<p>[li] So, if (as it says on the website) it's like $604 per credit hour for OOS students, does that mean that tuition goes down for students who are taking fewer credits (ie, because they're using some AP credit)? </p>[/li]
<p>[li] And how many credits does one class count for? </p>[/li]
<p>[li] And does an AP credit replace one class?</p>[/li]
<p>*2. About Florida/Sarasota -- * I have a few questions about living in this area/campus proxmity to, etc.:</p>
<p>[li] Do students really need a car? Is there anything within walking distance to the campus, or is it somewhat removed from Sarasota?</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Does Sarasota have any public-transportation to speak of, or would getting places not be much of an issue?</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Winter; weather.com says it's like 77 degrees. Can I make the assumption that I don't need much (if anything) in the way of winter-wear to live here?</p>[/li]
<p>[li] This may be a dumb DUMB question, but I'll throw it out there: Do hurricanes usually venture here (I know that Katrina got into New Orleans, so the Gulf Coast isn't exactly "Off Limits")? Or is that something I don't need to worry about?</p>[/li]
<p>That's all. Thanks for responses<33</p>
<p>EDIT:
Oh, and one last question: If I'm accepted and would probably attend, is it crucial that I visit before making the final decision? Because I know some colleges are "mustvisitbeforedecisionomg" and I'm wondering if NCF is like that? Because I don't know if we have the extra $ to take a plane trip to Florida this spring XP...</p>
<p>Okay, I'll answer what I know :) As just went on a tour...</p>
<ol>
<li>About Tuition --</li>
</ol>
<p>[li]From what I was told by admissions people there, a score of 4 or 5 on an AP exam replaces one required class.</p>[/li]
<ol>
<li>About Florida/Sarasota -- I have a few questions about living in this area/campus proxmity to, etc.:</li>
</ol>
<p>[li] They made it seems like it's really not that necessary to have a car, because if you don't, chances are somebody else with a car will...</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Yes to public transportation, no to it being an issue.</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Haha, your assumptions are absolutely correct! I'm from Tampa (which is right by Sarasota), and the most anyone EVER has to wear here is maybe a sweatshirt or light jacket. Seriously. Most kids at my high school wear flip flops year round, including winter. Sometimes there is freak day where the weather dips into the 30's, but that's rare, and usually for only one or two days. If anything, make sure you have an umbrella :)</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Nah. Hurricanes aren't something you have to "worry" about, per se. Usually, if hurricanes are on the path for the Tampa/Sarasota area, they end up veering off and going towards North Carolina and such. It's pretty sweet, actually. For instance, I've probably had 7 hurricane days while in high school, and 80% of them were sunny days. Not even a little rain. And the other times, the power just went out so there couldn't be any school. Take it from a Floridian, Florida's a really nice area to live :)</p>[/li]
<p>About your last point, I'm sure if you are from out of state they won't lambaste you for not being able to visit. Where are you from (out of curiosity)?</p>
<ol>
<li>Tuition - We're instate so I can't be of much help, but you must have 7 contracts sat'd in order to graduate. You may transfer 1 semester of credits to equal passing a 1 contract. Only college courses taken at other colleges count toward a contract, not AP's passed. You can use your AP exams where you scored 4 or 5 to satisfy the core curriculum requirements, meaning you don't have to take English or Math if you don't need it for you AOC. I think there is some scholarship $ there for OOS...it may be based on GPA and test scores like it is for instate, but I don't know for sure.</li>
</ol>
<p>I'm not sure how NCF contracts would be equal to numbers of credits. Many freshman take 4 classes and agree with their advisor that they have sat'd the contract if they pass 3 of the 4. (Bragging moment: D passed all 4!)When my D wanted to transfer college credits she had taken at other universities, they said she needed to have 12 credits (she had 9). To get the straight story, I would talk to someone at the school.</p>
<ol>
<li>Area - This was our biggest concern when D picked NCF. Although the campus has parts of it that may be among the most beautiful in the country (classrooms in a historic Ringling mansion overlooking the bay where dolphins are jumping), it's location near the airport (while convenient) and US 41 are not so nice. That being said, although my D has a car, she almost never uses it…life is very centered around the campus. The only time she ever goes off campus is when we come to visit and take her downtown for sushi. Also, true that in addition to that there is always someone available with a car, there is good public transportation. A bike is needed though to get from one end of the campus to the other for classes.</li>
</ol>
<p>Weather – My kids where flip-flops all year. They do like their jackets if it drops below 60 degrees…FL cold is a wet cold, making it seem colder than it is. I wouldn’t worry much over hurricanes, they aren’t pleasant (we lost part of our roof during Wilma), but they have safe shelters and evacuation plans for students on the odd chance that one does hit. I’ve lived in FL a long time and found they are very rare events, but most places (including NCF) are prepared to deal with them.</p>
<p>As for visiting, I don’t think it matters when they consider your application, though if you are able to come, it’s good for your own benefit to see how it fits.</p>
<p>Although there are only 750 students, some classes are near the dorm and some are on the opposite end of the campus, which can be a bit of a walk (about 20 minutes) to get done in the short time you may end up with between classes. This happened to my D this year. She said she would have never made it to one of her classes this year otherwise. Of course, if you're lucky, you won't end up with that happening. But still, the NCF kids like their bikes. Many kids have one, even if they have a car. I understand that there are several school bikes available to use, too. We have seen some kids use skateboards and roller blades, too.</p>
<p>That's certainly good to know. I don't even know if I remember how to ride a bike. O_o</p>
<p>I noticed that a lot of people said that one of the downsides of NCF was its location on the 41 parallel (or something like that). Could you explain what that is and why it's a drawback? O_o</p>
<p>I really don't know what they mean by that either, unless that there are no "seasons" or that the school is divided US 41 (there's a crossover walkway that joins the two sides of the campus). The other downside is that Sarasota is geared toward wealthy snowbirds, though there is a growing middle class year-round community. You won't find a lot there that is college friendly about the town like you would in some college towns, but the townfolk seem to love the college kids. There really aren't bars, cafes and such close to the school; though there is a bookstore, pizza place and coffeehouse not too far off campus.</p>
<p>But as I said before, life seems to be very focused on the campus. People really don't wander off it too much...they don't seem to want or need to.</p>
<p>By the way, my if my younger D ends up there with her big sis, she plans to roller blade...bikes aren't her thing either. </p>
<p>I'm happy to answer any other questions, but if you want, I'll PM you my daughter's email address so you can get info straight from her.</p>
<p>golddustwoman - I have lived in Sarasota for the past eight years in a house about five miles from the New College campus. If you are seriously considering attending next fall I highly, HIGHLY recommend visiting the campus first!!! Out of curiosity I checked out the Princeton Review's article on New College and it can be a little bit misleading.</p>
<p>First - The campus is in a pretty run down part of town, there isn't much way around that (I live here so I know!). </p>
<p>Second - It is almost pathetically small. One of my good friends has attended the past two years there and I have visited him. The parties are cool... but they are much smaller than you might imagine and not as common as my friend had hoped.</p>
<p>Third - The kids that go their are fun no doubt, but as soon as you step foot off the ridiculously small campus you're pretty much in the middle of the retirement community known as Sarasota. This is not by any means a young person's town, it's small, void of any nightlife, and inhabited entirely by retired northerners. (Believe me I have lived with it for a while now).</p>
<p>If you think you have what it takes to be accepted to New College, I would strongly encourage that you look into University of Miami, if you're set on Florida (beautiful campus, young population, and a flat out better beach). Another option may be UC Santa Barbara or UC San Diego. I have also lived in Southern California and the Santa Barbara campus blows the Florida campuses out of the water.</p>
<p>Good luck on your college journey, and please, PLEASE explore the campus for your self before you decide it's for you!!!!</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts, skeeter. I definitely want to visit before I enroll (if I end up heading for NCF), but I don't know if we'll have the financial resources to hop on a plane to check it out in the Spring. It's very possible that I would, though.</p>
<p>For me, the fact that New College is in Sarasota is one of its biggest draw-backs, but it's financially pheasable for me (as opposed to my top choices, which are -veerrrryyy- expensive [Reed, UChicago, St. John's College in MD]).</p>
<p>I agree. It's worth the investment in plane fare to come see if it's a fit for you. NCF is not for everyone, but as I've said, my D absolutely loves it there. There's more to a college experience than location, and Sarasota while not a great college town, isn't that bad. What it does have going for it are outstanding professors that students really get an opportunity to interact with (one will be your advisor) and small, interesting classes. My D is also happy with her social life, activities and the dorms.</p>
<p>If you're looking for a college experience that includes football, greek life, lots of people, etc...NCF will definitely not be a fit. But seeing that you like Reed and U Chicago, you would find things about NCF that mirror those schools...an intellectual environment, quirky activities, social/political activism and challenging academics.</p>
<p>Just to update: I got accepted! I don't know about the money yet, but NCF is great and I hope I'll have the chance to make attending an option for me. </p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the insight, everyone. :)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I agree that the nightlife in SRQ (another word for Sarasota...idk where the Q came from, but w/e) is nearly non-existant, but there are a lot of theaters (Sarasota Opera House, Van Wezel, Golden Apple Dinner Theater, the Asolo, SRQ Players, Manatee Players, etc...I grew up as a theater/ youth opera kid in srq. lol), Ringling, and lots of other artsy things to do if you're into that kind of stuff. </p></li>
<li><p>Most of my family lives in Miami and I'm there all the time. Sarasota's beaches (esp. Siesta Key) are definitely nicer...but, on the other hand, there is definitely a lot more to do in MIA than there is to do in SRQ. </p></li>
<li><p>There is definitely a certain kind of stereotype attatched to New College kids (ie. intelligent, very liberal, pot-smoking hippies). While this stereotype may be exaggerated quite a bit, there is at least some truth to it and you should, therefore, make sure that you'd be comfortable spending 4 years in this type of environment. </p></li>
<li><p>I LOVE UF...but miss SRQ. =( lol.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>SRQ=Aiport Code for the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport</p>
<p>The kids all refer to Sarasota as SRQ.</p>
<p>While there may be some truth to the stereotype, I think it's really more that the kids feel comfortable with being a bit more free-spirited there...it's not very cliquey. Kids seem to accept and friend everyone from hippies to straight-edge to conservatives (yes, there are some there).</p>
<p>True, the beach there is lovely. Best sand in FL!</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm probably going to go to New College in the Fall, as things look right now. I'll definitly post questions if any new ones arise over the next few months. Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>I really like NCF and I've visited (on Christmas break) and I have a few random questions for anyone who is currently attending or has attended NCF (I already posted this in another thread and realized this was a more pertinent thread):</p>
<p>How strong of a social life is there on campus? What sort of a social life is it? Is it normal to study a lot, even on weekends, or do students party a lot? How "hippie"-ish are students (my guide told me that a lot of people go around barefoot)? Is it nice having such a small student body of roughly 700 students or is it a bit constricting compared to other schools? Are there a lot of opportunities besides marine and academic ones?</p>
<p>I was also wondering what Sarasota is like to live in. People have told me that it's "culturally diverse" and that it has an opera house and museums. Is there a lot of cultural stimulation in Sarasota, even though it's not a city? How's the night life?</p>
<p>Sorry you were only able to visit during Christmas break when students were off campus. I'm just a mom, but I'll try to help answer your questions best I can.</p>
<p>Re social life, my D refers to NCF as one big family. It's a small student body, so everyone tends to at least know who everyone else is. Parties are campus-wide events most every Friday and Saturday night, so all are welcome to attend if they like. The students that make it to graduation typically don't party during the week, since the academics and professor's expectations are high. </p>
<p>There are some hippies there, as well as anything else you could imagine. But there are also plenty of "regular" kids, too. There are also many students that go barefoot, though definitely not everyone. The best way I could describe New College students would be that everyone just is who they are and everyone accepts them for it. My D does not find the small size of the school constricting, she likes it...but that's the kind of thing you need to know about yourself since for some it could be. The opportunities available to NCF students are only limited by their imaginations, since faculty are usually willing to help students pursue academic areas they are interested in either during ISP (Independent Study Project) or tutorials.</p>
<p>My D finds Sarasota fine, though she rarely goes off campus. There is a very vibrant arts community that offers everything from restaurants, museums, galleries, bookstores, live theater, concerts, opera and quite a good film festival. However, I'm more likely to enjoy these aspects of the community when I visit as opposed to my D & her friends. I think most of the nightlife for NCF students occurs on campus, not in the town. By the way, if you didn't get a chance to see the beaches when you visited, they are quite nice. I know my D goes when she has time.</p>
<p>I've read some online student reviews, and there are a lot of NCF bashers on the side of academics ... some opinions are that admissions gets you all hyped up with an image in your mind, and you are let down, the teachers are lax, and the grades inflated.</p>
<p>can you let me know anything you can on this topic? I'd really love to go there next semester but I'm still trying to see if I can arrange a campus tour... I think guided tours are only offered M-F and I'd only be able to go on the weekends...</p>