A friend and myself are considering spending next summer in Berkeley, Ca working on mcat prep. The classes are held on the Berkeley campus for 12 weeks starting around may 20th. Could the locals or Cali residents offer any insights on the area, transportation ease, cost of living including rent and food etc? We have options of irvine, San Diego and a couple of other cities but berkeley seems to have the best teachers so I'm looking at that first. The cost of attendance is the same for all locations so I'd like to stick to Berkeley unless the cost of living is absurdly less in other cities. Gross estimates for 3 months would be very helpful in helping us plan how much to save over the next year. We wont really have much time outside of prep so nothing needs to be attributed to crazy outings. Once or twice perhaps but the emergency fund should take care of that.

Thanks

Get yourself a nice sleeping bag and a dog and you can join the hordes of Berkeley's homeless. Maybe even make a small profit from panhandling.

Berkeley housing is crazy expensive but you may be able to sublet for a reasonable amount since it is during the summer.

Berkeley housing can be expenive, but compared to a lot of areas in US, San Dog is too, and I suspect same with Irvine. On plus side transportation is great, and lots of good food options in area.

Cali is just crazy expensive in general. Excuse my Midwestern ways.

Damn it. Might not have as much money saved up by then.

Was looking at apts in the area and the shitty ones are $1600 a month. Boca raton is pretty expensive too but 1600 gets a reasonable apt on the intercoastal.

Any suggestions? Don't know if living at uc is an option. I doubt it would be any cheaper though. Perhaps...

golden gate park is inexpensive in the summer

Crack houses in nearby Oakland are reasonable in the summer, but you can only stay as long as you're hitting the pipe.

Gay bath houses in SF may be your best bet. You might even get a few free meals if you wink at the right guys.

Edited July 18, 201115 yr by swt61

Why would you even need to, unless you're also trying to enjoy the locale? You're smart enough that you don't need classes to study for it.

Go with Matts idea. Sleeping bag and a can for pan handling, you should be fine.

buy a pickup with a camper shell. That's common enough in the bay area

^ You'll need to work on the body art and visible piercings, though.

And decide what you "pitch" will be

^ You'll need to work on the body art and visible piercings, though.

And decide what you "pitch" will be

Suggestions for you:

"Will study for food"

"Starving Multiple PHD Holder"

"I'm the brownest person out here"

"I'll hate you for helping me"

two words Hare Krishna

Fraternity houses in Berkely sublet during the summer

(or at least they used to back during the Eisenhower administration when I went to school).

By the way, you should look at options in Oakland. It should be cheaper than Berkeley and there is still plenty of public transportation.

As for choosing between the three cities, go with Berkeley. It is by far the best of the three in terms of public transport food, culture, etc. I am not sure there is very good public transportation in San diego (I assume you mean La Jolla) or Irvine unless you are near campus. Also, it is boooooooring to live in La Jolla, at least it was for me.