San Diego, CA

[mox]

I did my undergrad at UCSD and am fairly familiar with the social and academic scenes at SDSU and USD if you have an questions fire away.

[enoksrd]

Alright, I am considering the math PhD program at UCSD. I would like to know if commuting by bike is possible (I don't want to get a car), if there are farmer's markets or other natural food stores (e.g. co-ops) in La Jolla, what the public transportation is like, and if it would be reasonable to live off of a TA salary (which should be about $1700/month).

Please add anything you think might be of interest. The more the merrier.

Thanks!

[mox]

Biking

Commuting is possible as long as you live "west of the 5" as UCSD is west of the 5, UTC is where msot people live which is about 3 miles farther and east of the 5, however the condos "west of the 5" are very clsoe and bkiking is very easy and I did it as an undergrad. The following ar elisted by their proximity to UCSD. Also west of the 5 condos are walking distance to the La Jolla Viallage Square which has ralphs, traders joes, ticket master and a ton of small shops and markets.

West of The 5 - rent on my one bedroom is 1,500 ( I actually bought mine so its a mortage but rent is similar)

Archstone La Jolla

Villa Tuscana La Jolla

Villa La jolla Condos

East of The 5

Nobel Court

VErano La Jolla

Costa Verde Apartments - most live here here.

Side note; A very convient 7am to 11pm ucsd bus runs to all these places from ucsd and back.

Food

trader Joes and another health store (natures choice?)are located in La Jolla Village square which is right next to UCSD and the west of the 5 condos, features food, bars like rock bottom and el torito and shopping etc), their are some in La Jolla but biking to thsoe areas is a bit tough, UCSD does have a farmers market every week and co-ops located on campus (word is they are being shut down though)

Living Expenses

1,700 is enough with a roomate, however living in La Jolla is very expensive 92037 is an expensive area code, across the freeway in UTC rent is a bit cheaper but still youre looking at 1,3oo for rent on a one bedroom.

Social

Unless youre going to UCSD as it offers something amazing...it plain sucks. I hate to complain but the social life is non existent and the kdis are mal-adjusted...however that said if youre outgoing there are many awesome things to do in SD....these saying might give you a hint on social life "9 out of 10 chicks in sd are hot, the 10th goes to ucsd." and " i love SD to bad I hate UCSD" are thigns kids say a ton, to the point its made its way into urban dictionarys and stuff.

- sorry for the spelling and grammar I am rushing to work =P

[Amatricis]

If you live by yourself, you're looking at VERY steep rent (I'm living in a 1b/1ba and I'm at $1100/month). Apartment complexes that have studios start around $1000/month. Once you opt to live with others, then rent will significantly decrease. Most apartment complexes at most cover hot water. Everything else is out of your pocket.

UCSD also has affiliated housing for grad students/staff/etc.....there are waitlists for these, but you could consider looking into it (http://hds.ucsd.edu).

And I don't agree that you have to be on the west side of the 5 to bike to school. I know plenty of people who live on the east of the 5 and bike to school. I'd say if you live anywhere accessible to the free student shuttles mentioned above, you can bike it, too.

There's a Trader Joe's, a Whole Foods nearby. If you can go further (i.e. if you end up w/ a car) there's a Henry's Market Place, too.

Estimating...I live by myself, I spent maybe $1500-$1700 a month on everything (rent, food, utilities, etc) combined.

[Guest]

If you live by yourself, you're looking at VERY steep rent (I'm living in a 1b/1ba and I'm at $1100/month). Apartment complexes that have studios start around $1000/month. Once you opt to live with others, then rent will significantly decrease. Most apartment complexes at most cover hot water. Everything else is out of your pocket.

UCSD also has affiliated housing for grad students/staff/etc.....there are waitlists for these, but you could consider looking into it (http://hds.ucsd.edu).

And I don't agree that you have to be on the west side of the 5 to bike to school. I know plenty of people who live on the east of the 5 and bike to school. I'd say if you live anywhere accessible to the free student shuttles mentioned above, you can bike it, too.

There's a Trader Joe's, a Whole Foods nearby. If you can go further (i.e. if you end up w/ a car) there's a Henry's Market Place, too.

Estimating...I live by myself, I spent maybe $1500-$1700 a month on everything (rent, food, utilities, etc) combined.

I agree you can bike to a bus stop living east of the 5 and perhaps UCSD itself. My only issue is the campus is so large that biking that extra mile from over there isnt that far but when you have to bike the extra mile and then bike through campus to say RIMAC it can get a bit far. However Amatricis is correct that you can bike from east of the 5 if you wanted.

[Guest newbie_bio]

Hi mox,

I m planning to accept a 26K/yr offer ar UCSD Biology Grad. I think it should suffice, do you?

[mox]

Hi mox,

I m planning to accept a 26K/yr offer ar UCSD Biology Grad. I think it should suffice, do you?

If they give you cheaper housing that would help. My girl is in a bio program at another UC she receives 29-30k (29,800 I think), pays 500 a month for UC housing and it still runs a bit tight in southern california.

[Guest jodequa]

Excuse my ignorance, but is that figure including tuition/fees, or not?

I'll be getting about 15 k as a TA at UCSD, and I'm wondering just how much more it's gonna cost me to live! (guess i should've gone into the sciences instead!)

Also, other than Hillcrest, are there any liberal/progressive neighborhoods I should look at?

Thanks!

[mox]

Excuse my ignorance, but is that figure including tuition/fees, or not?

I'll be getting about 15 k as a TA at UCSD, and I'm wondering just how much more it's gonna cost me to live! (guess i should've gone into the sciences instead!)

Also, other than Hillcrest, are there any liberal/progressive neighborhoods I should look at?

Thanks![/quote/]

Jodequa,

For my girl a mollecular bio Ph.D she received full tuition funding (free ride) and 29k a year in pay, I figure the bio guy at ucsd got the same thing. As far as other progressive and artys towns Ocean Beach is pretty nice.

[Guest newbie_bio]

Excuse my ignorance, but is that figure including tuition/fees, or not?

I'll be getting about 15 k as a TA at UCSD, and I'm wondering just how much more it's gonna cost me to live! (guess i should've gone into the sciences instead!)

Also, other than Hillcrest, are there any liberal/progressive neighborhoods I should look at?

Thanks!

The fees are waived. In addition I get 26K/year. And health insurance etc. Hope this helps!

[Guest MeggieB]

Someone above mentioned the affiliated grad student housing. Considering my stipend is only 15K, it seems attractive. I looked at the website, but does anyone have more info about it? How nice are the apts? How hard is it to get one? Etc.

Any inside info would be most appreciated.

[canuck]

Sooo, is it just me or is any 1 bedroom apartment in La Jolla 1200+? Where do all the grad students live?!?!

[LaraAnn85]

Sooo, is it just me or is any 1 bedroom apartment in La Jolla 1200+? Where do all the grad students live?!?!

I've been here for 5 years (undergrad) and I never see grad students. I lived in a complex where there were a few, but it was all undergrads it would be a horrible place to live. I moved out because I couldn't take it anymore. I would suggest University City or Clairmont if you want something affordable and close. If you're willing to commute, Ocean Beach or Northpark are my favorite areas. San Diego is a family town....a wealthy family town....it's hard to find affordable places with youngish people. That said, I will be sad to leave this fall :cry:

[ampersand]

I went to the political science recruiting day last week and stayed with a couple of current grad students. They live in a graduate housing complex called Miramar, and from what they said it's pretty easy for first-year grad students to get in there (they recommended putting in an application as soon as you decide you're going to go there). The rent is about $650-$700 per month, unfurnished, two bedrooms/two bathrooms (although one of the bathrooms has a toilet and the other has a shower...a little weird). The complex was just built in the last couple of years, so everything's pretty new. There's also a shuttle stop nearby. It seems like a good option for at least the first year, since it's close to campus and relatively cheap.

[canuck]

ah.. those rates are split.. they stick you with someone else. I was utterly baffled as to why they would build 2 bedroom apartments and charge 1200 for them.

[ewurgler]

Hey all,

I attended ucsd as an undergrad, have lived here for 5 years, and am dating someone who did undergrad and currently grad at ucsd. It is a fantastic school and place to live if you know the right things. Couple of notes:

Neighborhood:

Do not live in La Jolla. It is terribly rich, isolated, and hard to commute. The grad housing is ok in price, but you can get a much better deal if you are willing to drive a bit or shuttle to get to school. The neighborhoods I have lived in and recommend are:

South Park (15-20 mins to school). It is old with great prices, cute coffee shop, restaurants, bars, close to downtown, balboa park (museums, hiking trails), close to cheap grocery store.

North Park: Has a bit more "character," a bit louder, but still charming with great housing prices, tons of bars, old shops, coffee, walkable events. Close to balboa park and hillcrest.

Hillcrest The gay neighborhood, filled with unique and fantastic restaurants, bars, bookstores, coffee, close to balboa park, near a UCSD shuttle service. Slightly more expensive than north or south park.

San Diego has lots to do, extremely moderate weather, and is a surfers dream town. However, public transportation is nearly non-existent, and the area ucsd is located in is rich, stuffy and rather isolated.

That said, I loved undergrad and am looking forward to a new city for grad school. My boyfriend loved undergrad and loves grad (comm). But, if you like to watch the leaves change color, enjoying wearing scarves and cuddling up with hot coco, you will not like. It is honestly 80 degrees right now in january.

[convex]

Hey all,

Neighborhood:

Do not live in La Jolla. It is terribly rich, isolated, and hard to commute. The grad housing is ok in price, but you can get a much better deal if you are willing to drive a bit or shuttle to get to school. The neighborhoods I have lived in and recommend are:

South Park (15-20 mins to school). It is old with great prices, cute coffee shop, restaurants, bars, close to downtown, balboa park (museums, hiking trails), close to cheap grocery store.

North Park: Has a bit more "character," a bit louder, but still charming with great housing prices, tons of bars, old shops, coffee, walkable events. Close to balboa park and hillcrest.

Hillcrest The gay neighborhood, filled with unique and fantastic restaurants, bars, bookstores, coffee, close to balboa park, near a UCSD shuttle service. Slightly more expensive than north or south park.

I am currently living and going to school in San Diego, and I live in La Jolla and don't mind it. There are several nice apartment complex within walking distance of UCSD. Since it's 70 degrees all year and only rains 10 inches a year, the ability to walk to campus is worth a lot. I would argue that it's worth paying a bit of a premium on rent (which you will) and being a bit isolated from restaurants and nightlife (which it is). You will be a pretty short bus ride to the nicest beach in town (La Jolla Shores). If you suspect that you'll be spending your Friday nights in the library anyway, save yourself some trouble and live in La Jolla. However, if you're the type of person who likes to go out a lot, I would second the Hillcrest recommendation.

A lot of people with families live in Clairemont, and this is a pretty good idea if you don't want to pay La Jolla prices but would like to be relatively close to campus. Clairemont is an inexpensive, quiet neighborhood, and from north Clairemont you can get to campus in 10 minutes or so.

This assumes you're going to UCSD. If it's SDSU, Hillcrest and North Park are the way to go either way. You can find a cheap apartment within walking distance of SDSU (in Talmadge, for example), but it's not a particularly desirable place to live -- not unsafe, just pretty lame.

[ewurgler]

Yeah--convex is right about living in La Jolla if you are not one who likes to go "out." And when I say "out" I do not mean a club or something gross like that. I mean a dive bar, a museum on weekends, coffee shops, art walks, farmers markets, etc.

I like to do the weekend farmers market, hang out in a quiet dive bar on wednesday night, get breakfast at a cool place on the weekend, etc. For me, La Jolla was miserable and expensive. All of the apartments have been constructed in the last 30 years (thin white walls and beige carpet), versus a lot of places in hillcrest, northpark, southpark that were built in the 30's (original hardwood floors with tiny doors and arched doorways). Just a difference in taste and lifestyle.

Also, it works out that most undergrads live in la jolla or clairemont, and most grad students (in humanities and social sciences) live in the grad housing or northpark, hillcrest or southpark. Just happens that way.

[psycholinguist]

I am currently living and going to school in San Diego, and I live in La Jolla and don't mind it. There are several nice apartment complex within walking distance of UCSD. Since it's 70 degrees all year and only rains 10 inches a year, the ability to walk to campus is worth a lot. I would argue that it's worth paying a bit of a premium on rent (which you will) and being a bit isolated from restaurants and nightlife (which it is). You will be a pretty short bus ride to the nicest beach in town (La Jolla Shores). If you suspect that you'll be spending your Friday nights in the library anyway, save yourself some trouble and live in La Jolla. However, if you're the type of person who likes to go out a lot, I would second the Hillcrest recommendation.

As a quiet, library-dwelling type (without a car, at that), I must say that this is really good to know. Thank you so much!

[arnufc]

I was browsing the grad housing website and it seems that there are four residential communities available to students.

[GreatMix]

From the FAQ's

Q. How long is the wait for housing?

A. The average wait for a student with children is 4-6 months. Depending on the time of the year, some students with children have received a housing offer within 2 weeks of submitting an application. For more information regarding the offering process, please refer to the Frequently Asked Question.

[arnufc]

thank you, very useful info. But it seems mesa and coast have a very long waiting list! Anyway, I've put my name on the list, let's see what happens.

[ewurgler]

thank you, very useful info. But it seems mesa and coast have a very long waiting list! Anyway, I've put my name on the list, let's see what happens.

I know grad housing is a great deal if you really want to stay near the campus, but if you are willing to drive a bit, there are great deals in much better parts of san diego. If you at all want to try off campus, let me know and I can give you some good tips if you tell me the types of things you want in a neighborhood.

My life improved 100% when I moved to a different part of san diego away from la jolla.

[arnufc]

I know grad housing is a great deal if you really want to stay near the campus, but if you are willing to drive a bit, there are great deals in much better parts of san diego. If you at all want to try off campus, let me know and I can give you some good tips if you tell me the types of things you want in a neighborhood.

My life improved 100% when I moved to a different part of san diego away from la jolla.

I got accepted to both UCLA and UCSD, so right now I am still not sure which one i'll attend.

I know that I wont be having a car for now, at least for the first quarter. So I was looking at areas near the campus. I also like to be close to coffee shops, restaurant, clubs, bars, beach etc

But why are you saying your life improved when you moved away from la jolla? where are you living currently and how far is it to the campus?

thank you

[freshprince]

Hi, so here's my deal, and i may have acted to hastily...

I'm pretty sure i'm going to UCSD. I will be bringing my car. I already applied for Miramar as my first choice, coast for my second and third. That said, which is the best location for someone who wants easy access to campus and other social activities.

Additionally, is it a bad idea to put yourself in a 2-bedroom if you're going in blind for a roommate? I don't know anyone else going to UCSD but want to pay cheaper rent. Is this a bad idea?

Lastly, should I consider another alternative knowing I do have a car?