<p>What's California like? I'm going there for college (class of 2015) and I want to prepare myself. I know people stereotype California as being "fake" nothing but fake tans and fake people. Is that true. What is there to do except going to the beach. Also is there something you thought you'd never do, but you did? Any out of state? (I'm from the Rocky Mountains) tell me your experience. </p>
<p>Sorry for my punctuation. </p>
<p>Seriously? There are Rockies in California, too. What can you do in Colorado that you can’t do in California?</p>
<p>California is big and varied: Deserts, mountains and coastal environments so, what you need to know first and foremost is that a VERY SMALL section of the population lives near or at the beach. We don’t all surf and we don’t live in big houses with swimming pools. North of the southern California area, the beaches are rocky and cold. The population is not all blonde and blue-eyed but a vast mixture of cultures from around the world. The dominant and largest population/culture is Mexican-American. California is a very expensive place to live, so count on spending a LOT of money here. </p>
<p>Where in California you plan to attend college? California is huge. It isn’t all beaches (and the beaches do vary considerably). We also have forests, mountains, snow, deserts, lakes and rivers, large and small cities, areas with hot weather and those with cold, foggy weather. We’re about a half-hour from the ocean (in northern California) and when we go to the beach we make sure to bring a jacket. It’s frequently foggy, the water is very cold, and they have dangerous rip tides. My son attends college a few hours south from here, and while the beaches are nice, he has other things to do so hanging out at the beach is a very rare occurrence. </p>
<p>The Rockies do not extend to California collegevetting. You may be thinking of the Sierra Nevadas. </p>
<p>California, which has over 38 million people, is one of the most racially diverse states in the union. You will find everything from homeless beggars to multibillionaire tech CEOs. Don’t come in with preconceived ideas about what all 38 million of us are like and you may just enjoy your time in CA. If not, at least you’ll be exposed to great Mexican and Vietnamese food. </p>
<p>@impossible97: Have you visited any of the colleges in California?? Where is your home state? Which schools to you plan to apply and are you willing to pay the Out of State tuition?? These are the questions you need to ask instead of what is California like.</p>
<p>California is very large and covers a wide variety of types of geography, weather, etc. Once you get out of the big cities, (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco,etc) there are many areas made up of very small, agricultural towns and areas which can be very conservative and extreme opposites of the general stereotype of California. If you are in the Los Angeles area, you can go from warm beaches to snow within a few hours, as well as beautiful areas to hike in, professional and amateur sporting events, museums, quirky restaurant… you name it and it is here. You need to tell us where you will be before we can give you info. </p>
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<p>LOL! OK, now I feel like an idiot. I lived in Colorado for a short time, and I have family who lives there still, and often drove from California to and through Colorado. (I like road trips, and the Rockies.) I thought they started inside California, but I guess not. Well there are beautiful snowy, cragged mountains in California, in any event. I posted pictures of some but I guess I posted too many links, and they were deleted.</p>
<p>In any event, I don’t think the OPs question is real, so to speak. </p>