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Old 05-31-2010, 06:32 PM
 
Location: San Antonio
5 posts, read 7,939 times
Reputation: 10

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I have always wanted to live in Oregon.... I am hoping that I can move there once I graduate college...

I am majoring in environmental science and minoring in anthropology so jobs in env. science would be great... I would love to have a house/condo/duplex with a yard for my dogs (love love love animals). I would like to live in a place that is not a tiny town, but not a huge city either (I currently live in San Antonio)... I would prefer somewhere with 4 seasons, maybe close to the coast. I was researching Corvallis previously but still don't know too much (researched for about 30 minutes so I didn't find much).

I went to some cost-of-living comparison calculators and they said that housing is much much more expensive in the cities I looked at... any input on this would be appreciated.

Thanks for the input... I tried to put all I could think of for my requirements, but I'm sure I missed something.
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Old 05-31-2010, 07:16 PM
 
Location: Salem, OR
15,577 posts, read 40,434,848 times
Reputation: 17473
Oregon has two mountain ranges in the valley. The coastal range and the Cascade Range. Our cities are either on the coast or in the valley because of the coastal range. So "close to the coast" means 1 1/2 hours away.

I think technically we have 4 seasons in the Willamette Valley, but our winters are rainy and cool vs. snowy and cold. If you are looking for snowy and cold that would be Bend, which is high desert.

Cost of living in most of Oregon will be higher than most of Texas. That part is true. We don't have sprawl like Texas and our cities are compact.

So...you are better off letting the forum know what kind of atmosphere you want in a city. What you like to do. That will help to drive recommendations for cities. You also might want to consider that if you want to live out here, where you live will depend on where you get a job. I mean you may love Corvallis, but if your job is in Portland, you'd be crazy to commute.

Make no mistake...you will have a lot of competition for jobs out here.
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Old 05-31-2010, 07:20 PM
 
Location: State of Jefferson coast
963 posts, read 3,033,269 times
Reputation: 1326
Quote:
Originally Posted by zarza010 View Post
I would prefer somewhere with 4 seasons, maybe close to the coast.
The coast has two seasons: chilly and wet from Nov. to May, and cool and foggy from June to Oct. You have to get on the lee side of the Coast Range to experience meaningful springs, summers and falls. Even Corvallis is closer to three and a half seasons than four. Western Oregon doesn't get snow as a general rule. Anyway, the coast is the retirement belt, you wouldn't want to live there if you're under 70.

Environmental Science is a popular major at Oregon universities. You'll have A LOT of competition from in-state grads looking for work...any work at all, much less a green-collar job. Corvallis, Eugene, Salem and Portland -- all in the Willamette Valley -- would be your best bets.
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Old 05-31-2010, 07:36 PM
 
Location: Lakewood OH
21,695 posts, read 28,449,641 times
Reputation: 35863
You probably will not have much choice as to where you would like to live because it will depend upon whether or not you are able to obtain a job. If you are lucky enough to get one, you can then check out the town in which the job will be.

As the other posters stated, there is tremendous competition in your field so it might be better for you to first locate companies that you feel have the need for your skills and start applying.
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Old 05-31-2010, 07:37 PM
 
Location: San Antonio
5 posts, read 7,939 times
Reputation: 10
Corvallis, Eugene, portland, and Salem-- do they get snow? I'm sorry. I know I could look online... I don't have an excuse as to why I'm asking you instead haha sorry

Why are jobs so scarce?? Is it really THAT difficult to find a job? :-/ you all are making me worry about being able to find a job
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Old 05-31-2010, 07:39 PM
 
Location: Salem, OR
15,577 posts, read 40,434,848 times
Reputation: 17473
Quote:
Originally Posted by zarza010 View Post
Corvallis, Eugene, portland, and Salem-- do they get snow? I'm sorry. I know I could look online... I don't have an excuse as to why I'm asking you instead haha sorry

Why are jobs so scarce?? Is it really THAT difficult to find a job? :-/ you all are making me worry about being able to find a job

We get snowflakes every year in the valley, but it only sticks about every three years or so.

Yes. In that field it is that hard to find a job here. Oregon and Washington tend to be pretty desirable for environmental folks.
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Old 05-31-2010, 08:00 PM
 
Location: Baker City, Oregon
5,460 posts, read 8,180,020 times
Reputation: 11631
Quote:
Originally Posted by zarza010 View Post
Why are jobs so scarce?? Is it really THAT difficult to find a job? :-/ you all are making me worry about being able to find a job
It would probably help if you would change your minor from anthropology to something more marketable like chemistry or biology.
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Old 05-31-2010, 08:01 PM
 
Location: San Antonio
5 posts, read 7,939 times
Reputation: 10
You guys are breaking my dreams of living in Oregon!!! :-(
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Old 05-31-2010, 08:04 PM
 
Location: San Antonio
5 posts, read 7,939 times
Reputation: 10
Well, at my school, you choose which field to concentrate in (geo, bio, or chem) but I suppose a different minor couldn't hurt
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Old 05-31-2010, 08:07 PM
 
Location: Lakewood OH
21,695 posts, read 28,449,641 times
Reputation: 35863
Quote:
Originally Posted by zarza010 View Post
Corvallis, Eugene, portland, and Salem-- do they get snow? I'm sorry. I know I could look online... I don't have an excuse as to why I'm asking you instead haha sorry

Why are jobs so scarce?? Is it really THAT difficult to find a job? :-/ you all are making me worry about being able to find a job

You should be worried about that. Please take a look at some of the past threads to get an idea of what others have gone through. The usual mantra is either get a job before you move here or bring a money to live on for as long as you are willing to look for work. Make sure you hold something back if you have to move back home.
Start with this link.

//www.city-data.com/forum/portl...et-so-bad.html

Last edited by Minervah; 05-31-2010 at 08:10 PM.. Reason: added link.
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