<p>In eighteen days (Yes, i’ve been counting it down) I will get word from Pepperdine telling me if I have been accepted for fall 2009. I am slightly under their average admit stats, however I do have several factors that can contribute to a possible acceptance.</p>
<p>If I do get accepted it will mean that I will be leaving North Carolina and heading to California. The only person that I know in California is my cousin but he lives in Sacremento (far away from Pepperdine in Malibu). Do any of you have any advice as to moving?</p>
<p>I will be bringing along my car . It’s a 2006 Honda Accord. For those of you keeping score - that’s a 2,500 mile drive. We have debated about towing my car out there - renting a vehicle and hauling it, driving it, sending it on a train, etc. What do you suggest? </p>
<p>Also, do I need to apply for California plates/inspection stickers - if I do not plan to drive it BACK after every year (how else would I get an NC car inspected in California) - is it possible to get plates and stickers without residing in the particular state?</p>
<p>I will surely have more questions soon. Thank you for reading… eighteen days… i’m hopeful :)</p>
<p>The main difference between the west coast and the east coast is the distance in between cities (In my opinion). The east coast is all bunched up, a lot of people close together. On the west coast, everything is more spread out. Also, Sacramento is completely different from Malibu/Southern California. I cannot answer the license plate issue, as I an a Nevada resident and deal with the Nevada DMV. If you want to see the country, I’d drive your car to cali, if you can handle it (it’s what I do, there are many parts of the country I would LOVE to drive through). </p>
<p>Why are you even bringing a car… most colleges freshmen arent even allowed to bring them. I would consider if bringing the car is the best option, you could always try out the beginning of the year without it and if it is a hassle drive it on your way back from thanksgiving break. as far as the change from the east to california, its a lotttt different. im gonna be facing the opposite changes next year too (im moving from southern cal to go to school on the east coast) First of all the water is warm over here haha. but really just keep a laid back attitude and you’ll be fine, everyone there is new and you wont be the only one from out of state. and like gogators said, sacramento is a lot different from malibu. malibu is a coastal place and sacramento is more inland so its not the same feel.
good luck on pepperdine and if you have any questions about CA feel free to ask, i have no clue about the liscense stuff tho.</p>
<p>To clear things up; I’ve never visited Sacramento - but I have visited SOCAL/Malibu twice. I don’t think I would go to Pepperdine if I couldn’t bring my car - but I still don’t know what to do about the plate issue. For thanksgiving break I wouldn’t drive back, I might not even fly back - but for Christmas I would fly back.</p>
<p>I live in Indiana but go to college in Los Angeles and had the same dilemma you did. I eventually had my car shipped out- there are several companies that will do it. Indiana to LA cost $600. </p>
<p>You are probably much better off flying with a few suitcases, shipping more stuff, and having your car shipped than you are if you tried to trailer your car all the way across the country. I’ve driven through large parts of the country and it’s really not terribly interesting- you see a lot of the same thing for 12+hours, and then it changes and it’s the same again for a long time. The best route from there to here goes through Arizona so you don’t get to see any real mountains (driving through the rockies/sierras would put you in northern California, which is another 6 hour drive)</p>
<p>Since you are a student you don’t need California plates, but I don’t know about NC’s yearly inspections (Indiana doesn’t have inspections at all).</p>
<p>I’ve never driven back home- it’s too long of a drive and not worth the time.</p>
<p>You only need to apply for California plates if you’re going to become a resident there. So I’m going to take an educated guess and say no, you don’t need California plates. If you get pulled over for it, I’m sure the cops will just let you off the hook if you say you didn’t know.</p>
<p>You’ll love the weather. There are no such things as seasons over here. Leave your heavy coats at home. Bring all your swimsuits.</p>
<p>Sacramento isn’t just “more inland” it is a completely different environment. SoCal is basically a very pretty desert. The weather is consistent and dry, and it doesn’t (normally) rain a lot there. The temperature around So Cal rarely gets above 90, and normally ranges around 78 - 82. When it does get warmer you don’t really feel it because it is so dry. Sacramento is at the base of the Sierra Nevadas (I grew up around there). It’s hot as hell in the summer (110+ is pretty typical), and rainy as hell the rest of the time. It’s not as humid as the east coast (lived there, too), but it has gotten pretty close over the past decade. I now live in Northern Nevada, sort of the best and worst of both. Hot and dry in the summer, cold and wet in the winter (usually). Not much in between.</p>
<p>I lived in LA for a while, but I’m not very familar with Malibu. Right in LA (I lived near Bel Air) you don’t necessarily need a car, but when you are outside of LA you usually do. I’m guessing a car is pretty much a necessity for Malibu. One of the things I had a hard time with when I moved to LA was figuring out the good areas and the bad areas. The first place I lived was right in the heart of south central. I had no idea I was in the ghetto until people told me, and then a guy got shot in the face on my lawn. The area I grew up in, newer houses were the good areas, older houses and apartments were the bad areas. It is not quite so easy in LA. So if you end up living in LA (you probably won’t but just in case) be really careful and do a lot of research.</p>
<p>You’ll have to check out the DMV website for your license questions. I have no idea, and it’s better to go to the source, anyway.</p>
<p>You will like So Cal if you get to go. It’s pretty expensive and the wages are crap if you have to work, but you probably don’t have to worry about that anyway.</p>
<p>If I don’t get in i’m going to NC State but I was just curious as to how the move would work if I am accepted. I am below the stats for the school so I wouldn’t be surprised if I was declined.</p>
<p>Pepperdine is in Malibu, where you’ll see movie stars at the grocery stores. Seriously. Just remember, they’re regular people. Pepperdine didn’t have any programs that interested me. </p>
<p>California is great except for the Inland Empire. For instance, the air quality at Pomona is unhealthy most of the year. At Pepperdine, the air quality is perfect. You may have a little wind. You’re right by the ocean.</p>
<p>Also, there’s minimal humidity.</p>
<p>In L.A. your Honda Accord will be perfect. Mass transportation is terrible in L.A. CA is environmentally oriented and you may wind up a vegan.</p>
<p>A problem with Pepperdine is that it has a more conservative reputation than one would expect from a California University. Ken Starr was a dean, there. If you survive the school, it’s a great place to be.</p>
<p>Thank you for the comments & the information. The reason I want to go to Pepperdine is because of the 5 year MBA program and also the fact that it is so close to Santa Monica. Many online communities (Facebook, Google, Myspace, Sulake) all have offices there. I own a few online communities so was looking to one day get a job in this venture (Yes - I realize there are tons of people trying to work for GOOGLE,etc - but I feel like I would have a real shot). </p>
<p>If anyone has anything else to add about a possible move it would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I know some people attending Pepperdine and they absolutely love it. The weather is great. My friend told me that some days when it’s really nice her teacher will tell them to take their books and move out to the shore and class will be held on the be beach.</p>
<p>Malibu is gorgeous! I live in Burbank and go right there every summer for the nice beaches, rather than gunky Santa Monica and other Cali shores. We drive thru the canyons and past Pepperdine and its beautiful!. I really suggest bringing your car because it would be suuch a hassle to go anywhere…besides walking to the beach, not much is withing walking distance. If you bring a car, you can cruise the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) to get everywhere. I don’t understand why it would be hard to drive it over? Ya it would take forever, but you could make a mini trip out if it.</p>
<p>LA is central for many big corporations of course, so I think your set.</p>
<p>Anyways, welcome to Cali! ring a swimsuit! Actually, if you like au natural, there’s a “secret” cove over the rocks at Point Dume & Zuma you should check out. It’s private enough that sometimes people feel comfortable enough to… lol.</p>
<p>Lol, fun fun: I grew up in Inland Empire and the air is crummy, but so it most of LA. I’m also a vegan.</p>