Western Members - Thinking about moving to SoCal from Texas

I need to get the hell out of Texas for awhile. Life has kicked me in my ass over the past year and I need a change. I'm looking into moving to SoCal to attend college for a year. So here are my questions.

I'm more than likely going to attend a community college. I need some cheap credits that will transfer back to Texas. Whats a good community college in SoCal? Also, if i decide to stay in southern California, whats a good public university that is affordable?

Wheres a good place to live? I want to be within walking distance to the ocean. I'll prob look for a place on Craigslist.

How is the economy doing out there? Is it getting better?

Any opinions or suggestions?

hmmmm i would say elac but its not walking distance from the ocean.

Well any of the colleges are going to be good if you can get any classes. Second ocean in walking distance means money. A lot of it. Your probably better off rooming with someone to help off set rent. Schools close to the ocean I know are Orange Coast College or Golden West College in Oc and Santa Monica Community College up in La County. Those are 3 I can think of off the top my head I'm sure this more.

Well any of the colleges are going to be good if you can get any classes. Second ocean in walking distance means money. A lot of it. Your probably better off rooming with someone to help off set rent. Schools close to the ocean I know are Orange Coast College or Golden West College in Oc and Santa Monica Community College up in La County. Those are 3 I can think of off the top my head I'm sure this more.

Orange coast college is not walking distance from the ocean.

if you stay in the valley its pretty cheap out here living wise.. and im only like 30min from water

san fernando valley

we have 3 community colleges out here.. valley college, pierce college, i forgot the other one lol

and i go to CSUN cal state university Northridge

Santa Barbara CC.

To be real, the economy is not bad. You can get a job just about anywhere if you try hard enough. Just don't expect it to pay you crazy amounts (think slightly above min. wage). As far as school and close to the ocean, like people mentioned before be prepared to pay premium bucks for that perk. There are many cc's close to beach, if not walking distance then like 20 mins driving distance. Keep in mind, even if you don't plan to live close to the beach living in ca is expensive. I'm not sure what cc's will transfer credits back to texas. I do know that cc's in california are tough right now. You can get into them, but good luck getting the classes you want. Oh almost forgot, ca is out for blood right now (fiscally). Don't be surprised about being ticketed and fined for EVERYTHING, afterall we are in a deficit :rolleyes:

With all that said, and yes it's alot...ca is pretty cool sometimes. Me, I often want to leave this state, gotta finish my military contract and school first!

The cost of living in CA is a lot higher than Texas. And the economy is still hurting. Plus, you might not like the smog laws here. I'm actually moving from CA to Texas because I got a job there. And Texas has MUCH better schools.

hey hey hey!!!

ca does have good schools.. it juss depends what ur majoring in


min wage is higher in CA .. but stuffs a lot more expensive as well..

but im doing ok.. juggling full time school.. and i work full time in hollywood as a bouncer.. and i live on my own..

still building and wasting my money on my truck and other cars..

YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT HERE.. but living by the beach is gonna cost u

stay in texas. cali is beautiful but its a pain in the ass. a buddy of mine moved here from WA and they would not let him enroll in college classes cuz he had not lived in cali for longer than a year. so u might want to check if u can even be excepted to the schools. look into it.

Let's see if I got this straight?
You want to move from Texas where they are gun, car, motorcycle, and women friendly to the Peoples Republik of Kalifornication where they hate guns, cars, (at least high performance ones), motorcycles, and there might be a few women left if you get here quickly.
Please send me some of whatever you're smoking.
And people tell me that I had my priorities mixed up.

stay in texas. cali is beautiful but its a pain in the ass. a buddy of mine moved here from WA and they would not let him enroll in college classes cuz he had not lived in cali for longer than a year. so u might want to check if u can even be excepted to the schools. look into it.
Actually, you need to be a Cali resident for a year, otherwise be prepared to pay huge out of state fee's. You would need to get yourself a California ID and have some form of billing statements showing your length of stay in the state. This may no longer be the case, but take the necessary time and do some research. Everything is expensive in California!!!

my sister just moved to texas last week cuz of the fact its cheaper out there

Goldenwest College in Huntington beach Calif.

Great Community College. Many classes offered. Free tuition for residents.

5 minutes to the beach.

Many Hot Rods & car clubs/shows near the beach

To be real, the economy is not bad.

meh to each their own but 13% unemployment and the number of underemployed added to that i would say the economy is bad.

meh to each their own but 13% unemployment and the number of underemployed added to that i would say the economy is bad.

Lol I can see what you mean, but unemployment numbers in california definitely is a case where the numbers don't speak for themselves

Goldenwest College in Huntington beach Calif.

Great Community College. Many classes offered. Free tuition for residents.

5 minutes to the beach.

Many Hot Rods & car clubs/shows near the beach

Free tuition for residents? Wow, I've never heard of that. That makes it a great community college in my book!

Move to San Luis Obispo! Man I miss that place. One of the best places in Ca, bar-none!

^^ slo's the place to be man. 10min drive to the beach, perfect weather, girls left and right, legit school. Only cons are it's pretty damn expensive, and the cops can be dicks at times, and I'm still smog friendly. Sorry I'm not much help OP, there is a cc here (cuesta) but don't have much experience with it.

I have lived in both places.. If your single and just looking to go to school, then Cali aint bad, but its not cheap at all. As mentioned before, anything close to the water is going to cost alot more.

Texas can get boring, and thats why I moved out here to start off, just make sure you have a job lined up, and some idea of where you plan to live. Id check with the school your planning on going to, and see what all you will need to get in, there are some that require you to be a resident..

Good luck.. Not to dull the idea, but after living here for 9 years, I am planning on going back to Tx once I get out the Navy. Houses/land cost ALOT less in Tx, and its more of where I relax.

I just moved to San Diego from NY. I'm loving it out here. The weather is awesome, BUT... The cost of living is high. Its gonna be hard to go to college and afford to live here. You're looking to spend $600/month + utilities for a decent apt in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, or Ocean Beach in San Diego.... And that would most likely be with room mates. I've seen studios for $800 at PB. But then you're going to have to furinish everything...

California is expensive.

Denton huh? I use to stay there when I would go see accounts in Gainesville and Ardmore.

I would say stay in TX if one of your reasons for moving is finding a job. Expect to pay >70% of take-home pay on the necessities and then have to save up just to have fun, all while being "taxed" in ways that further decrease your available cash.

Then again, your situation sounds temporary and might as well give it a ride while you can.

Ok question, what is your income? CC's is socal are going up to $38 a unit hour. Citrus college is good, second question is, whats your major?

I just moved to San Diego from NY. I'm loving it out here. The weather is awesome, BUT... The cost of living is high. Its gonna be hard to go to college and afford to live here. You're looking to spend $600/month + utilities for a decent apt in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, or Ocean Beach in San Diego.... And that would most likely be with room mates. I've seen studios for $800 at PB. But then you're going to have to furinish everything...

California is expensive.

Welcome to San Diego, man. I'm from New York myself. Are you living in 'PB? California has it's downs but walking along the boardwalk in 'PB in the early afternoon along the beach, with beach bunnies left and right, music in the air, etc. It can be goddamn magical, lol...

'OP, the residency thing will probably be the deal breaker for you. California, like many other places, needs to be experienced by everyone but the money thing as usual gets in the way. I hope you make it out here one way or another...

Wecome to PB I have lived here for 4 years and it's Great

Rx Bruce/StoreKeeper99Z28




I just moved to San Diego from NY. I'm loving it out here. The weather is awesome, BUT... The cost of living is high. Its gonna be hard to go to college and afford to live here. You're looking to spend $600/month + utilities for a decent apt in Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, or Ocean Beach in San Diego.... And that would most likely be with room mates. I've seen studios for $800 at PB. But then you're going to have to furinish everything...

California is expensive.

CALIFORNIA = :turd: for living here. And i was born and raised here.

I'm a native of So.Cal

Locate a job 1st,

2nd: As already mentioned you'll need to be a resident for 1 year otherwise you'll pay triple for tuition

3rd Find something off the coast and just drive in, when you want to spend the day at the Beach, Cheaper

I know several Texans here, And every one of them say that they will never go back,

They Simply Love it here * ? ? ?


Low humidity,Beautiful Mountain ranges,The people lol

I on the other hand would like to move to Texas,

For the Reasons of building a business, People, and the New Experience*

It doesn't look like it's going to happen right now tho

Also I'm a Life long mountain biker,

& California Trails are tuff to beat, Lake views, Spring like summer All last year,
Snow rides and year round riding

I've been riding with my shirt off in February lol

To the OP, you're wise for doing your research before you ultimately decide what's best for you.
A change can do us good sometimes.

I drove all thru Texas this last summer and I fell in love.

I just turned 48 as I am typing this. I am obviously older than the average median age in this thread. My reasons for wanting to move from California is because I was born and raised here. I just want to start a new chapter in my life.

Here's my little thread about my Trip to Texas.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/texas-members/1292175-dont-mess-texas.html

The only thing I can say negative about Texas is the weather while on the otherside of the coin the only thing I can say positive about California is the weather.

Once we sell our house we will be outta here.
Good luck on whatever you decide.




.

as much as i hate cali... i love cali... being in the MARINE CORPS. ive traveled some places... but being away from cali, made me miss it... i was born and raised in O.C. yorba linda... im just glad to be in the O.C....

Let's see if I got this straight?
You want to move from Texas where they are gun, car, motorcycle, and women friendly to the Peoples Republik of Kalifornication where they hate guns, cars, (at least high performance ones), motorcycles, and there might be a few women left if you get here quickly.
Please send me some of whatever you're smoking.
And people tell me that I had my priorities mixed up.


(gary, that is f'in hilarious and so true). texas94z, if you feel compelled to get out of texas, i say go for it, but just like the others said, check into the residency requirements for college here, and be willing to roommate up with one or two others to make it half affordable. i live in the west LA area and know that santa monica college is a good school and in walking distance of the beach. the weather here is beautiful most of the time especially compared to the rest of the country, albeit heavy on the traffic and crowds. its always interesting how so many of us feel the grass is greener somewhere else when its really not - many Californians like myself would love to move out of state to somewhere less populated, less costly, less taxes, more beautiful, etc. what gary said is so true, california is not friendly to most of the ways of life you are use to in texas, and friendly/decent looking women are in short supply here if existent at all,,the economy and employment is essentially like it is anywhere in the country, its tough here depending on what you do, there are jobs here if you're willing to do something else assuming you don't find a job you regularly do,,since you are going to be a college student, finding a couple of part time gigs should be relatively easy.

Let's see if I got this straight?
You want to move from Texas where they are gun, car, motorcycle, and women friendly to the Peoples Republik of Kalifornication where they hate guns, cars, (at least high performance ones), motorcycles, and there might be a few women left if you get here quickly.
Please send me some of whatever you're smoking.
And people tell me that I had my priorities mixed up.


The above quote pretty much sums up what California personifies.

I noticed the beautiful women in Texas were real without inplants and plastic surgery.

Also ... California is real Prius friendly too.

California dreamin has turned into a California nightmare.



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