Chosen by Asker

With all due respect, when one thinks of palm trees, sunny weather and the beaches of Southern California, Bakersfield is just not on the top of the list. That said, if your coming out here to go to school for Nursing, then do your research and find out which school has the best Nursing program and then you really don't want to veer to far away since So Cal is notorious for its traffic jams. Also, tuition at colleges are more expensive for "out of state" students than in-state so you need to factor that into your decision. Currently, Southern California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and has been devastated by the foreclosures and overall hideous economy. On the bright side, there are opportunities for housing at a more affordable rate than at any time in the past 10-15 years. Rents on apartments are down, houses have become affordable (Riverside has seen the steepest percentage drop in home values in the nation). As for Arizona, there is no question that cost of living and college tuition would be much less and housing opportunities are even more prevalent there then in CA. If money is your sole driving force than you would undoubtedly get a better bang for your buck in AZ. Now having grown up on the east coast and visiting AZ many times to see reletives while living in So Cal, all I can tell you is that So Cal is freaking paradise compared to either NJ or AZ (unless of course you don't mind 110+ degree temperatures for 4 months out of the year). Not only the weather but the beaches, the mountains and the overall lifestyle. Finally, if your a 21-year old kid, So Cal is pound-for-pound has the finest looking women on the planet! Hope that helps. Good luck!

by rich8259

1 month ago

Asker's Rating: 

Bakersfield, Ca. you would still be only about an hour (or two depending on traffic!) from your family in riverside, LB, etc. and only two hours from the central coast (pismo, santa maria, the beach!!!!) Bakersfield has both Cal State and the Community College that offer nursing. the program at the city college is considered a LOT better (more hands on learning and importance placed on clinical skills as opposed to the classroom instruction and academics being more important at Cal State), and most students do this prog and then complete BSN online as they are already working as an RN. only downfall (but this will happen regardless of where you go in Ca) is the longgg waitlist for the program! I think right now it is 2 years at Bakersfield College. The town isn't as bad as some ppl make it out to be. there is lots to do, plenty of shopping, pretty much everything you could want. and very affordable housing. give it a try :)

by famBam- 1 month ago

Umm.. Bakersfield to Long Beach is 2 hours, 3 and a half with traffic, according to google maps. Just saying.

by philospher77- 1 month ago

AZ is a lot cheaper place to live than CA

by Judy- 1 month ago

AZ is cheaper than CA Bakersfield, why would anyone recommend it?!? It would be like recommending someone move to Newark. You need to determine what schools have good nursing programs and pick you residence location that way. If you work fulltime, can make $25K a year. Don't think you can make that on parttime work. Schools in CA will cost more than $101 for instate students and much more than that for out of state tuition.

by sbinlb- 1 month ago