New College of Florida

New College of Florida

Sarasota, FL, USA
Public
4 Year

Rebekah's Review

Review of New College of Florida

from Lake Panasoffkee, FL

Describe your college in three sentences.

New College of Florida was founded by independent thinkers for independent thinkers. The academic program here requires a student who is capable of taking on full responsibility for his or her education. Although, NCF students are notorious for their studious natures, many are also known for their love and exercise of fun.

Do you have any tips for prospective students?

Keep an open mind: don't assume that the traditional education system is the only way to go. Remember why you're in college: it is easy to get caught up in the newness of independence and the real world. Put forth your best effort, but don't drive yourself into an early grave: academic strife builds character and great professional resume. Just remember to schedule tranquility and fun into your life.

Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?

New College of Florida is the honors college of the state of Florida. The academics here are thereby extremely challenging. Although we don't use a grading system, delineating A, B, C etc., we do use a teacher evaluation system. Basically instead of getting a letter that tells you how you did in the class, you get a whole essay, saying what you did great, how you can improve etc. You will receive grades on tests and papers throughout the semester, just not a final grade for the class. Don't worry if you need a GPA for financial aid purposes, the school generates one for you based on your evaluations.

Describe the dorm life at your college.

Living in a dorm has a lot of pros and a few cons. Pros: - A five to ten minute walk from all your classes - Easy access to social events -Safety -Already prepared food -Pool, fitness center, sport courts -Friends -Not paying a lease -Saves gas money Cons: -Paying room and board -Limited ability to cook(depending on the dorm) -Pre-assigned roommates(for Freshmen, a.k.a 1st years, unless you know who you want to live with already) -Noisy on Friday and Saturday nights, due to Walls or a campus party in a court yard beneath a bunch of palm trees (Palm Court). The noise level varies on your room's proximity.

Describe the food and dining at your college.

Unfortunately, the food at this University is not gourmet. In all honesty, it is the worst thing about our small community. At first the food doesn't seem that bad, but just as in a high school cafeteria, the culinary creations become repetitive and bland.

What’s there to do for fun at your college?

This school is located 15 minutes from the #1 rated beach in America, Siesta Key, among something like 6 other beaches. Lido Key, for example, is great for shell collectors. There are several theatres, cinemas, parks, restaurants, and shopping centers. St. Armand's Circle, for instance, is one of our classier shopping venues, where one can purchase fine works of art and clothing from designer boutiques. Of course, no one can pass up a good old fashioned game of Frisbee right here on campus, or a simple frozen yogurt from White Berry in downtown. There is no such thing as a dull moment with two mini golf parks right around the corner.

Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?

On Princeton's List of colleges that offer an ivy league education for the least amount of money, NCF ranks number 3 in all of the U.S.A. See for yourself. http://www.princetonreview.com/best-value-colleges.aspx

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

Our traditions are very secretive. Become a student so you can find them out.

Which types of students will excel at your college?

Students who: -Love learning -Are Independent -Prefer smaller schools -Need financial aid -Want to be a name and not a number

Are you involved in any clubs or activities?

There are several clubs on campus: -Jesus Club -American Sign Language Club -YELLING CLUB -Circus Club -Sailing Club -Football Club etc.

Are you involved in any clubs or activities?

We do not offer Greek life nor school sponsored sports. We of course have sports teams, soccer mostly, that compete with other teams in Sarasota, just not a collegiate competitive team like the Gators.

How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?

The Campus Police are amazing, very friendly, alert, and accessible. There are blue towers all over campus that with one push of a button call to the Cop Shop (as we call it) immediately. Even if you're just feeling paranoid, the cops are more than happy to pick you up in one of their golf carts and give you a lift to your dorm. They also jump start your car when your battery dies, and provide other really nice services.