Looking at colleges and have been thinking about some of the California State Universities, but there are so many it's hard to narrow it down and my guidance counselor doesn't really know much about most west coast schools. I'm open to north, central, south California but I definitely want to be close to the beach. I haven't really decided what I want to major in yet but as of now I'm interested in marine biology, environmental/coastal stuff, and international politics/relations. The main ones I'm considering are East Bay, Monterey Bay, San Marcos, Humboldt, San Francisco State, and San Diego State. My grades are more or less within the standards of all of them, the furthest probably being San Diego State but still within reach. Any input would be great, thanks in advance.
I graduated from Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University) San Luis Obispo in 1979. It's located in the Central Coast region of CA. I didn't surf back then, but it's a nice area for it. SLO is about a half hour from the nearest beaches - north or south. Don't know if Poly now has a Marine Biology degree - perhaps it's a concentration within Biology. They do offer several environmental science degrees. The school has big engineering, agriculture, environmental, business, and architecture programs. It's a "learn by doing" school. It also has a rodeo team along with the usual college sports. Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals and John Madden went to Cal Poly.
I had the same problem. I went to school down in South Carolina, the surf was trash so I packed up sold all my stuff and left for the west. I'm at Cal State Channel Islands and its pretty rad. If i had to redo it all over, I'd hit San Fran state (better bars and night life and surf as big as you can handle). I road tripped up there and surfed it 15 ft, scared me to hell but I made it alive. Monterey bay is a really beautiful place, but no bars no nightlife no college scene and a very small school. The upside is huge surf..it gets so big in Monterey a lot of the time you are not waiting for swell, you are waiting for the swell and the wind to back off enough where it looks like you will survive. An hour south of santa cruz buy a car and surf out there..santa cruz has the best waves of the coast if you ask me, big small slow fast hollow points beaches reefs rights lefts rivermouths..the whole deal in one county. San diego state is a commute from the beach, you will need a car. san diego has the best nightlife of all the locations and the best college life, but the trade off is crowded lineups so thick you won't believe it..its like watching your entire town paddle out into the lineup together. San Marcos is an awesome school, my aunt is a counselor there actually. Great academics, good night life, 20 minute drive from trestles. Trestles is the most consistent wave in Socal. It will literally be rideable, waist high at least with better waves on sets, for weeks at a time. it is not uncommon to meet guys who are on a streak (surfing it everyday for months at a time). I've surfed it head high plus, rippable fast, no barrels but whatever. There are 5 different reefs at trestles, starting in order from cottons, middles, uppers, lowers, and churches on the veruy end. each is slightly different All the Cal State schools have similiar academics. Skip san luis obispo, the surf there is mediocre at best with nothing but a bunch of beach breaks that never get very good, no points no reefs nothing fun. Great party school though.. Like i said, im 20 and a college student out here. I had the same problem a bunch of guidance counselors who couldnt help and a family where no one had ever left NJ. Personal message me if you more questions, maybe I can help. I'm studying business and spanish at channel islands state university
I travel to Santa Cruz periodically and man are the breaks are crowded. Great waves, great town, but I've never had to wait so long for a wave.
I have to say something here. The Cal State Universities do not all have similar academics. Yes, they share the basic liberal arts programs and majors common to most colleges and universities across the nation. But certain schools in the Cal State system have unique programs and specialties for which they are known. For example Humboldt has forestry and fisheries programs. The two Cal Polys (Pomona and SLO) have undergraduate and graduate agriculture programs. SLO is also well known for it's architecture and design programs and engineering specialties, including aeronautical/aerospace and metallurgy. Other than perhaps the military academies, most colleges are party schools to one degree or another. Cal Poly has certainly proven itself to be a bit more than a party school: http://www.calpolynews.calpoly.edu/rankings.html
this is what i was initially trying to figure out. where can i see what each school is geared towards? since all of their majors are so similar it's hard to tell
Bear with me, gang. I know this is a surf forum, but give me a pass on this... surf05: Get on each school's .edu website, review their academic programs (narrowed down to the majors in which you have interest) and compare them to other schools in the Cal State system. Also, the various schools have different resources, facilities, partnerships with other organizations or companies that support (through involvement, research grants and other funding) specific academic and research programs. For example, did the school recently complete a new oceanographic building, or does it operate its own research vessel (some of them do)? These are indications of the importance a school places on a program. There is online and hard copy (books and magazines) guidance providing reviews and ratings of schools and their more prominent academic programs. School departmental newsletters (available online) also provide an indication of what programs a school is geared toward. Call the department and talk with the folks there - including students. Do they have internships in your planned major? Also, do you prefer large or small schools (class size can be an important consideration), city or rural? What are the living costs in each of the areas you're considering? Bear in mind that California out of state tuition is not cheap. Private schools (such as Pepperdine) are expensive, but they typically don't have higher tuition rates for out of state students. Starting at a community college in the area you prefer may be an initial alternative. I have two kids in college. One with a Meteorology degree from VA Tech who is now working on her Masters at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The other is in his second year at Old Dominion University. You have quite an adventure and opportunity ahead of you. Enjoy it, make the most of it, and best of luck.
Brotha I'm in the same boat as you... I wanna go to college in California and major in civil engineering but my grades aren't top notch so I doubt I'd get into a university of california, so I'm settling for cal state (if I get in haha). The only thing is idk how good the education really is? I heard it's crap compared to university of california schools but I could be wrong. Heading out there to check it out next month! October 1st admissions open, be on that ish my man!
thanks for the advice. i'm starting to question the point of my guidance counselor because i feel like it should have been him telling me all this stuff
welcome to the left coast 4x is right. do your homework. each school has a flavor. as for CSU being crap, there is a reason besides location that most UC and Cal State systems are impacted. Your grades (and money) will matter. Private schools (and to a lesser extent, the states) are more likely to offer partial or full rides for the eligible (my daughter has most of her expenses paid at UCSC b/c of her grades and her community service experience).... check it out. SanFranciso and San Diego are expensive places to live, SF being the worst. Also, once you get above Point Hueneme, the water will always be in the 60s or lower, if that matters. Santa Cruz and San Diego are both a bit crowded and territorial. However, when you are living up there you can make contacts to facilitate that aspect.
Have you ever been up north in like humboldt county? I feel like there's SO many spots and pretty consistent with swell, so is there a reason why it seems like not too many people surf there? I mean I understand there are surfers there but it doesn't seem nearly as crowded as areas farther down south... Sharks perhaps or currents??
i watched a few youtube videos of humboldt county and all of the breaks looked weird, like kind of weak/fat or sloppy. but those were just a few crappy videos so i wouldn't base anything off of that. i am curious though
location, location, location my daughter lives in santa cruz. i have friends in arroyo grande (pismo) and up in mendo (half moon bay, albion etc). there are more specific spots up north due to a more jagged coastline and rocks and accessiblity. south of long beach the coastline is essentially straight, sandy beaches and the surf is constant but relatively small, almost to the border (with some exceptions once you hit san diego county). up north the coast line is much more jagged (and cliffy) and you get bays and points and it is more picky. some spots are like north shore..it's either huge or nothing (mavericks). sharks are less a deal than finding that one spot where everyone gets in a line and takes off on that one wave, like steamer lane in SC. also, water is colder (oneill started in santa cruz) and currents are powerful up there. look around. you'll find something. you just may have to negotiate a bit.
