How hard is it for a promising screenwriter to find an agent and is it necessary to move to California?

This question is mostly for Obviousman but I am open to all answers. I'm graduating from an east coast film school this year and want to move to California to pursue my career as a screenwriter (against all my professors wishes). I plan to save about $7000 dollars for the move (hopefully more but no less than) and am going completely cold turkey (meaning no family, friends, or job opportunities as of yet) I'm currently a waitress and substitute teacher and planned to get the same job type when I get there just to survive till I find an agent. I don't have to live in LA, because I have a car so don't mind commuting.