned we were the first group of international students also invited to the program. So that was good and the department organized things like the retreat and our course structure also helped us get to know each other better. So it was really good that I made friends some of my best friends for life within the program. And that's the best thing that's helping me even now. And my suggestion would be try to establish a life. So that sounds very general but you can start from small steps for a set for example on establish a hobby. I got that advice from a faculty member when I was at the orientation event of my department. It could be anything. It could be watching TV that's also fine. It could be cooking. I started Aikido, which is a Japanese martial art last summer, and I've been just consistently going. And it's just like a non offensive martial art so I'm not going to take anybody down but that has really helped that type of like routine kind of thing that really helps me to feel like okay I'm living here. I'm doing something I'm not just going to school. And it could also be a daily routine for example I made myself a cup of coffee every morning. And I find waking up maybe a little bit earlier but spend some time to you know it's like when you turn on your computer you have to wait for a while you don't go immediately to work. Like anything that fits you but engage in something and engage in some routine that helps you to ground or like it could get very overwhelming and it go crazy like it without you realizing so it's important to have a life. Okay I will go next. So for the best things that help me on went through the first year. Actually there are a lot of things. I kind of agree that you should like already like get prepared first, like earlier before you come here. Like for example like connecting with people on LinkedIn. So one thing I did because I like I was pretty sure like I'm going to apply for PhD, even before my master. So one thing I think for people who want to like really spend your time in academia I really recommend you on to use Twitter. I think everybody, everybody probably everybody use that so because there are a lot of researchers like including the professor or seniors were PhD like they may use like on Twitter to connect with each other so previously I was connecting with a couple of professors, and also like there's a PhD student who like on their study the same subject matter on as me so so before I came here already had some of a connection with them so I can send email I say hey, because you can I like send a code email so I'm interested in your research I want to connect with you so so before you send an email you already connected with the people on LinkedIn or Twitter so you can say like yeah we're connected on on ABC social media so I'm very interested in your research and I have I have read some of your paper some of the parts that you're very interested in. So they're a very variable thing like really help me like to connect with people, especially people who are doing research, and also on. There's a one website I want to share on that is on the ELI I don't know like how many people know that know about that is English Language Institute so on they have a lot of ongoing workshops on. So when this when each semester starts. So I'm going to share in the chat. So if you are not very like confident with your English ability or even you want to like practice a lot of ways of a communication or even like how to practice your small talk how to understand American humor there are a lot of the valuable a lot of amazing workshop that you can really participate in. And, and also like they're actually there are a lot of the websites like I can like share with you probably by the end of this panel. Um, so also like, um, one thing, and also like that thing like help me like went through the first year is like, learn to manage your stress, like learn to find the word like balance. Not like, because probably you're going to feel like a lot of academic burnout because this is you Mitch, you're studying with the most amazing people in the world probably on the planet. So, it's very important to like manage your stress and like talk with your friends or even professor you met your like program manager they can really give you very informative suggestion. Yeah, that is. Thank you. So, um, as we transition into our Q amp a. My colleague is going to place our evaluation survey in the chat. Please just do me a favor and open the link now so that you have the tab open and ready for you when we're done. So I want to remind you that we'll be moving through this q amp a by keeping stack. And for those of you who missed it, it's just going down the line of those who have black they have a question in order of appearance. And so remember that there are three ways to get on the stack, you can either use the raise your hand function, you can write back in chat or you can write your question in the chat, and I will ask you a question for you. Just speak slowly so that the close captioning can capture all they stay. And yes, let's get started. Let's question for him. Well, while we help our wait for our audience to come up with a brilliant questions I have a question for all of you. You mentioned work life balance in some way. That Eric, she said you just mentioned managing stress, but some of you talked about the muscle that you need to exercise an area like you said like learning how to step up breaks. And it's okay letting the ball drop can y'all and this are like go more into like, what does this look like how did you learn it. And how are you exercising muscle strength for me. I do like planning. So for me, I would plan time for example to go to gym, or like to go to a keto class, or like I plan time for me to maybe like read a book. And I also need to I think one thing that I learned is that I need to prioritize break sometimes, because often time you will feel like, okay, I'm going to finish my work and I'm going to play. But most of the time it's not going to happen. You're just going to work on to until you go to sleep. So I, I try to tell myself that it's okay if I really like book for like 30 minutes or like if I watch TV for like 30, 30 minutes is fine. I prioritize that over my work sometimes. I am an office I'm opposite of that I struggle with planning. I am not a planner, but I mean, yeah, but I do run into burn a lot because of that because I'm just so focused on science at the time, or I'm so focused on working out or like something like that, or reading So, yeah, what I am trying to do more now is to plan like you. Yeah, I think it's better to enjoy things in bits than to be overwhelmed the obsession helps with science but nothing else. I think for me I actually learned this during winter. As you all mentioned that winter it's cold and dark. Well it was actually cold and dark for me as well. And so I realized that I needed to do something. I was actually oversleeping which at the beginning was like okay well I did didn't do great the first semester right so I'll catch up on my sleep. So actually that was not great because I was oversleeping so I actually started to get up early started to exercise and started to walk take pictures of birds, doing more exercise have her actual breakfast. It took me an hour for a good amount of time and it's starting to like balancing it out and then doing homework in between right studying and meeting with people and like having a more busy time. And actually that really helped a lot because it's important. Also, I don't know if we mentioned this but I think also sleeping is good. Right, because sometimes we also forget and we don't really talk about this. So I had to do the other first semester I'm like okay I'll finish this until like 1am but that was actually not great because then it came over for the next semester right so having that properly balance I think it's key, especially for being a master student or a PhD student or just doing research in general. So for me, like, so my, actually, I haven't found my lifetime hobby like two years ago like I'm, I, so I'm a stand of a doing workout so I think doing workout kind of a help me like to focus and really to stay focused on my study or my like, or my day to day life. So for the planning. Also, I'm going to make a to do list every single day so you can either put on the, like the sticker, like physical sticker on your apartment, you're on your wall or even you can like, write everything down a Google document on on your lap on your lung on the everywhere like you can stick everywhere so actually, as I said at the very beginning, like everything takes time so you need to find a way like really see you better. There probably there are a lot of a suggestion to help you focus help you plan but you should really find a way that really make you comfortable to do that. Well, so someone asked, is there anything that you wish you knew sooner about the campus and the facilities. I'll just emphasize this a little bit but I didn't realize how big Michigan is. And again I'm still rediscovering or discovering day by day. So, traveling within the bus, or like, asking other people, because there's just so much, even labs have like their general facilities. If you get to explore some of the labs are like super cool. There's some really great stuff down there or like up there. It's very big. So if you're not used to like, or come from a very small university like I did and going to a big university. I think for me, that's still like trying to figure out ways. I think you, I recommend really like go on to rack on website and see like what scholarships and fellowships are available, especially for for international students because international students are not eligible for a lot of outside funding from like other institutes. So we only, we can only rely on university fellowship and scholarships, and sometimes they have like very early deadline. So, I would recommend just go on and browse and see like which one you want to apply for in the future and you can plan a little bit. Just one more thing. Also, I wanted to mention that Rackham has an international, sorry, emergency funding. So in the case of emergency that you need maybe like some more financial support, you can always apply for that. For example, I, there's a family loss earlier this year, so I need to travel back to home, and the tickets are expensive so I apply for the emergency funding. So is it a good time to contact professors or GSI or research lab work? Would it be before coming to Michigan? Or do you do it, or is it better to do it after classes start? Or will that be too late? Actually, I just answered a question but I can't answer again. So for me, I think it's anytime, but as I said, you cannot just like send a code emails. You should have a list sound of a connection with the professor either on the social media where you have the red on their papers first, because you should understand like what type of research, what type of work the professor they're doing, and you should understand, you should get familiar with them. So then you can send emails to the professor or either on the website, because on UMich website, we have like for on campus job opportunities, even for the temporary or even for the GSI. I can send a link later. Yeah. I think it would be a good idea to look up the professors and have some GSI set up even before coming in. I didn't do that and I was totally fine. So in our program, they let us try at least four labs before we pick one to do PhD in. The department gave multiple opportunities. So I also came in through an umbrella program called PIPs. So they had multiple events where we could talk to professors and match with them. But I would say in general, it's a good idea to go through the list of available professors and try to contact them or the students in the lab or anyway and just set up the what we call rotations. For me, I actually did this way in May, but you can do it anytime when I knew about it. I did it back in May and if professors didn't get back to me then I redid it again and it's also a way to show that you're interested in it. Whatever is this research or position, they all know that you're interested in it and it's a way to communicate with them. And so if that doesn't occur then when you get to school then you can mention that and they know that you're interested in the position on it. You know how does someone connect to seniors who are in the same program to help them navigate grad school and maybe the job search as well. So sorry. Go ahead. Did you tell me. I'll go anyway. So, in the case of biomedical science students, almost all the department website looks the same because they are bound to be the same it has a template. So all of them have sections for student leaders and which student is involved in that. So I would just go to the department website people in the department and see who are the peer mentors so for sure all the department have these peer mentors so at the minimum those would be the people I would just contact and then if you're interested in a specific research group it's also a good idea to contact those students as well. Yeah I think basically I would just use the department website. Also just to add on that if it's not listed within the website or that particular website you can reach out to the graduate chair and ask for those emails if it's not listed. And just to add on that a little bit more it's okay to just email people out of nowhere. Grad students PhD students everyone gets email from strangers all the time so it's totally okay to do that don't be afraid that you're interrupting that if they don't have time they just won't respond but if they do they will respond to you. Yeah, definitely. I know that y'all answered any a couple of this in the chat, but could you elaborate on any mental health resources that you would recommend on campus. I think caps is a good resource so see a PS like you can search that online so they have a couple of counselor like not couple like multiple counselors available and for students in biology. We have something called office of graduate and postdoctoral studies. They have counselors for the students and for people within their office. So it might be a good resource as well. And then our insurance covers many therapists and psychologists around the campus with the $25 copper. And I know there are like a couple of organizations on campus that would refund the copper because sometimes the money just keeps adding up if you have to use it frequently. So there is a way to get that money reimbursed sometime. So I think it is good, but I think that could be more. I can speak a little bit more about like how to find a therapist if you need to establish a long term therapist I recommend to start early because I think of it as a preventive thing. It's like you take vitamin C to prevent yourself from being sick. So, so I do really recommend because sometimes the stress are chronic, and you don't know when it's going to explode. And I, so what I did is I went to the psychology today website. And from there you can look for a list of therapists that's around this area. But the downside is it's not you need you might need to filter like who take our insurance. So you don't need to pay like $160 per session, you only have to do like the $25 copay. So, I know like it takes a lot of time and energy to establish that but I feel like that's really worth it and that's very important step for your self care. I think to add on that caps has therapy dogs on certain days, I actually use them. It's not only fun but it releases stress you. So they have those uncertain days, the way I found the Western social media Instagram. And they will see where will the dogs will be, and they actually have them more often when it's finals. And they also have them within the department will actually they have them with my department some days. I'm not sure that's different for other departments but I would really recommend that to you. I think I am really qualified to answer that. I am from a coastal tropical state in India with a lot of sunlight and a lot of fish. So I didn't realize both my exposure to sunlight and my diet significantly changed. So, I think, yeah, it was really hard but what helped us like I had people around who were Indians who kind of gave me warning signs or there is something called winter blues. And I thought it was a made up thing but then when my energy level started dropping, I really I did go to visit a doctor, and then she did really see through it and I wouldn't believe it and then she was like oh your vitamin D is like level is like plummeting so I did a test to see if it's a real thing and then yeah taking a lot of vitamin D supplements spending time outside and then really investing in like self care during winter is important. So I practice a lot of meditation and exercising more regressively than I do in summer during winters. And yeah, it does spill over a lot to academics so if I'm not in a good mood like I do get about so depression sometimes in winter so it's really important to take care of myself in winter months especially so I can be the best version of myself to all people around me and also for my research. I am from Taiwan which is also like a tropical island on Pacific so but I before Michigan I did my undergrad in Wisconsin so I've been very used to this kind of like winter weather. But I would say like going to exercising house. I know we all sounds like some like spiritual animal who like exercise and meditate every day but it's just because you really need that because going exercising make you to you release dopamine while you exercise so it's physiologically really making you you know like more energetic and thing and arguably you cannot do a lot of outdoor sports or like activities during winter. Though like if you have happened to love like winter sports like skiing skating that kind of thing that would also work but just try to move your body I guess try to like engage and still engage in activity during winter. Yeah for me is that that was that balance of if I kind of share about a little bit of my experience early on but it was balance and also I actually adopted a plant. I don't know where I was like okay I'm gonna adopt the plant and there was a green beautiful plant. And with that being said I had to really take care of it right like I took care of myself and a few more water eating, and I think that really helped me because I don't know much of how to take care of a plant. And so I did all the research, I could and so that helped me create a new hobby. And so that really helped me during the winter time. You have any recommendations for the stem, the type of SIM card to get here. I recommend visible. So, yeah it's like for the first ones, it's only like $10 a month for later on 30 months. Any recommendation for other panelists. I think I have AT&T. I think it's just like any other network. Yeah, I mean, if you can find a group of people you can always do like a family plan. I have family plan with AT&T and that's cheaper than if you sign up like individually and I would just put on the note that T-Mobile and Mint has really bad signal here. So AT&T is pretty much the only thing that works, that works like covers most of the campus. So can you list the things that the incoming students need to do before coming to the university? Either is there something on a checklist that you can say like, oh, you should definitely do this or you shouldn't do this. Someone gave the example, for instance, like signing up for the patient portal. I think this has nothing to do with academics, but I think like slowly prepare yourself from wherever you're coming. And like you all said, you know, sometimes being away from home is kind of hard. Or if this is your first time moving away, it could be like a little extra hard. So just like mentally prepare yourself and tell yourself that how awesome you are, you know, like wherever you go, like how awesome you are and how awesome you'll be doing just to prepare yourself slowly. Right now four years seems like a really long time to me because grad school was so harsh. So but still like I think in India I said I was on a residential campus so it was really easy to be a student like I didn't have any responsibilities other than studying and being alive. So here it's harder like I had to do grocery shopping. I had to cook by myself. I had an apartment to look after. So this was a lot of responsibilities added on top of each other. So I just remember probably I was a little grumpy in the first few months that I had a lot of added responsibility. So I wish I had like prepared myself a little bit for that because student in the US is not like being a student in India. I would agree with that. So basically be prepared to be of all adults. You need to take care of the bill you need to open a bank account. You need to do grocery shopping you need to feed yourself. And you need to sleep. So it's very difficult to do all of those on the same time and you wouldn't realize it until you actually do it. So somebody asked about like getting an card and banks. So I was and there are a couple of banks on campus. I would say just they're pretty similar to my knowledge. So one thing to keep in mind is that if you ever if you ever if you're ever like moving away from Michigan or like moving to other states. There are like some smaller banks that does not have branches all over the country so that's something to keep in mind. So if you want to look for something that's more available across the country maybe like Chase or Bank of America would be your top choice. And in terms of m car it's pretty easy I think as far as I can remember you apply online and you schedule a time to pick up and that's it. This will be our final question. Could you speak along these lines could y'all speak about applying for social security numbers and driver's licenses, etc. So I think for driver's license there was like a session or something rack am organized so some of the officials were on campus because for some students who come on fellowship. Like me I was not eligible for a social security number in my first year. So we could go to the office and get an eligibility for social security or something like that and then use that to apply for driver's license for those students who are not eligible for a social security number in their first year. So in general, I think I would watch out for the orientation that racham gives and some of the emails to international students from racham and also just know few international students in your senior years, as far as I know there was a session specifically for giving this ineligibility letter which would help get a driver's license. And for social security number I think you have to apply on your own afterwards, when you become eligible for one. I can speak a little bit about a social security number. Um, so if you want to get the SSN, the one thing that you should find a job on campus as an international student and doing the vacation that you can work as food time. I'm not just talking my experience because right now I'm working on campus. Um, so if you plan to work on campus, like work or work and study or whatever. So if you once you once you get a job so you can, so you can get this. You're going to go through the process with the international center. So if you, um, if you're curious that you can go to the international center website to see their like step to guide you through, like how to get your social security number. Usually it's pretty fast like waiting 15 days that you can get a card, like a paper card. Before we part ways I'd love to hear from the panelists about the biggest piece of advice you'd like to leave our incoming students with as they begin their journey. I think I would say like just reemphasize everything I just said so far which would be like to reach out to all the resources on campus and really make good connections like more meaningful relationship with people like be friends or make multiple mentors like I am lucky that I have a very good research advisors but it's they don't they're not many numbers. So it's not a bad idea to reach out to more mentors so have a group of people. Now I really appreciate it does take a village to make a good student or a good grad student. So like make as many meaningful connection with as many people as possible. I would I would second a lot of that. I think the most important things is don't be afraid to ask for help. I know like you could feel like oh am I stupid to ask this question it's, but the fact is it's most likely that there's another person who also has this question. But to make connections and to make friends who you can at least invent to when you need to you know like complain about things. And I would also agree if especially for doing research or or not I guess it's important to have multiple mentors because they can provide you support from different aspects. So, so yeah so I would say try to build a support network of professors mentors and peers. I think for me will be a step out of your comfort zone. And it's okay if you get a no for an answer maybe bigger things will come your way. So yeah like really be out there and it's okay if you don't feel like really being out there but that definitely helped me. So my advice is kind of similar like within networks and not being afraid of seeking help for people. So we should spend more time like making connections with faculty members. So I think for the peers were the people in your field of study. So this relationship can be very invaluable like for your academic academic growth, or like internships or job opportunities. If you find the peers who are doing research project with you, or you are finding that friends who are doing like horse project or even you are doing the business pitch competition where you even you're like finding the peers like just like going for grocery shopping. So there are a lot of a connection that you can make. If you have ever, if you ever have adults or questions, like, you should take the initiative to ask and learn from them. So, yeah, like I said, like, don't think you're stupid because everybody going to ask the question. If you don't ask you're never know, right. Everybody's not starting to be very knowledgeable that everybody's starting to be like, don't know everything but if we ask each other like as a community like everybody's happy to share with your experience and to give you really really helpful like suggestions so never be afraid of asking. Can I just add one more thing. Especially don't think they are asking this stupid question because you're international and you don't know you don't know things, because domestic students they also have a lot of questions. And it's not don't think less of yourself because we're international and you're new to here. You, it's, it's, it's because of that you need to ask that question and I know it could be scary and I know to a lot of us English is not your, it's not your first language. So, there's a lot of concerns when even like speaking up, but that's very important to remind yourself, you're asking questions, because you're international and you're new to here. Thanks y'all that that was really insightful. I want to thank everyone in the audience today for their presence and their participation and I want to thank our fans for giving both their time and their expertise to us today. Thank you for joining this event will be sent to you when it has been processed and remember to take the evaluation survey when you can. The panelists emails are in the chat, and yeah, you can reach out to them if you have any further questions. Thank you. Take care of yourselves.