Living at USC

[Sonia]

Oops. Forgot to mention that part of the plan is to stay in a hotel for a few days while I search.

But that's a good point about secure parking, since my car would be full of belongings. Is secure parking really hard to find?

Edited to add:
Turns out that a simple Google search can find LA hotels with secure parking!

Thanks for the responses, guys.

 

[KayS]

Does anyone know what a reasonable price is for a 2BR apartment? Ideally 2 bathroom as well, but if we could share 1...

I just have no idea how to make my comparisons for LA real estate.

hman13, awesome advice on talking to places a month in advance, thanks!!! pre-leasing seems to be non-existent, am I wrong?

 

[tabbycat]

Our rent was $2000/month for a 2br/2ba in Hollywood, and it's currently $1600/month for a 2br/2ba in Sherman Oaks. I think you can maybe get a little cheaper but not much if you still want to live in a nice area. The more outside of LA you are the cheaper it is, I think. The closer to the beach, the more expensive, obviously.

 

[MediaDuv]

Anyone hear anything about the USC Credit Union? I am thinking about starting an account there. They do student loans/car loans, checking, savings, etc.. They have a nice set up for student accounts too. Anyone a member?

 

[Sonia]

I'm going to join the USC Credit Union when I get there, I think.

I already asked about bikes... how about scooters? How do they do in LA?

 

[THRILLHO]

Originally posted by Sonia:
I already asked about bikes... how about scooters? How do they do in LA?

LA's a pretty bad place to ride a scooter/motorcycle because of the traffic. Then again, it's great to have a scooter/motorcycle to deal with that traffic.

I rode a motorcycle all over LA for 5-6 years and personally loved it. You get everywhere in half the time that it would take in a car. Though for full disclosure, I did get into 2 accidents (one moderate, and one minor) and I wasn't at fault for either. Sucky thing about being on two wheels is that even when you're not a fault, you are still the one lying on the pavement in the end.

That being said, I think a scooter would be great in LA if you were using it within 10-12 miles - though the two people I personally know that ride scooters don't take them beyond a 5 mile radius.

 

[Jayimess]

My dad died on a motorcycle, freak accident on a leisure ride through rural Ohio. There is no buffer between you and the road/other cars.

In this car-heavy city, it's tempting to ride a motorcycle, but I've seen two wrecks on the freeway. The bikers here tend to be very reckless on the freeway, not so much on surface roads. They come out of nowhere, man!

I never see anyone on Vespas/scooters beyond cruising around Franklin Ave in Los Feliz, occasionally.

I do, however, have a folding carving kick scooter that I keep in my trunk; I ride it from the Shrine to school, cut my travel time down to five minutes.


Boo hiss, not sure if I mentioned it, but I hit my first car two weeks ago. It's the first time in my long career as a licensed driver that I've ever hit a car.

 

[TDK120]

Jayimess -- What's the parking situation? You park at the Shrine? Do students get/pay for parking permits to park in the big parking garages on campus? If so, any idea what they cost?

 

[Jayimess]

TDK, I wrote a whole big post about that, it's somewhere in this thread...

 

[TDK120]

Found it. Very helpful! Thanks.

 

[Sonia]

How often do you current students””screenwriters, especially-end up on campus at night (in editing rooms, for events, etc.)? That is, at a time of day when it's unsafe or otherwise impossible to travel by public transit. Does it change depending on which classes you're in, and what kinds of projects you're involved with?

My boyfriend and I will be sharing a car, and unless he finds a job very close to where we live, or unless we can carpool somehow, I'm going to rely on transit most of the time while he takes the car. He'll be able to pick me up if I'm stuck on campus at night, but I'm just wondering how often that tends to be.

I don't mind spending 45 minutes on the bus each way, so I'm not too concerned about time or efficiency, but what's the quality of LA transit? Do you feel safe on the bus? Do you find yourself transferring buses in safe areas?

A few minutes ago I was wondering about all this stuff out loud, and my boyfriend said, "Why don't you ask the forum?" Thanks, guys.

 

[Jayimess]

I've never taken a bus or train here, so I'll just speak to schedule.

Due to the fact that many professors work on current shows...i.e. Big Bang Theory, CSI, Law and Order, Mad Men, just for my profs, classes are scheduled to go to 10 or 11 all the time, which means you'll need a ride home. I have two this semester, had two in fall, one in spring 08, none first semester, but first semester I was editing til midnight (when the labs closed) multiple weeks over the semester.

 

[Astantax]

The good news:

I got USC on-campus housing!

The bad news:

It's a double.

At the health sciences campus.

...!?

 

[Sonia]

Aww, Astantax (seems weird to call you that now that we've met).

Does the price tag make the distance/mystery roommate worth it?

 

[hman13]

Not speaking for astantax, but Im in a similar boat. I got univ housing, but the furthest north building on campus (Hillview) and also a double - not what i signed up for.

I called housing and politely asked if there was a mix-up or was it because they ran out of singles. The girl said I should be happy to have anything at all.

To me, the price tag is not worth it. They still want 920+electricity a month, and like I said, its all the way on Adams Boulevard. This doesnt make it safe/close to walk at night after class or whatever. Now instead of a 20 minute drive, I have a 15-20 minute walk.


I want to apply for reassignment, but that means you have to put a deposit down,sign a contract, and be stuck with your current assignment if you don't get reassigned. To me it isnt worth it. I guess I need to start looking at Los Feliz and Silver Lake all over again.

I guess blessing in disguise? Everyone I met at the event on April 3rd (which seems so long ago now), said not to live on campus.

 

[Astantax]

@Sonia - not in the slightest. I could easily get my rent down to $590 a month in a roommate situation and have my own personal space.

I feel ya, Hman13, but...20 minutes walking distance is one thing. 20 minute drive from your dorm to college is another.

- I accidentally put down Seaver hall when I applied

- A person from the housing office named Michelle emailed me, asking if I meant to do that, to let her know as soon as possible.

- I immediately responded no, I made a mistake, I'm at the University Park Campus, etc.

- The email I received today was from her.

Maybe it was a joke.

 

[Sonia]

Yeah, guys, that doesn't seem worth it to me. On the upside, I think a lot of people in the SCA Google Group are still looking for off-campus roommates.

 

[ComradeRobbins]

I just browsed through this, but I have one piece of advice for all the incoming students:

Don't lease an apartment from Stuho.

Just trust me on this.

 

[brighteyes]

Hey! I just finalized my apartment for USC this fall. I'm living a few blocks north of Venice in Palms. I'm paying $750 a month but water and trash are paid. It's a 2 bed/2 bath with a sitable balcony, fridge, stove, dishwasher... so it's worth being a little pricey.

Just so you know what some other USC kid is doin'.

 

[Jayimess]

Bright Eyes,

That's not expensive...I've been paying quite a bit more for two years now.

Congrats on the place!