<p>I have a 2.61 which I can increase to a 2.8 or so this year, and a 24 on my ACT. Tuition isn't really a big deal for me. I'm just having trouble finding schools like this because most Florida state and Cal State colleges are out of reach. Any ideas?</p>
<p>You’re saying your parents are prepared to pay full out of state college costs for you? $50K/year?</p>
<p>I suggest determining what beaches you like, and then finding out if there is a college nearby.</p>
<p>Trust fund. I’m paying myself. Although I’d cap at $30-35k</p>
<p>College of Charleston or Coastal Carolina, possibly? Are you in-state for FL or CA? </p>
<p>Is that 2.61 weighted or unweighted? B-) </p>
<p>Geez, Majorben, are you sure you’re not on a beach right now? </p>
<p>USF, FIT, Stetson. Nova Southeastern, FGCU</p>
<p>Move to Thailand, live cheap near the best beach you can find. </p>
<p>Make sure there’s readily-available internet nearby.</p>
<p>Take your laptop. </p>
<p>Enroll in Arizona State’s online program and get your degree.</p>
<p>Have money left over to party.</p>
<p>I’m not kidding…you will likely end up with a more exciting social life and a more prestigious credential than you would get applying these criteria and your stats to finding a fit in the US.</p>
<p>If you’re set on staying here, though, look at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX or Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Not right on the beach, but a short drive from it in both cases. Student body over 10k in both cases, and likely to be accessible to you academically. </p>
<p>Every time is see a post like this, I want to be Lou Gossett, Jr. yelling “You want to fly jets? My grandmother wants to fly jets!”</p>
<p>Hawaii - Manoa should work.</p>
<p>Rejected from Hawaii-Manoa</p>
<p>My $.02 - consider community college (perhaps Santa Monica College) and get your grades way up. Transfer to the UC school of you choice. You can’t get any closer to the beach than UC Santa Barbara. </p>
<p>University of Tampa .</p>
<p>What is your home state? </p>
<p>What do you want to major in?</p>
<p>Why near the beach?</p>
<p>Even if you have a trust fund to pay, unless it is mega-sized, you should try to reserve as much as you can.</p>
<p>Hmm, arc918 has an interesting idea. Santa Barbara City College is actually incredibly beautiful, and is right on the shore. Lots of SBCC students live in Isla Vista (RIGHT ON THE BEACH!) with the UC Santa Barbara kids and are fully involved in the social culture there.</p>
<p>
Here’s my idea. Forget about college for a while. For a year, for a couple of years maybe. Go live on a beach in an area with alot of younger kids without the distraction of school to get in your way. You can live on the beach for a lot less than $35K/year so you won’t be draining the trust fund as fast, especially if you get a part-time job (also a good way to meet kids your age if you work in a restaurant or bar). Party it up, have a great time!</p>
<p>Why do I suggest this? It sounds like school isn’t just that important to you right now with a 2.6 HS GPA. If you go to college you’ll be spending a lot of money to build a record of mediocre grades or worse. Someday you may decide that you really care about where a college education can take you, and at that point you’ll be saddled with the decisions you made at 18/19 when having fun was your priority.</p>
<p>If, instead, you separate the two then you can have fun now and get an education later if/when you want it. We’re not talking (hopefully) about the distant future, just maybe 1-3 years. It’s not a big deal in the larger scheme of things, and IMHO you’re better off separating the two pieces than combining them and getting the worst of both (eg. class will get in the way of fun at the beach, and the beach will make your class performance even worse than it would have been otherwise).</p>
<p>^^^ There’s something to be said about the advice of @badgolfer. The lower your stats, the fewer good options you have to begin with, and by focusing on the beach criterion you’re just narrowing your options down way too much. So if beach life is highly attractive to you now, go and have fun and get it out of your system. Chances are you’ll tire of it after a year and your college options will improve dramatically. Just don’t spend a dime of that college fund.</p>
<p>Yep, good points. The “transfer from a CC to a competitive UC plan” ONLY works if you are focused on your studies and getting good grades. Perhaps move to CA (or the state of your choice) work, party and have fun while establishing residency. When you are ready to get back to your studies, you’ll be all set. </p>
<p>University of South Florida might be possible. Oddly enough, it’s in Tampa, with a satellite campus in Sarasota area - not in southern FL.</p>
<p>FIU, Coastal Carolina, UNC-Wilmington (big reach), Old Domininion U</p>
<p>I agree that if you can move to Santa Monica and go to community college there for a while, or just work in any resort town, enjoy the beach, be a waiter or bar tender at night, until you’re serious about college it may be better.</p>