<p>My D2 is a junior starting the college search. She is interested in a school that is near the beach as she would love to have more opportunity to surf and enjoys outdoor activities. She is a top student and doesn't want to sacrifice her education for the beach, but being near would be nice. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>It's roughly an hour from W&M to VA Beach.</p>
<p>... I have no idea how the surfing is in VA Beach.</p>
<p>Well, Lake Matoaka, which is pretty decent in size, isn't a very far walk from campus at all (like 2 minutes from the nearest academic buildings) and it isn't a beach you can canoe/kayak on it. And of course some people swim...but I'm not sure that's recommended.</p>
<p>VA Beach is indeed an hour away. There's also Jamestown Beach which is like a 10-15 minute drive. I don't think it has a lot of waves though...I've only been there at night so I don't really know, but it is a pretty quick escape.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I will pass it along to my daughter.</p>
<p>I have never seen surfers at Virginia Beach; this does not mean it does not happen, but it does not seem to have that culture around it.</p>
<p>OK, I am from Virginia Beach and YES, there are surfers here! Lot's of surfers here. It's not the West Coast, for sure............but there are waves in Virginia Beach and plenty of surfing "culture". Your next best bet would be UNC Wilmington. I never got into surfing myself and I have yet to meet a surfer at William and Mary. Nobody here talks that surfer talk either so keep that in mind. </p>
<p>Seems kinda strange to base a college choice on surfing and waves..........but whatever.</p>
<p>Peace,
Pedsox</p>
<p>TONS of surfers in VA beach.. but 90% are either drop outs or go to ODU..</p>
<p>and no offense.. a lot of the kids that surf around here are brain dead from smoking and drinking. Definitely not a place I'd want my daughter hanging around. </p>
<p>Like the fellow above said, not too many surfers at WM. Maybe you can look for a few at the frat parties :]</p>
<p>thanks for the information. My D just wants to know what her options are but is a top student and won't sacrifice her education for the beach. William and Mary is a great school but probably not what she is looking for. Again, thanks for replying. Any input is always appreciated.</p>
<p>Purplegirl,</p>
<p>Hopefully by the time your daughter is a senior in high school, you and she will evaluate schools on a more meaningful basis. You denigrate a great school like William & Mary (and, frankly, the depth of the intellect of your daughter) by even raising such a facile consideration like "surfing".</p>
<p>I don't really understand all the hostility to surfing on this board. Surfing isn't common here, but I'm pretty sure it's not looked down upon by the students.</p>
<p>I have a friend here who frequently drives to VA beach in order to surf, and he's pretty far from being a dropout. He's actually the only person I know with a 4.0.</p>
<p>Surfing is decent in Va. Beach (I guess depending on what you are used to) and as mentioned, it is about an hour away. The East Coast Surfing Championships are held in Virginia Beach in late August, so, although I am not a surfer, I would say there must be some decent waves for such an event to be held there. </p>
<p>I don't really get the negativity on surfing either, maybe a stereotype, I don't know. I don't feel it is accurate, and I don't think it is fair to tell the OP to consider a different school as the OP stated her daughter does not want to sacrifice education for surfing. </p>
<p>I would suggest to the OP to visit William and Mary and if it is an academic fit, then great, know that surfing is about an hour away. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have something you love nearby....and it is.</p>
<p>Just have her go to San Diego State.</p>
<p>I have never seen a surfboard on a car at W&M!</p>
<p><quote>Just have her go to San Diego State.</quote></p>
<p>Oh, bleecchh - I know two people who went to SDSU who got hepatitis surfing there; apparently, when it rains, raw sewage is washed out of the Tijuana river into the sea.</p>
<p>Better go to UCSC, if in California, (in-state tuition), although there are water quality issues there, too (not the least of which is the bone-chilling water temperature.)</p>