18-year-old wanting to move to SF (San Francisco, Oakland: how much, home, dorms)

[CyanideThistles]

I'm 17, going to be 18 next month, and I live in Santa Rosa, an hour north of San Francisco. I've been thinking about moving to SF sometime soon, because I just don't really want to live here anymore. But I wonder if moving to SF is actually realistic for a person like me.

I'm enrolled at a junior college right now in Santa Rosa and I'm wondering if there are many jobs for young people in SF, or if it's possible for me to be a roommate at some residence somewhere in the city. I don't really mind what part of the city it's in, just not a real ghetto area, of course. But I wouldn't mind it if the place seemed a little sketchy, because I've always lived in places like that or near places like that, lol

And I'm just wondering, what will it be like to transition from living in the suburbs like Santa Rosa and then living in San Francisco? The main reasons why I want to move down there because it just seems more interesting there. A lot of character down there, and city life seems cool. Also, I'm half Asian, and here in Santa Rosa the Asian population is fairly small and I'd like a big Asian community like San Francisco. I'm an nonathletic nerdy looking Asian kid and the city I live in now just isn't the best place for a guy like me. Also, I'd like to use more public transportation and stuff like BART which lacks in the place I live in.

And if there's other places like in Oakland, I'd be willing to live there. Of course, somewhere like downtown Oakland maybe, where it's not extremely ghetto but actually somewhat livable. But still preferable actual SF.

Thank you,
Tim

[mayorhaggar]

Uh, go to college then try to get a job wherever you want to live. You're not going to get a good job without a college degree or any work experience. Maybe transfer to SFSU when you get your AA and you can live in SF or near there.

[UrbanAdventurer]

You're better off finishing college as quickly and cheaply as possible before going to SF. Unless your parents can afford to give you major financial help to support your schooling while living in SF, how would you expect to pay for everything while going to school full time?

My advice is do well at CC and transfer to the best university you can get accepted to, wherever it is, and study something serious like finance, accounting, or engineering. Then move to SF and get yourself a real job so you can actually afford to live there.

[mr bolo]

do you have any relatives in SF? maybe you could stay with relatives, that would be the easiest way to live there at your age

[bmw335xi]

Finish your degree first and than apply for jobs. Since you are only an hour drive from SF, it will be easy for you to meet for interviews. Once you have a job lined up, you will know how much you can afford.

[gone down south]

Live at home for free, get your parents to pay for your education, take the train into the city on weekends.

[CyanideThistles]

Originally Posted by mr bolo

do you have any relatives in SF? maybe you could stay with relatives, that would be the easiest way to live there at your age

I have a relative or two living in San Mateo, but I'm not really close to them, and San Mateo is probably too far from SF for me.

So yeah I guess the best thing is to do really well at the JC here and then go to SF State.

What neighborhoods do you think are popular for somebody like me?

[bmw335xi]

Depends on your budget...but if you don't know many people staying in the dorms for one year is a great way to meet people and it's pretty fun. After a year, you'll want your own room, but for one year it's a fun experience.

[SMD707415]

lol I think I also answered your question on yahoo answers. internet is a smaller place now...

[SMD707415]

Originally Posted by gone down south

Live at home for free, get your parents to pay for your education, take the train into the city on weekends.

What train? there is no BART in the North Bay...only a very inefficient bus system.