Helpful Resources

Housing

There are several options for housing. You can rent a house, or you can rent an apartment off-campus. If you attend TU, you can also rent an apartment oncampus. On-campus housing at TU is usually more expensive than off-campus housing.

Renting an Apartment Off Campus:

Some off-campus apartments selected by international students are:

Yacht Club
Monaco Apartments
Waterford Tulsa Apartments
Westpark Apartments
The Park at Forest Oaks Apartments
Red River Apartments

There are many other apartments in Tulsa. Options vary by number of bedrooms, price, and location.

Renting a House:

Many students choose to rent a house with roommates. Having roommates and sharing the rent is often one of the cheapest options. You can search for available houses to rent on craigslist.com.

*Tip: If you will not have a car, try to find housing that is close to your campus, or within walking or biking distance.

Transportation

Many students buy a car, ride a bike, walk, or get rides with a friend. Ubers, taxis, and Lyft can be expensive. Taking the bus is also an option. Local buses can take a lot of time, depending on the route. Buses run Monday through Saturday with no service on Sunday. Tulsa Transit’s bus service is available throughout the city of Tulsa, and extends into Jenks, Sand Springs and Broken Arrow. Local bus routes can be found at www.tulsatransit.org.

*Tip: “Go Pass” is another app that can help with local bus routes.

Car Insurance

It is required by law that every car owner has car insurance. If you are going to purchase a car, you must also purchase car insurance. Allstate, Liberty, and State Farm are examples of trustworthy car insurance companies. There are other companies, too. Shop around to find car insurance that fits your budget. As you are researching, call the company, or contact the company agent, to ask for a quote.

You will be able to choose from three different levels of car insurance coverage:

Liability Coverage: Liability is the lowest, and cheapest, level of coverage. If you get in an accident, liability coverage will help pay for the cost of the other car’s damage, but not yours. It will protect you from having to pay for the other person’s medical bills or car repairs. This is the most basic level of car insurance. This is the level of insurance that is required by law.

Collision Coverage: If you get in an accident, collision coverage will help pay for your car’s repairs. Collision coverage will help cover the cost of repair regardless of who caused the accident. This level is not required by law; it is optional.

Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive coverage will protect your car from things that liability and collision coverage don’t. Comprehensive coverage will protect you from things like damage caused by weather, fallen tree branches, etc. If you choose comprehensive coverage, do not assume this will include liability and collision coverage. Make sure to ask if comprehensive coverage also includes liability and collision coverage. This level is not required by law; it is optional.

If you have any questions about the different levels of car insurance coverage, call the insurance company agent and ask. It is okay to ask them as many questions as you want.

*Tip: If you have a very cheap car, liability insurance may be enough for you. If you have an expensive car, you may want collision and comprehensive coverage as well.

Medical Care

The U.S. has very good medical care, but it is expensive. You need to have health insurance to protect yourself from very high medical bills. We strongly urge you to get health insurance as soon as possible. Your school should have a student health insurance plan that you can enroll in at the beginning of the semester. The student health insurance plan will probably be cheaper than buying private health insurance.

If you have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the Emergency Room. You should only use the Emergency Room for a real emergency.

For minor injuries or illnesses that require immediate attention, but are not an emergency, you can visit an Urgent Care. Urgent Care will be much cheaper than the Emergency Room.

You can also visit your on-campus medical clinic. This may be your cheapest option. If you do not know how to schedule an appointment with the on-campus doctor, contact the International Student Services office. They can help you schedule an appointment with the campus medical clinic.

There may be some free health services available to you. Here are some resources you can look into:

Good Samaritan Health Clinics. These clinics provide health care for those that are uninsured and/or underserved. They may also be able to help if you are under insured. You can visit their website at https://www.goodsamaritanhealth.org/ and click the “clinic locations” button under the “patient resources” tab.
Community/neighborhood clinics. Please see the list of clinics and descriptions under “Community Resources beginning on page 9.
Dental Clinics. Please see “Northeastern Oklahoma Dental Clinics” under “Community Resources” beginning on page 9.

“In-Network” versus “Out-of-Network”

If you need a doctor, you will have the option of searching for doctors in Tulsa, or wherever you are. Before selecting a doctor, it is a good idea to find out if that doctor is in your insurance network.

Some doctors will be in your insurance network (“in-network”). This means your insurance will help cover the bills from that doctor/clinic. Some doctors will be “out-ofnetwork”. This means your insurance will cover less of the bills from your doctor. Do your best to find doctors that are in your network.

To find out if a doctor is in your insurance network, contact your insurance company. You can go to their website or call them on your phone.

Domestic Violence

In the United States, both women and men have the right to be protected from violence in their homes and in their relationships. Violence (or other forms of abuse) in your home or in your relationship is called “domestic violence”. In the United States, domestic violence is illegal. It is a crime. It is punishable by law.

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, help is available. There are people on-campus and off-campus who want to help you.

Some available resources are listed below. You can also talk to us.

The University of Tulsa (TU)

TU Campus Security: 918-631-5555

TU Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS) Advocate:

A TU/DVIS advocate is available regarding online and in-person sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, and stalking resources. The advocate is reachable by phone, email, Teams, or in-person on the second floor of the Hardesty Hall-Holmes Student Center.
Phone: 918-631-2965
Email: tu2965@utulsa.edu

The University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center (OU-Tulsa)

OU-Tulsa Campus Security: 918-660-3333

OU-Tulsa Advocates Helpline:

OU Advocates is a helpline and support service for anyone in the OUTulsa community regarding sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking and/or sexual harassment. It is a free and confidential resource on campus. Any student, staff, or faculty member in the OU-Tulsa community may use Advocate services.
Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM: 918-660-3163
After Hours and Weekends: 918-743-5763 (DVIS)

Oklahoma State University, Tulsa Campus (OSU-Tulsa)

OSU-Tulsa Campus Security: 918-594-8123

OSU-Tulsa Victim Advocate:

The Victim Advocate is someone you can speak to privately and confidentially. The Victim Advocate will talk with you about all of your options, including on-campus and off-campus resources.  Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM: 918-200-5595

Oral Roberts University (ORU):

ORU Campus Security: 918-495-7750

Off-Campus Resources (free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day)

Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-522-7233
- This is a 24-hr phone number that provides help with safety planning, crisis intervention, emergency shelter and advocacy to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS): 918-743-5763 ○ Texting services are also available. Text SAFE to 207-777 to communicate with a DVIS advocate daily between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Cell Phone Options

You may be able to use your existing cell phone if it is unlocked. You will also need to see if your existing cell phone will work with the service provider you choose. Your service provider (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) will be able to tell you if your existing phone can be used on their plan. When you sign up with them, they will provide you with a new SIM card for your phone.

You have two choices for buying a cell phone plan in the U.S.:

Option 1: Set up a Pre-Paid Plan

A pre-paid plan is generally the cheaper option. You will purchase a monthly plan. Most plans have unlimited talk and text options. The amount of data on the plan will depend on the price. Make sure your plan has enough data for your needs. You must remember to pay your bill every month. You can also set up auto-pay. This can be done online. You can change plans or end your plan anytime.

Option 2: Set up a Contract Plan

With a contract plan, you must sign an agreement for a certain length of time (for example, one year). This will mean that once every month, you will receive a bill. You must pay this bill every month. Contract plans generally require either a Social Security number or a credit check. You cannot end the plan until the contract term is up.

*Tip: Some students use Mint Mobile. This is one affordable option.

Furniture

We (ISM) do Furniture Fest every August to provide free furniture to international students. Please note that we are volunteer led and we do not have the resources to help with furniture moving or transportation outside of our annual Furniture Fest. However, it is not hard nor expensive to rent a furniture truck in Tulsa. You can rent furniture trucks from U-haul or Budget rentals. Be sure to compare prices.

If you need furniture at a different time of the year, please contact Nat at contact@ismtulsa.org. We have a partnership with a local furniture organization to help you get affordable, gently-used furniture. Terms and conditions apply.

There are also stores around town that sell used furniture at affordable prices. Some of these stores offer delivery for a fee and others you may need to arrange your own transportation.

H.O.W. Foundation
Share House
Salvation Army
Goodwill

*Tip: Facebook market place and Craig’s List are great sites to find used furniture at affordable prices.

Grocery Shopping

Some local grocery shopping suggestions, cheapest to most expensive:

Aldi (Affordable)
Trader Joe’s
Walmart
Reasors
Sprouts
Whole Foods (expensive)

Some grocery stores will deliver groceries to your home for a small fee. You can go to their website and order your groceries online. For example, Walmart and Aldi will deliver groceries to your home, for a small fee. There are also other grocery delivery services you can use for a small fee, such as InstaCart.

*Tip: If you sign up for a Walmart+ Membership, you can get a 30-day free trial with $0 delivery fees on orders of $35 or more.

*Tip: TU has an on-campus free lunch every day of the week! Most of the lunches are around 12-1pm. See below for locations of free TU lunches.

Monday – BCM
Tuesday – Newman Center
Wednesday – Sharp Chapel
Thursday – Wesley Foundation
Friday – International Student Ministries @ the BCM

Other Tips

Tulsa has many lovely outdoor parks. Check out: The Gathering Place, Riverside Parks, Tulsa Botanical Gardens, Chandler Park, Woodward Park, LaFortune Park, and Hunter Park.
Tulsa Public Libraries are free. You can borrow books, movies, audiobooks, and magazines – for free! There are many different libraries throughout Tulsa. You can visit any of them, and return books to any of them. Simply go to a library and tell them you would like to get a library card. Once you have a library card, you can start borrowing!

Pan Asia Supermarket – 10003 E. 71st St, Tulsa, OK

Nam Hai Oriental Food Market – 11528 E. 21st St, Tulsa, OK

Masala and More – 7825 E. 71st St, Tulsa, OK

OK Asian Market – 6916 S. Lewis Ave, Tulsa, OK

Vaphual Asian Market – 6006 S. Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, OK

Laxmi Spices of India – 5555 E. 41st St, Tulsa, OK

Seoul Super – 3171 S. 129th E. Place, Suite G, Tulsa, OK

Korean Market – 12771 E. 41st St, Tulsa, OK

Quê Húong Oriental Market – 2110 S. 117th E. Ave, Tulsa, OK

Albarka Food International – 5010 S. Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, OK

Middle Eastern Market – 5459 S. Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK

Jerusalem Market International Grocery – 6124 E. 51st Pl C, Tulsa, OK

Las Americas – 11330 E. 21st St, Tulsa, OK

Supermercados Morelos – 12920 E. 31st St, Tulsa, OK

Euro Mart – 7847 E. 71st St, Tulsa, OK

Ndaya Afro Tropical Market – 7859 E. 71st St, Tulsa, OK

Tropical Choice Food Market – 5055 S. Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK

Foody International Market – 6111 S. Mingo Rd STE C, Tulsa, OK

Community Resources

24 Hour Emergency

Police/Fire/Medical Emergency – 911
COPES (free, 24-hr help with a mental crisis) – 918-744-4800 Domestic Violence / Rape – 918-585-3163
Poison Control Center – 800-222-1222
Child Abuse Hotline – 800-4-A-CHILD
National Suicide Hotline – 800-273-8255

Police

Tulsa Police, non-emergency – 918-596-9222
Jenks Police – 918-299-6311
Bixby Police – 918-366-8294
Broken Arrow Police – 918-259-8400

Dental, Hearing & Vision Care Help

Neighbor for Neighbor Dental – 918-425-5578 ext. 122
Neighbor for Neighbor Vision – 918-425-5578 ext. 119
Tulsa Speech & Hearing Association – 918-832-8742

Counseling and Psychiatric Help

COPES (free, 24/7 mobile mental health outreach) – 918-744-4800
Parent Child Center – 918-599-7999

Domestic Violence (Violence in Your Home)

Domestic Violence Intervention Services (free, safe, 24-hr, confidential help) – 918-585-3163
Rape 24 Hour Crisis Line (free) – 918-743-5763