Florida Southern College

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School Says - Student Body
The Student Government Association represents the student body in matters involving the College administration, faculty, and student body and is responsible for coordinating student government. Each full-time student is a member of the association and has a vote in its affairs. The subsidiaries of the association are the Association of Campus Entertainment (ACE), the House of Representatives, the Student Senate, and the four classes: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.

School Says - Academics
All degree programs require the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours with a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Grading is traditional, with a pass/fail option available. The College operates on the semester system with two 15-week semesters and three four-week summer sessions. The average course load is 15 hours per semester. Students are required to complete a core curriculum of liberal arts and science courses in addition to their major course work. Credit by examination is awarded on the basis of successful scores on Advanced Placement tests, the International Baccalaureate (I.B.), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Florida Southern has a Career Center that assists students in clarifying their career and life goals and that provides opportunities for them to explore these goals. Approximately 20 percent of Florida Southern graduates go immediately on to graduate work. Internship experiences help to place the vast majority of other graduates in field-related jobs within a few months of graduation.

School Says - Admissions
Florida Southern looks for two things in applicants: performance and promise. The majority of applicants who have been admitted as freshmen have had a grade of B or better in college-preparatory courses (including four courses in English, three in mathematics, and the balance divided among science, foreign language, and social science), have ranked in the upper half of their graduating class, and have earned scores of at least 500 on each of the verbal and math portions of the SAT I or a composite score of at least 23 on the ACT. Nevertheless, the Admissions Office is committed to reviewing individual applicants on their own merits, based on the level of challenge attempted, patterns of grades over time, recommendations from appropriate references, and an applicant's own assessment of the learning environment ideally suited to his or her needs. Applicants must graduate from an accredited high school with a minimum of 19 credits, 16 of which must be academic. Qualified high school juniors may apply for early admission if they have the recommendation of their secondary school and have had a personal interview with the Director of Admissions. Applications from transfers are welcome, as are those from students resuming their education and from older students who have delayed their entrance into college. Transfer applicants should have a minimum 2.5 grade point average and be graduates of or eligible to return to their former institutions. Transfer students with fewer than 25 semester hours must submit high school transcripts and standardized test scores. Applicants who hold Associate of Arts degrees from regionally accredited two-year institutions are typically granted junior standing. One reference (academic) is required. All applicants are encouraged to interview; an interview may be required for some candidates.

School Says - Campus Life
Florida Southern's campus consists of approximately 100 acres on the shore of Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland, Florida, a pleasant community of about 90,000 residents in the heart of central Florida's high tech corridor. Lakeland is 45 minutes from Tampa and an hour from Orlando. Within an hour's drive of the state's major recreational attractions, including Walt Disney World and major beaches, the College is ideally situated for internships and job opportunities with leading corporations that tap into one of the largest markets in the U.S. Members of the community come to the College campus to attend Fine Arts Series performances in music, the Child of the Sun Jazz Festival, dance, and drama; to hear distinguished speakers; and to participate in College and business symposiums. The Lakeland Center also offers many cultural and entertainment opportunities.

School Says - Cost Aid
The comprehensive cost for 2006 07 is $27,315 ($20,175 for tuition and standard fees and $7,140 for room and board). There are additional fees for individual music instruction and the use of practice rooms. Florida Southern estimates that another $1000 is adequate for books and supplies, and an additional $1000 should cover personal expenses, exclusive of travel to and from home. Members of fraternities and sororities have additional expenses related to membership in these organizations.The Student Financial Aid Office offers students its counsel and assistance in meeting their educational expenses. Aid is awarded on the basis of an applicant's need, academic performance, and promise. Ninety-three percent of the students at Florida Southern receive financial assistance. To demonstrate need, an applicant is required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Various forms of aid, such as scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment, are used to help meet students' needs. Merit scholarships are available, and awards are based on academic promise; performance ability in music, theater, or art; or athletic ability in baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, or volleyball. Applicants for aid must reapply each year. Florida Southern participates in the Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and Federal Work-Study college-based programs. All applicants are expected to apply for any entitlement grant for which they are eligible, such as a Federal Pell Grant and, for Florida residents, a Florida Student Assistance Grant and the Florida Tuition Voucher. The Federal Stafford Loan Program is also available. There are extensive on-campus employment opportunities. The completed FAFSA and the College's financial aid application must be filed with the Student Financial Aid Office by April 1. Early application is encouraged for students seeking academic scholarships.

Students Say - Academics
Expect a "personalized education" at Florida Southern College, a small school that is "the perfect size for any student that doesn't want to go unnoticed!" Indeed, students insist that "FSC gives you a great education, both academically and socially, not only because the campus is small...but [also] because the professors want to get to know you as a person, not just a number on their roll call." With "small classes where you can actually ask questions during class and participate in group discussions," and "amazing" professors who "are always available to you if you need anything (every single professor...gives you their cell phone number on their syllabus in case you need anything at all)," students certainly don't lack for attention here. The music program is a definite standout at FSC; nursing, psychology, journalism, advertising, and religion and Christian education all have their enthusiastic adherents among the student body. Administrators "are seen on campus all the time, and [you] can approach them pretty easily," says one student. No wonder students tell us that "FSC is about community. This small school is like a big family where you always have some- one to talk to or to help you."

Students Say - Campus Life
FSC is located "right on a lake so there are all sorts of water activities" for students to enjoy. "Kayaking, canoeing, swimming, biking, jogging, and much more" keep the lakefront hopping throughout daylight hours. The lake is most certainly the main attraction of hometown Lakeland. Students complain that the town is "not too exciting." "There's not really a whole lot to do in Lakeland," one undergrad points out, but fortunately FSC is located "right between Tampa and Orlando, two bigger cities that have more attractions and are only a 45-minute drive away." Campus life centers on Greek organizations and events organized by the Association of Campus Entertainment (ACE). The latter is "very creative. They have had casino night, raffle ticket giveaways, comedians, and a variety of other events." Greeks throw the requisite parties but also "go on a lot of service trips, serving food at soup kitchens, gleaning in the fields of local farmers, all sorts of stuff" that "keep members busy, but it's a good busy. It's the perfect balance of work and play." Drinking occurs primarily off campus "since it's not allowed on site," and students warn that "there is little life on campus over the weekend. The library and gym close early, so you are forced to go off campus to find something that's worthwhile to do."

Students Say - Student Body
The "friendly," "mostly outgoing" student body of FSC is predominantly "white, preppy, and upper-middle-class." Most "are religious, involved in sports, or part of the Greek system," but "there are a few outliers, and enough people are outliers that they hang out together." Students tend to be "involved in a number of clubs and organizations on campus. Our campus is small so it's really easy to get involved." There's a notable subpopulation of "students who did not perform well at their private high school institutions" and so couldn't gain admission to more competitive schools, but most everyone does what she has to do to get through. "There are students who are very into their schoolwork, always studying and striving to do their best, and then there are others who are very laid back but still get their schoolwork done," one student tells us.

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