Where to go? (San Antonio, Anton: apartments, rent, insurance)

[RS91]

I'm considering on moving to San Antonio for college (St. Phillips)that has a specific program. There are a few schools here in CA but it's either the city they are in are just boring they just don't interest me or its just way to expensive to live. Where is a nice place to stay thats affordable and "safe" I mean every city has good and bad parts.

[ShaneSA]

St. Philip's College is not in the best part of town. It can be iffy depending on a specic street. You do not mention budget or desires for transportation or other needs. It's a big wide world and you need to be more specific if you can.

[RS91]

Originally Posted by ShaneSA

St. Philip's College is not in the best part of town. It can be iffy depending on a specic street. You do not mention budget or desires for transportation or other needs. It's a big wide world and you need to be more specific if you can.

hmm well ill have a car and wouldn't mind a little commute. And i'm looking for an apartment between $400/500-$700

[austindoxie1972]

ShaneSA is right -- St Phillips is not in the best part of town. I would venture that most people on CD have not been in that area. (I have driven past St Phillips many, many times and it didn't bother me, but I was always there during the day).

If you don't mind a commute, I'd still focus on apartments in the North Central part of San Antonio. You might be able to find something in the $600 to $700 range. I personally wouldn't go into the $400 to $500 range, as I think that might be too low a rent for a reputable, decent place.

[skeet09]

I graduated from St Philip's College a few years back. The campus is a good campus for either 2+2 program or vocational programs. Depending on the program, there may be a waiting list. Your apartment search would most likely concentrate in areas in Northeast SA or North Central. A apartment locator would help.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Remember to budget for utilities too, when figuring out how much rent you can afford. And to get an apartment here, you usually have to make three times the rent or have someone cosign for you who makes seven times the rent. It's cheaper to live here but jobs are probably not going to pay as well as they do in California.

If you live with your parents now, it might make more sense to find somewhere local to go to school so you can minimize your living expenses while in school. The out-of-state tuition is a lot higher at St. Phillips than it is for residents in the district (because part of our property taxes goes to the college district). For example, if I took 15 hours, my tuition and fees would be $975. If you came here from CA and took 15 hours, your tuition and fees would be $5175. That's a lot to pay for tuition at a community college.

[RS91]

Well I'm a 20 year old and thinking of moving from CA to TX (San Antonio) for school and just to throw myself out there into something new and out of my comfort zone if you will. I think it'd be easier if I were going to go to a big university living in a dorm and what not but i'm not, i'm going to attend a community college for a specific program (which would be cheaper there than going a different city here in California). I do have a close friend there so she should help me a lot. She pointed out the better part of town to me. But i'm getting a bit frustrated, maybe i'm over thinking it, I need some advice please.

1. Where should I really start
2. I've narrowed down the area to move to
3. I looked into the vehicle/license aspect a bit. Would it be cheaper to sell my car there and buy a used one there then to register it there and all that?
4. what would be a reasonable amount to actually save
5. should I get myself settled and get a job before going to school?
6. jobs,insurance anything else i need to worry about when moving to a new city/state

I'd appreciate any advice

[Bonehoner]

Make sure you have a job secured before making any move and are you ready for the heat? It's a long,hot summer here. 5 months worth.

2 out of the last 4 summers have been horrid (think 60+ days over 100 degrees).

[apal]

have at least a couple of months worths of expenses saved up before you move.

[tortuga29]

Originally Posted by RS91

Well I'm a 20 year old and thinking of moving from CA to San Antonio for school and just to throw myself out there into something new and out of my comfort zone if you will. I think it'd be easier if I were going to go to a big university living in a dorm and what not but i'm not, i'm going to attend a community college for a specific program (which would be cheaper there than going a different city here in California). I do have a close friend there so she should help me a lot. She pointed out the better part of town to me. But i'm getting a bit frustrated, maybe i'm over thinking it, I need some advice please.

1. Where should I really start
2. I've narrowed down the area to move to
3. I looked into the vehicle/license aspect a bit. Would it be cheaper to sell my car there and buy a used one there then to register it there and all that?
4. what would be a reasonable amount to actually save before going
5. should I get myself settled and get a job before going to school?
6. jobs,insurance anything else i need to worry about when moving to a new city/state

I'd appreciate any advice

1. Work, work, work. Make sure you have a job lined up. Even if you're planning to apply to a specific program, still have one. Now, i don't know if community colleges are the same as the universities that charge you more if you're an out of town applicant. If this program is, you may want to wait until you have a local address to apply to you get charged as such. But if they don't, then make sure you've applied and been accepted into the program.
2. I would live closer to your work and/or school. Since you'll be going back and forth, might help to be closer.
3. I don't have any advice on the car thing. I'm sorry. But I know it's hard out there, finance wise, so you might not get what you're hoping for your car so I would research for your car model/make, like on resell websites, to see how much they're going for, in both Texas and Cali.
4. I would save as much as possible. If you think it's enough, double it. You're moving to a different state and possibly from your support system, be as smart as possible. Just save everything!
5. Depending on where you work, you may be able to get insurance as a part-timer. But it depends on what you want to do, work FT while in school or PT and hope you get some financial aid.

I hope it works out for you. I've also had to move states at various times, for schooling in and out of the Army, so I know it sucks to be overthinking but think of the basic things you'll need and get those covered.