Decision time

yup. i got into Floridia institue of technology, florida state, virginia wesleyan, and some other schools (I'm from VB by the way). i decided to stay local for a couple reasons.
1) i can commute and save 10 grand a year by not living on campus
2) I paid less going to a private school even though it costs waaaay more because of scholarships
3) i literally live at the oceanfront here and can wake up, go surf, then go to class and then surf after schedule permitting.

For me, it was all about money. if money isn't something you are worried about, go for wherever. If you are trying to surf a lot and save money home, definitely go to UNCW. I wish i had applied.

as for environmental engineering or sciences as a major, be ready to put in heavy hours of studying and doing work because it's not an easy major especially if you do a bachelor of science like I am doing (B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences).

It's up to you man. do what feels right.

 

PM me if you wanna know what NCSU's environmental/forestry/soils programs are like. I graduated from there in 2000 and immediately got a position doing research on wetlands with the Soil Science Dept. Good luck and happy holidays!

 

i will add this..stay in Wilmington if you are satisfied with the musical/cultural side of life here...i'd only move to Raleigh/NCSU if i was a HUGE live music fan ( and I am ). There are soooo many shows between Raleigh Durham and Chapel Hill and the museums and other artsy things just blow Wilmington "out of the water" haha sorry for the pun...anyway. i live in Wilm now, surf everyday that there is the slightest swell, and love it but do miss seeing world class acts for $8 at Cats Cradle or Kings. We just don't get anything in the way of touring bands like the triangle does. Oh and the other sports/activities like mountain biking/hiking and stuff really don't exist here. i spent my entire time up at NCSU finding the craziest places to off road bike and hike and it was a blast. But all of that is nothing like catching CB or mase on a chest high day with offshores Wouldn't trade that for the world

 

Anything engineering=NCSU (2001 Marketing/Business). I, however, was weeded out of the engineering program because I can't translate Hindi and Uduru into calculus and had problems with Inorganic Chem.

Not gonna lie--I hated living in Raleigh (and I moved back every summer for my job), but it could be so much worse... At least its not Charlotte.

UNCW has an awesome Marine Science program AND they are leading the way in aquaculture R&D. IMO there is a huge future in aquaculture and you would be getting into it while it's still nascent. Plus, you don't have to deal with the rat race that is Raleigh. You only have to deal with the morons from there, Charlotte and the Winston/G-boro area who inundate UNCW and instantly turn into the beachiest people you've ever seen.

 

i love uncw but college is as much about the life experience as much the education. i say go to uncw for a year or two then transfer somewhere on the west coast. college choice isnt a permanant decision so dont kill yourself over it. that being said im a senior at uncw graduating this spring. i transferred in 1.5 years ago from an art school in chicago.

 

Do it right... wish I can get a do-over on my college experience. Find a way to balance school, social activities,s urfing, and other outdoor activities.

I was a spaz in college, and I didn't make the most of the short experience (and it is short!).

 

but thinking further ahead banman...where do you wanna end up? if you wanna wind up in HI, or West coast, or some big city, You'll prob need a college degree, most likely something beyond a B.S., and tons of experience in your field before you land a job in the environmental field. its tight as a tick right now. Even with a BS you'll prob start off doing "tech" work for a larger firm. i.e. you'll be the guy getting samples and doing all the (at times very hard) field work until someone above you retires or moves on. You gotta remember/realize the "boom" in the enviro field coincided with the housing boom that started in the mid 80s. All that land that "needed to be cleared" for suburbia had to be permitted/surveyed/approved and there was a demand for people knowledgeable with the myriad of regs and codes involved with it.

That process of build/build/build is occurring more slowly now because not only is suburbia pretty built out at the moment but the aftermath of the housing bubble slowed things down even more.

now if your goal is to end up back in a small southern surf town and have lots more time for the finer things in life, like surfing, and family and friends..i'd say just go to CFCC and learn a trade. if you're good with your hands and don't mind a lil bit of work Id def say forfeit a college degree... you'll be out sooner and can start work immediately. This is coming from someone who has ALOT of college under his belt. yes i did get a job (which i have now moved on from) but all i really learned from college is how useless it really is. They are not there to "educate" you..you are being trained. And its high priced training. you can get better and cheaper training at CFCC.

 

So I am graduating from UNCW this spring…I almost did a program when I first entered to do a 3+2 for a masters in engineering. You can do 3 years at UNCW and then transfer to NC state for the final 2 years while all the while completing your masters. I regret not doing it but like was said before….Chinese and Hindu are ridiculously hard accents to listen/learn from.

Cape Fear isn't a bad idea either. You can do tons of "environmental" based majors there.

 

who mentioned Florida Tech? no chics there (literally 2:1 against).....it should be called 'science monastery'

 

Environmental has fallen off much in recent years, you limit yourself. Go with Civil, and you can move into more environmentally related jobs. It makes you more marketable. I'm a civil and good buddy graduated with an Enviro degree.....he's now doing geotech work and back in to get his civil masters so he knows wtf he's doing!!

Take it for what it's worth.

 

Pick the school that is best going to suit your future.

Once you graduate and have a college degree and a nice paying job you can surf anywhere you want to!

In the meantime while you're at school concentrate on your studies and get a side job in which you can just stash cash for surfing. When you get time off from school sneak away to get some surfing done. You can do lots of little quick trips to like El Salvador or Puerto Rico etc... These are destinations in which are inexpensive and also more easily accessible to get to in a timely manor.

To sum it up.... Study hard and reward yourself in between with some good surf! A good surf trip here and there will also help refresh yourself!

 

Brah- too bad there is no college in Belmar, NJ- otherwise I would say move there since they have the best waves on the east coast.

If your serious about surfing and can't stand not to surf while at college- stay. Serisouly. I have traveled the east coast extensively for work and found that to be my favorite spot for everything- surfing and living - second only to BELMAR, NJ of coarse.

If you have grown up there and never left town and want to experience somewhere else- well you could and it would be an adventure but I would advise that you already are in one of the best places around from my personal view point. Unless you want to go to Cali or Hawaii...

Plus you will save a lot of cash and you will not be having to pay off college loans for the next ten years.

Just remember- after school you can always get married and have kids and move the family to Belmar, NJ for the best waves around

#belmarfamilytown

 

Actually this is prolly the best advise... Personally I would pick a tech or trade school since getting a job out of school is easier

I was just writing above from strictly a surfing point of view..

 

How difficult is civil? That's what I'm planning to go to school for