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In smaller college cities and towns, the best place to find jobs is often right on campus. So, if you haven't already done so, check out the HSU HR site and start applying for any positions you're qualified for ASAP:
I know many students who went to HSU, both at the undergrad and graduate levels. It is an adjustment for some, but many of my students loved their time at HSU and in the Humboldt County area (and most of them are not potheads ). If you go into it with a positive attitude, and keep your eye on your goal (your education), the two years will pass quicker than you can believe.
Regarding housing, have you applied for financial aid and scholarships? That may help with your housing costs, even if you live off campus. And, you may also qualify for Federal Work Study, which might give you another source of income (although not enough to pay for full living expenses on its own) until you can find something better paying.
Best wishes!
Thank you for the thoughtful & helpful response. I am applying to several positions on the university campus, as well as some positions in the local elementary, middle, and high schools. I have also been scouring Indeed.com and Craigslist. I am currently an English Writing tutor at a college here in San Diego County, and I have 5 years of experience working in a residential care facility, so I am applying to a variety of jobs. I will be up in the area on Friday until Tuesday morning looking for places to live and applying to jobs.
I do have financial aid (about $11,200), so more than enough for tuition with some to spare. I have been guaranteed housing at the college, but I would prefer to live off-campus if possible, as I am older.
I have an AA degree in English as well as an Associate of Science degree in Business Office Technology, with an emphasis in Administrative Assistant. Hopefully I will land a job at the school or in a local business office. I would also love to work in a library, coffee shop, or brewery. I'm open to anything.
Have you asked the school for financial aid? They should have work-study programs, with jobs on campus. Those won't pay $15/hr., but in Humboldt, few jobs would, unless you can find a part-time staff job on campus. In places like that, the local university is often the major employer. They're a good resource.
You should be able to find an apt. in your price range in McKinleyville, which is a nearby family-oriented community. Check property management companies there, as well as Craigslist. https://humboldt.craigslist.org/apa/6108314325.html
I am receiving a little over $10,000 in financial aid, so I am not worried about school costs. We have some money saved up for a down payment and first/last month rents, but not as much saved as we would like, as we live in San Diego, and it is EXTREMELY expensive here. I will be applying to many jobs at the university, as well as speaking with them on Tuesday when I am up there. We are looking in Arcata, Mckinleyville, and Eureka.
A couple of semesters ago there actually WERE HSU students living in their cars. For the Fall, if you're looking NOW you should be able to find something. Ditch the cat and your chances will improve. I've lived in Eureka most of my life and I don't even recognize the town described by some of these posters who do NOT live here. Stay away from Arcata Plaza and way from the freeway and there are lots of good choices. But don't wait till the last minute. You might try Professional Property Management. They changed hands recently.
I have heard about the homelessness problem with students. Sadly, that is also a huge issue where I live right now (San Diego), as most people cannot even afford to rent a bedroom in the "bad" areas of town here. There are a lot of very rich people here and a contrast of downtown streets littered with homeless people. We have lots of meth and other drugs in the area I live as well.
Thank you for the specific locations to avoid--that is incredibly helpful! I have submitted an application with PPM and hope to view some properties when we are there this weekend. The only thing that sucks is that it seems most of the students haven't left yet, likely because they signed leases in July or August. Still, we have about 15-20 places we plan on looking at.
The thread is getting old and needs some updating but overall I feel it's still pretty relevant and useful.
If you're coming here for school and part time work you'll probably like it here, and if you're familiar with our weather then it shouldn't be a huge shock when winter hits. I do think it's very important to stay active outdoors throughout the year, especially during the winter. If you stay cooped up inside you'll start going mad and depression from lack of sunlight can set in, so get yourself some good rain gear and spend time in the forests even when it's raining. As a bonus you'll likely have the place to yourself and a rainy forest is just as beautiful as a sunny one.
As for housing the rental market is tight to say the least, especially in Arcata. If you have a car you're probably better off looking in McKinleyville or the outskirts of Eureka. Avoid downtown Eureka and stay at least 3-4 blocks from Highway 101 and you'll be fine.
Arcata for sure has a lot of crunchy types but they're generally friendly, and Arcata is far livelier than Eureka by a long shot. The weekly farmer's market in Arcata is awesome and a year round occurrence, and there are several natural food stores so it's easy to get local produce and meats which is great.
So don't be apprehensive! Come on up, enjoy your stay, and let this place sink into your soul; you'll be better for it, I promise
Thank you! Either way, I will be there for the next 2-2 1/2 years for university. I just would prefer that it be off-campus with people I know/trust, and not sharing an on-campus apartment with strangers :P That's why we have been already looking and applying, and will be up there this weekend to meet property managers and independent property owners this weekend. My partner got an interview with Cher-ae Casino as a janitor (he has 5 years experience down here in San Diego), as well as a few butcher/meat cutter positions (his current profession). However, I know that the casinos here give urine tests, and he doesn't drink or do any drugs other than a smoking a little bit at night. So if that is a urine drug test, he's out, haha.
I am a (relatively) young, childless, student who doesn't require much (other than the scenery), so I think I should be okay. I understand the lack of sunlight can cause depression for a lot of people, but I live somewhere that never rains and is sunny probably 350 days of the year, and I am just as depressed if not more on those hot, sunny days. In fact, the heat and sun make my health issues worse, and they tend to make my mood a little grumpy/annoyed. It's been less than 15% humidity and over 90 degrees this past week, and I have felt awful.
I definitely will have to get rain gear! Thank you for the tips and areas to avoid/check out. I really appreciate it!
Eureka1 is also an expert on Humbolt county and she is very objective. OP I think you are going to have to accept reality. It will not be easy to find decent employment there and you will be competing with all the other students wanting exactly what you do: good living arrangements, and a decent paying job. The positive side, you are starting out pretty early so if there is much available you will be able to find it.
Someone recommended you try Craig's list for jobs: my advise is NO NOT go through Craig's list. it is fine for buying and selling but for job, most are come ons. Try the school for job opportunities and off campus housing.
Enjoy your time in the NW corner of California. It wasn't our cup of tea when we lived there but there are some very good things to say about the region.
I am being very realistic about it, and I am aware that if worst-comes-to-worst, I will have housing on-campus in an apartment with 3 other strangers for at least a year. However, I am optimistic I can find a small place to live with my partner, and hopefully my cat, off-campus.
The rental market and job market is pretty tough where I live as well, and the cost of living is much higher. Unless you have money in San Diego, you will not be able to survive at all. I know many people who work 2 jobs that pay 13-15 dollars an hour and barely afford a studio in the worst part of town. It might be a nice city, but it's hard to enjoy it when you can't pay rent, eat, or enjoy any of it. I have been looking on indeed.com and the HSU job board that is exclusively for students lately, with an occasional browsing of craigslist.
The OP sounds like so many who end up at HSU hoping to finish a degree and then retire into the mildew economy up there.
That is not a general road to happiness in the area as hundreds are looking for the same nirvana. You would be better off to get the degree and then get out to a more prosperous environment which might even be out of CA.
Now I speak as one who lived up there for nearly 30 years in the higher income levels and still after retiring knew it was time to leave for happier environments. It is a terribly dreary environment and the local views are terribly depressing. I just returned for a 2 week visit last month, after a five year hiatus, and I can't say much has changed. It still looks like a down-at-the-heels lumber and fishing town-only more so. Most neighborhoods still need painting and the landscaping is overtaking the houses.
Now, MJ cultivation and sales are being touted as the path to prosperity up there and even finding semi-competent tradesmen to paint, or do construction is becoming harder as they all look for their jackpot in legalized MJ trades.
Good luck in your search.
"The OP sounds like so many who end up at HSU hoping to finish a degree and then retire into the mildew economy up there."
I don't think I will be retiring there if I don't like it. I have lived in San Diego almost my entire life, and the heat, crowds, and very high cost of living, combined with the impossible rental market, make it unlivable for someone like me. I got accepted into several schools and chose HSU for the nature, small college class sizes, cheapest cost of living (compared to SD, Riverside, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco), and change of scenery.I am not looking for a paradise or viewing the area with rose-colored glasses. I am simply finishing my college degree the cheapest way I can and then applying to grad school elsewhere. If I happen to fall in love with it, who knows, maybe I will come back after grad school and teach there. Only time will tell.
I understand it is not a "general road to happiness," but I say the same thing to people that think San Francisco or San Diego is too--to live in either San Fran or San Diego, you must have a lot of money, or it will suck. I know about the marijuana cultivation, and my boss grew up in Miranda (southern Humboldt). I don't mind marijuana and prefer it to the drunk drivers all over our extremely crowded roads down here. We have tons of marijuana dispensaries and smokers here as well, though it obviously isn't the same. The "rural" area of SD county I live in has a very large presence of meth as well.
I intend on making the most of my few years there. Every place has its ups and downs, and San Diego may look a lot better, but it isn't as wonderful as everyone thinks.
Last edited by mmmaggotbrain; 05-22-2017 at 11:23 PM..
You might do better if you can find a job that includes tips, like waitressing.
Thank you. I have been searching on there the past few weeks. A waitressing job where I live now requires a lot more in the "qualifications" section, so that might actually be an option for me up in Humboldt County. I am also applying to jobs within the special education and office settings field, as well as tutoring at the school, as that is what my employment history mostly consists of. But I am open to anything.
However, I know that the casinos here give urine tests, and he doesn't drink or do any drugs other than a smoking a little bit at night. So if that is a urine drug test, he's out, haha.
Sorry, but this is funny. He doesn't do any drugs, except the drugs he does at night...
But, they don't count, because it's only pot...except he might not be able to get a job if they test for drugs...because pot's a drug...but not really...
You'll fit right in in Humboldt County.
Maybe they can't find any workers who test clean, so they just don't test anyone though...
Sorry, but this is funny. He doesn't do any drugs, except the drugs he does at night...
But, they don't count, because it's only pot...except he might not be able to get a job if they test for drugs...because pot's a drug...but not really...
You'll fit right in in Humboldt County.
Maybe they can't find any workers who test clean, so they just don't test anyone though...
Haha, that's why I said "doesn't do any drugs OTHER THAN" instead of "doesn't do any drugs but smokes marijuana." Also, that isn't the only job he qualifies for or is banking on, more of just an aside I made in case anyone on the forum might know what their drug test looks like, ie. hair, urine, swab, blood, etc. Like I said, he's never been without a job since age 16 and he is 29.
I recognize it is a drug, like caffeine, alcohol, etc. I personally think it's silly to equate it on any higher of a level than that of alcohol, but that's my opinion. I certainly don't think it is comparable to heroin or meth, but I suppose some people do. He also isn't smoking all day or high at work.
I just don't know how strict they are about that there. I know in San Diego he has been working since he was 16 and never had trouble getting employment, but most of the jobs here just do the mouth swab test. He makes quite a bit more down here than he will be able to up there, but even at 17 an hr fulltime, it's pretty much impossible to rent a studio apartment in the most crime-riddled, dangerous and far away from the city part of the county.
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). If you go into it with a positive attitude, and keep your eye on your goal (your education), the two years will pass quicker than you can believe.
