A few questions about relocating and living to Chicago (Washington: apartments, for rent)

[Ali51890]

Hi, I am looking to relocate and I am trying to find out some more information and facts before I make a decision on where to move.

-Does anyone know anything about the Community Colleges in Chicago from personal experience or from living in the area? (Right now, a community college is what is best for me. Although, I would love to finish a bachelors in the future.)

-What is the job market like? I will be a full time student, but also on my own so I would definitely need full time. I would like to move away from my current field-retail IF possible (and definitely after I graduate college.)

-What is the job market like for people with associates degree? Also if I was continue my education with a Bachelors degree. My major is business.

-What is housing like? I would need an apartment, room to rent, just something inexpensive. I would prefer to live alone. I don't mind a studio apartment. I just need something inexpensive because it will just be solely my income.

-Safety. What are some places to avoid? Places that would be safe for a 24 year old woman. (I'm definitely not scared of much and I have common sense, I just don't want to live in the worst part of a city wherever I do move.)

-How is cost of living?



Some background information on me.

-I am 24

-From Mobile, AL

-I have never visited Chicago.

-Most of my work experience is retail (currently a of the part time managers of a store), however I have done childcare (2+ years) and data entry.


I would really love to have you respond to this post if you feel like you could enlighten me in any way! Thanks!

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Ali51890

-Does anyone know anything about the Community Colleges in Chicago from personal experience or from living in the area? (Right now, a community college is what is best for me. Although, I would love to finish a bachelors in the future.)

The City Colleges of Chicago are decent community colleges. The State of Illinois makes it easier to transfer an associates gained at any community college in Illinois to most 4-year universities in Illinois. That said, what are you hoping to attain with a community college education? While I believe education is its own reward, financially speaking community college degrees do not carry much weight unless they're in a specific trade or program that you will be working in (i.e. nursing or physician's assistant).

Originally Posted by Ali51890

-What is the job market like? I will be a full time student, but also on my own so I would definitely need full time. I would like to move away from my current field-retail IF possible (and definitely after I graduate college.)

The job market is decent. Not red-hot by any means, but decent and improving overall. However, it varies a lot depending on the industry.

-

Originally Posted by Ali51890

What is the job market like for people with associates degree? Also if I was continue my education with a Bachelors degree. My major is business.

An associates in business will be marginally better than just a high school degree, but it won't add that much value to your resume compared to work experience or a four-year degree.

Originally Posted by Ali51890

-What is housing like? I would need an apartment, room to rent, just something inexpensive. I would prefer to live alone. I don't mind a studio apartment. I just need something inexpensive because it will just be solely my income.

Housing here has walls, doors, windows and roofs. There is a wide variety of housing available, and as anywhere, the more convenient it is to the main jobs centers, the more expensive it is. The more convenient it is to shops and entertainment and other recreation, the more expensive it is. Realistically, very few people pay less than $400 per month even with roommates (and that's unusually low), Studios are hard to find under $600-700 per month because they're not common in cheaper neighborhoods. 1-bedrooms start at about that in cheap areas.

Originally Posted by Ali51890

-Safety. What are some places to avoid? Places that would be safe for a 24 year old woman. (I'm definitely not scared of much and I have common sense, I just don't want to live in the worst part of a city wherever I do move.)

Avoid Garfield Park, Englewood and Washington Park. Also avoid Austin, the western portions of Humboldt Park, and North Lawndale. That will keep you away from the most dangerous areas.

Originally Posted by Ali51890

-How is cost of living?

Quite a bit higher than where you're from, quite a bit lower than New York or San Francisco.

[Ali51890]

Originally Posted by emathias

The City Colleges of Chicago are decent community colleges. The State of Illinois makes it easier to transfer an associates gained at any community college in Illinois to most 4-year universities in Illinois. That said, what are you hoping to attain with a community college education? While I believe education is its own reward, financially speaking community college degrees do not carry much weight unless they're in a specific trade or program that you will be working in (i.e. nursing or physician's assistant).



The job market is decent. Not red-hot by any means, but decent and improving overall. However, it varies a lot depending on the industry.

-

An associates in business will be marginally better than just a high school degree, but it won't add that much value to your resume compared to work experience or a four-year degree.



Housing here has walls, doors, windows and roofs. There is a wide variety of housing available, and as anywhere, the more convenient it is to the main jobs centers, the more expensive it is. The more convenient it is to shops and entertainment and other recreation, the more expensive it is. Realistically, very few people pay less than $400 per month even with roommates (and that's unusually low), Studios are hard to find under $600-700 per month because they're not common in cheaper neighborhoods. 1-bedrooms start at about that in cheap areas.



Avoid Garfield Park, Englewood and Washington Park. Also avoid Austin, the western portions of Humboldt Park, and North Lawndale. That will keep you away from the most dangerous areas.



Quite a bit higher than where you're from, quite a bit lower than New York or San Francisco.

Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful and a lot of things to consider. I really appreciate it!

[ToriaT]

You should have savings and a job lined up before coming. The cost of living is quite high in Chicago compared to what you are coming from. Perhaps you could get another retail type job to tide you over. You can take night classes. Chicago and its suburbs have a good community college system. The College of dupage is one of the best but you have to be a resident of Dupage county. Chicago has its own cc system. My son took a couple of classes at Wright Jr. College on the far northwest side and it seemed to be well organized and a good bet for anyone living in the city. You can then transfer to the UIC to finish your degree once you have established Illinois residency. Of course there are more options too for college but they get very expensive, such as DePaul and Loyola. Its all do able you just have to have a game plan.

[ToriaT]

A quick surf around shows there there are some studio apartments for rent for around 700-900 dollars a month. The ones I looked at were on Pine Grove in Lake view which is a good area with good bus transportation into the loop. This is probably the most rock bottom price you can find in a convenient location that is safe. You might find something further away at a lesser price but its kind of a needle in a haystack. Otherwise you are looking at a room mate situation or renting a room. Even that will cost you at least 4 or 500 a month.

[Ali51890]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

You should have savings and a job lined up before coming. The cost of living is quite high in Chicago compared to what you are coming from. Perhaps you could get another retail type job to tide you over. You can take night classes. Chicago and its suburbs have a good community college system. The College of dupage is one of the best but you have to be a resident of Dupage county. Chicago has its own cc system. My son took a couple of classes at Wright Jr. College on the far northwest side and it seemed to be well organized and a good bet for anyone living in the city. You can then transfer to the UIC to finish your degree once you have established Illinois residency. Of course there are more options too for college but they get very expensive, such as DePaul and Loyola. Its all do able you just have to have a game plan.

Thank you. I appreciate your reply!

[Jorge Bueno]

"You can then transfer to the UIC to finish your degree once you have established Illinois residency. Of course there are more options too for college but they get very expensive, such as DePaul and Loyola. Its all do able you just have to have a game plan."

I agree with the above, do the basic course work at a city college then transfer to a better University for three reasons. The 2nd university (if chosen wisely) will likely provide a much better education for your specialization in business, networking/friendship, and placing a higher pedigree degree on your resume will greatly increase your appeal to employers.

The city college will save you a lot of money and for basic subjects the education is just as good. Math is math after all. I know a several immigrants that followed or are following this formula. They work part time/full time, attend night school, transfer to the better school, graduated debt free, and landed corporate jobs in the loop after interning a little.

Good luck.