u/ChicagoEnjoyer

Hi! I’m a 20M college student from downtown Chicago, and I’m considering transferring to Occidental College in Eagle Rock. I was offered a scholarship and would likely double major in Cognitive Science and Psychology. I've asked about the school on r/Oxy but now I want to know about LA.

I’ve lived nearly all of my life in River North/downtown Chicago, so I’m used to being able to walk outside and immediately access trains, restaurants, friends, and city life. I also spent two years in Madison, WI for college, so I’m trying to get a realistic sense of what LA would feel like by comparison.

Culture: What's the culture of LA actually like? I feel like everyone's fed the idea that LA is very shallow and nothing but image obsessed but as someone from a city that also gets negative traits over-exaggerated (people in Wisconsin are genuinely shocked I go outside past 12 in an upper-middle-class neighborhood and think the entire city is O-Block 😭) I want to hear more about it beyond the stereotypes.

Community/social life: Is it easy to meet people and build community in LA, especially as a college student/transplant? Chicago feels very community-oriented to me, and I’m wondering if LA is the same.

Neighborhood: What is there to do in Eagle Rock? Any favorite restaurants, cafés, bookstores, shops, venues, parks, or low-key spots nearby? My recommender did grad at UCLA and described the area to me as artsy/kitschy, I’d love to hear more!

Walkability/Cycling: I probably won’t be able to bring a car. How realistic is it to live around Oxy without one? Are Eagle Rock and the surrounding areas bike-friendly, or would I be relying mostly on rideshares/public transit/friends with cars?

If you're originally from Chicago or another major city:

What's the biggest culture shock?
What's something that you miss about Chicago or your home city?

Thanks to anyone who can answer!

Guess Top Artist + Age

Moving from Chicago/Madison to LA?