Go to school in Cali for 1 year from Toronto, Ontario? (San Francisco: credit, loans)

[mynameisanthony]

Hello, im 20 years old, live north of toronto, ontario, canada. Considering doing a year of school in california somewhere to get an experience. Any suggestions?

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by mynameisanthony

Hello, im 20 years old, live north of toronto, ontario, canada. Considering doing a year of school in california somewhere to get an experience. Any suggestions?

i don't know.
state school?
you need to establish residency.
if you're just wondering about different colleges / universities in CA then why not give some information about what you're looking for regarding schooling and what kind of scene you want outside of school life.
be more specific about what you're looking for so people can respond to your post more intelligently.
and brace yourself ... someone is bound to give you a hard time for referring to California as Cali.
just brush it off.

[mynameisanthony]

thanks, first time posting here.

Im looking for somewhere where i wont get shot walking down the street, somewhere relatively safe.

Im taking accounting to become a professional accountant in school right now.

Things other than school, good night clubs to hang out at, relaxed type city. A city thats kind of small and clean. A city where theres things to do like events (sporting, music, etc.) . Somewhere with lots of young people to make friends.

Is laguna or anywhere around there what im after?

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by mynameisanthony

thanks, first time posting here.

Im looking for somewhere where i wont get shot walking down the street, somewhere relatively safe.

Im taking accounting to become a professional accountant in school right now.

Things other than school, good night clubs to hang out at, relaxed type city. A city thats kind of small and clean. A city where theres things to do like events (sporting, music, etc.) . Somewhere with lots of young people to make friends.

Is laguna or anywhere around there what im after?

I'm not aware enough of southern california to give you information on Laguna.
I'm in Santa Cruz which you may just love. It fits your criteria.
This is the central coast of California and it's not as crazy as so. cal.
It's less than 2 hours to the south of San Francisco and it's on the coast.
For a small and relatively laid back county, there's plenty to do here, both night and day and there are many young people everywhere.
UCSC is here.
Can you go to a state school without being a resident?
I thought not but i may be wrong.
Or is it just that you cannot get financial aid?
It's been awhile since i've done the school thing.
Anyway, good luck and if you need more info on the county of Santa Cruz,
let me know.
I'm sure other posters will have other suggestions about good college towns here in California.

[mrzod]

fyi: for non-residents, you may be paying up to $30~40k a year for school.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by coyoteskye

Can you go to a state school without being a resident?
I thought not but i may be wrong.
Or is it just that you cannot get financial aid?
It's been awhile since i've done the school thing.

The poster could attend a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campus, however the admission requirements are more challenging. For example you need a 3.0 GPA or above to apply as residents to a UC campus, but 3.4 to apply as a nonresident.

I do not believe a nonresident can get financial aid for a state school, but can get outside loans, scholarships, etc... not from the school.

The tuition costs are much higher for nonresidents and are increasing each year to the state budget crisis. The UC system estimates the nonresident tuition next year at $31,389. Then add additional money for room and board ($10,000 at least).

The California State University out of state fees are $10,170 with an additional $10,000 at least for room and board.

[EscapeCalifornia]

And since you can't get a degree in one year, what's the point? You'll have to transfer your credit back to a school in Canada to finish your degree and who knows how many classes would be accepted. If you want to go to school in California, you should plan to stay 4 years and get your degree. You might want to rob a bank on the way down because it won't be cheap. Or if you want to bum around California for a year, do that, then go home and get your degree. That'll be more fun and definitely cheaper.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

And since you can't get a degree in one year, what's the point? You'll have to transfer your credit back to a school in Canada to finish your degree and who knows how many classes would be accepted. If you want to go to school in California, you should plan to stay 4 years and get your degree. You might want to rob a bank on the way down because it won't be cheap. Or if you want to bum around California for a year, do that, then go home and get your degree. That'll be more fun and definitely cheaper.

100% agree

[mynameisanthony]

How to i bum around in california for a year? How can i get a visa, etc? thats what i would rather do just work and live life for a year see how it is.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by mynameisanthony

How to i bum around in california for a year? How can i get a visa, etc? thats what i would rather do just work and live life for a year see how it is.

You won't be able to work legally without going through proper channels. Or you could change your name to Antonio and learn the meaning of hard labor. No visa needed for that. The US State Department is a good place to start looking for how it all works: Visa Home