Anyone here from Toronto or Los Angeles?

I'm heavily considering going to the University of Toronto or the University of Southern California after highschool.

I just want to know how the cities are. I already know how both will suit me academically and how the campus is but I want to know about the city.

I went to LA when I really little, like four, so I don't remember much. I've heard LA is not nice but I'd rather hear from a native of the city before I decide.

I also want to know about Toronto, I've never been there and am wondering how it is.

What I want to know is

Are these cities multicultural? Is there good entertainment? Is it generally a good place to live?

Thanks

i live in la and it is very multicultural and there is good entertainment if you know the right person... as for living here it depends on the area and neighborhood you choose some are good and some are badleonard88

Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, you will find people from across the world here. Being such a big city theres essentially anything you want in terms of entertainment. I love living in Toronto, I suppose the biggest draw back would be the weather, it gets pretty cold here.

Los Angeles is a third world dump.

Los Angeles is a third world dump.

AHUGECAT

Toronto can either be very nice or a dump depending on where you go. The Downtown is a bit too crowded and slow (traffic wise) in my opinion, though you may have different preferences then I do. The suburbs are very nice, especially in areas like Etobicoke, Mississauga, and Oakville. Unfortunately, there are a few locations that you generally wish to avoid. The worst in my opinion are Holly Crest and Jane and Finch. They're basically Toronto's versions of slums and ghettos. The only major drawback that is universal is that it gets somewhat cold in winter, though I don't mind since I enjoy all season equally.

Most likely university park where USC is located is where I'd live for the first year or twoToriko42

[QUOTE="AHUGECAT"]

Los Angeles is a third world dump.

Toriko42

- Non-stop ghettos. Los Angeles has the worst ghettos in America/Canada. Compton, Watts and East L.A. makes even Detroit or Harlem look like paradises.

- Gangs. Crips, Bloods, MS-13, etc. etc. were all born in Los Angeles.

- Tons of illegal immigrants. Tons. If you do not speak Spanish, you do not belong here.

- Big gap between rich and poor, almost no middle class (except a few areas in the Valley like Reseda, Canoga Park and Encino). You're either super poor or super rich.

- Smog you can cut with a knife (though has gotten better).

- Tons of traffic, you cannot understand how bad it gets. If you are supposed to be somewhere at say, 8 AM, leave 2 hours before.

To be honest though L.A. is better than what it was 10-20 years ago, but still has a lot to improve. Downtown is actually becoming OK (though still way too ghetto and trashy), and places around it like Echo Park and Silver Lake are actually livable now. Even infamous cities such as Compton and Southgate have significantly lower crime rates.

[QUOTE="Toriko42"] Most likely university park where USC is located is where I'd live for the first year or twoleonard88

University Park is a warzone for gangs. If you want to get in caught up in gang fights and have your house graffitid every day live in University Park.

[QUOTE="leonard88"][QUOTE="Toriko42"] Most likely university park where USC is located is where I'd live for the first year or twoAHUGECAT

University Park is a warzone for gangs. If you want to get in caught up in gang fights and have your house graffitid every day live in University Park.

[QUOTE="AHUGECAT"]

[QUOTE="leonard88"] then that place is okay very peaceful and quietToriko42

University Park is a warzone for gangs. If you want to get in caught up in gang fights and have your house graffitid every day live in University Park.

Well USC is in an OK area but make a wrong turn and you could be involve in a drive by, no BS, I know a friend around that area and has seen drive bys. Some gangs wait for people to make that wrong turn and ambush you, I have known many people who had this happen to them.

If you are going to live in Los Angeles, I'd recommend places far from Downtown, west of Westlake. San Fernando Valley, besides Van Nuys (avoid Van Nuys for your own good), is great. Reseda is nice - I live right next to where they shot the chase scene in Terminator 2 (where the T1000 is in the big truck and Arnold is in the motorcycle), as well as Canoga Park (Canoga Park is also home to a great mall), Encino is also amazing (the stores in the 40 Year Old Virgin are in Encino).

So yeah, if you have the guts and move to LA just stay away from anywhere around Downtown and you should be OK. If you want I can take pictures for you and send them to you like tomorrow or later this week.

[QUOTE="Toriko42"][QUOTE="AHUGECAT"]

University Park is a warzone for gangs. If you want to get in caught up in gang fights and have your house graffitid every day live in University Park.

AHUGECAT

Well USC is in an OK area but make a wrong turn and you could be involve in a drive by, no BS, I know a friend around that area and has seen drive bys. Some gangs wait for people to make that wrong turn and ambush you, I have known many people who had this happen to them.

If you are going to live in Los Angeles, I'd recommend places far from Downtown, west of Westlake. San Fernando Valley, besides Van Nuys (avoid Van Nuys for your own good), is great. Reseda is nice - I live right next to where they shot the chase scene in Terminator 2 (where the T1000 is in the big truck and Arnold is in the motorcycle), as well as Canoga Park (Canoga Park is also home to a great mall), Encino is also amazing (the stores in the 40 Year Old Virgin are in Encino).

So yeah, if you have the guts and move to LA just stay away from anywhere around Downtown and you should be OK. If you want I can take pictures for you and send them to you like tomorrow or later this week.

Is L.A really as bad as I think it is? I hear all these bad horrible things about it, and the crime rate doesn't really help it out either. But yeah is it really that bad?

Is L.A really as bad as I think it is? I hear all these bad horrible things about it, and the crime rate doesn't really help it out either. But yeah is it really that bad?

Santesyu

I used to live in Toronto. It wasn't bad then. Now Canadians are a minority. It's overcrowded, expensive and has bad traffic. Otherwise it has a lot of entertainment and sports, although the Leafs suck.

im looking to go to U of T myself and im actually going there next week for a school trip. Anyway, toronto is a pretty nice city. Assuming that you are interested in the downtown campus, its pretty cool down there.
Where do you live TC? I ask because im wondering why you are stuck between 2 schools in 2 different countries.

I live in a city right beside toronto and its very multcultural I actually have a few friends that go to uoft

I used to live in Toronto. It wasn't bad then. Now Canadians are a minority. It's overcrowded, expensive and has bad traffic. Otherwise it has a lot of entertainment and sports, although the Leafs suck.

nohabs

don't live in toronto but been there enough times to konw what it's like. defeinitely fits your checklist: really multicultureal, great entertainment, and the city overall is a great place to live imo. UT was also one of my top choices for uni, didn't end up choosing though, partly because the campus was so large/spread out and seemed to be randomly scattered throughout downtown.

and like some people said, it can get a bit cold during the winter, could go down to around -30C.

[QUOTE="AHUGECAT"]

[QUOTE="Toriko42"] Even in a dorm?Toriko42

Well USC is in an OK area but make a wrong turn and you could be involve in a drive by, no BS, I know a friend around that area and has seen drive bys. Some gangs wait for people to make that wrong turn and ambush you, I have known many people who had this happen to them.

If you are going to live in Los Angeles, I'd recommend places far from Downtown, west of Westlake. San Fernando Valley, besides Van Nuys (avoid Van Nuys for your own good), is great. Reseda is nice - I live right next to where they shot the chase scene in Terminator 2 (where the T1000 is in the big truck and Arnold is in the motorcycle), as well as Canoga Park (Canoga Park is also home to a great mall), Encino is also amazing (the stores in the 40 Year Old Virgin are in Encino).

So yeah, if you have the guts and move to LA just stay away from anywhere around Downtown and you should be OK. If you want I can take pictures for you and send them to you like tomorrow or later this week.

I used to live in L.A for a long time, all I can say is that L.A is a great place, plenty of entertainment thats for sure. The negativity of the city dosen't bother me at all. You learn to get use to it, sure there are gangs but as long as you dont involve yourself with such people you will be fine. Depends on the areas you live I suppose but there are certain places you gotta watch out at night. Other than that theres plenty to do there.

im looking to go to U of T myself and im actually going there next week for a school trip. Anyway, toronto is a pretty nice city. Assuming that you are interested in the downtown campus, its pretty cool down there.
Where do you live TC? I ask because im wondering why you are stuck between 2 schools in 2 different countries.

Blitz_Nemesis

[QUOTE="Blitz_Nemesis"]

im looking to go to U of T myself and im actually going there next week for a school trip. Anyway, toronto is a pretty nice city. Assuming that you are interested in the downtown campus, its pretty cool down there.
Where do you live TC? I ask because im wondering why you are stuck between 2 schools in 2 different countries.

Toriko42

I don't know what you are majoring in but why not stay home and go to Simon Frazer.....then go to another city for Grad school ?

[QUOTE="Toriko42"]

[QUOTE="Blitz_Nemesis"]

im looking to go to U of T myself and im actually going there next week for a school trip. Anyway, toronto is a pretty nice city. Assuming that you are interested in the downtown campus, its pretty cool down there.
Where do you live TC? I ask because im wondering why you are stuck between 2 schools in 2 different countries.

nohabs

I don't know what you are majoring in but why not stay home and go to Simon Frazer.....then go to another city for Grad school ?

[QUOTE="nohabs"]

[QUOTE="Toriko42"] I live in Vancouver, British Columbia I am majorly considering three universities USC, University of Toronto, McGill,

Toriko42

I don't know what you are majoring in but why not stay home and go to Simon Frazer.....then go to another city for Grad school ?

Makes sense although Vancouver is much prettier than either city. If you speak french McGill might be worth looking at. It's in a pretty good location. Uof T and McGill may be a little tough to get into.

Toronto is great. I used to live there, but now I'm pretty much a 40 minute drive.):

Just stay clear from Jane & Finch. You should be fine.:P

[QUOTE="Toriko42"]

[QUOTE="nohabs"]

I don't know what you are majoring in but why not stay home and go to Simon Frazer.....then go to another city for Grad school ?

nohabs

Makes sense although Vancouver is much prettier than either city. If you speak french McGill might be worth looking at. It's in a pretty good location. Uof T and McGill may be a little tough to get into.

[QUOTE="Blitz_Nemesis"]

im looking to go to U of T myself and im actually going there next week for a school trip. Anyway, toronto is a pretty nice city. Assuming that you are interested in the downtown campus, its pretty cool down there.
Where do you live TC? I ask because im wondering why you are stuck between 2 schools in 2 different countries.

Toriko42

oh, well in that case, go for mcgill. i'm also from vancouver and i decided go to mcgill, which turned out to be an awesome choice. mcgill's a great school. great programs with lots of flexibility, a smaller more compact campus, plus montreal has some of the best nightlife in all of north america.

out of curiousity, what are you planning on studying?

[QUOTE="Toriko42"]

[QUOTE="Blitz_Nemesis"]

im looking to go to U of T myself and im actually going there next week for a school trip. Anyway, toronto is a pretty nice city. Assuming that you are interested in the downtown campus, its pretty cool down there.
Where do you live TC? I ask because im wondering why you are stuck between 2 schools in 2 different countries.

japa28

oh, well in that case, go for mcgill. i'm also from vancouver and i decided go to mcgill, which turned out to be an awesome choice. mcgill's a great school. great programs with lots of flexibility, a smaller more compact campus, plus montreal has some of the best nightlife in all of north america.

out of curiousity, what are you planning on studying?

I live in Toronto. It's a pretty nice city, in my humble opinion, with the exception of certain areas. Jane and Finch gets an honorable mention, and the L'amoreaux area is also quite bad, although not as bad as Jane and Finch.
One thing I hate about it is that it's FREEZING, especially in the mornings...
It's a multicultural city-you can find all sorts of people from different races and ethnic backgrounds around the place.

I go to UofT majoring in politics and history....go now. Stay away from scarborough and jane and finch it IS Canada's Compton, Missisauga, Oakville, Ajax are nice areas with reasonable costs.

I go to UofT majoring in politics and history....go now. Stay away from scarborough and jane and finch it IS Canada's Compton, Missisauga, Oakville, Ajax are nice areas with reasonable costs.

King-Saddam

[QUOTE="japa28"]

[QUOTE="Toriko42"] I live in Vancouver, British Columbia I am majorly considering three universities USC, University of Toronto, McGill,

Toriko42

oh, well in that case, go for mcgill. i'm also from vancouver and i decided go to mcgill, which turned out to be an awesome choice. mcgill's a great school. great programs with lots of flexibility, a smaller more compact campus, plus montreal has some of the best nightlife in all of north america.

out of curiousity, what are you planning on studying?

i see. well like i said, mcgill is really flexible and allows versitility when it comes to tailoring your degree. you could go into the Faculty of Arts with a major in economics/finance/management/etc. while still having room to take other electives from various other faculties to keep your options open, or you could enroll in the Desautels Faculty of Management, an awesome business program (i have tons of friends in this faculty who love it). definitely consider mcgill, it's a strong contender.

[QUOTE="Toriko42"]

[QUOTE="japa28"]

oh, well in that case, go for mcgill. i'm also from vancouver and i decided go to mcgill, which turned out to be an awesome choice. mcgill's a great school. great programs with lots of flexibility, a smaller more compact campus, plus montreal has some of the best nightlife in all of north america.

out of curiousity, what are you planning on studying?

japa28

i see. well like i said, mcgill is really flexible and allows versitility when it comes to tailoring your degree. you could go into the Faculty of Arts with a major in economics/finance/management/etc. while still having room to take other electives from various other faculties to keep your options open, or you could enroll in the Desautels Faculty of Management, an awesome business program (i have tons of friends in this faculty who love it). definitely consider mcgill, it's a strong contender.

I live in LA. You're making a mistake if you go to USC.

UCLA is in a better area (Westwood>>>>>>South Central, both in things to do and general safety...you don't have to worry when walking down the street about getting shanked). UCLA is also cheaper and a better school.

I'm from L.A. and it's a nice city depending on where you live. Plus there's lot of things to do out so you'll never get bored.

I've lived in Toronto for 18 years, right now im living in montreal for uni. Anyways Toronto is a great place, many different languages/cultures/ people. Having two languages under your belt isn't a must but it will certainly help you get a higher paying job assuming that you will actually have to use that language while employed.

There's a great bar/music scene in Toronto, only problem is drinking age is 19. Not the end of the world as by the time second semester rolls around you should be 19 and quite honestly ive never been carted for alcohol, and im not the oldest person around you know what im saying. Plus you'll be around many different people who will buy you alcohol if that becomes a problem.

there's always something going on within the city. Whether it be sports, party, clubbing, you name it. The city never really dies, there's always something going on. There's the toronto raptors, maple leafs, and blue jays if your a big sports fan, you can always grab a few buddies and head down to the rogers center. There's a few great casinos a little over an hour drive away if you ever get into the gambling mood.

The TTC(Toronto Transit Commision) can get pretty expensive as the service is not subsidized by the government. The subway isn't the greatest in the world but it will get you to where you want to go, plus theres a bus that will take you almost anywhere. There's not to many neighborhoods that i would avoid expect for Jane and Finch, very out of the way areas if your going to be studying downtown. 2 buddies of mine both go to U of T for arts and political science or philosphy cnt remember which1 . They both love it, another 3 buds goes to ryerson also and they love it too.

The weather can get pretty annoying because we experience all 4 seasons. The summer can get very hot around 30-35C in july and winter can be just as bad with -30 to -35 being the lowest. Although ive found montreal's winters much worse then torontos.

I've never been to LA so i won't comment. If you have any more questions just ask, i kinda just wrote a whole bunch of **** and didnt reallty have a gameplan as to what i was writing/

Good stuff MrPuffa777, thanks a bunch of that!

I live in LA. You're making a mistake if you go to USC.

UCLA is in a better area (Westwood>>>>>>South Central, both in things to do and general safety...you don't have to worry when walking down the street about getting shanked). UCLA is also cheaper and a better school.

Panzer-schreck

I go to UofT. Fun fact: We have the third largest university library system in North America, next to Harvard and Yale.