Mail and Phone
Mail to the US
If you are arriving in the US for the first time, you may want to consider packing lightly and arranging to have personal items mailed to you once you have your US address. US mail is handled by the US Postal Service (USPS). In addition, there are a variety of commercial package and express mail delivery services such as UPS, Federal Express, and DHL
For information about sending mail to an on-campus mailing address at Tufts, click on the button to the right to access the Tufts Mail Services web site.
US Address Format
US addresses are formatted in the following way:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Name Care Of ("c/o") Name* (optional) Building Number / Street Name Apartment Number City, State, ZIP (Postal Code) |
Mary Smith c/o John Johnson 123 Main Street Apt. 111 Medford MA 02511 |
| *If you do not live at an address where your mail is being sent, you can indicate a "care of" name, which is a company or person at that address who will receive your mail for you. | |
Cell Phones
The decision to have a cell phone may require you to do research. Whether you secure a phone before coming to the US or after arriving will depend on your personal needs, budget, and technology.
Major Providers
The major cell phone providers in the US are Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. In addition, there are a variety of other cell phone providers that provide similar packages and options. Cell phone service can be obtained by visiting a cell phone carrier directly, or going to an electronics store such as Best Buy, where you can compare plans offered by different carriers. Some cell phone carriers offer plans specifically targeted to international students or visitors.