Ask HN: Moving to the Bay Area as a Student

I've wanted to move to the Bay Area for some time now and I think I'm finally at a point where moving is a viable option. I'm planning on transferring to a CCC for Fall 2012 to finish my basic studies and then transfer to a UC school. My reason for wanting to finish my basic studies at a CCC is that, while at the CCC, I will meet the requirements to reclassify as an in-state student for tuition purposes, drastically lowering the cost of attending any of the UC schools.

The biggest problem I face is money. One of the requirements for reclassifying as a California resident is that I have to prove financial independence. This means that I pretty much have to make it on my own for the next two years.

California isn't a cheap place to live, especially when I could end up working at Burger King making minimum wage. I was hoping there would be someone here who could give me some insight into whether it is possible and what it would require for me to support myself. I should qualify for a Pell Grant which will pay most of my tuition and I can use a series of scholarships/loans to pay the rest of my fees. I am already $30,000 in debt and I'm still looking at another 4 years of school because a lot of my credits won't transfer, so I don't want any more loans if I can avoid them.

Where would be the cheapest place to live? I'd like to be within an hour's drive of downtown San Francisco so I can throw myself into the startup scene and, maybe, find a good job.

How many hours a week would I need to work to support myself, assuming I was making minimum wage or slightly above? I'm willing to work full time if that's what it takes, but I'll be in school full time as well.

Any related advice/comments are definitely appreciated. If moving out West on my own is a silly idea, please, do tell me. I'm just a kid, what do I know? :)