california. College is cheap out there after you establish residency. So... move there, take a semester of community college or just work and get your crap together, then reap the bennies. Personally I'd choose something in or around san diego...
I went to ODU in norfolk and the surf in VB sucks. Of course the universe would bring me back...
Many may disagree with me, but I moved to the mountains. I took up snowboarding and did that for a few years. Return to the coast and you will have a new perspective on surfing. Your passion for it will be off the charts. There are cheaper schools as well (even if you stayed in the East Coast).
Go to Community College first. It saves you money and will "get your mind right" regarding academics. Perhaps this helps. In high school, I was a compulsive stoner that just wanted to ride his boards. I went to school, did community college, transferred to a 4 year school and paid his way through.
I must admit, Colorado would be a cool place. The only thing missing is ocean, however, the attitude is beach, mountains can be fun (steep mountains, deep snow, lots of sunshine and snowbunnies) with plenty of outdoor activities. If you like history and the outdoors, you will actually like it there. Really achin' for Cali? 14 hour road trip. Take some friends and you won't forget it.
I live in wilmington and am in HS so i know a thing or two about UNCW. It's a good school as far as academics go, but not fantastic. You'll probably have a better chance of getting into uncw than UC schools. Also, trust me, the surf isn't always there. You'll understand because you're from LI. The surf here usually stays from 1-3 feet and I have only surfed it when it was head high once or twice, and I've been surfing here for like 5 years. That being said some of the students there are really talented surfers. So i would agree with the people above and say check out some California schools more.
you seem.... a tad naive to this whole process. What do you want to major? What exactly is is GPA? SATS? ACT? $ situation? Nonetheless, if possible, I'd say go to a school in California. I go to UNCW, I love it. I transferred in after spending a miserable year in a college in PA, and now i'm living beach front for the upcoming semester (ta daaa, cheap too actually). Everyone kinda shreds here for the most part, and I'm gonna say WB is the best surf town on the EC. The school itself is killer, the campus, girls, academics (except for the crazed liberal english dept and administration, but what school isn't like that?) especially the sciences and business (which i am currently killin it in). I could go on, but i don't feel like typing right now.
I do that 1 bit of advice; Do not go to Hawaii. It's a death pit. It's almost too perfect. I know 2 people that went there for college and they are completely different now. I dont know if its a coincidence or what, but the drugs, culture and vibe is different as a student rather as a visiter.
I would have gone to California if I could, but money and the fact that my parents who are helping me pay for college wouldn't let me.
I moved to San Diego (Pacific Beach originally, now in Mission Beach) a year ago.
This place is PARADISE. Hot chicks everywhere & waves are always rideable. Dont settle for somewhere you will be misearble (east coast). You can honestly apply to university of phoenix and do online classes from your porch facing the beach.
I know people from Ivy league's that cant find a job and guys that never went to college that have a phenominal career and great pay. It's all about how much effort YOU put into your own education and future.
But like I said if you're miserable always thinking about surf - you will never get anywhere. Find out where you will be happiest (geographically) and move forward from there.
Edit - Check Mesa Community College in SD county. Get your residency in 1 year or even get your AA then transfer to SDSU and get in state tuition. Any idiot that jumps right into a 4 year school at $30-$50K a year is a fool and shouldnt be crying about ridiculous student loans. Most people say a car or a home is your biggest purchase. Im going to go ahead and say college is. Do all of your research
Last edited by Scobeyville; Jul 19, 2012 at 09:03 PM.
Second that. As a young man in my 20's, Pacific Beach was the greatest place in the world. You could even drink and smoke on the beach back in the day, now you can't but that's okay. North County is more geared to the sedate family life, but PB is where it's at. I lived all over that 'burg and never had a dull moment. SDSU, USD and UCSD are all easy commutes via public transportation too. It ain't cheap though. In a lot of ways, the old adage about New York applies to SoCal as well, if you can make it in this town, you can make it anywhere. Remember the job market is horrendous, the cost of living astronomical and people are very competitive out here in all aspects of their lives. If you have game and hustle, San Diego will be your oyster. If you lack either, not so much; but that's how the cookie crumbles no matter where you call home.Originally Posted by Scobeyville
I'm bumping this. I chose academics over staying local and landed in central VA, for college. Being so close to the mountains, I experienced the mountain life. I never got into skiing/snowboarding, but mountain biking was a blast. Every break, I would get more out of my surfing sessions than before. When I moved back to Wilmington, I had a totally new perspective on surfing.
Last edited by dlrouen; Jul 20, 2012 at 12:09 AM.
i've already spent some time away from the coast and i'm definitely not looking to do that again... totally sucks but it does increase your appreciation for surfing. and regarding the guy that says hawaii is a "death pit". if there is any truth to this can someone please elaborate?
also, would it make more sense to live in CA for a year to get residency, then go to 4 year college, or do 2 years of community college there first? are there financial benefits for doing 2 years of community over there?
I know hard drugs are easier to get there than here. It's beautiful and has some of the best surf in the world. If you come from money and you're not going to maintain at least a 3.65; go there for school. 3.65 or better if you want to go the SoCal Com. Col. route and transfer into a good CalState or UC school. Piece of cake, right?
I didn't come from money. I went back to school out here when community college credits where 33$ an hour instate. That was a minute ago. I have no idea what they are now for out of state, but I bet you the best board in your quiver they're cheaper than the average 4 year Uni. Go to school now. Don't wait, the more time you put off the harder it gets. Maybe you don't know what to do with your life, don't worry. Take history, math, programming, science and the arts. Learn how to write properly. Start a business. Life is a great teacher, either choose yours or have it chosen for you. Also, the Interwebbies is a great place to figure out how much these things are gonna cost your illustrious benefactors. Do some independent research MAN, you're going to college. All these schools list their tuitions online. Craigslist or zillow will give you the cost of housing. I will tell you, the best thing in this life you can learn how to figure out, is how much something is actually going to cost. A.K.A. cost/benefit analysis. Makes the Earth keep spinning on it's axis apparently.
Last edited by zaGaffer; Jul 20, 2012 at 05:24 AM.
To elaborate a bit more on Hawaii, I went there a year ago for work. I worked a week in Honolulu and vacationed a week on Kauai. I have nothing against anyone from HI or anything, but what the folks above mentioned is true. Drugs are everywhere and (at least in Honolulu) it is not the nicest place in the world and definitely not somewhere I'd want to live. And if you think localism is bad where you live.... Most folks over there are not fond of mainlanders. Kauai was much more laid back, but I don't think you'll find a big name university there. And as I mentioned earlier, everything is insanely expensive and you are a long way from home (If you're from LI, you'd likely take American out of JFK, connect in either DFW or LAX and you're talking 12-16 hours of flying to get home).
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