Accounting MS Student - Questions about CSU Fullerton, and surroud. area (San Diego: 2010, apartment complex)

[djl4107]

Hi there,

I'm currently applying to the CSU Fullerton MS of Accounting program. I plan to move in January 2010 to settle in and start the program in Feb 2010. Here are my questions:

1) how SAFE is it for a young female in her twenties to live in Fullerton? I am VERY OPEN to having roommates...in fact, I want to live with other female roommates (preferably students) to keep the rent & utility costs down.

2) I would want to be somewhere where there are things to do at night and weekends. Would Fullerton and CSUF offer that? I've heard Costa Mesa would offer more of a fun vibe (I also have a friend that lives there) but what is the commute from Costa Mesa to Fullerton?

3) Besides craiglist, is there a community or college-based roommate/apartment search resource for the area?

some additional info: (My ideal goal would be to work in OC at either a big 4 firm or non big 4 company as an accountant working towards my CPA. I would love to attend USC but it costs so much; CSU Fullerton is much better for me in terms of costs. I do not want to rack up additional student loans! I also know CSUF is a commuter school. That is fine for me, I went to a 4-year university in Arizona and got the full college experience!!!)

Any info on commuting, Fullerton, night life, safety and career types (haha I know this is ALOT) would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

[killer2021]

Thats pretty cool I am going to CSUF in the fall for my BA in accounting. I am going down the same path as you, career wise. I am going to be studying for the CPA exam so I can take it right after I graduate. I definitely agree with avoiding those student loans, you can't bankrupt them so you are stuck paying for them. I personally live at home so I have been fortunate to avoid student loans. Actually I've saved a nice nest egg for when I move out.

1. Fairly safe. I haven't drove through much of fullerton because I just go to CSUF occasionally. The immediate surrounding area of the campus seemed safe to me. CSUF has a housing guide

2. Downtown Fullerton has stuff to do and you can always drive to downtown long beach or Belmont shore. Trust me, you'll quickly find the nightlife and things to do.

3. I am sure there are postings on the campus of people looking for roommates etc but I haven't seen any central location for that. I would just use craigslist personally.

If you send me a PM I'll add you on facebook.

[djl4107]

Hey there! That's pretty cool that you're going for your BA in Accounting. I did my BA in Business at a 4 year university. I'm excited to get my Masters in Accounting at a great school but a lot cheaper too! Too bad I can't start in the fall like you, I have to wait to take my GMAT. Therefore, I will be starting in Jan 2010. I work full time right now so I hope to have some money saved up too.

Thanks for the answers to my questions. I have a trip planned there for the 4th of July weekend. I think I'm just going to take a day or two to really check out the area and drive around and see the school etc etc. I can't wait! I think it will be the only real way to get a feel of the area.

I sent you a PM w. my facebook details

[killer2021]

Originally Posted by djl4107

Hey there! That's pretty cool that you're going for your BA in Accounting. I did my BA in Business at a 4 year university. I'm excited to get my Masters in Accounting at a great school but a lot cheaper too! Too bad I can't start in the fall like you, I have to wait to take my GMAT. Therefore, I will be starting in Jan 2010. I work full time right now so I hope to have some money saved up too.

Thanks for the answers to my questions. I have a trip planned there for the 4th of July weekend. I think I'm just going to take a day or two to really check out the area and drive around and see the school etc etc. I can't wait! I think it will be the only real way to get a feel of the area.

I sent you a PM w. my facebook details

Yea that is a good idea to come and see for yourself. There is a Marriott hotel next to the campus. I checked the rates and it is about 75$ per night if you purchase a couple weeks before.

Anaheim Hotels: Fullerton Marriott at California State University

[djl4107]

Wow! That's great! I was looking for a hotel with that price range for the evening of Friday the 3rd. Saturday (4th of July) I will be off to LA to spend time with friends there for the holiday. Thanks so much for the link! I got your fb invite, I'll respond when I get home.

[RobE]

CSUF grad here. Loved the school. Nice, safe laidback environment, great professors, and it is located in such a way that if you wanted to go to L.A. to a club or something it isn't too bad a drive from there (parking in Hollywood is another issue, though). It's maybe a 30-45 minutes from the beach.

The neighborhood it's in isn't too bad. There is an apartment complex on Nutwood and State College that is pretty okay. A buddy of mine lived there for a while. Mostly young folks.

If you go a little more south of there, you have downtown Fullerton. Mostly strip malls and not the greatest neighborhoods.

The apartment buildings on the other end of Nutwood at Placentia Blvd (that is in Placentia) are full of illegals. So give those a miss. Oh, and also avoid the other apartment buildings on Yorba Linda Blvd. in Placentia. Those were already headed downhill when I lived in YL in the 1990's.

The dorms on Yorba Linda BLVD are total Animal House. I would avoid those.

[lilyyyh]

Hi djl4107,Im so surprised to stumble upon this thread, i am in almost exactly the same situation as you!I'm applying for MS accounting at CSUF for jan 2010 as well, and having never been to OC, cali or even america, (i am from australia) am looking for similar information too.so are you sure you are going to attend CSUF? maybe we will be classmates! are you considering any other schools? im also applying to SDSU, so tossing up btw the two. I will be visiting LA for the first time for july 4th as well! talk about co-incidence! hehewould love to chat more~ lily

[Colddiamond102]

Dont know anything about CSUF...but you're welcome to practice your major before you get there by doing my Accounting 101 homework...

[djl4107]

RobE, thanks for the helpful advice...that's exactly the kind of advice I want. Places and areas to avoid, places that are safe, affordable etc etc.haha

Colddiamond102 you probably won't need my help! It's relatively easy, you'll be fine! The upper division accounting classes is where it gets a little more complex.

Lily,From Australia!? How exciting!!! My roommate studied there and I have a couple of friends who are from there as well. Yes, I am 95% sure I'm going to CSUF. Unless I absolutely get rejected by their program, but even so I will still be moving to the area and taking some sort of courses part time and working. That is sooo crazy that you have never been to the states or even California! You will love SDSU. I would go there but I lived in San Diego when I was younger and I would like to experience a change, therefore I want to live in Orange County this time around. I'm hoping Fullerton is fun and a good place to live as well. I will be in the area on July 3. July 4, I will be driving up to L.A. to see a friend but perhaps we can meet up somehow. I will PM you my facebook details and my e-mail. Hope to hear back from you!

[dancingirisheyes]

Originally Posted by djl4107

Hi there,

I'm currently applying to the CSU Fullerton MS of Accounting program. I plan to move in January 2010 to settle in and start the program in Feb 2010. Here are my questions:

1) how SAFE is it for a young female in her twenties to live in Fullerton? I am VERY OPEN to having roommates...in fact, I want to live with other female roommates (preferably students) to keep the rent & utility costs down.

2) I would want to be somewhere where there are things to do at night and weekends. Would Fullerton and CSUF offer that? I've heard Costa Mesa would offer more of a fun vibe (I also have a friend that lives there) but what is the commute from Costa Mesa to Fullerton?

3) Besides craiglist, is there a community or college-based roommate/apartment search resource for the area?

some additional info: (My ideal goal would be to work in OC at either a big 4 firm or non big 4 company as an accountant working towards my CPA. I would love to attend USC but it costs so much; CSU Fullerton is much better for me in terms of costs. I do not want to rack up additional student loans! I also know CSUF is a commuter school. That is fine for me, I went to a 4-year university in Arizona and got the full college experience!!!)

Any info on commuting, Fullerton, night life, safety and career types (haha I know this is ALOT) would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

Hi there! I currently live in Fullerton and have been here since 1995. If you stay north of Chapman and East of Raymond, I think you'll feel pretty safe. I would always use the buddy-system when walking at night in any college town though. (I'm sure you know that, I just wanted to make sure it was said. )

I've lived in the apartments that were mentioned - on St. College and Nutwood. They were slipping downhill for awhile but it looks like they've remodeled recently. They're called the Nutwood Apartments. There's two - East and West. Be sure to read up on RECENT reviews first. When I was living there, there wasn't a problem with crime so much but noise and cockroaches were a problem. That was almost a decade ago though so find out what the current situation is. I remember the rent was really reasonable (for California).

Night-life - Downtown Fullerton is a pretty good hot-spot nowadays. If you had been a college student in the 90's, your party place of choice might have been downtown Huntington Beach because you could easily bar-hop. And (from what I hear) that's what Downtown Fullerton is for college kids today. And if you get bored with that, then its really not a far drive to the beach towns. Particularly on weekend nights. We never had a problem with traffic on weekend nights.

I don't know of any online room mate search sites other than Craigslist or the Recycler. Try calling CSUF's student center though. I wouldn't be surprised if they had an online search for that kinda thing!

Good luck with your move!