Originally Posted by essendoubleop

I'm faced with the choice between graduate schools at Long Beach St. and San Jose St. Both have fairly competitive programs and are not remarkably different in terms of coursework, faculty members I would like to work with, tuition costs, and transitioning graduates to the next level. This leaves the surrounding area and living environment as one of the primary factors in my decision process. Anybody here from either of these places that can tell me not just about the area but also the day-to-day living experiences? I'd imagine crime is especially bad in Long Beach and the cost of living is higher in San Jose, but I'd like to hear from someone at the source.