<p>Get a cell phone from AT&T. The exact plan will depend on what you want, but they have by far the best on campus service.</p>
<p>The easiest bank to get an account with is probably either Wells Fargo or Bank of America, as they both have ATMs (and Wells Fargo has a branch) on campus.</p>
<p>Getting a credit card will likely be hard for you. You might want to consider just using the debit card that will, in all likelihood, come with your bank account. A debit card can be used in all the same was and places a credit card can, but each purchase is automatically deducted from your account balance rather than you paying for an aggregate sum at monthly intervals. AmEx is American Express, a credit card company. I’m betting you won’t be able to get a card with them, unless you apply for it in France and have a banking history there. </p>
<p>Your French DL will be valid for something in the range of 180 days. After that, you’ll have to apply through the California DMV for a license. This isn’t too bad, and may not be worth it depending on how long you’ll be in the states.</p>
<p>The same goes for getting a car. You can get a junker for $500 bucks or so or you can put down some real coin for a decent vehicle. It all depends on what you want, how much you’re going to use it, and your ability to afford it. I’d recommend getting a used car, rather than a new one, unless you’re going to be in the states for a while after you graduate. Craigslist is always a great place to start.</p>