1) Where is Washington State University (WSU)?
WSU is in Pullman, located in southeastern Washington state and not DC, in the scenic Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Pullman is eight miles (13 km) from Moscow, Idaho, which is home to the University of Idaho, and is served by the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport. It is 285 miles away from Seattle.
2) How safe is pullman?
Pullman is one of the low-crime areas in the state. In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek selected Pullman as the "Best Place to Raise Kids" in Washington. Factors included affordability, safety, a family-friendly lifestyle and the quality of Pullman High School.
3) Pullman's climate
Climate is typically warm and dry summers followed by cold, snowy winters with short transitional seasons in between.
Note
The committee members of ISA are students who volunteered and elected. We can guide, facilitate and suggest you about issues such as housing, roommate etc., but please do not except us to find one specially for you. We cannot book or reserve house / rooms for anyone nor we can find a roommate.
Specific questions related to your department, subject and major must be directed to the department academic coordinators. ISA has people from diverse subjects and majors and might not have answers for every question. Rules are changed frequently and we might not be updated on that. Usually academic coordinators reply very promptly and their information can be found on the departmental websites.
4) What’s life like at WSU?
Pullman is a small college town with around 35000 population and predominantly students. If you are come expecting skyscrapers all over, you are going to be disappointed. If you come expecting to see a big city, again you are going to be disappointed. However, Pullman is beautiful. In general, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is considered one of the most scenic places in the US. Pullman is surrounded by rolling hills called the Palouse. It is 6 hr drive to Seattle, Spokane is the nearest bigger town. We even have to drive one and half hour to Spokane to watch any new Indian movie.
5) What’s the Indian community like at WSU?
The Indian student body is small, but significant. We would say around 250 Indian students (undergraduate, masters and doctoral) and post-docs. Also, Schweitzer Engineering Labs (SEL) is a company headquartered in Pullman, and they also have quite a few Indian employees.
6) Indian food and groceries
You would find almost every daily use,
Indian groceries in the following shops.
1. PNW Halal Meats LLC
Address: 1045 N Grand Ave b,
Pullman, WA 99163
2. Taj Grocery
Address: 409 W 3rd St,
Moscow, ID 83843
7) Housing in Pullman
In WSU or USA in general, there is no concept of paying guest, hostel, mess etc. You need to find a house/apartment. Please read the following link that will guide you in finding a house. The list is not exhaustive, but serves a great starting point.
9) Banks in Pullman
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Chase Bank
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Bank of America (On campus ATM)
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U. S. Bank (On campus branch and ATM)
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Umpqua Bank
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Washington Federal
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Columbia Bank
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Banner Bank
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Washington Trust Bank
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WSECU (On campus branch and ATM)
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P1FCU
8) Pick up from Pullman Airport on Arrival
Office of International Programs at WSU provides airport pickup to new incoming international students at Pullman. We recommend new students to contact them via email (international@wsu.edu) and also through web page (https://ip.wsu.edu/future-students/travel/).
August 5 to August 11 are the TENTATIVE DATES, International Program will offer pick ups from airport for Fall 2019. We highly recommend students to email international office to find out exact dates. And based on those dates book your flight tickets.
Before you reach Pullman, make sure about key for your apartment if you are moving in to an apartment on a fresh lease. All the apartment offices are closed after 5 pm and weekends. If you’re flying in these times ask the apartment coordinators about your situation. If you are moving in with someone who is already here, notify them before, so that they keep doors open for you. And also you need correct address of your apartment so that the people from international office should know where to drop you off.
11) Internet (Wi-Fi) and Electricity
Internet:
There are 3 internet service providers at Pullman walk-in/call/use their web page to avail their services.
1. Spectrum
8681 WA-270, Pullman, WA 99163
2. Frontier Communications Retail Store
110 NE Whitman St, Pullman, WA 99163
(509) 331-5788, 1-866-236-7285
https://go.frontier.com/availability/wa/pullman
3. Verizon Authorized Retailer – GoWireless
1195 SE Bishop Blvd #4, Pullman WA 99163
(509) 332-1400
https://www.gowireless.com/store/stores/washington/pullman/pullman---crimsonvillage----602137/
Electricity
1. Avista Utilities
5702 WA-270, Pullman, WA 99163
(800) 227-9187
10) Credit card
Having a credit history is really important, and it takes 6 months after you sign up with your first credit card to get credit history. Credit history of India will not be considered. Usually students use Discover Credit Card. Its a good idea to get credit card soon after you get your Social Security Number.
Here is a link: http://refer.discover.com/s/cca7sj
12) Immunization Requirement
WSU students (born after December 31, 1956) are required to provide documentation of 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) immunization or immunity to measles, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
Proof of measles immunity means documentation you have had one of the following:
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Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine received after one year of age and at least one month apart, or
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A blood test showing measles immunity, or
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Diagnosed measles disease (healthcare provider’s signature required).
WSU accept any of the following documents as proof of measles immunity:
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School Certificate of Immunization, or
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Immunization records from your healthcare provider or public health department, or
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Copy of your immunization card, or
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Copy of your military immunization record.