Ohio to seattle area (Tacoma, Bellevue: spring break, apartment, to rent)

[jtfezz]

Me and my wife are planning a move back to the west coast, we are both in our 30's. I grew up in the SF bay area. Been in Ohio for seven years now and the cold, lack of intelligence(not all, but enough have ruined it), lack of drive to do better for yourself (the locals), bugs, humidity, frigid winters, and lack of mountains, oceans and west coast scenery has gotten to me. I loved the Seattle area when i visited and always considered it a place i would love to live. So we're still in the early stages of planning. The main problem i have is we are both in college at the moment. Two years into a 4 year RN program for both of us. Ive checked a few colleges about transferring and believe we can transfer from the info i have gotten so far. We have a $1200. house payment now here in Ohio and would be looking for something to rent about the same or less until we finish school. I worry about moving out to the area after we finish school. I fear it might be harder to find work not living in the area first. I would rather be in the area a few years before, so once we are RN's we'll be more familiar with area, local hospitals, etc... I have an old high school friend living in the maple valley area. So im interested in the cities to the south for now like Kent, Tacoma, maple valley (i believe to be more SE). I will only need to make limited money while in school to pay rent, utilities, etc..I have a savings, have money set to live on for school, so a great job will not be a big deal until we are finished with school. My wife was recently laid off from her job and i work at the hospital as a cna/ US and do electrical work. Been an electrician since i was a teen. So im hoping to find work in those regards out there. Any info would be appreciated! Thanks.

[jtfezz]

What im looking for is some good neighborhoods around Seattle area community colleges that have fairly cheap rent (around $1000./month or less). Also if you know of any good community colleges i could look into for a RN program to transfer too.

[Hemlock140]

There are 3 JCs in Seattle, one in Bellevue, one in Auburn (Green River) Lake Washington Tech in Kirkland. Bellevue College has an RN program, not sure about the others. You may be able to find a small apartment for $1000
in Bellevue but it will be a couple of miles from the school near the Crossroads area. There are several hospitals in the area being expanded and a new one being built so there could be good job opportunities here.

[sean98125]

Just finish your degree. Don't be impatient. Once you get your degree you can write your own ticket, pretty much. It is getting hard for new nursing graduates to find work out here, but if you have experience you can usually step right in. Having a BSN in Seattle is desirable.

There are only two nursing schools here that have strong enough reputations to open doors for you - the UW and Seattle University. Non-resident tuition at the UW is pretty pricey, and tuition at Seattle U is even higher than that. Some of the hospitals up here have tuition reimbursement programs that will pay for part of your education in exchange for a time commitment.

You will only be able to find work here as an electrician if you are in the IBEW, but keep in mind that there are a whole lot of unemployed electricians that moved here during the construction boom that are looking for work now.

I understand the desire to move, but finishing your education would be your smartest move right now in my opinion. By then the economy will have hopefully turned around and jobs will be available again.

[happyhunting]

We are moving to Seattle with our kids and I am also finishing a degree I am halfway through, but because tuition is so expensive for out of state residents I have to wait a year and then apply as a resident. That's at UW, so not sure if the same applies to the cummunity colleges. We are also in our late 30's, but we have kids/teenagers so we can't stay really close to campus in a cheap place, and have to consider their schooling needs too. Have you looked into the cost of attending as an out of state resident? Would you be able to swing it financially or would it be easier to work and wait out the residency year?

[DaJaHa]

Just a word of advice/caution. Most of Ohio has a reasonable cost of living. Seattle, proper, does not. Like any big city on the coastal regions, it's very crowded/congested, and it's very expensive to do almost everything... from parking, shopping, eating out, and owning a home (ouch!) So bring lots of money with you, and it won't feel so much like a 'Country Club.'

[Inkpoe]

UW Tacoma has a program for nursing as well. I would say housing/rent more affordable there than Seattle. Tacoma and the SE area have hospitals and clinics (like Multi-care network).

The "safe" way would be to stay put and finish up what you're doing, but there's no guarantees that it'll open more doors then than if you just move here now.

[jtfezz]

Thanks for the info everyone. I actually know all about the cost of living on the west coast, since i lived in the SF bay area a majority of my adult life. Ive checked out a few of the schools and their NS applications were all mostly due by Feb. 1 to be considered for this fall. So im thinking i may be staying here to finish school before i move....but who knows my desire to move to Seattle is great. I love everything it has to offer. Ill be out during spring break mid-march to check out some areas im considering moving too. This site has so much info, its great!!