Every year, thousands of people from all over the world travel to study in the United States. If you’re one of those people, you probably have a lot on your mind. It’s not always easy to live in a new country. I’d imagine it’s especially hard if English isn’t your first language.
To make things even more stressful, once you start your studies, there’s a big list of other things you’ll need to take care of. You’ll probably need a computer for your assignments. You’ll likely need to find some form of transportation. And, of course, you’ll probably need a cell phone to stay in touch with friends, family, and your fellow students.
Studying abroad is already enough work without these added challenges. To help make things a little easier, here are some tips for choosing a phone plan for international students.
4 tips for choosing a phone plan for international students in the USA
1. Look for a plan with international calling options
If you’re an international student, you likely have friends and family back in your home country who you’re going to want to talk to. That’s why I recommend thinking carefully about the international calling options of any phone plan before signing up. Even if you are getting a great deal on calls, texts, and data in the United States, calling internationally still might end up getting expensive quickly. Also consider adding an international calling package from AT&T PREPAID to potentially make it much more affordable for you to talk with your friends and family back home. Go here to see a list of destinations and rates as part of the International Plus Add-on from AT&T PREPAID.
2. Consider the benefits of a U.S. prepaid phone plan
There’s a strong argument that prepaid phone plans are the best phone plans for international students. For one thing, when purchasing an AT&T PREPAID plan, you won’t need to go through any type of U.S credit check like you might for a post-paid wireless plan. This can be helpful for people who are citizens of other countries and don’t have a credit history in the U.S. Additionally, many prepaid plans let you pay one month at a time, so you can work that around your academic calendar. This could be convenient for people who plan on returning home during the summer.
3. Think carefully about cost vs. quality
Everyone gets why cost is important. After all, university students aren’t known for having a lot of money.
That said, don’t assume that just because something is cheap it is a good deal. If a phone plan is affordable but provides spotty service, that might not be worth it in the long run. You’ll want to look for a combination of quality and value. For example, AT&T’s service area covers more than 99% of the U.S. population,* so you’ll know you’re getting service you can depend on. And, that service can come for a price as low as $30 per month with AT&T PREPAID.
*Based on overall coverage in the U.S. licensed areas. Coverage not available everywhere.
4. See if you can keep your current phone
If you already have a phone you like, one good way to save money is to bring that phone to your new plan rather than buying a new one. For example, with AT&T PREPAID, you can keep your current phone in most cases. If you need a new phone, AT&T PREPAID also has affordable options from some of the most popular brands.
Best of luck with your studies!
Hopefully, you found some of these tips helpful, and maybe I’ve even convinced you to take a serious look at your options from AT&T PREPAID. You can find AT&T PREPAID at att.com/prepaid, at AT&T stores, and at multiple other popular retailers.
This article is AT&T sponsored content written by Matt Johnsen, a TechBuzz contributor and AT&T employee. The statements in this article are his own and don’t necessarily represent the positions, strategies, or opinions of AT&T.
