Getting ready for study in the U.S. is about more than being academically prepared. From housing disasters to visa issues, you might encounter a few unfortunate surprises. Here's your guide to surviving college's most unexpected catastrophes.

Visa Snags:

The best way to deal with a visa issue is to prevent one before it starts. Before stepping on campus, make sure you have an organized folder with copies of all documentation required for your visa as well as proof of insurance, enrollment, and tuition payments your family has made. Also make it a point to visit your school's international student center and buddy up with the foreign student advisor. Should you have a problem with your visa paperwork or need to change your visa status, contact the foreign student advisor immediately.

Health Issues:

If you're feeling under the weather, there's help on the way. The vast majority of four-year schools provide an on-campus health clinic designed to provide you with generalized care. Should you need a specialist or your condition becomes serious, the on-staff practitioners will refer you to an area doctor. Should your condition become so severe that you need to drop out, many colleges have very generous medical leave of absence policies; however, these vary significantly from school to school. Prior to your first day of class, make sure you're paid up on your international insurance, locate your school's health center, and call the admissions office to ask about medical emergency contingency plans.

Transfer Trials:

School not quite what you expected? Don't worry, you've only got approximately 6,000 American institutions to choose from. If you're unhappy in your undergrad institution and decide to transfer to another U.S.-based school, get ready to do some paperwork. In addition to filling out the standard admissions paperwork, international transfer students will need to have documented proof of legal immigration status (such as an H-4 visa or Permanent Resident Card) or will need to obtain an F-1 student visa from the institution where they will be attending. Students should also know that depending on their previous coursework and the requirements of each school, all academic credits may not transfer over, meaning students may wind up taking some of the same classes twice. Students thinking about making the switch should immediately contact the international admissions rep for the school where they wish to transfer.

Problems with Housing:

No matter how intellectually prepared you are for school, there's no way to be prepared for your roommate. When signing up for student housing, ask about specialty housing options your school offers such as smoke-free, single sex, or international dorms. No matter where you live, there's a chance that you won't mesh with your roommate. Should you have an unsolvable domestic dispute, first see if your resident advisor can help and if not, don't hesitate to apply for a housing transfer.

Home Sickness:

The fastest cure for home sickness is to stay in touch with friends and family. Thanks to high-speed Internet access (which is available for free on nearly every college campus across America), you can e-mail, IM, or videochat those you love for no cost at all. Cheap Voice Over IP systems such as Skype will also allow you to call home without paying the equivalent of your tuition bill. On days when calling home simply isn't enough, you'll be able to commiserate with other international students who are going through the same thing. Make it a point to check out your school's international student association to meet and greet fellow patients.

Christina Couch is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia. She is the author of Virginia Colleges 101: The Ultimate Guide for Students of all Ages (Palari Publishing, 2008). Her byline can also be found on AOL.com, MSN.com, Yahoo! Finance, and the Christian Science Monitor.