How is student life in Los Angeles (on a budget)? (Pasadena: 2014, rental market)

[Bos2014]

I recently received an admissions offer from a highly ranked professional degree program in Los Angeles. The program itself is appealing, and I am considering the move; but, after reading a number of threads on this forum, I have concerns about the safety and quality of life in Los Angeles for a student on a tight budget.

How limited will my life be without a car? How much can I expect to spend a year simply living in a safe/decent neighborhood (rent, food, other basic necessities)? How competitive is the RE rental market? How bad is the air quality for someone with asthma?

Also, I have always lived on the east coast (Boston, NYC, Montreal); what can I expect to be quite different from the east coast (culture, or otherwise)? I have visited California (from SD to Napa and Sonoma), and really enjoyed the experience; but, living in a place is entirely different.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[smokingGun]

by "professional" program do you mean graduate studies? post-bac degree? Just remember that with any kind of post-undergrad program, internships/work-study is a huge part of the experience, probably worth more than the actual classwork in eyes of potential employers. Because LA office centers are spread out so far apart it would be very time consuming to make the commute to school and then to a job just by public transit alone. btw, LA has basically solved its "smog" problem so there aren't air quality warning days like we had when i was a kid. Back in the 1980's and 1990's there would be summer days where your lungs would hurt just from playing outside.

[Bos2014]

Hi smokingGun,

Thanks for your response! This would be a graduate professional degree program. I'm glad to hear about the air quality; I have pretty severe asthma and allergies, so air quality is really important to me. What areas would you suggest as decent/safe and still reasonably priced? Are there any "hidden costs," unique to living in LA/California, that I may not be taking into account? Thanks for your help.

[jamills21]

Originally Posted by Bos2014

Hi smokingGun,

Thanks for your response! This would be a graduate professional degree program. I'm glad to hear about the air quality; I have pretty severe asthma and allergies, so air quality is really important to me. What areas would you suggest as decent/safe and still reasonably priced? Are there any "hidden costs," unique to living in LA/California, that I may not be taking into account? Thanks for your help.

Hidden costs? Usually those are car related... Groceries, Clothing, furniture, utilities, activities are actually cheaper than eastcoast cities & Southern Cities I've lived in. Just don't hang out in West LA if you expect cheap prices. Also, we don't get pollen outbreaks like on the east and south and air pollution really has gotten better.

[Cream1]

Which school are you attending? That would dictate where you would live.

[munchitup]

Yeah, you're gonna need to be more specific. UCLA, USC, Cal Tech, probably don't need a car. LMU, Claremont, Northridge, probably want to get a car.

This will also dictate the safety and housing questions. Basically, your OP s way too vague.

[Bos2014]

The universities I'm considering are USC and UCLA.

[PDF]

Originally Posted by Bos2014

The universities I'm considering are USC and UCLA.

Considering the two are on opposite ends of the city, which one you actually go to will make a big difference in the things you are asking. But you can totally get by without a car.

[Cream1]

The edge for student life without a car goes to USC. It's right on the Expo Metro Line, which gives you easy access to Downtown, Pasadena, Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley, and more. This also greatly expands your living options. With UCLA, you'd be taking buses to get around. What is your rental budget?

[bpeeps]

This post is like trying to figure out what is wrong with a sad 5 year old. Are you hungry? Are you hurt? Do you need to use the bathroom? Are you tired? Do you need a nap? ETC.

OP, why are you so freaking vague? People here can only help you if you provide them with the necessary information to do so.