Someone mentioned: "I suspect the need for a car in LA is similar to the need for a car in Dallas."

This is true. You are actually very well prepared for LA having lived in Dallas. Not all that different.

LA is massive, but as with anywhere, the territory where you really live and work will probably be a small, 5 mile radius. And that radius, being near UCLA, is a quite nice one.

There was a point where I thought LA was only what you saw on "Cops"... but then I moved there and learned it is not a bad place to live at all. I miss it sometimes. Never thought I would.

I just want to pick up on your politics comment and *not* to slam you.....if you are a, dare I say, rabid--or maybe fervent is a better word--republican, then you will find the prevailing atmosphere on campus to be very different. I would tell you the same thing if you said you were coming to spend 5 years in Cambridge, Mass....

So if feeling like you have a lot of kindred spirits among the population is important to you, it may not be the best match. I say that to point out that there are quality of life issues that go way beyond how much you do or don't want to drive...I am certainly not saying that one should only go where one shares the prevailing way of thinking and of course, in a place the size of UCLA, there are all political stripes, however it is something to consider, since you mentioned it....

Just want to follow up on some previous comments. I have a Ph.D. and can say from first hand experience that when you're in grad school it almost doesn't matter WHERE you are--you're "married" to your program. I think your decision should probably be based on what would be the best place for you to go for your career.

Thanks for the comments. I realize that I will be very very busy, but as I am in a clinical psychology program there is a practice component, so where you are can affect those kinds of opportunities. And there is just a general quality of life issue about where I'll be since it will probably be 5 years. But, I agree, the academic stuff matters much more in the decision process.

Hi JoeTro,
I wanted to give you my 2 cents because I've lived in both TX & LA. Spent 4 years in Fort Worth & 5 years in LA. Yes, LA will be a huge adjustment but I think the chances that you'll love it are very good.

It's a huge city & you'll definitely have to drive, but if you can live near UCLA and not have to make a daily commute, it won't be bad. I'm a bad driver too! - And I survived just fine there. Just be prepared for traffic 24/7. Again, try to avoid a long daily commute.

LA is a great city, and near UCLA is a great area to live. I found the people to be very friendly and open minded. In my opinion, your quality of life will be better in LA than in Texas. But that's just my opinion and it's all what you get used to. Good luck!

It took me a year or so before I really warmed up to LA, but it can be a great city to live and study in. UCLA is a fantastic school, and you can be happy living almost anywhere on the west side. Santa Monica, Westwood, Brentwood, etc, are all great.

I love visiting Dallas, and actually think the "spread out" nature of Dallas is similar to LA, except on a much larger scale. Also, I've been in plenty of horrible traffic in Dallas.

If you're as bad a driver as you think you are, you're gonna fit right in

JoeTro - We are alumni members of UCLA with a child in her third year, there. You should come to UCLA and tour the campus and the Westwood area. It is a very beautiful campus and Westwood is a lovely village.
As for the cost of rentals, UCLA has grad student halls that are at a good price.

Getting around? If you don't like to drive, the Big Blue Bus is for you. you can take it all around L.A.

As far as the people are concerned, as a whole (and what a generalization that I apologize for) they're much nicer in L.A. than they are in Paris or NYC. Learn to roll with change and enjoy what life brings you. If you can get into a grad school at UCLA, consider yourself blessed.

Thanks very much for the comments. I was suddenly reminded of watching "Crash", where, after the movie, I thought "Boy, no one in LA knows how to drive!"

I think maybe I should spend more time focusing on the interview rather than worrying about LA. There is still a lot of work needed for me to even get in! But I have appreciated all the comments and I would love to hear more.

I just wanted to update this post. I got accepted to UCLA and will be there starting in September. I'll be living - with car - in Weyburn Terrace for at least the first year.

I'll probably start another post about this question, but I may be interesting in trying to buy a small condo for Years 2-whatever. However, prices seem pretty crazy (at least downtown ... though Chapman does look nice) and are probably much worse in Westwood. I'm wondering where some nice but less expensive alternatives may be. Santa Monica? Sherman Oaks? Van Nuys?

My friends who have condos live in Venice. But they have owned them for awhile now.

No buying suggestions for you but I wanted to offer Congratulations for being accepted to UCLA!

Thanks for the comments and support.

Congratulations. I was born and raised in L.A. and am now living in San Diego. I miss L.A. a lot and hope we'll be able to move back there when my husband retires.

If you think the prices in downtown LA are crazy, wait til you see Santa Monica.

Some of my friends live in condos in the Fox Hills/Culver City area. Although I'm not sure those are affordable any more, either.

Any how, congratulations. I'd say enjoy Westwood while you can and save the condo hunting for later!

Congratulations, Joe! Awesome, awesome, awesome. Check out realtor.com for prices on condos - they're very high. Culver City is going through a good gentrification but you must grab something while it's a buyer's market.

Congrats JoeTro! When do you arrive?

Also, don't even think about buying until you can scope out the neighborhoods firsthand.

And don't worry too much about politics. Yes, LA does tend to be more democratic, but there's also a conservative presence.

You might even want to get involved with the Young Dems/Repubs - depending on your politics - as a way of meeting non-Bruins. (For the record, i love UCLA but thought that he might want to occasionally hang out with some other people).

Finally, suggest you also post at http://www.flyertalk.com. Fodors is great, but there's a lot of good LA info to be found there too. And the more info you get, the better prepared you'll be.

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips. I arrive September 14-15, and I think the advice is good that I need some time to settle in and check out neighborhoods before even thinking of buying (if that's even possible). Besides, at that point, interest rates and prices could be quite different to what they are today.

Just saw this post. Also want to congratulate you on getting accepted to the graduate program.

JoeTro, the close-in San Fernando Valley (like Sherman Oaks) is fairly easy commuting to UCLA and has condo prices not as sky high as any of the good safe neighbothoods on the Westside anywhere near UCLA. In fact if you live near Ventura Bl., you can walk to a nice upscale stretch with an array of restaurants, shops, services.
Condos will start in the 300s. If you want to contact me privately, I have been a residential real estate broker for over 29 years in these neighborhoods, kind of a local expert.....Ken
If you want to contact me privately,

Yk thank you for the support, and Ken, thank you so much for the advice. The Valley does seem a bit more reasonable. I think I just need to settle in, begin to explore LA and the surroundings, see how the market is doing, and then decide. I can live a 2nd year in the grad housing if I like, and it just seems like very few people my age are actually buying ... apartments and housing shares seem to be the norm.