Schools like UCSB really appeal to me with the whole riding bikes everywhere more ~laid back~ feel, being near the beach etc - but still being a good school and you can have a good academic experience. Unfortunately I live in Michigan, and can’t justify travelling so far just because I’ve romanticized beaches and smoothies.
Does anyone know some schools more in the mid-west/east coast area that have a similar fun and outdoorsy environment - maybe near lakes or forests and such. And that of course are still good schools that are decently selective, people are smart and driven and classes are challenging and everything like that - but the campus is known as sort of energized and fun and casual.
Hampshire
UVM
Colorado College
Dartmouth is outdoorsie in the sense of skiing but preppy otherwise.
U of Maine at Orono – and has flagship matching program for tuition for OOS students
Bates
Colby
Unity in Maine
Maybe UMass Amherst
Maybe St. Mary’s of MD
Maybe New College of Florida
Maybe Hamilton
Vassar’s campus is skateboardable.
Bard is big and skateboardable but the people are more arty-wannabe
Do you mean that you need the school to be within driving distance? Because I think you’d have to fly to get to an East Coast college, and if flying is an option, that opens up Colorado schools which are outdoorsy.
Also, Loyola of Chicago is right on the lake. UVM great suggestion, I have only ever heard raves about Burlington and UVM.
University of Richmond is definitely a preppy vibe but beautiful, brick, forests, and there were loaner bikes lying around.
I’ve read that St. Mary’s MD is a summer camp like, coastal vibe.
Florida Gulf Coast U., U of Miami (FL), Florida Atlantic U., Coastal Carolina U., University of the South (Sewanee), St. Lawrence U., Dalhousie, Memorial U. of Newfoundland.
UNC-Wilmington and College of Charleston both have actual surfing in addition to a laid back vibe. CofC’s Honors College is very well-regarded and might strike the right balance for you.
Eckerd in FL could be worth a look too. (It’s also known for being pet-friendly, which a lot of people find stress-relieving in addition to the whole gorgeous-gulf-coast-beach thing.)
In addition to the other non-coastal options mentioned upthread, i.e. UVM, U of Utah in SLC is half an hour from skiing and tons of other breathtaking outdoor recreation, while also being in a major city. And Whitman in eastern WA has its own flavor of laid-back outdoorsiness while being intellectual and academically rigorous as well… though at that point it’s not really any easier to get to than CA, despite being slightly closer as the proverbial crow flies.
Memorial U. in NFLD like CA? C’mon, man!
If he can’t justify going to California then he sure as hell isn’t going to want to go to St. John’s. It’s also not very selective.
UW sounds like it fits – State st, alternative vibe, plus Lakeshore trails, sailing on Lake Mendota, beers on the Terrace, great academics, great school spirit. Someone from Michigan would take flak for going to Wisconsin though!
I can’t imagine the “CA vibe” without the CA weather. Having lived in CA and loved that year 'round mobility, I don’t see it at the schools mentioned. Ok, except maybe Eckerd. OP would need to describe more about his wants. Mountains and cold winters don’t easily equate to bikes, laid back, and beach.
Schools with that kind of laid back, earthy crunchy vibe, lots of outdoorsy even in winter, good academics: U Wisconsin Madison, U Vermont, U Colorado Boulder, SUNY New Paltz, Bard College, Eckerd College, Skidmore. Perhaps also UMass Amherst, Oberlin, and Hampshire College.
@butterfly999 How far can you drive?
U of Denver, Colorado State Fort Collins, both have biking/skiing/hiking, if you want more choices in Colorado.
U of Denver is private, has bikes on campus, and access to skiing, rock climbing, hiking, match for your scores, or
even a safety, depending on your ECs.
Colorado State is in a really nice college town, Fort Collins, with access to Poudre Canyon, Rist Canyon, RedFeather Lakes for outdoor activities. Colorado State would be a safety with your scores. .
U of Colorado,Boulder, depends on which college you apply to, engineering and business college need higher stats than Arts and Sciences.
What do you want to study?
Colorado College is an LAC, in a large city, Colorado Springs, very small student body, so not much like Santa Barbara, with a one class at a time schedule, so three weeks of study, then a week off, and repeat 8 times. That really throws off a lot of students, and its expensive and hard to get into, the most selective school in Colorado besides the Air Force Academy,which does not have a west coast vibe at all.
I also thought of the University of Vermont right away–GREAT college town, great programs too.
Connecticut College might be a good choice to be near the beach, though it’s darn cold most of the academic year.
Here’s one less well known (in Michigan) option with great academics that sits right on a plateau, with extreme nature all around–Sewanee. Check out the video on the admissions page.
I’ve heard Rhodes is really pretty too and surrounded by nature. But no beach!
College of Charleston, already mentioned, is good choice. Charleston is an awesome small city with great restaurants and art and interesting history. The college is very close to downtown and really pretty. I know a couple students who went there and really like it. My image is lots of board shorts and sun.