<p>I read of it in that "Colleges That Change Lives" book, and recognized it as one of those colleges listed on the International Baccalaureate site for scholarships or something.</p>
<p>On the surface, it looks awesome...</p>
<p>Really cheap, lots of independent study, small liberal arts college, narrative grading methodology, amazingly high award rates despite a small size, devoted professors...</p>
<p>But then I observe a low graduation rate (about
54%), weak funding, etc.</p>
<p>On one part it looks like a mess compared to top
colleges, and on another it seems to have what all the others lack.</p>
<p>I'm confused as to whether I should consider it or not. Thoughts?</p>
<p>NCF is a public college that you’re comparing to private ones. Because it’s part of the FL university system and relatively young, it has low tuition and a smaller endowment than private schools which are wholly dependent upon their endowments. With 800 students, it’s a real anomaly among public colleges. The graduation rate could be a function of the fact that it’s attractive to students who have limited funds or it could reflect the fact that 80% of the students are in state and can use it as a steeping stone to transfer to a larger university in the state system after the first couple years. Financial aid, for a public institution, is really quite good. If you’re the type of student who might also be attracted to say, Oberlin or Grinnell, NCF is certainly worth considering.</p>
<p>I agree with gadad. The students tend to be high IQ, alternative student types. Low graduation rates given the students’ smarts, but a bargain given the right student.
If you can keep your compass, similar students as at more expensive private schools, at a fraction of the cost.
Heavy drug use, but maybe that was back in the day?</p>
<p>54% graduation rate actually is quite good for a public institution. You should compare that rate to other public institutions in that state, and to other “Public LACs”.</p>
<p>For any one individual student the graduation rate really doesn’t matter. What matters is what the students do when they leave - with or without a degree. As suggested above, are they using New College as a stepping stone in a transfer route into the larger state Us? Are they ditching New College to engage in business or creative endeavors? Are they flunking out because they spent a year or two stoned out of their minds? For those who stay long enough to graduate, where do they end up? Those are the questions you should find answers to.</p>
<p>I visited the school early this year, and I asked about the relatively low graduation rate. Students (who are pretty candid, in my experience, especially if they’re the kind of bold kids you find at places like NCF) said that their friends who left cited two primary reasons: First, NCF gives you a lot of freedom in choosing what you’ll study and how. High-achieving kids are often used to be told precisely what to do to get the gold star, and NCF doesn’t tell you what to do and doesn’t give gold stars–not in the form of grades anyway. It’s such a departure from the typical high school experience (and the typical college experience) that some kids just have a hard time adjusting and leave. So be sure you understand the system before you enroll.</p>
<p>Second, NCF requires all students to do a senior thesis and defend it orally. It’s a big deal–and a lot of pressure. Students who are turned on by that kind of challenge love it, but the college does have a high attrition rate before senior year, when students freak out at the thought of tackling individual research and writing 100+ pages about it and then defending it orally.</p>
<p>I was really impressed with NCF, especially in the context of FL public post-secondary options. I have friends who went to the big state universities and never even talked to a professor. For the same price, NCF offers a very good education with professors who are dedicated to teaching and to student development.</p>
<p>But when you visit, you should talk to a lot of students (not just the ones who are your tour guides) about their experiences to get an idea of whether the unusual program suits you.</p>