Eckerd College Admission
Eckerd College Undergraduate Program
Eckerd College Application

The Facts

Eckerd College is a small, private and extremely innovative liberal arts school located in the town of St. Petersburg, Florida . The college is home to over 1,600 undergraduate students, and it uniquely combines disciplines such as physics and dance into small ‘collegia' that house several majors each. The collegia include the Comparative Cultures Collegium, the Creative Arts Collegium, the Letters Collegium, the Natural Sciences Collegium, and the Foundations Collegium. Each is unique, and has a specific focus divided into several, even more specific majors. There are about 30 majors offered at the school in a wide range of disciplines; some of the most popular choices include marine science, international studies, business relations, management, psychology, and environmental studies.

Admission to Eckerd College is not terribly competitive numerically; however, students who apply often exhibit a high amount of motivation and creativity. Last year, over 2,050 students applied for admission to the school, and approximately 1,550 students were accepted; of those, 430 matriculated. The admitted students had an average combined SAT score ranging from 1020 to 1260, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 20 to 27. Additionally, over 51% of those admitted were ranked in the top 25% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of about 3.3.

Eckerd College has a very manageable student to faculty ratio of about 13:1, and professors act not only as teachers, but as professional mentors. The college has a unique Academy of Senior Professionals, an organization of 350 retired professionals that interact with students in various ways to help them to prepare for the working world. The college is also renowned for its extensive study abroad program, in which over 50% of Eckerd students participate.

The Social Scene

The town of St. Petersburg, Florida is an idyllic vacation town located right on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico . Students love to hang out at the beach, fish, swim, and boat. The school actually has its own marina where students can rent boats and equipment free of charge. The campus is more like a resort than a college, and the walkways are lined with hammocks for students to sleep...ahem...I mean, study in. The city of Tampa is nearby, and offers students all the amenities of an urban oasis, including great shopping, clubs, bars, restaurants, and performing arts venues.

There are no fraternities or sororities at the college, which is just fine with Eckerd students. The school isn't known for its partying, and students prefer to take in their gorgeous natural surroundings rather than hole themselves up in a dorm and drink the weekend away.

The dating scene is just as fabulous as the surroundings; can you say sunsets on the beach?

What’s Good

“You couldn't ask for better atmosphere; when you leave class, it's like being on an exotic vacation.”

“The dorms are terrific, and they present you with plenty of options so you live in the place that is best for your needs.”

“The interdisciplinary focus is awesome, and it keeps you from getting bored.”

What’s Bad

“It's very easy to slack off and really act like you are at a resort. The academics are really tough, and you can't miss a beat.”

“The party scene isn't terribly exciting. You have to make your own excitement, it definitely won't come to you.”

“Some students get really competitive because everything is so career focused. It can get a bit out of hand.”

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