What US state is best for me to start?

AnaM93 wrote:

Hi, I'm 28, I have a bachelor degree, but I'm not specialised in anything.
I'm thinking about coming to us for study reasons (a master or something like that). What state do you think it's best for me?
I do not have a driving license, I would like an open minded place where I could make friends easily and stay casual and simple. So I need not hard social relationships. At the same time, I like to know serious and intelligent people, interesting people. I don't like messy places and chaotic. I need a place when there are things to do and to see, when I could have fun. Then for sure, I want to find good jobs, good opportunities based on my level (a bit higher than barista or cleaning).
I need fresh air but I love the sea. I'm looking for aplace that brings me positivity.
Which states do you think are best for me?
Thank you.

Alaska

It's too cold in Alaska. Then, I don't think there's much of cultural and social life there.

AnaM93 wrote:

It's too cold in Alaska. Then, I don't think there's much of cultural and social life there.

Then Mississippi is where you want to be.

AnaM93 wrote:

I do not have a driving license, I would like an open minded place where I could make friends easily and stay casual and simple. So I need not hard social relationships. At the same time, I like to know serious and intelligent people, interesting people. I don't like messy places and chaotic. I need a place when there are things to do and to see, when I could have fun. Then for sure, I want to find good jobs, good opportunities based on my level (a bit higher than barista or cleaning).
I need fresh air but I love the sea. I'm looking for aplace that brings me positivity.
Which states do you think are best for me?
Thank you.

You're not asking much, and actually, you don't really know what you search for, do you?

- "Do not have DL": Unless you can change that status, there are very few states in the US where you can live without a car.  A very few large cities in large states, that's just about it.

- "Casual and simple relationships": everywhere in the US.

- "Intelligent and interesting people": everywhere in the US.  It's not the location that produces intelligent and interesting people; it's the social circle that matches your requirements.

- "Not messy and chaotic": What does that mean?  If you want a location that is orderly (not messy), not crowded (not chaotic), then you'll need to look for smaller towns, not large cities.  There are literally thousands of such places in the US.

- "Culture and social life":  If you means culture such as theatres, museums, concert halls, etc. and social life such as dancing, pubs, single meetups, etc, then they cannot be found in smaller towns .  They're often located in messy and chaotic cities.

- "Things to do and to see": almost everywhere in the US except Midwestern states and North Dakota.  For the rest of the country, it depends on what you want to do and to see.  For instance, you poo-pooed Alaska for being too cold even though the summer temperature in Alaska are 16°C - 33°C, and there are a lot of things to do and to see. 

- "Good jobs, good opportunities": definitely not smaller towns.  Put up with messy and chaotic where you can find culture, social life, and opportunities "a bit higher than barista or cleaning," or be happy with a clean and orderly environment where social life means get to know your neighbours and be an active participant in your community. 

- "Fresh air": not in large cities, that's for certain.

- "The sea":  West Coast or East Coast.  There are plenty of states for you to chose.

- "Bring me positivity": Again, what does that mean?  Positivity is how you view life, not what life brings you.  Except when you live in Sedona, but that's not what you're looking for since there's not much of social life, good job, or good opportunities in that overflowing-with-positive-energy town.

Look over your list, check it twice, and find the things you cannot live without.  Cross off the rest.  Repeat.  When there are only 3 absolute requirements left on that list, return to the forum and we'll be able to help you better.

I can summarize 3 things I would seek: fun and possibility to meet people and make friendships, the sea to be nearby, good job opportunities but not the top, because I'm not at a top level (I don't have any work experience, out of shop assistant and promoter!). Not too snob people.

AnaM93 wrote:

I can summarize 3 things I would seek: fun and possibility to meet people and make friendships, the sea to be nearby, good job opportunities but not the top, because I'm not at a top level (I don't have any work experience, out of shop assistant and promoter!). Not too snob people.

It's easier to make friends in the West Coast because the general attitude is much more relax than in the East Coast, hence the fewer snobs. 

The West Coast also has warmer sea than the East Coast, and depending on your location, the sea could be within walking distance.  My husband lived just a few steps from Main Beach in Laguna Beach for 5 decades.  I used to live less than 10 minute drive from a state beach in Huntington Beach (aka Surf City USA.)  Those are two of the many beach cities in Southern CA, in case you don't know.

In regards to fun, it's a relative term.  Each person has his/her own idea of fun.

I can't tell you about job opportunities because I left the workforce 21 years ago, but IMO, it's always a good idea to sign up with temp agencies if you don't know how and where to search for job.

Ciambella wrote:

- "Things to do and to see": almost everywhere in the US except Midwestern states and North Dakota.

In my years of driving Coast to Coast (at least 20 times) I discovered a secret about the Great Plains states:

Unless you like to see miles and miles and miles of agricultural fields or deserts, the Midwest (including Canada)  can seem to have limited interesting features when driving East-to-West or West-to-East.

However, an old trucker explained to me that the interstate highways which most people take along this route are built on natural geological "ridges" which run East-West-East, and thus you never get much variation of terrain along those highways.

However, if you get off of the main highways and drive North-South-North through most of those states, the terrain is often dramatically transformed before your eyes as you drive up and over and down those same geological ridges.

Along an imaginary corridor between Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and Houston, Texas, USA, there are some good cities with nearby wonderful scenic sites and recreational areas, as well as some very interesting historical destinations (if person is interested in such things).

I also *think* that it might be easier for the OP to choose a suburban area in the Midwest, with easy access to the city life of Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Lincoln/Omaha or a some medium-sized city on the plains.

Since "the sea" is important to her, she *might* be interested in living near a Midwest river or lake, but I'm thinking she could live in Galveston, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico coastline and work/socialize in Houston, Texas and find much of what she seeks.

*Maybe*... :-)

Because if *the sea* is not a deal breaker, I would suggest living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Denver, Colorado.

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

Because if *the sea* is not a deal breaker, I would suggest living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Denver, Colorado.

As she's Italian, the sea is definitely a deal breaker.  .   

Ciambella wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

Because if *the sea* is not a deal breaker, I would suggest living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Denver, Colorado.

As she's Italian, the sea is definitely a deal breaker.   

I see

Ciambella wrote:

OceanBeach92107 wrote:

Because if *the sea* is not a deal breaker, I would suggest living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Denver, Colorado.

As she's Italian, the sea is definitely a deal breaker.  .   

Have you been to Northern Italy?

AnaM93 wrote:

I can summarize 3 things I would seek: fun and possibility to meet people and make friendships, the sea to be nearby, good job opportunities but not the top, because I'm not at a top level (I don't have any work experience, out of shop assistant and promoter!). Not too snob people.

At 28 you, no network and no job experience you are a bit behind the power curve. What visa do you plan to use?
Masters and fun in the sun sounds great. Admission to secondary education institution, proof of liquid funds for tuition, cost of living and emergencies for first year and source for the reminder of the anticipated years. Work if any on campus and limited hours. Admission criteria and tuition you can read up on on the sites of most schools. OTP as course related work visa can be granted for a specific period of time. It often goes to top students employers plan to sponsor work visas for.
An expense a lot of students do not consider is transportation. Very few US cities are truly walkable and offer reliable public transportation. Vehicle, insurance for a driver with no US driving history, maintenance and parking.

Ciambella wrote:

As she's Italian, the sea is definitely a deal breaker.

twostep wrote:

Have you been to Northern Italy?

Many times.  For the last 25 years, except for the winter of 2018 and 2019, we spent every winter in the mountain towns of Italy, Switzerland, Austria, France, or Germany.  My husband is a skier, and his goal was to ski all 8 Alpine countries.  He only made it to 5 because we kept returning to the same ones over and over again. 

In addition, we hiked with CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) during the years we lived in Italy so I'm familiar with that part of the country.

To answer your silent question, it doesn't matter where in Italy they live, Italians flock to the sea for the summer.  Saying the sea is in their blood is not an exaggeration.

Yes, I live in northern Italy, and I definitely don't like it.
I know I'm behind the power curve, so what do you suggest? Applying for a student visa?
Is it very hard to find a job from here? I think it is, because they would take residents in the us.
As for trasportation, I have to go to a place where I have to walk firstly, because if even if I try to drive there is no immediate to take the driving license. Then, I will have to buy a car. Saying the truth, I'm a bit scared of driving, I tried it sometimes three months ago, and I found it very difficult.
I need advices, because I want to change my life, I can't stay here anymore.

AnaM93 wrote:

As for trasportation, I have to go to a place where I have to walk firstly, because if even if I try to drive there is no immediate to take the driving license. Then, I will have to buy a car.

You can live near the beach while not needing a car in Boston, NYC, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, and a few cities in San Diego County.

AnaM93 wrote:

Yes, I live in northern Italy, and I definitely don't like it.
I know I'm behind the power curve, so what do you suggest? Applying for a student visa?
Is it very hard to find a job from here? I think it is, because they would take residents in the us.
As for trasportation, I have to go to a place where I have to walk firstly, because if even if I try to drive there is no immediate to take the driving license. Then, I will have to buy a car. Saying the truth, I'm a bit scared of driving, I tried it sometimes three months ago, and I found it very difficult.
I need advices, because I want to change my life, I can't stay here anymore.

Please excuse me for being blunt.

I don't want to be offensive but it seems that you want too much for too little.

In other words, you are a person with a bachelor's degree who wants to have a student visa to study for a masters.

Okay so I think you can probably find a program if you can first decide what major you want.

Decide which field in which you want to have your studies.

Then you can apply for the appropriate program and the appropriate program will probably help you get the student visa if you are accepted by them.

But you want so many other things too, even though you totally lack focus about your education goals.

And really from your position so far outside the country, it would seem that you need to focus strictly on the education field that you prefer and on the program that you identify to help you study that field.

Then while you are studying for your Masters you're just going to have to accept the area around that school and the people involved in that school.

If you keep watering down your choice for education by demanding so many other things at this point--when you have nothing to offer other than your status as a student--I think you will be miserable with the results.

Thank you Oceanbeach, you're totally right. There are universities almost everywhere, but I still don't know well in what I could specialize.

I was only wondering if I can find a job from here, but I don't know what job I can look for and it must be acompany that seeks italian workers, if not they take the locals. That's why this opportunity is not easy, unless I get to know someone that can hire me from there.

AnaM93 wrote:

Thank you Oceanbeach, you're totally right. There are universities almost everywhere, but I still don't know well in what I could specialize.

I was only wondering if I can find a job from here, but I don't know what job I can look for and it must be acompany that seeks italian workers, if not they take the locals. That's why this opportunity is not easy, unless I get to know someone that can hire me from there.

Universities are almost everywhere. The question are: will you be admitted, can you afford it, what will you do afterwards as a US degree does not come with a visa.
Italian citizenship is not a visa qualifier. A job is not a visa qualifier. Start with reading through uscis.gov.

Thank you a lot, Gorine. What can you say about Florida? Is there a high monthly income? How are people? Job opportunities?
Thank you.

Thank you Gorine, you've been useful.

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OceanBeach92107 wrote:

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