Eckerd is a small liberal arts college on the water with a reputation for sending graduates straight into jobs, internships, and prestigious graduate schools. This is because the professors and classes (small usually around 12-25 students) are designed not only to provide expected information on areas of interest, but to build skills that help students to think differently about their place in the world. Once you get past the intro-level courses which are pretty basic in any college, you can enroll in classes that are more interesting and engaging. Like any school you attend, you get out of it what you put in. So if you prefer a smaller, more fun and intimate college where you can form close relationships with peers and professors, and if you utilize the resources the school provides, then you can definitely gain an education that matches your goals and helps you succeed.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
Really there isn't much to complain about a school that not only has quality classes and typical educational resources, but allows students to kayak, wake board, swim, tan, and sail, etc. at the Waterfront for free! There is the Yellow Bike program in which bikes are located throughout campus for you to ride to and from classes and wherever on campus. I can lay-out while doing homework on Kappa field and take a break to walk 30 seconds to South Beach on campus and lay in the hammock. It seems like fun is always on nearly everyone's mind, so it isn't hard to find people, parties, or activities to enjoy. And if you're stressed and need to relax, there are places on campus to just sit and find peace. The main reason I'm enjoying being here, however, is the friends I have made. Students come here from all over the country and world and are open-minded, kind, spirited, and fun. I made close friends here in the first month faster than I have ever made best friends in my life. The sunny atmosphere seems to radiate from everyone sometimes, and that's the key: it's up to you to have a good attitude.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The only problem I have had with Eckerd is the price. It's a pretty expensive school--way above my reasonable budget--but most schools are expensive. It's a fact that student loan debt is one of the only 2 good debts, so don't worry if you have to take out a loan. Scholarships are also available, and there are always people willing you help you out. When you're spending so much money on anything, it's easy to point out the flaws. The school does sometimes seem to try to squeeze money out of you for the most random things, but then there are tons of activities and free stuff the school provides, too. The school places extra emphasis on study abroad and service-learning, so you can find plenty of opportunity to travel, learn, and grow outside the campus and country, and a lot of these programs are cheap compared to other schools'. The setting is amazing, the surrounding cities offer endless things to do, the food is really good compared to many other schools (although it's easy to get spoiled/bored with the cafeteria food), the classes are great, and the people are supportive. If you take advantage of all this and WORK HARD, it's worth it.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Don't get distracted. Even within the first week you can find yourself getting swept up in all of the extracurricular pleasures of college life. Many students drink and smoke, but a lot of others don't. Therefore, don't feel pressured to abandon all work ethic. You should also never feel like you have to lock yourself in a study room in order to get schoolwork done. If you take a mature approach to your studies from the beginning and realize that the classes are good and the professors want you to learn and succeed, then it's not hard to wake up in the morning and go to class. Just remember to save the partying and playing until your work is done. Your friends will understand. College is a time to discover what it is that makes you You. Take the opportunity that comes with living, learning, and exploring in a safe, familiar environment like this campus to establish your interests and work towards your dreams.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
When I was describing Eckerd to my friend she said, It's like the Island of Misfits! How awesome! And that description is perfect. If you love the water; sunny, humid and sometimes rainy weather (in the rainy season); and small class size, it's perfect. But I know content students here who actually hate swimming! Eckerd's great for the environmentally conscious (we put a lot of emphasis on sustainability), for vegans and vegetarians, for meditate-rs, yoga-doers and rights activists. But it's also home to politicians, scientists (our Marine Science program is one of the best in the nation), writers, musicians, I-don't-know-what-the-heck-I'm-doing-yet-ers, and every type of person in between, above and below. If you have an interest that isn't represented already (unlikely) then you can just form a club! If you've always been extremely focused on schoolwork, it might be hard for you to adjust to the fun-loving atmosphere, but everyone is here because they want to learn. My friends are as varied as their interests, yet we can all find endless things in common. If you're open-minded and don't mind the weather, you should get along just fine.
Eckerd is a small liberal arts college on the water with a reputation for sending graduates straight into jobs, internships, and prestigious graduate schools. This is because the professors and classes (small usually around 12-25 students) are designed not only to provide expected information on areas of interest, but to build skills that help students to think differently about their place in the world. Once you get past the intro-level courses which are pretty basic in any college, you can enroll in classes that are more interesting and engaging. Like any school you attend, you get out of it what you put in. So if you prefer a smaller, more fun and intimate college where you can form close relationships with peers and professors, and if you utilize the resources the school provides, then you can definitely gain an education that matches your goals and helps you succeed.
Really there isn't much to complain about a school that not only has quality classes and typical educational resources, but allows students to kayak, wake board, swim, tan, and sail, etc. at the Waterfront for free! There is the Yellow Bike program in which bikes are located throughout campus for you to ride to and from classes and wherever on campus. I can lay-out while doing homework on Kappa field and take a break to walk 30 seconds to South Beach on campus and lay in the hammock. It seems like fun is always on nearly everyone's mind, so it isn't hard to find people, parties, or activities to enjoy. And if you're stressed and need to relax, there are places on campus to just sit and find peace. The main reason I'm enjoying being here, however, is the friends I have made. Students come here from all over the country and world and are open-minded, kind, spirited, and fun. I made close friends here in the first month faster than I have ever made best friends in my life. The sunny atmosphere seems to radiate from everyone sometimes, and that's the key: it's up to you to have a good attitude.
The only problem I have had with Eckerd is the price. It's a pretty expensive school--way above my reasonable budget--but most schools are expensive. It's a fact that student loan debt is one of the only 2 good debts, so don't worry if you have to take out a loan. Scholarships are also available, and there are always people willing you help you out. When you're spending so much money on anything, it's easy to point out the flaws. The school does sometimes seem to try to squeeze money out of you for the most random things, but then there are tons of activities and free stuff the school provides, too. The school places extra emphasis on study abroad and service-learning, so you can find plenty of opportunity to travel, learn, and grow outside the campus and country, and a lot of these programs are cheap compared to other schools'. The setting is amazing, the surrounding cities offer endless things to do, the food is really good compared to many other schools (although it's easy to get spoiled/bored with the cafeteria food), the classes are great, and the people are supportive. If you take advantage of all this and WORK HARD, it's worth it.
Don't get distracted. Even within the first week you can find yourself getting swept up in all of the extracurricular pleasures of college life. Many students drink and smoke, but a lot of others don't. Therefore, don't feel pressured to abandon all work ethic. You should also never feel like you have to lock yourself in a study room in order to get schoolwork done. If you take a mature approach to your studies from the beginning and realize that the classes are good and the professors want you to learn and succeed, then it's not hard to wake up in the morning and go to class. Just remember to save the partying and playing until your work is done. Your friends will understand. College is a time to discover what it is that makes you You. Take the opportunity that comes with living, learning, and exploring in a safe, familiar environment like this campus to establish your interests and work towards your dreams.
When I was describing Eckerd to my friend she said, It's like the Island of Misfits! How awesome! And that description is perfect. If you love the water; sunny, humid and sometimes rainy weather (in the rainy season); and small class size, it's perfect. But I know content students here who actually hate swimming! Eckerd's great for the environmentally conscious (we put a lot of emphasis on sustainability), for vegans and vegetarians, for meditate-rs, yoga-doers and rights activists. But it's also home to politicians, scientists (our Marine Science program is one of the best in the nation), writers, musicians, I-don't-know-what-the-heck-I'm-doing-yet-ers, and every type of person in between, above and below. If you have an interest that isn't represented already (unlikely) then you can just form a club! If you've always been extremely focused on schoolwork, it might be hard for you to adjust to the fun-loving atmosphere, but everyone is here because they want to learn. My friends are as varied as their interests, yet we can all find endless things in common. If you're open-minded and don't mind the weather, you should get along just fine.