<p>Ugh I’m so confused. :(</p>
<p>It sounds like you need to apply to a couple more schools…
Have you looked into UMAss Amherst, UMass Lowell, West Chester ¶, SUNY’s, UConn?</p>
<p>Isky17…that is the one thing my daughter is afraid of too. I think most of it is hype/myth, The 70’s is long gone.</p>
<p>“Area surrounding URI is not that interesting” – there are lots of beaches, and you don’t have to wait until the summer to walk on the beach. If you like nature, the area is lovely. Nothing exciting about the town, but it’s got enough. URI will be much less cold than UVM. URI is, as you know, very well-known for Marine Biology. Burlington has lovely lovely parts, of course, but the downtown area is a tourist trap and will get old pretty quickly.</p>
<p>Personally, I would run the numbers. Personally, I wouldn’t spend a fortune more for the name of UVM. It’s a good school, but it’s not going to make any difference when you are looking for a job.</p>
<p>Have you looked into SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse?</p>
<p>MYOS1634: I looked into the UMass’s and SUNYs and decided against not applying. I did look into UConn but I grew up in CT and would rather not return. And I don’t really want to go to school in PA, either… Picky, I know. </p>
<p>Twinmom2014: I don’t think so. I’ve looked at reviews of current students and they said that most students there are stoners. </p>
<p>redpoint: One of the reasons I am leaning toward URI is the beach and the opportunities the water could give me. I am a huge water junkie and have always wanted to learn how to surf, scuba dive, etc. It is definitely a plus for me. And I did look at the school awhile ago and I think it would be great for someone who was 100% sure about what they wanted to do, but I’m not. The school has so few majors that I don’t want to feel like I have no options if I were to change my mind. </p>
<p>I’m sorry for being so picky :/</p>
<p>The beach is about 15 minutes away from URI. It is a huge commuter school. It is also a dry campus but huge parties off campus. It has worked hard to dispel the reputation of a party school. Daughter has a friend who graduated from UVM last year and states that there are some pot smokers, certainly not everyone. URI tends to attract a large number of students from the surrounding states.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people live off campus and that many go home on the weekend.</p>
<p>Do you know how cold the water is off of CT during the school year? How much surfing or scuba diving do you think you will be able to do from September to May? [Ocean</a> Water Temperatures for Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts - Current Results](<a href=“http://www.currentresults.com/Oceans/Temperature/connecticut-rhode-island-massachusetts-average-water-temperature.php]Ocean”>Ocean Water Temperatures for Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts - Current Results)</p>
<p>All large state universities have at least a moderate amount of drinking and/or drug use especially during the weekends. I don’t think UVM has any more or less than URI or UMass or any other. In any school you can find plenty of people who don’t drink or do drugs, and that’s who you hang out with. I know plenty of kids at “ZooMass” who have fun without alcohol or drugs, despite the school’s reputation. You always hear about the kids who drink to excess because the kids who spent the weekend at the library or watching movies with their friends don’t make the news!</p>
<p>Why would there be clubs for both if they could never do them? That’s just silly. </p>
<p>I’m just repeating what I heard from current students at UVM. Every review I have read has included fact that there are abnormal amount of drugs and alcohol and that everyone there is a stoner. It’s just not something I’m really into.</p>
<p>Would I be looked down upon if I chose URI?</p>
<p>If you want to be by the ocean and surf or scuba dive, URI isn’t the school for you but you should look into UNC-Wilmington. I think they’re still taking applications.
[University</a> of North Carolina Wilmington](<a href=“http://uncw.edu/]University”>http://uncw.edu/)
The fact there are clubs doesn’t mean the clubs meet a lot during the year. Essentially, you may be able to try in September and May but that’s about it (with a heavy duty wetsuit and an ability to withstand the cold :p)
Where are you from originally?</p>
<p>I don’t see how URI isn’t good for scuba diving if they have a minor basically revolving around it lol but ok. And I talked to one of the students and he said the school attracts many surfers. I’m from New Jersey</p>
<p>And my GPA is a little weak so I don’t think id get in there.</p>
<p>you CAN surf in RI but it’s FREEZING COLD, that’s why if you really want to scuba dive and surf recommended schools end up being further South.
[url=<a href="HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost</a> 10 Best Surfing Universities | Reid Levin<a href=“There%20are%20several%20such%20lists,%20with%20mostly%20California%20colleges,%20some%20FL%20colleges%20like%20Eckerd%20and%20Flagler,%20and%20UNC%20Wilmington”>/url</a>.
If you’re afraid your GPA isn’t good enough, Flagler, Eckerd, and Coastal Carolina should work.</p>
<p>I get what you mean. Unfortunately I’ve looked at all three schools and none of them have what I want.</p>
<p>I’m not sure why people are trying to talk to you out of URI if you are interested in the Marine Bio program, the beach, a place you can probably afford and get in to. The OP is interested in URI vs. UVM. Sure, there are other schools for the majors, but he/she is not looking at all possible options, he/she is looking into these options. Yes, the weather is better at Eckerd or North Carolina. But the weather is better at URI than UVM, unless you are big into skiing.</p>
<p>Calling URI a “huge commuter school” isn’t fair. It’s not a commuter school. It’s a regular, pretty big campus. Sure some people commute. Some don’t. Kingston is a nice historic New England town. Most kids who go to high school in RI who are good enough to get in there, go there, including the very bright ones. Anyone who looks down on someone because they go to the state school is just a snob.</p>
<p>:(
Here are a couple more lists of colleges by the ocean:
[Colleges</a> for Beach Lovers - 14 Schools by the Coast](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegerankings/tp/colleges-for-beach-lovers.htm]Colleges”>Colleges and Universities for Beach Lovers)
[Nea</a> beach colleges with surfing, sand, and sun](<a href=“http://www.everything-about-college.com/near-beach-colleges.html]Nea”>Nea beach colleges with surfing, sand, and sun)</p>
<p>It all depends whether surfing/scuba diving is a factor or not. You can send in an application to a couple of those if they have your major and see what they offer you financially speaking.</p>
<p>It sounds like you’re moving away from UVM (your favorite at the beginning of the thread) and moving toward URI, am I right?
I don’t think there’s a wrong choice and I don’t think you should pay attention to whoever would consider a degree from URI ‘less than’ anything.
However URI <em>is</em>underfunded.</p>
<p>I really do appreciate your help, so thank you. And I’ll look into those schools. It’s not necessary that those two activities are available, but it’s much preferred. </p>
<p>I do think I’m leaning towards it, just because it has more of what I want than UVM does, and to be honest, I may have been starry-eyed with the location. I’m definitely looking forward to my URI visit to see how I feel about it after a few years.</p>
<p>What about Salisbury in MD? It’s not far from Ocean City, has a 2/1 deadline. OOS total cost is <$30,000. Good school.</p>
<p>Doesn’t have my program. :/</p>