[mz simmonz]

*please don't move this to the college section, I'm not asking about school info*

I'm 24, I went to college only 25 miles away from home, and I've never worked or lived outside of NYC my entire life...this is something I've regretted and I'm seriously considering grad school out of state (I'm mainly considering schools in SoCal if they are any NY-ers in here who relocated down there). As much as I want to experience this, I feel that I should've done this during my undergrad years but obviously I can't backtrack to the past. I know 24 is young number-wise but I don't feel young anymore and this move feels a bit..reckless, since I don't have to go to grad school for my profession, I just want to. Anyway, I wanted to ask everyone about their own experiences about relocating, either permanently or temporarily?

[taiji.]

i've seen many people who are originally from so cal that went to NY for college and came back to cali after a few years without finishing their degrees. in other words, they didn't like it there. as for people who moved to so cal from other states, i haven't met a single person who complained. i grew up in so cal almost all my life and i kinda want to see what's outside. (besides the fact that i'm probably the only person living here that doesn't appreciate the sunny weather.) i feel like i'm not appreciating enough of what i have and what i can do here in so cal since i don't know much about other states.

[blue703]

*please don't move this to the college section, I'm not asking about school info*

I'm 24, I went to college only 25 miles away from home, and I've never worked or lived outside of NYC my entire life...this is something I've regretted and I'm seriously considering grad school out of state (I'm mainly considering schools in SoCal if they are any NY-ers in here who relocated down there). As much as I want to experience this, I feel that I should've done this during my undergrad years but obviously I can't backtrack to the past. I know 24 is young number-wise but I don't feel young anymore and this move feels a bit..reckless, since I don't have to go to grad school for my profession, I just want to. Anyway, I wanted to ask everyone about their own experiences about relocating, either permanently or temporarily?

I've been living in the DC area for 20+ years and just recently re-located to Seattle for work. As far as moving around, I think it's a good idea to see how people live/work in different places.

For me, the first couple of weeks in Seattle was dreadful, but after a while, it got better. I think it's the whole being in one place for a long time and not being open to change.

I think traveling while you're still young(<30) is a good idea.

[Prot]

I wouldn't move from NYC ever simply because all my closest friends are here. In fact, I'm even targetting my career to stay in NYC for them. In a kind of an equivalent situation, I studied abroad for a term in HK and I love HK but I really missed my closest friends. As much as I feel I could live in HK because I love the cheapness, the food, the convience, I know I couldn't because I'd miss being able to convienently hang out with my closest friends. As easy as it is to say, make new friends, to me, my friends aren't replaceable like that.

I think it'd be better if you were to vacation there for X amount of time to get a feel of how it would be like to live there.

[foreverursVi]

I'm in the same boat. I'm 22, have lived in New Orleans forever, and its time to graduate in May. I'm applying to different schools all out of state just so I can spend the next 4 years somewhere else. To me, its a good idea to go elsewhere for a bit bc then you're never left with wondering "What if?". Am I scared outta my wits? Sure. But its the adventure of doing it and experiencing new things that intrigues me. =]

[squishybear]

Grad school is expensive. And you said you don't need to go to school for your profession.

So you should really think about the benefits to getting a higher degree vs. thousands of dollars in debt. It might not be worth it.

I know it seems like the safe route to go to grad school versus just moving alone, but it may be more of a financial burden to go to school.

[nanshi]

I wouldn't move from NYC ever simply because all my closest friends are here. In fact, I'm even targetting my career to stay in NYC for them. In a kind of an equivalent situation, I studied abroad for a term in HK and I love HK but I really missed my closest friends. As much as I feel I could live in HK because I love the cheapness, the food, the convience, I know I couldn't because I'd miss being able to convienently hang out with my closest friends. As easy as it is to say, make new friends, to me, my friends aren't replaceable like that.

I think it'd be better if you were to vacation there for X amount of time to get a feel of how it would be like to live there.

Well, to be honest, it is completely different moving within a country as opposed to emigrating to another country entirely. Not to say that there aren't major major differences when moving from a place that is (regionally) as different as SoCal and NYC, but it's not quite the same as moving from (anywhere in) the US to Hong Kong.

[x3sarah]

In August 2008, I (I was 22, now I'm 23) moved with one of my closest friends to NYC from SoCal (We pretty much lived in SoCal for most of our lives). She was accepted to Columbia for grad school and I wasn't planning on going to law school until Fall 2010, but I was getting a bit bored with Cali, so I decided to move with her. It was one of the best decisions I've made since I've always wanted to live in NYC. She made her grad school friends and I've made a few friends at work. A few of my Cali friends are in NYC as well. Also, due to making friends with the last guy who lived in our apartment, I made many new friends. In all, it was a great transition for me and I do plan on permanently living here.

[reuniw]

*please don't move this to the college section, I'm not asking about school info*

I'm 24, I went to college only 25 miles away from home, and I've never worked or lived outside of NYC my entire life...this is something I've regretted and I'm seriously considering grad school out of state (I'm mainly considering schools in SoCal if they are any NY-ers in here who relocated down there). As much as I want to experience this, I feel that I should've done this during my undergrad years but obviously I can't backtrack to the past. I know 24 is young number-wise but I don't feel young anymore and this move feels a bit..reckless, since I don't have to go to grad school for my profession, I just want to. Anyway, I wanted to ask everyone about their own experiences about relocating, either permanently or temporarily?

NYC is a terrible place to go to school. I'm so glad I decided to go out of NY. 2 best regions to go to school in the US are New England and the West Coast (California).

[reuniw]

Gosh, I also hope you didn't live at home with your parents rather than a dormitory while commuting to college (to save money). I knew someone who attended her local public university while commuting from home. It drove her up the wall.

[reuniw]

The bright aspect of going to a local public university is that you save a ton of money. A lot of local residents decide to stay in-state because tuition is so cheap and they can't afford to go to private university. An in-state resident pays nothing in comparison to out-of-state residents---not taking into account the tuition (which beats public universities all together) at private universities, where most students go to school.

[missxmoody]

Going through the same feelings and emotions as the OP right now. Although I'm 22 and am already in grad school ... I ended up going to the same school I went to undergrad, with a semester in between off spent in South Korea for a few months. I only live 13 miles from my hometown and it's kind of suffocating .. moving from one bubble to another slightly bigger one. I studied abroad in Hong Kong for a year, my sophmore year of college, and with the few months I spent in Korea it was my escape but it sucks going back into it.

Oh well, I have 3 semesters to go and I can figure out where I want to live for the few next few years of my life.

[zeram]

I went to school in NYC and commuted. I always regretted not going away to school so a few years ago I moved to Arizona for a few years and am now back in NYC. It was the best thing I ever did because it allowed me to experience a different part of the country. Living in NYC you don't realize how different it really is until you have lived elsewhere particularly because I moved to a rural area so it was really a big jump for me.
Like one of the other posters said why go the grad school route if it's not needed? See if you find work in your profession instead since this will give you a whole new group of people to network with and help you grow professionally.
Good luck!

[kidd]

I'm probably the opposite of you, I've been moving around the west coast since 6th grade, never staying anywhere more than a few years and it's really preferable, at least to me, because the fear of change doesn't stop me from doing what I want. Just last summer I moved back to the SF bay area from Vegas to finish up my transfer degree and now I'm probably gonna end up moving to San Diego this summer to go to UCSD unless Berkeley accepts me. Although I'm not from really far away or anything, I think moving would be a good idea since it's something you want to do and have regretted staying in nyc. imo it's never too late as long as it's still in your power.

[Mo0nfairy]

I've been living in the DC area for 20+ years and just recently re-located to Seattle for work. As far as moving around, I think it's a good idea to see how people live/work in different places.

For me, the first couple of weeks in Seattle was dreadful, but after a while, it got better. I think it's the whole being in one place for a long time and not being open to change.

I think traveling while you're still young(<30) is a good idea.

^ I just relocated to Seattle for work too! I grew up in Socal all my life and the only reason I moved was because the company paid for my relocation expenses, I have a stable job, and I wanted to try stepping out of my comfort zone. Plus I don't have much assets so I can easily move back home if I don't like Seattle.

Anyhow, if you decide to move for grad school, I hope you'll be prepared for the financial strain you'll have. Moving can be expensive just by itself, but to add tuition costs with it is... a little much? You'll also need a car to get around, which adds registration fees, insurance, and gas. But besides that, Socal is great!

In general, I think it's a good idea to go out and explore the world, especially when you're young and able. Just make sure you can survive financially and emotionally (home sickness). Good luck to you!

[-bo-]

I'm 24 also...lived in NJ all my life, finished college and now I'm in Arizona, working for the border patrol, living by myself...u'll get homesick, miss your family/friends, and it'll be financially hard at first, but if u want something really bad it'll be worth it, I don't have a single regret...