Choosing a College if you are a Skier

[Nick]

Saw this one UnofficialNetworks --> http://unofficialnetworks.com/10-colleges-ski-buffs-thebestcollegesorg-110145/

Made me think about choosing a college as a skier. I didn't make my choice that way, but I'm sure some of you guys did, and it makes sense to me.... although I guess it also depends on what you are hoping to accomplish. Is it

a) just to be near a particular mountain while skiing
b) to make a career of some sort in the snowsports industry
c) Actually become a competitive skier of some sort

Your personal goals probably greatly impact what college(s) you might want to be near. Did anyone have any experience in their own lives in picking a college based on their love of the snow?

 

[AdironRider]

I went to St. Lawrence University, and while I initially went there for swimming, I specifically chose it over the other schools I was accepted to (Hamilton, Brown, Middlebury, and Bates) based on its location just outside the ADK park. Couldn't be happier with the decision as Id probably be working in some city if I hadnt. Also met my wife there, so its hard to say it wasnt a win.

They do have a D1 ski team, but its not winning championships.

 

[skiberg]

I choose my Law School based upon the location and amount of quality skiing. I ended up attending Gonzaga University in Spokane WA. Mt. Spokane, Schweitzer, Silver, 49 Degrees North all within 90 min. Cascades ski areas 3.5 hours. Mt. Hood 4 hours. Summer skiing. Whistler, 7 hours, Interior BC ski area's: Whitewater, Red, Apex, Silverstar 1-3 hours. Big Mountain Montana 3.5 hours.

 

[skiNEwhere]

I chose UMASS Amherst, 50% of the reason being it's proximity to Vermont skiing, and the other 90% being because the Post 9/11 G.I.Bill paid for all my tuition. :razz:

 

[Gnarcissaro]

I loved my time at Plymouth State. And I definitely chose to go there over the other schools I was excepted to because of it's location with ski areas, mountains, large lakes, and clear quick-running rivers nearby. I'm just as into hiking when the snow is absent, so it was perfect.

Solid ski/snowboard scene on campus, lots of like minded individuals into the shred. Cannon, Loon, and Waterville nearby within 30 minutes. Cheap tickets to Tenney right in Plymouth (5 bucks for students.) Drove down to Gunstock a bunch of times for night riding. Bretton Woods and Wildcat we made it to, as well. One trip to Wildcat stands out as it was the time they got 4 feet in October, it was unreal.

Trips to Jay Peak in 2 hours. Under 2 hours to Sunday River, too.

And come spring time were the trips to Tuckerman Ravine. Not hard to form a crew for the trip with all the skiers and riders on campus.

I worked at Tenney sophomore year, Waterville my junior, and finally Loon during college. So jobs at an area were available and nearby for some cash and an employee pass.

 

[redalienx11]

from new york but went to school in salt lake city just for the skiing. graduated in for years still averaging 100 ski days/year.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Plymouth State also for the same reasons listed above.

 

[SkiFanE]

I've skied since 5yo, but skiing from college wasn't even a consideration. Good thing...went maybe 1x/year during break. I had no $ and couldn't get out of bed before 11am for almost 4 years lol. I suppose I wasn't as fanatical in HS as I am now. After college I got back into it, got a second job to save $ for new equipment and skiing.

 

[deadheadskier]

a) just to be near a particular mountain while skiing
b) to make a career of some sort in the snowsports industry
c) Actually become a competitive skier of some sort

Chose UVM to (a) be close to Stowe and (b) get a degree to make a career of some sort in the snow sports industry.

A = best decision I could've made for having fun while at college.
B = not the best decision I could've made. Outside of a handful of jobs per location, careers in the snow sports industry suck for anyone with any sort of financial goals in life. Most professionals living in cities ski more and have better lifestyles than the middle management professionals I know working and living at ski areas.

 

[Puck it]

St. Lawrence University,

That explains everything. A Country Clubber!!!!!!!!

 

[Cannonball]

Saw this one UnofficialNetworks --> http://unofficialnetworks.com/10-colleges-ski-buffs-thebestcollegesorg-110145/

Made me think about choosing a college as a skier. I didn't make my choice that way, but I'm sure some of you guys did, and it makes sense to me.... although I guess it also depends on what you are hoping to accomplish. Is it

a) just to be near a particular mountain while skiing
b) to make a career of some sort in the snowsports industry
c) Actually become a competitive skier of some sort

Your personal goals probably greatly impact what college(s) you might want to be near. Did anyone have any experience in their own lives in picking a college based on their love of the snow?

Not sure about your first criteria(?) Do you mean "be near a particular mountain while at school​"?

This is one of the great things about the Northeast. You have access to some of the best schools in the world AND have access to a wide variety of skiing options.

 

[Nick]

I chose UMASS Amherst, 50% of the reason being it's proximity to Vermont skiing, and the other 90% being because the Post 9/11 G.I.Bill paid for all my tuition. :razz:

Yeah, I went to Bridgewater State College, I was in the Air Guard for six years (1999 - 2005) and they covered tuition at a state school. Skiing wasn't on my radar as a particular college goes; but I did want to stay in the Northeast to be within driving distance. I had an ASC season pass all four years in college, was awesome.

 

[Nick]

Not sure about your first criteria(?) Do you mean "be near a particular mountain while at school​"?

This is one of the great things about the Northeast. You have access to some of the best schools in the world AND have access to a wide variety of skiing options.

Oops - correct; that is what I meant.

 

[xwhaler]

I went to UNH not because of the skiing but because I fell in love with the school when I visited.
My folks owned a condo at Attitash during my high school/college yrs so it was nice to make the 2 hr drive up.
Many semesters I worked it so I didn't have Friday classes so my girlfriend (now wife) and I would head up Thursday nights after our last class....ski all day Friday and be back to campus in time for the hockey game Friday night.

 

[snowmonster]

Speaking for myself, I would only make skiing a factor in my education if I were being offered a full scholarship to ski on the varsity. If that weren't the case, the choice of where to go to college would be dictated by the academic strengths of the institution. I'm a nerd and I went to school for what the school can offer me to improve my mind and not for the diversions it could offer me when classes were over.

That being said, I think Boston is a great ski town with amazing colleges.

 

[AdironRider]

That explains everything. A Country Clubber!!!!!!!!

More like a scholarship kid that pads their "diversity" statistics. But yes, I hung out with a lot of Muffy's etc.

 

[AdironRider]

I would head up Thursday nights after our last class....ski all day Friday and be back to campus in time for the hockey game Friday night.

Which you would lose to SLU, ZING!

 

[Tin]

URI because Yawgoo Valley is only 5 minutes away lol

 

[gregnye]

Keep this thread rolling please! I am in high school and am at the point where I am starting to think about colleges. I know that education comes first, but there has got to be a good college that has a great science program and teaching program but is also close to the powdah!! :-D

 

[skiNEwhere]

URI because Yawgoo Valley is only 5 minutes away lol

Yawgoo is in a league of its own. No other ski resort in South Central RI comes close to the amount of vert offered