Jobs in Los Angeles, California?

Jobs in Los Angeles, California, questions?

• I am Canadian, and wanting to move to Los Angeles to pursue a better education for my university years. I want to attend University of California, Los Angeles, but first I need a plan. I have been looking at other people's questions about LA and I know that it is extremely expensive and I shouldn't expect it to be the way that movies portray it. I need help in my 'plan', for instance what sort of jobs I will need to get by in a 1BR apartment, it doesn't matter where but I want it to be in a safe area, I am way to tired of the thugs in Canada. I have also read that living outside of Los Angeles is cheaper, so I would love to know exactly where outside of LA. I also know that UCLA offers housing, but does financial aid pay for it? Another question: how much will I spend a month, (I know that sounds silly) including gas, food, rent etc. ? This links to my job question, I need to know what kind of job I will need to live comfortably. I heard that I will need a student visa, so please explain the process of which I will take of actually getting to the United States and what it is exactly (my Yahoo! says I am eighteen or seventeen but actually I am younger). Is it true that if I just go there for my schooling, I will not be employed? That is what someone told me. Please, please, please, help. I know there is a lot of questions in this one or two paragraphs but I really want an insight on living in LA!

• Answer:

  Sure, you should consider studying away from Canada. The questions of yours are many, and more need to be addressed. The first one, thinking of anything in the USA is - costs Per Academic Year (9 months) Living with Relatives Residence Halls Sororities Off Campus Apartments University Fees 11,639 11,639 11,639 11,639 Nonresident Tuition 22,021 22,021 22,021 22,021 Health Insurance 1,087 1,087 1,087 1,087 Books and Supplies 1,608 1,608 1,608 1,608 Room and Board 4,359 13,734 8,262 10,485 Transportation 1,959 912 912 1,587 Personal 1,869 1,560 1,560 1,857 Total Nonresident $44,542 $52,561 $47,089 $50,284 As a Canadian, you are looking at ~ $ 50,000 per study year, times 4 - 5 years in total. Can you borrow or will your parents put up that? You may, or may not receive bursaries or financial aid. In general terms, there is far less, if anything available for Canadian students - but you may be able to get "some" from Canadian sources. As a student in the USA you will NOT be able to work, except on the university campus. Perhaps at the cafeteria or Library. They pay little over minimum wage which is $ 8.00 per hour in California. A student visa is ONLY to study, you cannot work (I said that) and you are NOT allowed to seek work and stay in the USA after graduation. You MUST return to Canada and apply for an immigrants visa from there, a process that takes from 2 - 5 years after your graduation. (I know. It's a crappy rule, but true.) Read about fees here: http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/budget.htm To start your student visa application, go here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html Studying at U of T (University of Toronto) or McGill (Montréal) you would pay about ~ $ 5,000 in tuition plus living costs. Studying in Canada, you can also seek part time jobs, work as an intern in your chosen field and, with a bit of luck - after graduation walk "straight across the street" into your new job - the one you studied so hard for. I apologize for not being entirely supportive of your efforts to study at UCLA but, face it, it is a large and crass world out there. It is cheaper to study in Europe. Try Sweden or Denmark - they offer oodles of English speaking curricula.