For decades, the proverbial “where should I apply to college question” has challenged high school students. Factors such as curriculum, academic prestige and cost take first priority, but easy access to skiing and riding concerns winter sport enthusiasts.
Fortunately, you don’t have to compromise. Some of North America’s best colleges and universities just happen to sit within the continent’s most vibrant ski towns. Check out these four possibilities!
Sierra Nevada College
Enjoying a prime location within Lake Tahoe’s Incline Village and claiming bragging rights for its winning ski, snowboard and freestyle teams, Sierra Nevada College offers an ideal choice for skiers and snowboarders. If you’ve ever visited a resort and thought “I could do a better job running this place,” the business administration degree with a focus in ski area management has your name on it. Program director Tim Cohee told ESPN:
“We give them a budget, a certain size parameter and they have to build to a certain capacity per day.”
Dartmouth College
Since 1924, 110 Dartmouth University athletes have competed in the Winter Olympics. Dartmouth’s Skiway, the Dartmouth ski team training ground, lies just 20 minutes north of the college. Students also participate in the Dartmouth Winter Carnival, a time-honored college tradition. Tell mom and dad not to worry about the school’s academic prestige. In describing the curriculum and its requirements, Ivywise, the college admissions guidance website, says that Darth mouth’s course of study is
as rigorous for the mind as the Black Diamond trails are for the body
University of Utah
Ullr, the God of Snow favors the state of Utah, and grants it an average of 500 inches of the fluffy white stuff each winter season. When you see a license plate that says “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” it’s not an exaggeration. Located in the heart of ski country, the University of Utah sits within 40 minutes of some of the country’s best resorts. Want to get college credit for your time on the slopes? Enroll in the Introduction to Ski Resort Management course through the university’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department.
Montana State University
Outside Magazine calls Bozeman, Montana a a dream town for skiers and snowboarders. No wonder snow sport enthusiasts dream of attending Montana State University. Located within easy access to Bridger Bowl, Big Sky and Moonlight Basin, the school offers 15 varsity sports. Every year, the University’s Alpine and Nordic Ski team compete in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Skiing Association and the NCAA Western Region. Thus far, MSU has produced 13 national championships. Rumor has it that when nature provides more than 10 inches of snow, cutting class is acceptable, as long as your grades are already up to par. For geeky skiers and snowboarders, Montana State University even offers a specialty in snow science.
Packing for College
You got accepted into the college of your choice. Congrats! Now you need to arrange a packing strategy. After everything you’ve done to get into a college near the slopes, it would be a drag to discover that airlines lost your boards. We understand. At shipskis.com, we will take good care of your gear, and assure that it reaches your college destination in one piece, and ready to slide!