<p>From what I read on the boards, North Cali and South Cali seem like two different places altogether (yes not just literally haha so all you smart asses on CC save your comments :) ). Since I am from NJ, Could anyone describe the pros/cons,difference of attitude, etc. between the two. Just wondering since I applied to Santa clara in North Cali and Scripps/Pitzer/Oxy in South Cali. Is it really that different at all?</p>
<p>If you go to school in NorCal, you'll find yourself using the word "hella" a lot.</p>
<p>i was born and raised in san francisco. i now go to school at ucsd.
is it all that different? well not really. i mean there's a much bigger difference between any part of california and any part of the east coast, for example.
BUT there is, nonetheless, a difference between "norcal" and "socal". to tell you the truth, i was fairly surprised by the number of people in southern california who resent me saying "hella". in fact, i practically discovered some sort of implicit rivalry which i didnt even know existed until i came to southern california.
in any case, the weather is definitely much nicer in southern california, if you like the beach, etc. but as far as culture and way of life, i prefer the bay area. people just seem more opinionated/less dull, which i like. the north is a pretty democratic and liberal area too.
but the bottom line is, california is still california. there are only small differences between the northern and southern ends. i really like california in general, and can hardly complain about any of it.
but in my biased opinion, i helluv prefer the north. ;-)</p>
<p>my advice to you would simply be to not decide on your college based on it being in norcal or socal. you'll like both, so just decide what school you like more.</p>
<p>Hehe... NorCal is hella better. ;)</p>
<p>I've never really separated the two. Cali is one big, happy place.</p>
<p>I grew up in Northern Cal my whole life, and then came to SoCal to go to USC two years ago. I'd say, besides the obvious weather issue (personally I like cool Christmas seasons, which I didn't get much of this year in LA), there is a different mindset. SoCal seems much more materialistic (of course, this is not everyone) and vain. Of course people in NorCal care about how they look and dress, it just seems on a whole different level. </p>
<p>Both places are amazing though, for different things. I love NorCal because of the sense of community (even though I live in a city of a quarter million), and I love LA because I think this is an AMAZING age to be living there, with so much to do.</p>
<p>i was born in and lived in norcal for 14 years...</p>
<p>then i moved out to maryland.</p>
<p>i had only been down to southern california probably 5 times for a week max each time the entire time i lived there. they are different. and from my point of view, NorCal is more laid back and "hippie-ish" if you will (even though it really isn't any more) while SoCal seems a bit more commercialized (i blame hollywood). and contrary to most people...i prefer the cooler coastal semi-foggy northern california climate to hot deserty LA. </p>
<p>but that's just my opinion. SoCal does have a wider selection of top notch schools than NorCal does though. and the smog situation especially around the LA area is much worse.</p>
<p>and i didn't even realize i said hella until i moved out here. </p>
<p>it's really just a matter of opinion and personal preference. some people genuinely prefer one over another (i have and always will be a NorCal person. i think the redwoods have something to do with it) and some see absolutely no difference.</p>
<p>but like someone else said...california is california. :)</p>
<p>hella... everyone says it?? that's hilarious.</p>
<p>I almost went to college in North CA (Stockton), I guess that would have been hella cool?</p>
<p>hella's a bay area thing. they'll beat your ass in santa cruz if they hear you say it.</p>
<p>Ahhh, mosby, no UOP? Sorry, that's the part of NorCal I'm from. :)</p>
<p>I, for one, never say hella. Maybe it's because I grew up not cussing, so it's just engrained in me that I never caught on. But I do know others that do.</p>
<p>I live at the bottom of NorCal </p>
<p>Norcal cities are typically more spread out, there are gaps between each city , gaps are made up of just land, when u drive on 101 there is a gap between hollister and gilroy and morgan hill and san jose, etc</p>
<p>In socal there arent the nice gaps, every where u go is a big city</p>
<p>Traffic is real bad in socal, norcal traffic would be a dream for a socal person</p>
<p>communities - norcal has great clusters of houses which are seperated from other types of houses</p>
<p>Norcal is not all democratic, the valley -davis sacromento modesto area is rebuplican
San Fran and santa cruz and any citys right next to the pacific are democratic</p>
<p>"smog situation especially around the LA area is much worse." as said above this is true
there really isnt smog in most norcal cities, you can see stars here</p>
<p>weather is not always cool
in hollister gilroy and morgan hill the summers are hot and the winters dont really go below 40 , plus the each get a evening ocean breeze</p>
<p>most norcal colleges stanford and davis ahave great college towns where as socal colleges are right in the middle of the cities</p>
<p>socal has more top colleges but davis will overthrow ucsd in the next 6 years</p>
<p>Personally I would hate to live in a place where everyone says "hella." Although the weather is much better, California is a place full of hippie surfer gelheads who wear Von Dutch trucker hats and vintage T-shirts all the time. I would choose the elitism and preppy culture of the east coast over that trash any day. I know I've made a huge generalization and I'm sure some PC california kid will rip me for it, but I have family who live out there and I have traveled extensively to both northern and southern california, so I know what I'm talking about. I couldnt see a difference between northern and southern california. On the other hand, theres a huge difference between the Southeast and Northeast.</p>
<br>
<p>In socal there arent the nice gaps, every where u go is a big city</p>
<br>
<p>In driving from San Francisco to San Jose I passed though a lot of cities. I don't remember seeing any "gaps" between them. The LA area is like the Bay area - not much in the way of gaps between the cities in either one. But there are plenty of gaps between big cities in SoCal. There is a gap between LA and Riverside. There is a gap between LA and San Diego.</p>
<br>
<p>norcal traffic would be a dream for a socal person</p>
<br>
<p>You've obviously never driven in the Bay Area at rush hour. The bridges are huge bottlenecks and there are traffic jams everywhere. It can take you two hours to go thirty miles.</p>
<p>I like both norcal and socal. I've lived in both. But I'm not blind the faults of either.</p>
<p>There are certainly generalizations about both sides. In my NorCal town, there are hotter summers and cooler winters. It gets up over 100 degrees, and winters are usually around 50, but get down in the 40s. </p>
<p>Widespread- but have you LIVED there? Nope. Besides Von Dutch is so last year. :)</p>
<p>Well I guess I'm one of those "PC California Kids"...</p>
<p>
[quote]
hippie surfer gelheads
[/quote]
While the "hippie" part may be derived from NorCal (mainly from Berkeley), the "surfer" and "gelhead" parts are definitely from SoCal. Please don't make sweeping generalizations about a whole state.</p>
<p>And I guess that you are a preppy elitist if you would choose preppy elitism over people wearing a certain type of clothing. How shallow. Also, no one in Northern California wears Von Dutch. In fact, I have barely even heard of it. Thank god that that horrendous fad has not permeated into Northern California.</p>
<p>And it's funny that you say that you "know what you're talking about," because it is apparent that you do not. Traveling only gives you a shallow understanding of an area. I've driven through Maryland, and you know what I thought? "Wow, this state sucks. It is decaying so rapidly that it looks like on big compost pile. It is industrial, polluted, smoggy, and ugly." So I guess that that means the whole state of Maryland is disgusting, too? probably not, but with your reasoning, I guess it is. You really can't "know what you're talking about" unless you've lived there.</p>
<p>And as for seeing "no difference between Northern and Southern California," what are you, blind? Besides the obvious physical and geographical differences, the cities, too, are very different. In SoCal they are very spread out and often sprawl for miles, while in NorCal they are compact into a much smaller area.</p>
<p>Some people really are close-minded. How sad.</p>
<p>instead of using the word "trash" to describe california kids, i'd think the word "grounded" is a MUCH better word. the parts i've lived in california are among the richest in the country, and the kids don't really flaunt their wealth- they just acted like normal kids, wore the same clothes as everyone else, and hung out with whoever. on the east coast, where i live now, you'll know who the rich kids are by spotting the pastels and the elitiest attitudes. they generally like to stay in their circles. these things are just what i've seen from my perspective though. the difference between northern california and southern? they're two completely different regions and cultures. the people, the weather, the cities, the highways, these two areas are a pretty sharp contrast. comparing san francisco to la is like comparing D.C. to chicago. the only thing you'll probably see in common is a more laid back attitude than what you'll see anywhere else.</p>
<p>coureur </p>
<p>yes i have been to the bay area during rush time </p>
<p>I was talking about norcal and socal as a whole not just the san fran city and la city</p>
<p>if you look beyond the huge cities oak, san fran, la, sd i am generally accurate </p>
<p><em>Norcal is the best place to live</em> bring up areas that are better than Norcal with a link to a picture of the area/houses get a pic from realestate online site</p>
<p>airforce is definitely right, bay area traffic isn't really comparable to la's. there's a reason why northern california's real estate is among the most expensive in the nation</p>
<p>I don't say hella. Maybe a few times. "That test was hella hard." It's just easier than saying "hell of." If you say it, you must accentuate it over the other words. Then it sounds right.</p>
<p>thats so true about "hella." i have cousins from nor cal and they say "hella" alot.</p>