From: Laszlo Mihaly, Grad. Program Director
To: Entering Grad. Students
Date: Summer, 2009

• Participating in the orientation is required by the University for employment as a teaching assistant. See http://graduate.physics.sunysb.edu/orientation/ for the dates and details, or check the Graduate School's WEB page.
• If you want to take the Placement Exam, you should refresh your knowledge in the corresponding subject matter. Please refer to this page http://graduate.physics.sunysb.edu/Physics_Courses.html to get an idea about the content of the courses. Our WEB page about the recent exam problems, http://solidstate.physics.sunysb.edu/physdept/comprehensive/ may be also helpful.
• If you did an advanced laboratory course at home, and you wish to be exempted from our course, please bring all related material with you. http://graduate.physics.sunysb.edu/index.html#waivers
• Please bring the official copy of your final transcript, plus original GRE and TOEFL scores (except if you have already mailed it).
• There are other official papers that you must bring with you so there will be no delays in your health insurance or Employment Eligibility Verification. All Documents must be in English!
  For health Insurance:
  • Personal birth certificate or unexpired passport (Note: only birth certificates will be accepted for dependent children - if applicable.)
  • Original Social Security Card - (International students will be able to apply for and receive a card shortly after they arrive).
  • Proof of support/dependence for other children - if applicable.
  • Proof of disability (- if applicable.)
  • The legal marriage of same-sex partners will be recognized for the purpose of providing spousal benefits, in one of the Graduate School Employee Health Insurance Plans, when the marriage has been performed in a specific jurisdiction. The student employees should contact Danielle Bray for further details.
  For employment verification (i.e. for being paid as a TA) a typical interantional student uses the passport and the Social Security Card. International students will receive a card shortly after they arrive.
• Bring cash/credit card to by food and other stuff.
• The Solar System, http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/DoIT/solarsystem2.nsf/, is used for housing, course registration and other matters. Send an email to Diane at djdiaferia@notes.cc.sunysb.edu if you do not know your number.
• Those who have still not received their I20 must be patient.... The Department cannot do anything to speed up the process.

Cheers

Laszlo