<p>
[quote]
This is another option, Northwestern is right on Lake Michigan, which I know isn't an ocean, but as far a beach-wise, it basically is...you can't see across I promise (it amazes me that people think you can see across them)
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</p>
<p>There are 2 beaches frequented by students - one is right next to the southern part of campus and the other is right on campus.</p>
<p>the problem with those beaches is they are going to be too cold to swim in throughout the academic year. Winters are brutal in Illinois. </p>
<p>Again if u really like the beaches there are two areas I reccommend:
- California, or the southeast (particularly Florida). </p>
<p>as the OP stated that California is a reach due to family issues the east coast still has schools available:</p>
<ul>
<li>University of Florida</li>
<li>University of Miami</li>
<li>Florida State</li>
<li>Tulane</li>
</ul>
<p>All these schools are nationally rankes schools. aside from Florida state that is in the top 100, the rest are around the top 50 level. they also have ots of schools spirit, sports scene etc.. your typical college experience.
Finally some are within 10 minutes of a beach (UMiami, Tulane) others are about an hour away (UF, FSU)</p>
<p>I agree with acarta. Lake Michigan isn't really a big "swimming" lake. During the year, you won't want to go anywhere near the water. This is true of most Northern schools.</p>
<p>You may as well cross off the Northern California schools as well (but really, how many "beach-goers" actually spend a lot of time in the water?).</p>
<p>Whoever criicizes Lake Michigan as a beach and then recommends California has clearly never spent much time in the Pacific :p</p>
<p>No, it's not frozen over. I've been swimming in SoCal in March, but it's nothing fun and nothing that most people do without a wetsuit. Even in July, California beaches are too cold for really pleasant swimming. Absolutely nothing like Florida's beaches, which seem to turn into bathwater come the warmer months, and are generally tolerable all year.</p>
<p>And also, though this info is fairly irrelevant to the OP, I wouldn't recommend Berkeley as a beach school. Though the Bay Area is coastal, it's not a beachy area at all (except farther south, where you find Monterey, Carmel, etc.). And as others have said, the Claremont Colleges are a fair ways from the beach--45min at best.</p>
<p>And to the OP, I know many people whose college selection was limited by parental preferences. It's a fair thing to find annoying, but also something worth respecting (provided it's reasonable, as your situation seems to be). I'm sure you'll find something workable for all parties. Good luck!</p>
<p>
[quote]
No, it's not frozen over. I've been swimming in SoCal in March, but it's nothing fun and nothing that most people do without a wetsuit. Even in July, California beaches are too cold for really pleasant swimming. Absolutely nothing like Florida's beaches, which seem to turn into bathwater come the warmer months, and are generally tolerable all year.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The warm FL beaches are relegated to those on the Gulf side or those close to the Gulf Stream.</p>
<p>Student615 - Water temperature is only a fraction of the argument. Yes, California water is cold, but the air is warm enough that going to the beach isn't completely unbearable. One can still sit out by the water and have a pleasant experience. </p>
<p>In addition to the water being cold, Chicago air is cold and windy for the majority of the year (i.e., October through April).</p>
<p>College of the Atlantic <a href="http://www.coa.edu/html/home.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.coa.edu/html/home.htm</a> is in beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine the campus is on oceanfront. They have a research station on an island not far from there.</p>
<p>Connecticut College is a few minutes from the beach, and a short drive to R.I. beaches, and ferries that take you to Block Island, etc. You can see the Long Island Sound from campus. It stays warm enough for a while in the fall to enjoy it for a good while, and a few weeks in the spring.</p>
<p>My take on this situation...
Conn College
Fairfield U
Yale
Brown
Providence College
College of Charleston
College of William and Mary</p>
<p>Boston is also right on the waterfront, but one does not usually think of beach and Boston together. If you just want the ocean nearby, I would recommend Boston-area schools (Harvard, Tufts), but if you actually want to swim, I would probably look elsewhere, although just north and south of the urban areas are some pretty good beaches.</p>
<p>Some schools on the east coast which I believe are within half an hour of the Atlantic Ocean. Not all of them are in warm areas, however, which would mean that your beach-visiting might be limited.</p>
<ol>
<li>College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)</li>
<li>Brown University (Providence, RI)</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD)</li>
<li>Tufts University (Medford, MA)</li>
<li>Yale University (New Haven, CT)</li>
<li>Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)</li>
<li>Bates College (Lewiston, ME)</li>
<li>College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA)</li>
<li>Colby College (Waterville, ME)</li>
<li>Brandeis University (Waltham, MA)</li>
<li>University of Maryland (College Park, MD)</li>
<li>Northeastern University (Boston, MA)</li>
<li>University of Delaware (Newark, DE)</li>
<li>Providence College (Providence, RI)</li>
<li>Boston University (Boston, MA)</li>
<li>Christopher Newport University (Newport, VA)</li>
</ol>
<p>Look it comes down to this:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>if you want a coastal atmosphere you can get that up north. but that coastal atmosphere is very limited as you wont be able to swim in it that much.</p></li>
<li><p>If you want a coastal atmosphere were the weather generally makes swimming possible, then the South or California is ur best bet.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Bowdoin is closer to the water than Colby or Bates</p>
<p>JHU and University of Maryland are definitely not within half and hour from the beach...</p>
<p>There's some statistic that anywhere you are in Florida, you are an hour or less from a beach. (Maybe 1:15, I don't remember exactly but at least you know that all colleges in Florida will be close to water)</p>
<p>Add to this all of the NYC schools...Columbia, NYU, Fordham, etc. New York is surrounded by beaches. Brooklyn, alone, has Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Coney Island...All large sandy beaches, right on the Atlantic. Queens also has lovely beaches...Belle Harbor, Neponsit, and Rockaway. If you take a short ride on the Long Island Railroad, there are absolutely beautiful beaches, and beach clubs in Atlantic Beach and Long Beach. A little further out is Jones Beach, and of course, if you want to go to the end of Long Island, there are the Hamptons...That is best for for an overnighter, however, because it takes about 2 hours to get out there. The other beaches, however, are nearby, and easily accessible by subway, or a short trip on the LIRR.</p>
<p>JHU is close to water access, however. There is boating along the inner harbour, and Annapolis is only about 1/2 hour from JHU, where there is plenty of boating on the Chesapeake...really beautiful there. The nearest true beach is in Ocean City Md, which is a good couple of hours away, but is very, very nice, and has lots to do, aside from sunbathing and swimming. You would be about the same distance to the beaches in Delaware.</p>
<p>UM (Miami) is in Coral Gables, which is a suburb at least 30 minutes from South beach (with a light dose of Miami traffic). Trust me. I live here. FIU is also in Miami, and the campus is maybe 25 minutes from South Beach.</p>
<p>UM is only 15 minutes from Key Biscayne's beach, and also 15 minutes from the beach at Matheson Hammocks Park. Also, UM has its Rosenstiel marine research campus right on the Virginia Key beach.</p>
<p>I didn't read everyone ones answers but College of Charleston is a pretty good school that you could def. get a lot of money from. Campus is really nice and right next to the beach. And i guess SC is near Georgia.</p>
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St. Augustine is a 45 minute drive from Gainesville.
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<p>It's 75 miles between St. Augustine and Gainesville, so unless you're going 100 mph, you're not making it in 45 minutes. It's also a two lane state road with stoplights. The 2 hour estimate is more accurate. Mapquest and Google Maps both have it around 1:40.</p>