Handbook for International Students and Scholars

Our Handbook for International Students and Scholars has lots of useful information about local resources such as housing, shopping, transporation, medical care and more.

Transportation

Friday Trip Schedule: September 2009
User-Friendly Bus Guide to the following locations:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Adminstration, Target and Montclair Plaza
 

Housing: Living in and Around Claremont

We strongly suggest you do as much research as possible before arriving in Claremont, and contact potential landlords and make appointments to view your housing options.  International Place can assist in transporting you to these appointments. The first stop for many new graduate students is the Claremont Graduate University Apartments page.

Finding affordable housing in and around the Claremont area when you first arrive as a new student can be somewhat stressful and time consuming. It is important that you keep in mind the following points:

Begin your housing search before you arrive in Claremont

• Check the I-Place Apartment List and the Claremont University Consortium Apartment List for contact information for local hotel/motels and apartment complexes (note that most of these apartments are unfurnished - it is possible to purchase used furniture and other necessary household items).
• Graduate students can make arrangments with the Claremont University Consortium Housing Office for housing in the CGU apartments.
• The Claremont University Consortium maintains a Housing Referral Service for students and scholars interested in off-campus housing options.
• I-Place maintains a list of rooms for rent in private homes.  Upon your arrival, we share these options with you. 

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Housing Expenses

Startup costs for new students moving into rentals (apartments, rooms for rent in private homes, rental houses, etc ...) can be significant.  It is not unusual for students to spend up to $3000 to $4000 within their first week in Claremont on their initial rent, utility connection costs, deposits and furniture.

• Rent - Rents for apartments will vary depending on location and other factors.  Rents for rooms in private homes will generally be from approximately $500-$700/month
• Utilities - Utilities (the cost of paying for electricity, gas, water, and trash pickup services) for apartments is typically not included in the monthly rent.  Costs for utilities will vary depending on the number of people living in an apartment and their personal habits. A good, high-end, estimate to use for utilities is $150/month.  Costs for utilities may or may not be included in the rent for a room in a private home - you will need to clarify this with the homeowner.  There may also be initial costs to startup and connect certain utilities.
• Deposit - It is common for landlords to require the equivalent of up to 3 months rent as a security and/or damage deposit.  You need to be prepared to pay this deposit before moving in.  The specifics of how this deposit is collected and returned will be outlined in the lease agreement
• Furniture - .Generally, apartments for rent are unfurnished.  Most rooms for rent in private homes are furnished.  CGU Apartments are furnished (though you will need to provide your own bed - see the link on the link on the CGU Apartments page).

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Roommates

• You can greatly reduce your hosuing costs by finding roommates to share a multi-room apartment
• If you live in the CGU Apartments, the housing office will assign roomates as appropriate
• I-Place can help you connect with prospective roommates before you arrive and when you get here.  If you are interested in connecting with other students who are looking for roomates, please email us; be sure to include your contact information and roommate gender preference.

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 I-Place Host Family Program

• The I-Place host Family Program is designed as a temporary home-stay program to assist with housing immediately upon arrival.  It is not designed as a long-term housing options
• Host families are volunteers who open their homes to new international students and scholars because they are interested in getting to know people from other countries.
• The Host Family Program is for a maximum of 5 nights.  Participants will need to make permanent housing arrangements during that time.  If you need more that that amount of time to arrange permanent housing, you need to let I-Place know and will likely need to atay at a local hotel or motel.
• Students and scholars requesting a temporary host family or airport pick-up MUST fill out the New Student/Scholar Form as soon as you purchase your ticket to the United States and absolutely no later than 14 days prior to your arrival.  International Place would like to help all students, but cannot do so on short notice.
• We are only able to offer the home-stay program to students and scholars arriving just prior to the start of the fall and spring semesters.
• We are only able to arrange a temporary home-stay for new students and scholars.  We are not able to arrange temporary home-stay for other family members, such as spouses, children, siblings or parents.

More Useful Local Resources

Green Bike Programs on Campus

Green Bike Program at Pomona College

Green Bike Program at Pitzer College

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