Graduate International Connection

Aimee and Ramses* speak about off campus housing, how to avoid housing scams, utilities, insurance, and more. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j5pHdxB9dcQ09TeZoltYVM-IzO4HJxvRwbNQ5y5Cs7s/edit?usp=sharing *This podcast was recorded for the 2023 cohort and does not address newer issues and concerns around housing for the 2024 cohort. We also note that this podcast is a...

Join Aimee and Sarvenaz as they discuss how to get assistance from on campus or off campus maintenance offices and what generally is able to be supported by these offices. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zvbnSBuqkCBdYyzK2Phi3II43LYyqBzSpY64O1gj9v0/edit?usp=sharing

Join Jyotsana and Sofia as they discuss their experiences with on campus housing. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WjOHD7vNaKHG_rPZ53-UFq7tD1WAV1Sy_xC4rInpAZQ/edit?usp=sharing

Join Aimee and Meet as they discuss living with roommates and finding roommates to live with. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xpt8h3BbqieFxfvGXBRhhCn12mEo8Bzh2om7zP9RGHY/edit?usp=sharing

Join Aimee, Mak* and Lucas* as they discuss buying new and used bikes in Orange County. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N8_2GW-ZZVK2yp8nSU0Ej5o72vyqaKvzxPmzncjdz24/edit?usp=sharing *This podcast was created for the 2023 cohort of GIC and has been edited from our Buying New and Used Cars and Bikes podcast to be shortened and specific for the bike purchasing process.

Aimee and Maryam discuss renting a car and utilizing student discounts for ZipCar. *This podcast was recorded for the 2023 cohort and is being reposted for the 2024 cohort. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k5s915fJOsu70quN24ixgTAndwUEcl8D9uGqGwIjJ2s/edit?usp=sharing

Join Aimee and Nezahat* as they discuss what it is like to use public transportation in the U.S., specifically buses and trains. *This podcast was recorded for the 2023 cohort and reposted for the 2024 cohort Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UJx7ANAIVTAb8fwm3ScfrrPTYcEaGSU24ma9pyJuK_M/edit?usp=sharing

Aimee and Jyotsana* discuss getting around campus and nearby without a car. They review options such as walking, biking, and using an electric scooter. *This podcast was created for the 2023 cohort and is being published again for the 2024 cohort. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lABhLOuv8Vl8jX79WvJCEJtV5yrAGUsotz35gV_fLM0/edit?usp=sharing

Aimee & Tanvi* review how to get your license and access the DMV in California. *This podcast was created for the 2023 cohort and is being reposted for the 2024 cohort Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kXLD0Z21uOLpKZ5-Vo3vMvwQuzrbzVne/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112465988625426767156&rtpof=true&sd=true

Aimee and Francis discuss the pros and cons of purchasing a new car. They review the steps they take when looking into purchasing a car and some of the requirements in order to take one home. Transcript available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lrQFU2DcbpUpSjdHAIrcw2R97j5vp_ZMSpSrlcSzMwE/edit?usp=sharing

Aimee and Vidya discuss pros and cons of purchasing used cars and what research they do before purchasing a car. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nr6TYsAWXxhiigyzjSLWGe8mIuhz3bvT5bMO6mQ6Ams/edit?usp=sharing

Jyotsana and Berkay discuss where to find second hand items to make your money stretch as you settle into your apartment as a graduate student. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CIGuxc3sRd_oRZkPGs8XK7uFNja-AYDQHm1ExbsLD5I/edit?usp=sharing

Aimee and Blanca* discuss what essential items to budget for early on to settle into your apartments and what items you may want to consider getting second hand or new, as well as what items you might be able to wait for. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OEpfqaGzc0t0AXXkT-Yxqeju3VveUkNS/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112465988625426767156&rtpof=true&sd=true

Aimee and Arieyshma discuss common text, phone call, and email scams to look out for in the U.S. and how to protect yourself from the most common scams. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sot7CR9pMQx5TKnc-ZcKjQ-5FQ8Inc94ItlgtjlWWlk/edit?usp=sharing

Join Jyotsana and Nidhi as they discussed the Basic Needs Center and the Emergency Meal Swipe program and they benefits from these programs that they have gotten as graduate students at UC Irvine. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ukNeKRxP_2ZFwFj0JzVuQ-zl7oZXoJtSCmQuoNnfHxk/edit?usp=sharing

Join Jyotsana and Stella as they discuss how to utilize the Basic Needs Center, especially the Fresh Pantry. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fgps5xNqg67hE3HmB15CSylBFyYkFcAZpPH6_E-00-4/edit?usp=sharing

Join Aimee and Juan Camilo as they discuss resources on campus for those who begin their graduate journey with partners and/or kids or have them along the way. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-hcvhuBPt_4f7kB-m4Cym7l6aFJXsuiNhMpZjx4xCbg/edit?usp=sharing

Have you been in the U.S. but not in California? Have you visited before but not California? Aimee and Christian are not originally from California and share their experiences transitioning to California and the Irvine area. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W74SGod5TfxcQ2-7ohGtXycmjr3xU3qQwLdaZPk4Ni0/edit?usp=sharing

Join Aimee and Blanca as they discuss the stages of Culture Shock and how normal these experiences can be for everyone. *This podcast was recorded for the 2023 Cohort but remade available for the 2024 cohort. Transcript Available Here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OMz0crdKuTNWsO_W5XjfovddwkBCjv0I/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112465988625426767156&rtpof=true&sd=true

Join Melisa* and Sakshi* as they share the experiences they had during their first year. Sakshi both attended as a master level student and a PhD student and was able to share both of those experiences that she had on campus. This podcast was recorded for the 2023 cohort and has been made available again for the 2024 cohort. Transcripts available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yHbaouPJq...

Join Aimee, Roman, and Sanchi as they share their first experiences as they came to the U.S. and how they navigated that first period of time. This podcast was recorded for the 2023 cohort and has been made available again for the 2024 cohort. Transcripts are available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KrImmVJGL01mvoEng26MVRG6FIt5xPGq/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=112465988625426767156&rtp...

Joining Aimee, Manager of International Student Recruitment and Retention and 2024 GIC Mentor Meet as they discuss Meet's experience applying for internships and what she did prior to arriving to UC Irvine and what the process has looked like for her since then. Transcripts are available here:  docs.google.com/document/d/1qbGW5…/edit?usp=sharing

Join Aimee and Bingya, previous GIC Mentor* as they discuss some of the best study spaces on campus. *This podcast was recorded for the GIC 2023 program but made available again for the GIC 2024 program. Transcripts available here:  docs.google.com/document/d/1anSP7…tpof=true&sd=true

Join Aimee, Manager of International Student Recruitment and Retention and Arieyshma, 2024 GIC Mentor as they discuss Arieyshma's experience submitting her transcripts as a recent graduate. Aimee and Arieyshma are not experts in admissions. Reach out to UC Irvine's Graduate Division Admissions Department for information and individualized support. Transcripts available here:  docs.google.c...

Join Jyotsana, GIC's Podcast Coordinator and Abigail, 2024 GIC Mentor as they discuss TOEP and Abigail's experience taking the test in order to prepare to be a TA. The information in this podcast is based on their experiences, please reach out to the experts for any questions regarding the test. Transcripts are available here:  docs.google.com/document/d/11Ys3S…/edit?usp=sharing