<p>I have to admit, I don't know a lot about the college, but I just came across the university while college searching. I don't understand why the acceptance rate is so low? Princeton Review says that it's acceptance rate is 26%, yet it's average GPA is a mere 3.17, and the average ACT range is 22-26!</p>
<p>Is this because of it's serene location next to the ocean? Or because of the "lower" caliber of students applying? Or is it really that great of a university? Or because of the incredibly low tuition ($18,000)?</p>
<p>I read that the university caps its admissions, but nevertheless! </p>
<p>The dumbest thing in the world is to equate selectivity with anything else. Any school can go out and round up lots of applicants and then reject them. All it takes is a little money and lots of postage.</p>
<p>Yeah, Chicago's acceptance rate is 38%. That's a much higher admission rate than a majority of the top colleges. It's still a better school than most, though. Selectivity does not necessarily equal quality.</p>
<p>Until recently, due to endowments, the college used their "money" to subsidize every student's tuition. There was very little financial aid, because tuition was about $4000 and room and board $8000. For instate students with Bright Futures combined with the resident Accesss Grant, it was a steal. Throw in Fla prepaid money, and you covered tuition room and board. So they had quite a few applications. They have begun to raise tuition, although it remains a very good education for the cost.</p>
<p>I have a sister in graphic arts, and her firm recruits heavily there. There have some very talented grads. So I think there is a large segment of the student population whose talents are not measured by the SAT. You need to have what they want to be accepted, and yes it IS selective.</p>
<p>Flagler is a made school for Florida. I know at my school there are about as many applicants to Flagler as there are to UF. For many in-state students its the dream small school without having to leave the state.</p>
<p>BTW: SUNY Purchase is very "selective" also but does not have impressive GPA's or SAT's. However, the kids are extremely talented in their fields. Public arts college, low tuition and great instruction in the arts.</p>
<p>Another anomaly -- Flagler, unlike most private, highly selective schools, graduates only 42% of its incoming freshmen within 4 years. The 6-year graduation rate is 55%. These stats are more typical of a private college that admits at least half its applicants rather than one that admits 26%.</p>
<p>its not. 18% top 10%, 1540-1800 middle 50% SAT = not very selective. with the exception of schools which receive an overwhelming large number of students with exceptional stats, the % admitted at a school means nothing.</p>
<p>Flagler is not a made school in Florida!
Flagler recieves at the most 6,000 applications and even that may be too many.
UF recieves over 20,000 applications. </p>
<p>Flagler is a relatively unknown liberal arts collegein Florida. </p>
<p>Judging a schools selectivity by only the amount of applications it accepts or rejects is misleading. One must also take into account the class rank, SAT and GPAs.</p>
<p>I have a niece and nephew at Flagler (1100-1200 SATs, B+ students, not very challenging curriculums). Both are doing fine academically there, once they settled in. Very easy to get caught up in the party atmosphere when you're living in a beach house with parties all around you. Small student body. Both HATED living on campus. Very restrictive environment in the dorms. Both hated the food. They say everyone moves off campus as soon as they can. Who knows? Most adults who visit love the dorms and the campus. Kids think they're pretty but don't like the restrictions - can't have opposite sex friends in their rooms. Does seem a bit restrictive in this day and age. Majors are limited (maybe 20?) so it can be a problem to change.</p>
<p>Good news - it's very inexpensive for a private school or even compared to many state schools. Even though FL state schools are inexpensive, Flagler costs are still quite reasonable for FL residents with FL scholarship $.</p>
<p>It's a nice alternative for the above average student who doesn't want the BIG school environment (and wants to be in FL). It's selective because they receive many applications for a small class size. Most kids they know applied because it's in FL, on the beach, and is cheap. Most kids wanting to attend for those reasons are happy there. It's a nice, easy going atmosphere. They say you don't see many academically ambitious kids there - but that's probably true at many schools. Education is what you make it.</p>
<p>BTW, we were told that applying early is a huge advantage.</p>
<p>The way I put it is, base acceptance rate is only one small part of "selectivity." Who comes forward to apply makes a big difference in how selective a college really is.</p>
<p>I agree with Charlie's World. Many students are looking for low tuition schools, and other than your in-state public schools, there aren't many. So Flagler is a gem.</p>