Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#1

Post by newsisan » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 4:30 AM UTC

Sorry for the brief title.

I live in Australia and am considering Uni in the SF region.

Currently trying to decide if it is worth taking a 2 week trip to SF to help my decisions regarding university.

If I go, what should I do? Can I get a feel for Unis like UC Berkeley and Stanford? Can I get a feel for the 'startup culture' and maybe even check out a startup? Can I get a feel for living in the city?

Moving here for 4 years is a pretty large commitment, and I would love any opinions you can offer.

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#2

Post by gsivil » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:02 AM UTC

I have visited SF only for a bit and I had the chance to visit Berkeley and Stanford. I really liked the city a lot and I want to give you my two cents about these two Universities. If you get accepted by these Universities (and let's say you do not have any offers from better places on the East side) do not hesitate in accepting it even for a second. Stanford stands out not only as academic institution in terms of ranking but as a feeling in the campus. But Berkeley has the advantage of being so close to SF.

All the best for your choice and your trip

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#3

Post by zmanian » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:02 AM UTC

The San Francisco area has

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#4

Post by tjsnyder » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:06 AM UTC

The best thing you will get are the friendships and connections in the startup world. If you want to be in a startup, your best opportunities will come from bring in sf.

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#5

Post by dreur » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:08 AM UTC

Thanks for asking since I am also thinking about taking two weeks there in May. But not for the same reasons. I am starting my professional career in May just finished a CS degree at the U of Sherbrooke (Quebec).

I would like to visit the city and do some networking there too. Maybe try some surfing.

Any ideas how and where to start ?

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#6

Post by bartonfink » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:08 AM UTC

From Australia? Absolutely it's worth an extended visit, although 2 weeks is a long time. If you stay busy, you could probably explore the Bay area thoroughly in just one week. If you want to stay on the Pacific coast, I'd probably check out Seattle for another week just so you get the most bang for your visit.

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#7

Post by hsmyers » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:13 AM UTC

It has been too many years since I spent careful time (on foot with backpack in the late 60's) in SF so I can only relate my experience in Berkeley. First an admission--- I am invariably biased in or out of favor of a city based on it's bookstores. Berkeley has so many good ones that there is no real competition in the Bay area. Two prime examples and worth at least a couple of days attention each are Moe's Books and Cody's Books. You would wind up with an excellent education just by attending both even if you skipped all of your classes at Berkeley. As for the startup culture, perhaps someone else with hands on knowledge will chime in here...

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#8

Post by bugsy » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:15 AM UTC

I'll speak from the perspective of an occasional visitor there with relatives and friends who live there.

Yes, it's a great city, the absolute best one of its size in the US. One of the few with good public transportation. There are fantastic places to go nearby like the Redwoods to the north and vineyards to the east.

Watch out though, if looking to party, most parts of the city has no nightlife except on weekends.

If you are doing engineering and can get into Stanford you should go there rather than Berkeley.

There are hostels that run $20 a night or less if you want to go on the cheap. Or you can couch surf if you have friends there already. Or since you are Australian you can probably find a girlfriend on okcupid to move in with for 2 weeks, they like the accent and most unattached men are gay, but it might be more trouble than it's worth.

Then again, since you are considering paying out of state tuition at a couple very expensive colleges, you must be fabulously wealthy and can just check into a suite at The Palace or Hotel Palomar.

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#9

Post by bugsy » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:17 AM UTC

bartonfink wrote: post #6

From Australia? Absolutely it's worth an extended visit, although 2 weeks is a long time. If you stay busy, you could probably explore the Bay area thoroughly in just one week. If you want to stay on the Pacific coast, I'd probably check out Seattle for another week just so you get the most bang for your visit.

If you do this, take the Coast Starlight train from SF and stop in Portland on the way.

Re: Ask San Franciscans: Is it worth taking a 2 week holiday to SF?

#10

Post by bugsy » Sun, Feb 06, 2011, 5:18 AM UTC

gsivil wrote: post #2

I have visited SF only for a bit and I had the chance to visit Berkeley and Stanford. I really liked the city a lot and I want to give you my two cents about these two Universities. If you get accepted by these Universities (and let's say you do not have any offers from better places on the East side) do not hesitate in accepting it even for a second. Stanford stands out not only as academic institution in terms of r…

If he's doing engineering there's not much on the east coast other than MIT. Stanford, CalTech and MIT are the three on the top and there is a big gap before the next one down.

Of these three, Stanford is the only one where a normal social life is possible, assuming that's desirable.