<p>Hey, I am new to this forum and also most information related to american universities/colleges so I would like to ask for some advice. I currently live in England and have done since leaving california at the age of 7. After looking into colleges in california I have decided I am going to attend SBCC for 2 years then transfer to UCSB to for a bachelor in Engineering-(undecided on what form yet) i understand I have made that sound easier than reality but that is what I plan to achieve. So anyway I was looking into housing options in SB and I thrive for that social/party scene so When i heard about it, Isla Vista sounded like an ideal way for me to experience that snd meet new friends. However I am unsure on when to look for housing for 2013 september enrolment and more importantly how i could go about finding rommates as I understand this may be difficult to do as I hear a lot of UCSB students move in to places in IV with friends met in Dorms of their freshman year. I was just wondering if you guys/girls could help point me in the right direction for finding a home in IV. And also give me any helpful advice in general about my plan to move here next fall.</p>
<p>As a parent of a high school senior and a UCSB alum, please keep in mind that SBCC is 12 miles away from UCSB so you would best served in having a car when you get here. In the old days, there was a bulletin board in the Campus Center or people posted flyers in IV (Isla Vista) when looking for roommates but I’m sure there’s a much more technologically advanced way of doing it now. If not, you’d have to come up and stay in a hotel a week before school starts and try and find someone looking for a roommate. Also keep in mind it’s very expensive even for a run-down place, one of the highest cost of livings for a college town but falling asleep to the ocean waves can be worth it.</p>
<p>So travelling by bus would be okay from IV to SBCC? I was also considering a bike but at the time I will be getting there I definately won’t be able to afford owning/ running a car on top of living expenses. I will probably be travelling over to Santa barbara for a week or so in march, to view the college, so I guess I will try to find housing/roommates then. Do any of you know at what time of the year people would upload ads for roommates just so I can increase my chances of finding some?</p>
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<li><p>There is a bus that runs directly from IV to SBCC. It’s around a 20 min bus ride. (That bus is 15x) </p></li>
<li><p>Rooms are available all year round. The prime place to look for living space is on Craigslist Santa Barbara. . .</p></li>
<li><p>It’s expensive. And the ocean? I live less than a mile away from the ocean, yes, and I bicycle on the trail immediately adjacent to the ocean every morning (it makes for a very nice cycling ride), but I have not touched sand since early June -_-.</p></li>
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