Best cities for 18 year olds (rent, dorms, transfer)

[sonrisamoon]

I'm 18 and I want to take a gap year before going to university. I'm going to be a junior transfer student if I enroll for the Fall of 2009. I'm reconsidering my decision to enroll as a junior at 18 and instead enroll when I'm 20. Several of my friends, who were college juniors at 18 as well, have told me that if they could do it all over again, they would take 2 years and work to save for college and travel the world. They also said that since most of their courses were upper-division and their dorm mates were traditional junior transfers (aged 20-21), it was hard to maintain a lot of their friendships because the 21 year olds would go out often, leaving the 18 year olds back in the dorms. Also, since the 18 year old junior tranfers had friendships established with traditional juniors, doing things with other 18-20 year olds (freshmen and sophomores) was difficult to do.

I thought to myself, that makes sense, but then I asked them what cities they would have lived in before transferring?

The majority of them said cities in Europe. That led to me to wonder, are there any cities in the United States that have amazing nightlife for 18 year olds?

Is New York a good option? How about San Francisco? My friends who attended Berkeley say it was tough because the majority of San Francisco's nightlife was 21 and up. What about Portland, Seattle, and Chicago?

Also, cities around the world would be greatly appreciated. How are Montreal and certain cities in Europe?

I'm not worried about money. Rent is covered for me. I just want to find a city where 18 year olds have a shot at nightlife as well.

I'm really looking for cities with good public transportation. I've lived in Southern California all my life and I've come to despise driving. I'm sick of people's reckless driving. Los Angeles is not a good option for me.

Thank you for reading. And any replies are greatly appreciated.

[watchoverme]

I personally suggest getting an education for 4 years, taking a year off, and then working. I personally took time off of college and going back was very very hard for me. Everyone told me that, and I said, "it won't be for me.." and what do you know.

If you're expecting to have time to actually enjoy the city you're in, I would say Chicago, NYC, and San Francisco would all be out for me- you'd be living to work. Those are extremely extremely expensive cities to live in and to pay a rent, utilities, and have enough money to enjoy the city and party, you would have to work 60+ hours a week at a minimum wage job if not more, and with the economy how it is right now, and you being 18, I wouldn't expect too much better than minimum wage in the most competitive cities in America.

I'm personally moving to Austin and suppose I would reccommend that as well. It's way more affordable than the cities you mentioned, yet still pretty walkable if you live downtown and driveable if you live out of the downtown, and there are many bars and clubs for 18 year olds due to UT.

Portland and Seattle are supposed to be nice, but are pretty expensive as well. Someone else would have to give you more information on them.

Good luck with what you decide.

[nature's message]

Boston, San Francisco, Montreal, Miami, Buenos Aires, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Houston, and Seattle are all great options. Also, Dubai has an awesome nightlife (but the city has some strict laws on affection in public). By far, Buenos Aires has the best out of the cities (I'm not sure of the age).

[Newarkbomb]

Hoboken, NJ
the median age is 30... its no 18, but no town has a median age of 18. But 30 is probably one of the youngest median ages you'll find in a city.

Very expensive though. It's like Manhattan with the prices... because it's right across the river from Manhattan.

Night life in Hoboken is very popular in NJ. It is filled with young preofessionals hanging out and chillen. Hoboken is known for the best place to meet singles. So it is a good place for young people to start off life on there own.
The colleges in the Area are New Jersey City University, Rutgers of Newark, Kean University in Union, New York University and there's probably other colleges throughout but i can't think of them at the top of my head.
Another great thing about hoboken is that it's close to the biggest city in the country, New York City. You just take a 10 minute ride into the tunnel and you're there. Jersey City is also another place worth checking out (downtown area).

[jtur88]

Join the Peace Corps.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by watchoverme

I personally suggest getting an education for 4 years, taking a year off, and then working. I personally took time off of college and going back was very very hard for me. Everyone told me that, and I said, "it won't be for me.." and what do you know.

I completely agree.

You don't know where you'll be 2 years down the road and going back to school might be an issue. Also you say you'll save now, but will you really?

I went to school for four years and worked part time to save for my travels when I graduated. Immediately after graduation, I traveled to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I came home, applied for jobs and started my career. I think what I did was a great choice for me because it was much more interesting traveling the world with a degree in higher education.

Good luck to you.

[watchoverme]

Also, with the economy being like it is right now, might as well spend the recession not working!

[BDubLR]

Originally Posted by watchoverme

I personally suggest getting an education for 4 years, taking a year off, and then working. I personally took time off of college and going back was very very hard for me. Everyone told me that, and I said, "it won't be for me.." and what do you know.

NO! Do NOT do this. Believe me when I say employers don't look highly on people who take a year off after college graduation. I wouldn't recommend taking a year off period but if you absolutely must do it, between HS and college is the time. Judging from people's responses I would guess most people here are either in high school or in college so their advice on this subject might not be as informed as somebody like me who has been through it.

Originally Posted by watchoverme

I'm personally moving to Austin and suppose I would reccommend that as well. It's way more affordable than the cities you mentioned, yet still pretty walkable if you live downtown and driveable if you live out of the downtown, and there are many bars and clubs for 18 year olds due to UT.

Agree. If you are 18 to 22ish, it doesn't get any better than Austin, Texas. Its also much cheaper than cities like San Francisco and Seattle, which will make this "adventure" easier on your parents' finances.

[AJohnston_STL]

The problem with "taking time off" is that you get a job, start working 40 hours per week to pay rent, live a lifestyle consistent with the money you make, and then think that they are just going to "go back to college." Well, after that year, the person thinks "Well, I'll just take 1 class per semester and finish my bachelor's degree in 2025 or so. I can't afford to just cut my hours in half for school!"

I know so many people who "just wanted a year off" between high school and college, but then couldn't turn away from that job mixing concrete for $10 an hour, and got stuck in it. I suspect at our 10 year reunion they'll use the same line I've heard from everyone else working a crap job at age 28; "I wish I would've went to school."

[lrfox]

Quebec City or Montreal are excellent if you're 18 because you can drink legally and both cities have great nightlife.

Boston has surprisingly little for an 18 year old to do at night, so I don't know if I'd stand by that.

Providence RI has an EXCELLENT scene for the 18+ crowd. Almost all of the "gentelmen's" clubs are 18 and up and many nightclubs are 18 plus. There are also a good number of places that will serve anyone in the building which includes 18 year olds. Most small and mid-sized music venues are 18+ as well. You can live well as an 18 year old in Providence.

There are also bunches of colleges in the area, so if you like it, you can consider staying for school. at least look into it.