Alejandro Rivera

Living within a mile of the FAU campus is the strongest choice for a student-athlete managing a demanding training and academic schedule. The area directly surrounding FAU has a mix of purpose-built student apartments and older complexes that fill up with students each year. You'll find teammates nearby, the commute is a bike ride, and every resource of the university is minutes away. Rents are moderate and many landlords are accustomed to working with international students on I-20 letters in lieu of credit history.

Delray Beach's Atlantic Avenue is one of the most celebrated main streets in Florida — lined with outdoor restaurants, bars, art galleries, and boutiques, and ending at a stunning Atlantic beach. Living here means a 15-minute drive or bus ride to campus, but weekends and evenings offer a genuine city lifestyle at a South Florida beach town scale. The Venezuelan and Latin American community in Delray Beach is substantial and growing.

Deerfield Beach sits directly on the Atlantic coast, 20 minutes north of FAU's campus. Rents are noticeably lower than Boca Raton or Delray Beach, and the city has a relaxed, diverse atmosphere with a strong Latin American presence. International students often choose Deerfield Beach as a roommate-share option to keep costs down in the first year. The Deerfield Beach Pier and International Fishing Pier area are popular with the student community on weekends.

FAU Men's Soccer — FAU Soccer Complex

Athletic facility · FAU Boca Raton campus

The FAU Men's Soccer program competes in Conference USA (C-USA) at the Division I level. The FAU Soccer Complex on the Boca Raton campus has a natural grass competition pitch, dedicated training fields, and a full strength and conditioning room for the soccer program. As a scholarship athlete, Alejandro has access to the full FAU Athletic Complex — sports medicine, film room, academic support center, and nutritionist.

FAU Student Union

Student hub · FAU Boca Raton campus, central

The FAU Student Union is the center of campus social life — home to dining, student organizations, the International Student Center, career services, and dozens of clubs. The Venezuelan Students Association and the Latin American Student Association are both active here and are Alejandro's fastest path to a social network from day one.

FAU Innovation Village & Library

Academic facility · FAU Boca Raton campus

FAU's main library and Innovation Village complex provides world-class study spaces, research databases, and academic resources. As a student-athlete managing a demanding training schedule, FAU's 24-hour quiet study rooms and academic tutoring center are essential resources — particularly during exam season when training load and academic pressure peak simultaneously.

FAU Student Health Services

Campus health clinic · Student Services Building, FAU Boca Raton campus

FAU Student Health Services is the primary healthcare resource for all enrolled students — primary care, urgent care, mental health counseling, lab work, and prescription services. Appointments are free or low-cost with student insurance. As an international student, this is the first call for any non-emergency health concern.

Boca Raton Regional Hospital Sports Medicine

Regional hospital & sports medicine · 800 Meadows Rd, Boca Raton (10 min from campus)

Boca Raton Regional Hospital is a Level II trauma center and the closest major hospital to FAU's campus. Their sports medicine and orthopedic division handles complex injuries for athletes throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Spanish-speaking physicians and patient coordinators available.

FAU Athletic Training Room

NCAA athletic training facility · FAU Athletic Complex, Boca Raton campus

The FAU Athletic Training Room provides daily injury prevention, taping, manual therapy, rehabilitation, and return-to-play protocols for all scholarship athletes. The certified athletic trainer assigned to men's soccer is available before and after every practice. For any physical issue — no matter how minor — report to the training room before it becomes a larger problem.

FAU Police Department — 24/7

Florida Atlantic University has its own accredited police department operating 24/7 across the Boca Raton campus. Emergency blue-light phones are positioned throughout campus. The FAU Safe app (similar to LiveSafe) allows students to share their location, request a safety escort, and contact FAUPD directly from their phone.

• ·Download the FAU Safe app before your first week — it's the campus safety system
• ·FAUPD offers free safety escorts anywhere on campus at night (call 1-561-297-3500)
• ·Register your bike with FAUPD — theft is the most common campus crime

Staying safe in Boca Raton

Boca Raton is one of the safest mid-sized cities in Florida — violent crime is very low and the neighborhoods surrounding FAU are well-maintained and actively policed. Standard South Florida common sense applies: use rideshare apps at night rather than walking unfamiliar streets, and keep your apartment door locked at all times.

• ·Boca Raton and Delray Beach are genuinely safe — don't be overly anxious
• ·Use Uber/Lyft after nights out in Delray — do not drive under any circumstances
• ·Deerfield Beach areas east of US-1 are fine; some areas west of I-95 require more awareness

Save these before you arrive

Have these numbers saved in your phone from day one — you will not have time to search in an emergency.

• ·911 — all emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)
• ·FAU Police non-emergency: 1-561-297-3500
• ·FAU Student Health: 1-561-297-3512
• ·Venezuelan Consulate Miami: 1-305-577-4214

FAU Venezuelan Students Association

Student organization

FAU's Venezuelan Students Association hosts cultural events, asados, holiday celebrations, and welcome programs for newly arrived Venezuelan students. This is Alejandro's most direct path to immediate community and friendship from day one — reach out before arriving and introduce yourself to the leadership.

FAU Latin American Student Association (LASA)

Student organization

LASA is one of the largest student organizations at FAU — representing Latin American students from every country. Regular social events, cultural celebrations (Noche Latina, Latin Fest), and a strong academic peer support network. An immediate social home for any Latin American student arriving at FAU.

FAU International Student Services (ISS)

University support office

Beyond the administrative F-1 visa support, FAU ISS runs monthly social events for international students — cultural showcases, holiday celebrations, international food fairs, and peer mentoring programs. The ISS peer mentor program pairs newly arrived international students with experienced international upperclassmen — Alejandro should request a Spanish-speaking peer mentor.

Your I-20 is the most important document in the US — keep it with your passport at all times. Within 10 days of arriving, you must check in with FAU International Student Services (ISS) to validate your SEVIS record. Failure to do so jeopardizes your visa status. ISS is located in the Boca Raton campus Student Services Building.

F-1 athletes with athletic grants may be eligible for a Social Security Number — confirm your eligibility with FAU ISS before applying. You will need a SSN to open a full US bank account, sign apartment leases, and eventually file US taxes. The process takes 2–4 weeks after applying at the local Social Security Administration office.

Open a US bank account immediately upon arrival. Chase and Bank of America have branches near FAU and offer student checking accounts with no monthly fees. Bring your passport, I-20, and proof of enrollment. As an F-1 student without a SSN yet, you can open an account with your ITIN — ask the branch manager specifically about this.

A US phone number is required for apartment applications, campus communication, rideshare apps, and day-to-day life. T-Mobile's student plan is the best value in South Florida — unlimited data, strong coverage in Boca Raton, and free international calling to Venezuela included.