Which city is best for a college grad? (San Diego, San Jose: apartment, university)

[Thomas Frank]

I'm starting my junior year at Iowa State University this month, so I've got a couple years of college left until I leave this dreadful state and its terrible weather.

However, I'd like to gather some information now about places to live, and California strikes me as the most attractive. I'd like to get your recommendations about cities to live in.

Here's some information to go on:
- I'm super entrepreneurial and will most definitely start my own company or get into the startup scene working for a very small company. I already run a pretty successful blog, so making connections is not a problem for me.
- Since I'm entrepreneurial, I do not at all mind living very lean - starting out with a studio apartment would be OK as long as it's not dirty and the bathroom has 4 walls around it.
- I LOVE the ocean - I'd prefer to be very close to it, and I'd like to be in it a lot.
- I'm not really a fan of seasons. If it were 60-80 degrees and sunny every day, I'd be happy.
- My girlfriend doesn't really do well in places with bad air quality, so somewhere with clean air is pretty much a must.

Does any place in California offer a good fit for me?

[Shawn_Estrada]

Do you have a budget?

[Ceece]

A couple years is too soon to be thinking about it. Without realistic details it's impossible to say aything, much less what your life (and your now gf's) are going to be like at that point. It's a big state though, and it will probably still be here when you are ready to move

[Cream1]

Sounds like pretty much anywhere near the coast in Southern California would work out well for you (climate and beach wise). The water begins to get too cold once you get into central CA. Obviously which town it is depends on your budget.

[Malloric]

What's your degree in? If it's computers/tech/social networking or anything related to that silicon valley (San Jose area). For more general business or entertainment, So Cal.

[Thomas Frank]

I'm majoring in Management Information Systems, but I don't plan on doing anything with it. I'm much better at business dev, marketing, copywriting, PR - stuff like that. I'm really into tech but I'm not a developer. I could see myself being the non-technical partner in a startup, or doing business development for a small company.

I guess I really don't know what my budget will be - all I know is that if I stay on the track I'm on right now, I'll have no debt at all upon graduation.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Thomas Frank

I'm starting my junior year at Iowa State University this month, so I've got a couple years of college left until I leave this dreadful state and its terrible weather.

However, I'd like to gather some information now about places to live, and California strikes me as the most attractive. I'd like to get your recommendations about cities to live in.

Here's some information to go on:
- I'm super entrepreneurial and will most definitely start my own company or get into the startup scene working for a very small company. I already run a pretty successful blog, so making connections is not a problem for me.
- Since I'm entrepreneurial, I do not at all mind living very lean - starting out with a studio apartment would be OK as long as it's not dirty and the bathroom has 4 walls around it.
- I LOVE the ocean - I'd prefer to be very close to it, and I'd like to be in it a lot.
- I'm not really a fan of seasons. If it were 60-80 degrees and sunny every day, I'd be happy.
- My girlfriend doesn't really do well in places with bad air quality, so somewhere with clean air is pretty much a must.

Does any place in California offer a good fit for me?

There are places in Ca that would work well for you it sounds like. As for weather, there are not too many places that have temps with such a small margin, even places like San Diego will have lots of days above 80 and below 60, but San Diego does come to mind, as well as places near San Louis Obispo and maybe Santa Barbara. All have relatively clean air.

The only problem you might have to face is the cost of living. OK, you say you don't mind living lean and I am sure you mean it, but you might be surprised to find out how lean you will live. Starting your own business, right out of college can be very tricky regardless of your blog success.

Anyway, your best bet is to visit Ca for a couple of weeks, maybe after you finish your Jr year and just do some research while there. You really can't get a feel for what will work for you with 2 more years to go. THe end of next spring will geive you plenty of time.

Oh, I will add just one thing and no, I am trying to discourage you or put a damper on your thoughts, but you mention you are good at PR and Copy writing: this is one of the fields that is overflowing with your college graduates. Even freelancing is a challenge. I think you will need to focus on something else. You are talking about a start up business, in what field may I ask?

Nita

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by Thomas Frank

I'm starting my junior year at Iowa State University this month, so I've got a couple years of college left until I leave this dreadful state and its terrible weather.

However, I'd like to gather some information now about places to live, and California strikes me as the most attractive. I'd like to get your recommendations about cities to live in.

Here's some information to go on:
- I'm super entrepreneurial and will most definitely start my own company or get into the startup scene working for a very small company. I already run a pretty successful blog, so making connections is not a problem for me.
- Since I'm entrepreneurial, I do not at all mind living very lean - starting out with a studio apartment would be OK as long as it's not dirty and the bathroom has 4 walls around it.
- I LOVE the ocean - I'd prefer to be very close to it, and I'd like to be in it a lot.
- I'm not really a fan of seasons. If it were 60-80 degrees and sunny every day, I'd be happy.
- My girlfriend doesn't really do well in places with bad air quality, so somewhere with clean air is pretty much a must.

Does any place in California offer a good fit for me?

There are a lot of start ups and established tech companies in the San Francisco Area looking for young talent.

Tech companies going all out to recruit talent

[jeffredo]

Originally Posted by bmw335xi

There are a lot of start ups and established tech companies in the San Francisco Area looking for young talent.

Tech companies going all out to recruit talent

Exactly. There is quite a vigorous tech boom right now in San Francisco and San Jose - primarily thanks to social networking companies.

[sdinfjmale]

Originally Posted by Thomas Frank

I'm starting my junior year at Iowa State University this month, so I've got a couple years of college left until I leave this dreadful state and its terrible weather.

However, I'd like to gather some information now about places to live, and California strikes me as the most attractive. I'd like to get your recommendations about cities to live in.

Here's some information to go on:
- I'm super entrepreneurial and will most definitely start my own company or get into the startup scene working for a very small company. I already run a pretty successful blog, so making connections is not a problem for me.
- Since I'm entrepreneurial, I do not at all mind living very lean - starting out with a studio apartment would be OK as long as it's not dirty and the bathroom has 4 walls around it.
- I LOVE the ocean - I'd prefer to be very close to it, and I'd like to be in it a lot.
- I'm not really a fan of seasons. If it were 60-80 degrees and sunny every day, I'd be happy.
- My girlfriend doesn't really do well in places with bad air quality, so somewhere with clean air is pretty much a must.

Does any place in California offer a good fit for me?

Looking another direction Tampa may be a good fit for you all. The water is typically warmer in Florida. It is a very high tech city, and the air is cleaner there than most of the cities in California.

However, if California is really your dream, then I would suggest San Luis Obispo or Santa Cruz.