San Francisco is one of the most densely populated metropolitan cities. It is undeniably one of the greatest cities to live in and study in. If you are looking to study in San Francisco, then you must already know that the city has great weather, no rain, an amazing bar scene and umpteen options for adventure in nature as well. It is also one of the most popular cities to pursue higher education. The colourful city in California has lots to offer, but before getting too excited about it, one must know the pros and cons of studying in San Francisco. Here EDUopinions explores the good and the bad of living in this city of California.
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Pros of studying in San Francisco
Home to some of the best schools in the world
San Francisco and the whole Bay Area is known to be the home for some of the best universities like Stanford University, UC Berkeley, University of San Francisco and more. Since San Francisco is in the heart of Silicon Valley, these colleges always have opportunities to grow and lead in the way of science. Apart from tech, universities here also offer some great courses in art and music. Each university is unique in its own ways, and one should look at each school carefully before deciding.
San Fran is culturally diverse
This city is filled with diverse people from all over the world. The United States is the melting pot of many cultures and the Bay area perhaps personifies this line. If you are an international student and are nervous about finding your tribe in this city, then fret not, you will undeniably meet some amazing people from all over the world who will join you in the journey as well. The environment is usually comfortable for expats studying here and everyone is welcomed with open arms. You can explore the multi-cultural places in the city like China Town, Little Italy and Fillmore District.
Easy to travel
Since the weather is this city is pleasant throughout most of the year, one can easily walk around the city and admire San Francisco. San Francisco is considered one of the best cities for walking in the US. If you don’t want to walk, you always have the subway, bus, train or even the old-school tram. So, there’s no need to fret in this city. Undeniably, San Francisco was also called one of the best places for transit. If you still prefer the car, then traffic and parking can be a pain. So, choose wisely.
Amazing Food
Definitely one of the best parts of living in San Fran is the food. Just like the people in the city, the food here is diverse. Think Sourdough bread, Mission-style burritos, poke bowls and many other diverse food options that you may just get tired of trying! San Francisco has the most restaurants per capita than any other city in the country!
Great Nightlife
An intricate part of any students life is the nightlife. And San Fran is blessed with so many bars and clubs that you will always love to explore the new ones. The Last Call Bar is one of the most popular bars for students with its cheap drinks and fun vibe. If you love DJ’s, then do go to Temple as well as it is considered to be one of the best clubs in the city!
Cons of studying in San Francisco
It is Expensive
Rents here are sky-high! If you haven’t got a school dorm, then looking for cheap places in this city is very difficult. Rents for one-bedroom apartments are the highest in the country, so looking for affordable places to stay can be quite tricky. Even other costs of living things like eating out, taxes etc are high as well. It is best to put aside a good sum of money if you are thinking of studying in San Francisco.
Safety
Though San Fran has cultivated an image of a safe city where one can walk on the roads at any time of the night, no matter your ethical or sexual background, San Fran has also seen a rise in crime in the past few years. Petty crime is on the rise, so be careful of your belongings at all times!
Fog and pollution
Though the weather in San Francisco is really great, nonetheless it can get cold as well. The heat in the southern valleys creates a dense fog that envelops the waterfront for months on end.
Conclusion
Seemingly, San Fran has more pros than cons as you might have seen, which makes it one of the best cities to study in!
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