I will personally choose the state by looking at couple things:
The weather (Hot, Cold, Snow, Beach)
Living expenses (Rent, Food, Nightlife)
Job opportunities within your major
Transportation facilities
Crime rate
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When I first moved to the U.S as an international student, I went to California.
I had in mind that it was the perfect state because of (Beaches, sunny weather, Hollywood, Beverly hills, Disney Land, Six Flags, Great Night life....)
I ended up leaving back to my home country, because of how hard it was living there (We are talking about someone that does not have any friends,family, and having a new start in the U.S)
It is so hard because you definitely need a car there, its a huge state. Living expenses are so high, especially rent!!
2 bedroom apartment, 1 living room, 1 kitchen was $1500.
Beach, Disney Land, Six flags, Beverly hills.... I wanted always to go there, but it takes hours unless u have a car, or live in a city like Santa Monica by the beach, way more expensive rents.
Traffic is soo bad in L.A, you can spend hours stuck in traffic...
Still California is an amazing state but not to live in, its great to go spend vacation there for a week and go back home.
After 3 years I went back to the U.S, but now I went to Arizona, Phoenix (Tempe) By Arizona State University.
Some people will say wow living in the desert!!!
It was 100000 times better to live there than California.
Great weather, its really hot! but you don't have to deal with rain, snow, sickness...
Rent you can share an apartment with someone and pay $400 a month, there are plenty of place like that in Arizona.
You will not have a car when you first go to the U.S for the first time, in AZ you can use your bicycle to go around in cities (Grocery shop, Go to work....).
Night life was soo good there, lot lot and lot of students, no crimes, casual city especially Tempe.
You can hit the bars, restaurants, clubs with shorts, and sandals.
Every 2 months or so we went to California/Vegas/Mexico with my friends, 5-6 hours drive, we enjoyed all the amusement you can ever think about then went back to AZ. One of my best friends was a stripper, she goes to California on the weekends to make money and comes back to AZ weekdays.. I asked her why you not live in california instead ofgoing there every weekend... She was like AZ is the best place to save money, and start from.
My other friend, she used to live in florida ended in Arizona... Same thing, trying to save money to pay loans, and picked AZ
Its an amazing place to start from, if you are not rich, and trying to get used to the American life.
I hope this helped a bit
I miss Arizona sooooo much!
Now that I am a DV-Lottery winner with number AS32000 going for CP, and if I get my visa (Pray for me
), I will definitely go to Arizona Live between Tempe and Scottsdale. I might also consider going to Texas Austin...