Need help from SF Bay Area Transplants... (Raleigh, Cary: chapel, job market) - The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

mka1 · 12-14-2008, 09:50 PM

I am from SF Bay area, CA and considering moving to Cary. It would be very helpful if someone who moved from (or is familiar with) east SF Bay to Triangle area can answer following questions.

1. My kids (Elementary and high schoolers) go to Mission San Jose School in Fremont School District so looking for comparable, if any, schools. Which schools in area around Cary are comparable with Mission San Jose Elementary and High school?
2. How are colleges/universities in Raleigh NC in comparison with colleges/universities in SF Bay, California? Are they better?
3. Is it easier to get admission to colleges in NC or is it tough like in California?
4. I am being told that Raleigh, NC is too humid to live in. How bad is it?

Thanks

saturnfan · 12-15-2008, 02:11 PM

We used to live in Los Angeles in the 70's. Raleigh is surely more humid but not as bad as when we lived in New Orleans.

it all depends on you. Now last August (2007) was hell on Earth.

coltank · 12-15-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mka1

I am from SF Bay area, CA and considering moving to Cary. It would be very helpful if someone who moved from (or is familiar with) east SF Bay to Triangle area can answer following questions.

1. My kids (Elementary and high schoolers) go to Mission San Jose School in Fremont School District so looking for comparable, if any, schools. Which schools in area around Cary are comparable with Mission San Jose Elementary and High school?
2. How are colleges/universities in Raleigh NC in comparison with colleges/universities in SF Bay, California? Are they better?
3. Is it easier to get admission to colleges in NC or is it tough like in California?
4. I am being told that Raleigh, NC is too humid to live in. How bad is it?

Thanks

I've only visited SF, so I'll answer the best I can

1. Hard to answer, but what are you looking for in a school? One problem in Wake County right now, is b/c of all the growth it is getting redistricted often, so you can't necessarily rely on staying in one particular school.
2. I think that depends on what you are looking for, but between Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and NC State, not to mention Meredith, NCCU, etc., we have some really great universities.
3. It depends.
4. I wouldn't day it's too humid, but it's certainly more humid than SF. We're landlocked here, so you don't get the cooling breezes from the Ocean. Of course if you to travel to the shore, the water is much warmer.

Ann in Oriental · 12-15-2008, 03:14 PM

Hi, I lived in Woodside in the 60's and 70's. Don't know about the best high school but college is a bargin if you stay within the NC state system (lots to choose from) and you qualify for in state tuition after only 1 year. The schools are all quite good and that said even if you have a child who has not done too well they will probably qualify for SOME of the schools and if not the community college system is excellent, after 2 years with the correct courses they can then transfer as a junior to a 4 yr. school. The summers are horrible, pretty much have to stay in the a/c. Lots of people live here so I guess for some it's okay but I really can't tolerate it.

pstpeter · 12-15-2008, 03:22 PM

Hi - love your beautiful SF! Wonderful place - but I've never lived there. Can say that having clients move here from all the country I suggest the best way to learn about the schools here in Wake county is by going directly to the schools website - Wake County Public School System You'll find great information including school report cards. Cary has great schools. It's a very sought after area.

Now as for the humidity - in my family of 4 - 1/2 love it and the other have don't - they stay inside where it's air conditioned most of August! Best of luck in your decision.

cas965 · 12-15-2008, 04:45 PM

I grew up in Burlingame, my parents are in Napa and siblings still in BA. Moved here 3 years ago. Cary has great schools, I think you'll find a lot of similiarities with Cary schools and MSJ Schools. The one thing here that is a bit different is that just because you move to one neighborhood does not mean you will remain in the currently districted school. Universities are awesome here....I'll say that even though I'm a Cal Alumni. Humidity is not as bad as Hawaii, obviously, but to me it is nothing compared to the deep south. East Bay can get extremely hot, spent many hot summers in WC and Concord so it would be similiar to their very hot days. Admissions probably aren't as impacted here as they are in CA, but that I'm sure will be changing as their are a lot of people moving here, similiar to CA in the 50's and 60's....changes in the University system will be inevitable. DM me if you have any other questions. Good Luck

Lori1961 · 12-15-2008, 06:25 PM

We moved from the same area 6 months ago. We live in Raleigh for now and love it. I cant say anything about the schools but there are some great colleges out here to choose from. As far as the weather goes, the summer does get hot and humid but nothing you cannot live in. We lived in the Concord area and it got plenty hot there too. You learn to adjust here. We have seen extreme heat, beautiful fall colors and snow on our back deck. We love it here!

mka1 · 12-16-2008, 10:16 AM

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I have been talking to lots of folks but have not come across any big con except a little tighter job market. I looked at dice.com to check number of jobs available in 27519 (w/ 20 miles radius), it looks like there are only 20% of jobs available in SF Bay area. Is job market around RTP & Cary area very tight in ERP applications?