Eckerd College: Navigating the Admission Requirements
Eckerd College, a private liberal arts and sciences college located on Florida's Gulf Coast, seeks students of diverse backgrounds who are prepared for an engaging educational experience and eager to contribute to campus life. Understanding the admission requirements is the first step toward joining this vibrant community.
Holistic Admission Review
Eckerd College employs a holistic admission review process, considering each applicant's unique aptitudes, achievements, and character. The college aims to get to know applicants as students and individuals, evaluating both academic and personal merits to ensure a good fit.
Academic Profile
GPA and Class Rank
While Eckerd College does not have strict minimum GPA requirements, successful applicants generally have a B+ average or higher in their college preparatory courses. The average GPA of the recent incoming class was 3.6 on a 4.0 scale. Most first-year students come from the top 20% of their high school classes, indicating that Eckerd requires you to be above average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, with a leaning toward A's.
Coursework
Eckerd seeks applicants who have pursued a demanding and rigorous high school curriculum. Most students have taken honors, accelerated, Advanced Placement (AP), dual enrollment, and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The college recommends that students have at least:
- Four years of English
- Three years of math
- Three years of lab sciences
- Three years of history or social science
- Two years of a world language
Eckerd accepts American Sign Language (ASL) as an official world language during high school curriculum evaluation on your application. But ASL does not fulfill your Eckerd College world language credit. Students who enroll are still expected to take a year of world language here at Eckerd.
Read also: Academics at Eckerd
Test-Optional Policy
Eckerd College has a test-optional policy, meaning that SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission or merit-based scholarship consideration. Students who wish to share their scores may do so, and those scores will be evaluated as part of the application.
If students choose to submit scores, Eckerd College does offer an ACT superscore policy. Eckerd will combine scores to create your best possible composite score. This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and Eckerd College forms your Superscore, you can take the ACT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Therefore, if your ACT score is currently below a 24, it is strongly recommended that you consider prepping for the ACT and retaking it. Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time.
The middle 50 percent of the recent incoming class scored:
- SAT: 1100-1300
- ACT: 23-28
Personal Qualities
Eckerd College values the personal qualities of its applicants, seeking students who demonstrate leadership, accomplishment, and a potential for positive contribution to the campus community. Successful applicants often have demonstrated leadership accomplishments in school, community, or church. The college looks closely at the personal essay, record of activities, and recommendations from counselors and/or teachers.
Application Process
Application Options
Applicants can apply using the Common Application or the Eckerd College Application. A $50 application fee is typically required but is waived for applications submitted before December 1.
Read also: Eckerd Admission Requirements
Required Materials
The following materials are required for application:
- Common Application or Eckerd College Application
- $50 Application Fee (waived for applications submitted before December 1)
- Official High School Transcript and/or G.E.D. results
- Letter of Recommendation
- Personal Essay
- Official ACT or SAT Test Scores (optional)
Application Deadlines
Eckerd College offers Early Action and Rolling Admission options:
- Early Action: Submit your application by November 15 to receive a decision by December 15. Early Action is non-binding, allowing students to apply to other colleges and defer the enrollment deposit until May 1.
- Rolling Admission: Starting December 1, Eckerd begins reviewing applications in the Rolling Admission pool and returns decisions as applications become completed, typically within four weeks. Rolling Admission also allows students to apply to other colleges and defer the enrollment deposit until May 1.
- Winter Term: Applications and supporting materials from first-year applicants must be received by November 15. Students who wish to accept our offer of admission to start for Winter Term must submit an enrollment deposit no later than December 1 or two weeks from receiving your decision.
Interviews
An interview is not required for admission but is encouraged for high school seniors who have not yet applied. Interviews for juniors are conducted when there is availability. Phone and regional/off-campus interviews are also available.
Advanced Coursework and Transfer Credits
College Credit
Eckerd College awards college credit for Dual Enrollment, International Baccalaureate (IB), Advance Placement (AP) and AICE A Levels.
A.A. Degrees
Full junior status may be awarded to students who have earned an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited two-year Florida college.
Read also: Discover Eckerd College
Transfer Students
Eckerd College welcomes students from other regionally accredited colleges, universities, junior, and community colleges. A transfer student is defined as anyone who has taken post-secondary courses after receiving a high school diploma or its equivalent. There is no minimum number of courses required to be considered a transfer student. Applicants are expected to be in good academic and social standing at the institution last attended and eligible to return to that institution.
Eckerd recommends that transfer students have a 3.0 GPA from the last college attended. Courses earning a C or better can likely be transferred, dependent upon the equivalent course offerings at Eckerd. If the student has earned more than 27 credit hours, the high school record will not be considered.
Transfer student applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in October and continuing through the academic year for the following fall. Students considering mid-year admission for winter term (January) are advised to complete application procedures by December 1. Applicants for fall entry should complete procedures by August 1.
Special Circumstances
Early Graduation
Students who plan to graduate after their junior year of high school will be considered for admission. They will be requested to interview with an Admission Counselor to discuss their preparation and path to college. These students will also be required to submit their Fall Semester grades of their junior year before a decision is made. In order to be eligible to live on campus, students must be at least 17 years of age.
Gap Year
Eckerd College supports students taking a gap year to enrich themselves academically through travel, internships, volunteer work or other interests. Students pursuing a gap year may request a deferral of their enrollment for up to one year. A student who has been accepted for admission must submit a statement in writing which explains their plans during the time of deferral. Students taking more than 12 hours of college coursework should re-apply as a Transfer Student.
A non-refundable enrollment deposit of $400 is required from all students who intend to enroll at Eckerd College. A second non-refundable enrollment deposit of $400 is required by January 15 to confirm a student’s intention to enroll at Eckerd College for Autumn Term.
The deferral option is not intended to allow students to begin or continue their college career elsewhere. A student may not attend another institution on a full-time basis during the time of their deferral or gap year. Full-time status is considered to be enrollment in 12 or more credit hours per term. No more than 12 credit hours may be taken during the time of deferment.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Applying for Financial Aid
Students applying for need-based funds or planning to use federal student loans need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The easiest way to submit this application is online at studentaid.gov. Be certain to request that Eckerd College receives your FAFSA results by listing our institutional code of 001487 on your FAFSA. Applying for financial aid is FREE.
The financial information analyzed from the FAFSA provides a foundation for the equitable treatment of all financial aid applicants and is used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI). All financial aid offers are made on the assumption that the student will attend Eckerd College as a full time student, at least 12 credit hours a semester.
Financial aid awards may be renewed based upon academic progress or continued financial need. A FAFSA application is required annually for need-based financial aid.
Merit Scholarships
First year applicants are eligible for renewable merit-based scholarships ranging from $18,000 to $27,000 annually. Scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are based on the student’s official unweighted GPA.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal Title IV financial aid, which includes Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Direct Loans (both student and parent) and Federal Work Study program are renewable as long as the student is meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress standards at the annual review period.
As long as a student meets both the Quantitative Requirement and Qualitative Requirement, a student will be eligible for federal funds.
- Quantitative Requirement:
- Maximum Time Limit - Federal regulations allow a student to attempt 150 percent of the credit hours required to complete the academic program. Eckerd College requires 126 credit hours to meet graduation requirements therefore a student may attempt up to 189 credit hours and receive federal aid. This includes all transfer credit hours.
- Completion Ratio - A student must earn a minimum 67% of the hours attempted at Eckerd College. Transfer hours accepted toward the completion of your Eckerd College degree will be included in the number of attempted and completed hours.
- Qualitative Requirement: Students must meet the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) which is 2.0 for all class standings. Grade Point Average is calculated for courses taken at Eckerd College only and does not include grades from another college.
Students not meeting the guidelines for the Qualitative Requirement (GPA) will also be deemed ineligible for institutional and State aid.
Students not meeting SAP requirements for GPA or CR will be given the opportunity to appeal which, if approved, will allow them to receive Federal, institutional and possibly State aid.
Academic Calendar and Programs
4-1-4 Calendar
Eckerd College follows a modified 4-1-4 calendar. Each academic year consists of one short term and two 14-week terms. Ordinarily, a full-time student will enroll for four courses each 14-week term.
The three-week Autumn Term for first-year students occurs in August, before the beginning of the fall semester, while the Winter Term (January) occurs at the beginning of the spring semester. During these shorter terms, you will enroll for no more than one academic project at a time.
General Education Requirements
In order to graduate from Eckerd, students must complete 36 courses and 126 credit hours. As part of our 4-1-4 semester system, every student must participate in 4 short terms.
In addition to requirements set by their chosen discipline, the following are general education requirements:
- Human Experience, taken in a student’s first semester, and a First-Year Experience Seminar taken in a student’s second semester.
- Proof of world language competency. This must be demonstrated by completion through course level 102 or the equivalent.
- Each student must complete one course in each of the following perspectives: Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Environmental and Global.
- Students must also demonstrate quantitative competency by taking one college-level mathematics, computer science, formal logic or statistics course.
- Each student must pass a course designated as writing intensive and demonstrate their writing competency through submitting a writing portfolio.
- All students must complete 20 hours of reflective service learning and take one reflective service learning course.
- One semester of our senior capstone course, Imagining Justice.
Areas of Study and Degrees
Eckerd offers 42 majors, 52 minors, and the option to design your own major. Three types of degrees are offered: Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).
Honors Program
The Honors Program at Eckerd College is offered to admitted students based on their achievements in high school. The Honors Program is designed to provide enhanced opportunities for independent study, research, collaboration, service-learning, and coursework.
Resources for Students with Learning Differences
For students with documented learning differences, typical accommodations include extended test time, distraction-free testing areas, peer note-takers and ADA-compliant housing. Please contact the Office of Accessibility for more information. Additional resources include faculty mentors, faculty office hours, the Eckerd Writing Center, the Rahall Oral Communications Center, academic coaching program, workshops to enhance academic success, the Residence Life staff, the Student Affairs staff, Career Center, math lab tutors and volunteer tutors in many subjects.
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