College Crunch

Among the countless potential factors that you might consider when selecting a college, there are also some important intangibles. While you can compare statistics and academic factors endlessly, the quality of life on campus is also a vital factor that you should keep in mind.

School environments range widely from urban to suburban to rural, with lots of gradients of diversity in between. In addition to taking the setting into account, you should also evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of the geography – in particular, there are some big climate advantages to attending a University on the coasts.

Make sure that you take all of the factors into account when selecting a school, but the opportunities to kick back and relax outside of your studies can give coastal colleges a big upside relative to their Midwestern counterparts.

Beaches

Imaging studying all week for a tough science exam, you’re in the library until midnight nearly every single night, mastering concepts that require careful attention to detail. After a hard week hitting the books, you enter the classroom and work through a tough test. As soon as you finish, you’re going to want to kick back and start a relaxing weekend, and there’s no better way to relax than at the beach.

Coastal schools are often located near both public and private beaches, which can provide an ideal getaway during the school year. Whether you are on the East or West coast, warm weather during the summer and spring can help provide a well deserved break from course work. While many coastal states offer beaches, we will focus on some of the best scenes in California and Florida.

There are three major beach areas in Florida, including Miami Beaches, Daytona Beaches and Fort Lauderdale Beaches. Miami is home to the University of Miami, a large, nationally-ranked private school. Both the University of Central Florida and the Daytona Beach College are located near the ocean front, along with several smaller schools.

Fort Lauderdale is home to a University of Florida campus, as well as a number of technical colleges. The great advantage about attending a school in one of these areas is the upbeat, Florida coastal culture that comes along with the beaches.

In California, major beach regions include San Diego and Los Angeles County Beaches. An ideal beach location with friendly atmosphere, San Diego hosts San Diego State as well as many smaller public and private schools. Students can choose from dozens of colleges in Los Angeles, ranging from UCLA to Occidental College.

While access to the beaches themselves is a great advantage, there are also several related reasons why you’ll want to hit up a school on the coast. Just as the beaches provide a getaway during the hectic school year, they also allow you to kick back and enjoy a longer summer, a mild winter and all of the activities that come with being on the coasts.

The Sights (aka beach bodies)

Who can forget the experience of hitting the beach to see some great figures during nice weather? While everyone works hard at college, there’s no reason you can’t play hard and enjoy some beach volleyball, social time and meeting some beautiful class mates.

There is no shortage of attractive bodies at the coastal schools, and fitness is a priority for many students at the school, creating a great atmosphere to party as long as you don’t end up on one of those beaches where men are sporting their stuff in bikinis.

If you’re in good shape or working to get to that point, beaches are a great place to show off your hard work. The scenes are usually upbeat and filled with excitement, making for a great opportunity to hit the beach and enjoy the weather. It is definitely better than being stuck in a winter jacket in the blistering hail.

Weather

Speaking of the weather, when you kick back and enjoy time between classes, it’s always nice to wear shorts well into the fall. With a warm climate and a mild winter, the coastal schools provide a better environment for enjoying your time, both in and outside of class. It’s not unusual to be able to experience seventy degree temperatures well into November, while your friends in the Midwest are bundled up near the beginning of the school year.

Even during the winter, the relatively mild climate can make for a great experience. While there will always be colder days, the summers are longer and the winters are shorter at beach schools. Just when it starts to get cold in December, you get to take a break from finals to get away and go father south, and when it gets a bit too hot in June, you can take a summer break by chilling out a bit to the north.

Swimming

One of the primary advantages of the nicer weather is the ability to hit the pool or beach to cool off from the heat by swimming. Whether you swim for fitness or just enjoy time with friends, swimming is a great chance to relax and enjoy the coastal climate. The entire sports scene is quite active at coastal schools from swimming to running to team sports, there are great opportunities for intramural and fitness. Many of the schools on the coast also have great gyms and fitness facilities, which can make for an even better school experience.

Whether you swim for fun, for fitness or are training for competition, you’ll find the swimming opportunities are much better on the coast. There are also countless water sports you can participate in, from surfing to wake boarding to water skiing, whether you’re well experienced or learning for the first time. Nothing is better than the freedom of the ocean.

Food

With tropical weather comes great food – from cookouts to world class local restaurants, schools on both the East and West coast are well known for having great cuisine. While the type of food will vary by university, the chance to hit the town for a night out at a local restaurant makes for a great time with friends. The fusion of cultures on the coasts produces great international flavors ranging from Mediterranean to Sushi to the spicy flavors from Central America. Chances are you can find some of your long time favorites, along with being able to try some new dishes that will be sure to hit the spot.

If you’re into cooking, the abundance of local produce and ingredients can provide an opportunity for you to try out some new recipes. Imagine yourself kicking back and enjoying some new and exotic flavors with friends on the weekends – that captures the essence of why coastal schools can truly rock.