Living in san fran / san jose?

T

thefuture

New member
Hi
this is my first time posting in the BAR forum. next year i will be going to college in either san jose or san fran. (the state colleges there) i was wondering if u guys can give me a little information about how each city is like. transportation (will i needa car), expenses, shopping, living conditions, job opportunities, schooling and what not. i asked a couple of members of thisclub some of these questions but they insisted to post a thread as it is more effective. thanks.
 
You can get around fairly well in SF without a car, but in SJ, you'll need a car if you want to easily travel outside of downtown.

Exspenses really depends on what type of apartment you get, if you have a car, if you drink.

What type of jobs are you looking for?
 
i will be a student so i guess a job around minimum wage. so in san Jose u will only need a car if u want to travel out of downtown? is everything easily located in downtown?
 
Yeah theres a lot downtown SJ. Groceries, theatres, bars, restaurants.

For mimnmum wage or a bit more, there are plenty of places to apply within walking distance of SJSU.

There is also public transportation in SJ, but it kinda sucks.
 
a car in san Jose is pretty much a must if you do want to go outside of down town which you will. but for san fran you can get along fine without one.
 
If you want to shop, you have to leave San Jose town center. There is VTA (hey, even I use to help the environment going back and forth to work) but you seriously need a car if you live here; it's a sprawling metrolopis. In SF, a car can be a liability at times.
 
Having a car in general can be convenient regardless of city... as long as you can afford the gas prices and maintenance. I'd definitely agree that SJ's transporation isn't as solid as SF. A car would be a little more important there to get outside of the SJ.

SFSU's closest place of employment would be at the Stonestown Galleria (Mall) which is 1 large block away. I'm sure there's a lot of jobs in SF, just depends what you want to work at.

You can definitely take public transporation around in the city. Parking can be a pain if you're rushed between places or working downtown.
 
Where are you moving FROM?

IMHO, go to SF and enjoy the city. Well, actually, choose the U that has the program that you want and that is best for you...but having said that...

Come on, it's San Francisco! The night life and the awesome neighbourhoods! SF public transportation sucks as much as any big city but you won't really need a car, and if you NEED one, go rent one for a day.

However, bring a jacket.


V
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7639819#post7639819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sidog1
Minimum wage in SF is $8.82. That might affect your decision...
Click to expand...

thats true and thats good but what about costs of stuff. is the cost of stuff about the same in SJ and SF? which city is more economic ?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7640995#post7640995 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vincerama2
Where are you moving FROM?

IMHO, go to SF and enjoy the city. Well, actually, choose the U that has the program that you want and that is best for you...but having said that...

Come on, it's San Francisco! The night life and the awesome neighbourhoods! SF public transportation sucks as much as any big city but you won't really need a car, and if you NEED one, go rent one for a day.

However, bring a jacket.


V
Click to expand...

thanks. san jose university has a better program for the major i want to major in. but i always wanted to go to SF just that the college is why i am moving out anyways so might as well go to the best one. i am coming from highland in san bernardino county. its in southern cali
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7639529#post7639529 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stubbsz
If you want to shop, you have to leave San Jose town center. There is VTA (hey, even I use to help the environment going back and forth to work) but you seriously need a car if you live here; it's a sprawling metrolopis. In SF, a car can be a liability at times.
Click to expand...

what is VTA?
 
I'd suggest 2 factors as most important: program and physical location. You should pick a program that fits you the best, not necessarily what is claimed as the "better" program. The physical location becomes important because you'll need to spend 2-4 years there depending on whether you are a freshman or transfer student. If you are bored to death or unhappy, your chances of success are lower.

In the end, what matters is that you get your degree, grow a lot and had an awesome experience.

BTW, SF is always going to be more expensive. It's THE city.
 
VTA is a public transit line.

Also, in SF, the sales tax is .25% higher than elsewhere!

You'll find fun wherever you decide to go, don't worry about that! And the two cities are about 45 minutes drive, so you won't miss anything in any case. Concentrate on what gives you a better future! What do you plan to study?

(Oh, and you can probably transfer between the schools after your first year anyway!)


V
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7643033#post7643033 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by orientalexpress
welcome to the bay area,wow,i have alot of friends in san bernardino,i grew up in del rosa area.gl

lapsan
Click to expand...

are u serious. del rosa is liek a street by my house. so how wierd was it to move to the bay area? what city do u live in? was it that crazy of a diference? what about price diferences? do u like living up there?
 
took me awhile to get use to.alot of freaks out here in san francisco,it's expensive compare to san bernardino,but had more variety of choice especially food .u could get by without a car here.the weather is in th 70 most the time here.i miss the beach,mountain,fishing in big bear lake,IN n OUT and big SUV but i love it up here.:)


lapsan
 
Personally, and this is not to scare you off, if you're from some other state and starting a simple 4 year program in a subject you not exactly sure about that you stay in that state. The cost of housing here is something people hear about but never really fully comprehend. For the cost of a 1 bedroom apartment (which btw you will not be able to afford on any minimum wage job, even when that minimum wage is 8.82) you can rent a house in most other parts of the country. In essence unless you have some other source of funds (parents, savngs) you will need to get into a deal with some roommates and still have to work your butt off just to get by.

Not to mention while SFSU & SJSU are nice enough schools they really aren't anything special to really warrant the cost associated with living in the area, also while state schools are cheap here they're not that cheap for out of state residents. Not exactly something that makes education "student friendly"

Basically what I'm saying is if you've commited yourself to going to either school take a vacation here for a few days, look around each area, figure out what you want. Also if you want california look into UC Davis as a school as it's got a nice friendly area which MUCH lower costs of living, or if it must be a State U. school, Sac State is in a much cheaper area as well (although you might end up paying that back in Air Conditioning)
 
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