Last month, Lindsay spent about two weeks participating in the Florida Sunshine Tour and other college counselor events. This month, she’s highlighting a few of the colleges she visited:
Stetson University
Location: DeLand, FL
Test Optional? Yes
General Notes:
Stetson Promise helps ensure that students graduate in four years or less and are able able to access experiential opportunities
Football team was reinstated in 2013 and now compete in the Pioneer Football League (NCAA Division I)
Students are required to live on campus for at least three years
Programs of Note:
School of Business
Business school students are required to participate in at least two experiential learning experiences before graduation
Professional sales
Stetson has a very unique sales program, which is open to students as both a major or minor
School of Music
Stetson has a strong, but flexible, music program with majors including “Music Combined with Business,” “Music with an Outside Field,” and “Music Technology”
Jacksonville University
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Test Optional? Yes
General Notes:
Most popular sports teams are baseball, lacrosse, and sailing
Average merit-based aid is approximately $20,000 annually (you’ll also currently receive a one-year $1,000 scholarship if you participate in an official campus tour and then end up enrolling!)
Students are required to live on campus for at least three years
Programs of Note:
Marine Science
Campus is on the water & JU has a 48 ft barge that acts as a floating classroom
Nursing
NCLEX pass rate for the past six consecutive quarters was 100%
Aviation
Partner with JetBlue, United, and Delta
Florida Southern University
Location: Lakeland, FL
Test Optional? No
General Notes:
Offer a Four-Year Graduation Guarantee, if students follow the guidelines.
Students are required to attend events that fit into these 6 categories annually: fine arts, health & wellness, service & diversity, founders day convocation, learning beyond the classroom, and school pride.
Certain majors require an internship and any student is guaranteed an internship if they have above a 2.0 GPA.
Programs of Note:
Computer Science
Offer concentrations in artificial intelligence & machine learning, cybersecurity, and web & cloud computing
Citrus & Horticultural Science
Citrus studies program has a 99% job placement rate
Art History & Museum Studies
On-campus art museum serves as a perfect hands-on learning environment
Saint Leo University
Location: Saint Leo, FL
Test Optional? Yes
General Notes:
Students come from 100 countries and all 50 states
Classes are capped at 25 students
Two religion classes are part of the required curriculum
Programs of Note:
Criminal Justice
Have a house dedicated to this program where “crime scenes” are set up, allowing students to learn hands-on
Education
Use avatars and other technology to fully prepare the students before they even begin their student teaching
Computer Science 3+1 Accelerated Program
Students in this program will receive their B.S. in Computer Science and M.S. in Cybersecurity after four years