Rollins College

Statistics

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Rankings & Lists

School Says - General Information
Every aspect of a Rollins education encourages greater connections to people, ideas, and community. From the moment they arrive on campus, Rollins students integrate classroom study with practical hands-on experience, locally and globally. With an average class size of just seventeen, students work directly with professors, even collaborating on original research. Dozens of study abroad programs, 100 different courses with a community service component, and extensive internship opportunities help Rollins students develop the skills they need to be better prepared for graduate school and life.

Students Say - Academics
Rollins College offers "an amazing campus with great academics surrounded by the richest students around," leading some to describe the school as "a country club for college kids." Rollins' high-end cachet means some regard it as academically low impact-even some students believe the school "is above average in regards to academics, but not top echelon since many students do not work hard"-but a strong majority here contends success here requires "a lot of work, much more than some people think. While Rollins is stereotyped for being a 'party school' we also have highly rated academic programs," and professors here "are tough. Some require a lot of reading and work, but if you have problems they are always available outside of class to help." Small classes mean students "are really forced into keeping up-to-date with the reading and with the assigned writings." Classroom work often takes the form of smaller discussion groups. One student explains, "Rollins is also a cool place to learn because many of our classes are taught around tables or in circles to stimulate discussion." The school also offers "many opportunities for studying abroad, and financial aid helps to pay for most of them." Areas of academic strength include "an impressive physics department, a great theater program with professors who are working professionals, a strong pre-law program, [and] a good education department."

Students Say - Campus Life
Rollins provides "an excellent quality of life for its students. Whether it is relaxing by our lakefront pool, jet skiing on the lake, visiting the beach, shopping, going to the theme parks, or just eating lunch on the patio, we know how to have a good time." While "life at this school can be balanced if you take full advantage of everything that is offered," many here are less interested in balance than in good times, which is why "the party scene is vibrant and dominating on many evenings." Many here concede Rollins "is a pretty big party school." Greek life "is huge," and "fraternity and sorority parties are big." Students point out that "all parties are welcoming to students" and students "may choose to attend any party regardless of their Greek affiliation." Intercollegiate athletics "are not as popular here for some reason. No one knows when games are, or who's playing." When students need to escape campus life, they find themselves fortunate enough to be "in a perfect location in Winter Park. We're close to movies, shopping, parks, museums, and nightlife in down- town Orlando. The beach is only 45 minutes away, Disney World and Universal Studios are only 25 minutes away, and there are golf courses all over the place." "Close" is a relative term, of course. The campus is close to all these destinations for students who have cars, but "If you don't have a car, don't plan on going anywhere. Nothing's in walking distance except a couple of great bars that are loaded with Rollins students 24/7."

Students Say - Student Body
The typical student [at Rollins] is rich, white, and preppy, and while "there are obviously different kinds of people who attend Rollins, the above description seems to apply to the majority." As one undergrad observes, "Most students drive a BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, etc., and only wear or carry Coach, Prada, Ralph Lauren, A&F, etc." Those outside the ranks of the economic elite "don't necessarily have trouble fitting in at school, for most everyone finds their niche." Undergrads warn, however, that while "students generally are friendly...cliques do develop," in part because "Rollins is such a small school." Through the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Rollins College has been working diligently to create and sustain a diverse community that is inclusive, welcoming, and respectful. In the past, students have noted that "there is not much diversity . . . particularly in social groups like sororities and fraternities. The few who do stand out find their own crowd and begin their own clubs, such as Pinehurst (for alternative lifestyles) and the Anime Club."

Other Schools To Consider Top Programs