Foo - Where should I move after graduation?

I'll be graduating from college in 2 months, and I don't know what to do. No grad school, not looking to embark on a career pathway yet, and no significant other to dictate (or even suggest) what to do or where to go. I would like to move, though. I'm in Berkeley, CA now.

Ideas?

not Ohio.

This question is way to vague unless you mention some things you are looking for.

Cost of living a concern?
Activities you enjoy?
What your degree/career field is/will be?
Big City or Small town person?
Beach/Ocean important?

I would like to move. I'm in Berkeley, CA now.

Ideas?Stay there. You won't like the real world.;)

Cost of living a concern?
Not yet. :D



Activities you enjoy?
Not to the point of dictating where to live.



What your degree/career field is/will be?
Nope.



Big City or Small town person?
Big city.



Beach/Ocean important?
Not really.

I know that's not very helpful. If I had to sum up what with this move, I would say this:

I want to 'go back to zero.' Be in a new place with new people and under new conditions and see what happens. :thumb:

Not yet. :D


Not to the point of dictating where to live.


Nope.


Big city.


Not really.

I know that's not very helpful. If I had to sum up what with this move, I would say this:

I want to 'go back to zero.' Be in a new place with new people and under new conditions and see what happens. :thumb:

I'd recommend Mexico City, based on your answers. Cities don't come much larger than that.

The best idea would probably be somewhere that will give you a steady job, and a pay scale you can go for. ;)

Oakland. :p

If you aren't moving to get to an area where there is more of some activity you love, some person you love or decent career prospects, then why do you want to move?

Do you want to move just to move? That's pretty silly.

Oakland. :p


High cost of living, and high crime. I think I'd pass on that one. :crash:

High cost of living, and high crime. I think I'd pass on that one. :crash:

The high crime rate is mostly from their football team. ;)

But if he wants to move just for the sake of moving, then going to Oakland is easy!

Northern CA
Boulder CO
Portland OR
Chicago IL (but only Chicago)
NYC

Not yet. :D


Not to the point of dictating where to live.


Nope.


Big city.


Not really.

I know that's not very helpful. If I had to sum up what with this move, I would say this:

I want to 'go back to zero.' Be in a new place with new people and under new conditions and see what happens. :thumb:

It sounds like you are not looking for a place, but a change. Maybe try changing yourself.

It sounds like you are not looking for a place, but a change. Maybe try changing yourself.

That's what I was kind of getting at....trying to be more subtle about it though.

Boone North Carolina.

You move wherever the job is. :)

i think a change of location after college is a great thing. i moved to portland, OR (sight unseen) right after college. just drove up there.

That's what I was kind of getting at....trying to be more subtle about it though.

Well he lives in the Bay area. If you can't meet a good group of friends there he is going to have problems anywhere.

There are very few places in this country that are easy to meet new friends. Most places in this coutry are rather insular, and meeting new friends is tough.

throw darts at a map. you'll have as much confidence in that as you do asking strangers on the interweb

Peace Corps.

Srsly.

Peace Corps.

Srsly.

It is easier to get accepted into a medical school than it is to be accepted in the "Peace Corps".

It is easier to get accepted into a medical school than it is to be accepted in the "Peace Corps".

Not so.

Not so.

Actually...it may be--statistically, so long as you got decent grades.

Peace Corps/med school = apples/oranges. They like people with backgrounds in farming, business, health, education, the sciences, stuff like that. It's kind of varied.

Anyway, agree to disagree. Back to the topic at hand.

Peace Corps/med school = apples/oranges. They like people with backgrounds in farming, business, health, education, the sciences, stuff like that. It's kind of varied.

Anyway, agree to disagree. Back to the topic at hand.

Well The Peace Corps is a nine month application process, and they keep it a secret what thier actual acceptance rate is.

Most people I knew did not get accepted, usually due to the long application process.

I'd recommend Mexico City, based on your answers. Cities don't come much larger than that.

Meh, not interested.


If you aren't moving to get to an area where there is more of some activity you love, some person you love or decent career prospects, then why do you want to move?

Do you want to move just to move? That's pretty silly.

It's not like I'll be moving down the street, where my surroundings will be the same. I just want to experience something new. Of course, there are things here that I haven't done/seen, but it's a pretty good time to pick up and go somewhere else.


Northern CA
Boulder CO
Portland OR
Chicago IL (but only Chicago)
NYC

Now we're talking.


Boone North Carolina.

Another good one--good rock climbing.


Well he lives in the Bay area. If you can't meet a good group of friends there he is going to have problems anywhere.

There are very few places in this country that are easy to meet new friends. Most places in this coutry are rather insular, and meeting new friends is tough.

It's not an issue of friends--I have some, and I want to stay in touch with them, but you can't go through life hanging onto the past. I've been pretty lucky in that several of my friends go to school here, too, but we can't be together forever. Same for family.


throw darts at a map. you'll have as much confidence in that as you do asking strangers on the interweb

Just thought I'd get some more ideas.

So far, the results have been limited to the contiguous US. I do have a valid passport...

I'll be graduating from college in 2 months, and I don't know what to do. No grad school, not looking to embark on a career pathway yet, and no significant other to dictate (or even suggest) what to do or where to go. I would like to move, though. I'm in Berkeley, CA now.

Ideas?

go to a different country. travel

NYC. Do it. I moved there 10 years ago right out of school and lived fairly well on $325/wk (after taxes) teaching private school. Definitely found myself there. Get your east coast on for a while, and then see what's up from there.

NYC. Do it. I moved there 10 years ago right out of school and lived fairly well on $325/wk (after taxes) teaching private school. Definitely found myself there. Get your east coast on for a while, and then see what's up from there.

Yeah, I've considered it. My older sister and her friend moved there about 6 months ago. My last final is on May 18th, and my sister is flying into San Francisco a few days later, then driving south to visit home, then going to LA for a few days, then flying back to NY on the 30th. Maybe I should go back with her.

What's your degree in? Why are you against starting a career path? If it's a career that truly will be a profession for you-- that is, something fulfilling-- then why not begin it at 21/22? That's what I did, and was able to settle and marry and have kids relatively early-- something that has been better than any european tour I took or hitchhiking odyssey I ever undertook or any wild evening out at a concert or club or bar... work and career does not have to equal cubicle and corporation.

If you use your freedom to best position yourself for a career, that may just be the best use of it, rather than bumming around, building up debt, and sort of backing into a career already beset with obligations and geographic constraints...

Just thinking aloud...

Yeah, I've considered it. My older sister and her friend moved there about 6 months ago. My last final is on May 18th, and my sister is flying into San Francisco a few days later, then driving south to visit home, then going to LA for a few days, then flying back to NY on the 30th. Maybe I should go back with her.My wife lived and studied in SF for 12 years. It's her favorite city, but she did love NYC, and continues to work there twice a week. I think you'll find that, especially in some circles, NYC and SF are connected thru just what you describe-- people tend to travel back and forth. You may be able to maintain some connection with you ol' college town.

There is no Amoeba records in NYC, though. If I had acess to that, my vinyl collection would be even more rediculous!

What's your degree in? Why are you against starting a career path? If it's a career that truly will be a profession for you-- that is, something fulfilling-- then why not begin it at 21/22? That's what I did, and was able to settle and marry and have kids relatively early-- something that has been better than any european tour I took or hitchhiking odyssey I ever undertook or any wild evening out at a concert or club or bar... work and career does not have to equal cubicle and corporation.

If you use your freedom to best position yourself for a career, that may just be the best use of it, rather than bumming around, building up debt, and sort of backing into a career already beset with obligations and geographic constraints...

Just thinking aloud...

Thanks.

I'm getting my degree in math (pure, not applied). I just didn't choose my major with a career in mind--I chose it because math was always 'my thing' and I wanted to see what upper level math is like.

And I am open to starting a career path. I've considered getting my degree in library science. And I was recently talking to a guy who is a surveyor, and that sounded kinda cool.

I guess I'm just not prepared to embark on those career paths yet (i.e. I need to take the GRE most likely, get a better feel for the careers, look at degree programs, etc). So I won't be taking that road immediately.

Prague - beautiful old world city. lots of history. you could teach English until you find a better job

Brisbane - very beautiful city, high cost of living

Bangkok - gigantic and dirty and unstable government so there's sure to be lots of excitement. i'd be helpless there if I couldn't afford cab fare. for the most part, Thai people are incredibly nice.

Haven't been anywhere else outside of the contiguous. Brisbane was my favorite. Gorgeous city with a huge river cutting across it and beautiful countryside, though I didn't get to spend as much time out of the city as I'd have liked. And there's just something about Australian women, and it's not (just) the accent. I'm sure you could put your degree to use there.

Oakland. :p

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/edf4815f4287672133cec84ad6ff0ee2/77507.jpg

Yeah, I've considered it. My older sister and her friend moved there about 6 months ago. My last final is on May 18th, and my sister is flying into San Francisco a few days later, then driving south to visit home, then going to LA for a few days, then flying back to NY on the 30th. Maybe I should go back with her.

Well, my daughter has been living in NYC last two years. She just got laid off yesterday, she works in advertising.

My closest friend did pure math. he wound up in a dot com job, put away money, and is now teaching and on track to get a Ph.D. His field is combinatorics. Library science rules-- that's my father's job-- one of the mellowest university jobs out there!

There is always teaching! Find a city that has some type of emercency- or alternate- certirfication route and you won't even have to go through student teaching.

Thanks.

I'm getting my degree in math (pure, not applied). I just didn't choose my major with a career in mind--I chose it because math was always 'my thing' and I wanted to see what upper level math is like.

And I am open to starting a career path. I've considered getting my degree in library science. And I was recently talking to a guy who is a surveyor, and that sounded kinda cool.

I guess I'm just not prepared to embark on those career paths yet (i.e. I need to take the GRE most likely, get a better feel for the careers, look at degree programs, etc). So I won't be taking that road immediately.

Pure math can be mildly problematic as you are probably lacking on the applied side (my experience with several pure maths/statistics people). Of course, if you manage to get a good MSc or maybe even a second BSc, you'll be in high demand. If science is your thing but you don't want to pin yourself down, try getting a 'support' role in a department which uses math.

If you just want to move for the sake of moving and without accruing a large amount of debt, I suggest staying in a place where you can easily get a job...i.e. not Europe unless you have contacts.



What's your degree in? Why are you against starting a career path? If it's a career that truly will be a profession for you-- that is, something fulfilling-- then why not begin it at 21/22? That's what I did, and was able to settle and marry and have kids relatively early-- something that has been better than any european tour I took or hitchhiking odyssey I ever undertook or any wild evening out at a concert or club or bar... work and career does not have to equal cubicle and corporation.

If you use your freedom to best position yourself for a career, that may just be the best use of it, rather than bumming around, building up debt, and sort of backing into a career already beset with obligations and geographic constraints...

Just thinking aloud...

I did this, I went for the MSc/PhD straight after my BA (well, still going for it). The thing I regret is not messing around a bit before settling down. Of course, there is plenty of fun and travels to be had while doing a PhD, afterwards you will be 'old' and wanting to settle down. There is a freedom you can have right after college that you can never have again in life. That freedom can be used in several ways...

You can always get married at a later age...but assuming you're married for live, you cannot do these travels/messing around when you are married and have responsibilities to a spouse and kids.

Although, if 'it' comes along, you should take it....I guess you have to play life by ear, no?

Pure math can be mildly problematic as you are probably lacking on the applied side (my experience with several pure maths/statistics people)

Ha, yeah.


Of course, if you manage to get a good MSc or maybe even a second BSc, you'll be in high demand. If science is your thing but you don't want to pin yourself down, try getting a 'support' role in a department which uses math.

Good suggestions.


If you just want to move for the sake of moving and without accruing a large amount of debt, I suggest staying in a place where you can easily get a job...i.e. not Europe unless you have contacts.

Someone recommended Prague, and I thought that sounded cool, but it is a bit impractical for someone like me.


I did this, I went for the MSc/PhD straight after my BA (well, still going for it). The thing I regret is not messing around a bit before settling down....There is a freedom you can have right after college that you can never have again in life. That freedom can be used in several ways...I guess you have to play life by ear, no?

Yeah, I haven't messed around too much. I'm not a terribly serious student, but my school days have largely been about school and work (okay, and sleeping). But now I have more freedom to try something new. What, exactly? I don't know--I'm just going to see what happens. :thumb:

It is easier to get accepted into a medical school than it is to be accepted in the "Peace Corps".

Patently untrue.

From what you describe, I'd suggest staying in Berkeley, at least for now.

Seriously. You are already in the land of rent control, so living costs are predictable and will remain so since the Democratic People's Republic is run by folks who would never in a gazillion years consider doing away with it. You are close to a stuniing variety of things to do in terms of work, play, culture, sports (spectator and participant). If you have a hankering to go check out somewhere else, you can do so for a while (months, even) without committing to being stuck there if you don't like it. Do your experimenting in bite-sized chunks.

If that just doesn't do it for you, I agree with the Peace Corps suggestion. Even if you hate it (and I somehow doubt that you will - I suspect that having a reason to get up in the morning that involves helping others will be a wonderful tonic) you know the committment is finite, and you will learn more about yourself so that you can answer your own question more clearly and intelligently then. (And that is not to suggest you are dumb - just that the experience will give you a much better base from which to make a decision that makes sense to you.)

I vote for long-term bike tour until your funds run out or you get sick of it....your money will go further in central/south america or asia.

I'd also consider staying in Berkeley. When the economy gets back going, it will be one of the first places where the latest new and cool stuff will be coming from.

There are far worse places to live. You have access to one of the least sucking transportation systems in the US, and there is plenty to do.

Arcata

Marine Corps... we go all the same places as the Peace Corps... just in a different manner :)

Minneapolis

Might as well go all out and move to...say...Lyon, France.

Might as well go all out and move to...say...Lyon, France.

I am with you on that one....
see you there!

I am with you on that one....
see you there!

I'd go if I could. Of course, I can barely speak English, let alone French. :lol:

Patently untrue.

Really. How so?

In the U.S there are currently 67,000 medical school students, and there are only 7800 Peace Corps volunteers.

Just the math alone would imply a lot harder chance of becoming a Peace corps volunteer.

Plus, I am not even counting the off-shore medical schools that you could attend.

I love people speaking out of thier ass.