Moving to San Diego over the summer. Good place to live near SDSU (El Cajon: apartments)

[social62code]

I'm moving to San Diego from Michigan over the summer, and I need advice on where to live. I am 21 years old, and I am looking to attend school at SDSU, so I would like to be fairly close, preferably even within walking distance. I won't know anyone, so I'm looking for a good spot to meet people close to my age. I'm not interested in living with or near a bunch of 18 year old freshman.. I am looking for young adults/upperclassmen who attend or did attend SDSU. It needs to be somewhere safe... and fairly cheap spots... If anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it!

[kettlepot]

The immediate neighborhood around SDSU is an area of post war ranch houses, the majority of which are still occupied by families. There is housing right on campus and along some of the thoroughfares such as Collwood, College, and Montezuma that would be close enough to walk or bike. I think most of the freshmen tend to live in dorms on campus, so the housing along these three streets might be the right place for you. However, there are no night spots for socializing.

If you want to be in an area that is more of an old-style urban neighborhood, try Normal Heights. It's not expensive (for San Diego) and there are some coffee shops, bars, and restaurants in which to meet people. However, you won't be able to walk to campus. You would however, be able to take the bus on a direct route.

Another option is an apartment in Talmadge which is closer to SDSU than Normal Heights. Not as much night life as Normal Heights, just a one or two options along El Cajon Boulevard. It's close to the Collwood apartments but not quite college-kid central. You wouldn't be able to walk to SDSU from Talmadge, but biking to campus would be easy.

[social62code]

Thanks! I did check out the Fifty Twenty Five apartments while I was there.. I think they used to be called Sterling Collwood. I haven't heard very good things about that complex though. Thoughts?

[Clark Fork Fantast]

Social, also consider that the trolley stops on campus, so if you find a nice place within walking distance of a trolley stop (Green Line), it will be an easy commute. Not much night life near the safer areas, though. The best place to meet people is actually right on campus. SDSU is known as a party school...
SDMTS - Trolley Information

Housing near campus:
Apartments near SDSU | Apartments close to SDSU - Sterling Alvarado

College View Apartments-SDSU

Housing on campus:
Discover the difference...on campus. | SDSU

There's also the possibility of renting a single family home with 3-4 other students. You may or may not like the idea of roommates, but since SDSU is located in a family neighborhood there are (or used to be) SFH rentals in the area. Start out by renting an apartment month-by-month, and during the first semester you'll probably run into people looking for a roommate. There will be notes posted on campus, or on some website I'm sure. The downside (as I'm sure you know) is that it can be disruptive to your studies. The upside is that it is an easy way to make friends.

[kettlepot]

Sorry, I can't give you information about specific complexes along Collwood. I know that there is a problem with break-ins with the cars parked along the street, but car break-ins and car thefts are an omnipresent problem in San Diego.

[djxpress]

All I know is that when I lived near SDSU for 2 years around 1999-2000 (on Hardy Ave) on the bottom floor, my place got broken into twice.

The area around SDSU is a dump, no matter what color paint they slap on the buildings.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by djxpress

All I know is that when I lived near SDSU for 2 years around 1999-2000 (on Hardy Ave) on the bottom floor, my place got broken into twice.

The area around SDSU is a dump, no matter what color paint they slap on the buildings.

Too broad a brush, IMO. (Your comment, I mean, not the paint. )

We have friends who live on Estrella. Their area is mostly well-kept, with only a couple of problem houses (loud partiers or people who don't keep the place looking nice) on the block.