18 year old moving good idea or bad

[collegestudent44]

Originally Posted by letmework

I just graduated from CSU Fullerton this month. I want to warn you that it is very tough out here in the SoCal area. A lot of the college kids are living with their parents and commuting to campus. When I was a student, I was working hard to get internships (paid or unpaid) and I would constantly get rejected. Over 300 applicants for one unpaid position. I also tried retail/fast food jobs in the local area. A lot places are doing "hiring fairs" where people just show up to do interviews. You would have to go through three rounds of interviews for a min. wage job. I thought that my previous years of experience at a dining hall would easily get me a job but it comes down to luck or who you know.

So here I am. No part time job, no internship experience, and no job offer. Despite a good GPA, I am pretty much screwed. Unless Concordia has a good co-op program for your major, I highly discourage moving to SoCal. It's not worth it.

thank you for the advice i've started to realize that and with no family or nobody i know out there i can just imagine how much harder it would be. Maybe once i finish school ill have a chance to move out there but thanks for the advice and good luck to you too!

[suissegrl702]

Originally Posted by letmework

I just graduated from CSU Fullerton this month. I want to warn you that it is very tough out here in the SoCal area. A lot of the college kids are living with their parents and commuting to campus. When I was a student, I was working hard to get internships (paid or unpaid) and I would constantly get rejected. Over 300 applicants for one unpaid position. I also tried retail/fast food jobs in the local area. A lot places are doing "hiring fairs" where people just show up to do interviews. You would have to go through three rounds of interviews for a min. wage job. I thought that my previous years of experience at a dining hall would easily get me a job but it comes down to luck or who you know.

So here I am. No part time job, no internship experience, and no job offer. Despite a good GPA, I am pretty much screwed. Unless Concordia has a good co-op program for your major, I highly discourage moving to SoCal. It's not worth it.

This. Though I will add that it is not easy anywhere right now to be young with no verifiable job skills. It is tough out there. I came here from Utah a year ago, and my brother and several of my friends there (and I'm older - as is my brother and as are most of my friends) are struggling - with and without degrees. I really wanted to move, so I researched the snot out of every place I was considering and looked for jobs and stated that I was willing to pay at my own expense. I did not move until I had a job that was full-time with benefits. And yes, that can be difficult. If you really want to come here, get a job first and then move. I know many who have done just that and I am one of them - and that is the only way I'd recommend moving to anywhere in this country right now - with a full-time job in hand.

Keep in mind also that California is very expensive compared to Texas. What I am paying for a room rental with private bath in North OC I can get my own place for in Henderson, a suburb of where I am from (Vegas) and an even nicer place in most parts of Texas.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by nurserosie

Remember out of state tuition. Will add to cost

I think you're considered to be a resident after a year. He could take that year off school and try to find a job.

Doesn't out of state tuition only apply to state run schools?

[nurserosie]

Yes one hear and u are considered resident...think u have to work tho

Most private and all public colleges have out of state rates. Considerably higher than in state

[suissegrl702]

Originally Posted by nurserosie

Yes one hear and u are considered resident...think u have to work tho

Most private and all public colleges have out of state rates. Considerably higher than in state

Yeah, you have to show proof that you are not just in California for college. Typically the schools want to see that you have worked, or paid income tax in California. You cannot derive most of your income from someone who is not a California resident either (e.g. parents). I just went through this with Fullerton College. It also helps if you have changed your car's registration to California, registered to vote in California, bank at a California bank and I can't remember what else.

[nurserosie]

In other words. Paid into our state coffers...we need the money!

[J1ndo]

Originally Posted by collegestudent44

thank you for the advice i've started to realize that and with no family or nobody i know out there i can just imagine how much harder it would be. Maybe once i finish school ill have a chance to move out there but thanks for the advice and good luck to you too!

There's a Concordia in Austin, which is a LOT more fun for a young person than OC can ever hope to be. Seriously, you're planning to beggar yourself in order to live somewhere that's pretty much Sugarland (if you're from Houston) or Plano (if from DFW) with milder weather. Think longer term, and think larger.

And Cal State is like Texas A&M, but not nearly as well funded. I don't mean to slam OC or Southern California, but it's really more a place to come after you've finished school and have a few years of professional experience under your belt.