Eckerd College

While the dining experience leaves something to be desired, the other students make up for any other deficit. The social scene at Eckerd is not forced. No matter how shy or introverted you are, there are ways they gently bring you out of your shell. Dozens of campus organizations are just students who are students dedicated to inspiring change.

The dining at Eckerd College is a little iffy and rather expensive for what you get.

I feel we have a great education at Eckerd College. As an exchange student, I never felt lost, I always had help and feel comfortable here.

The cafeteria does not propose a big variety of food.

Eckerd has amazing professors that are passionate about what they teach. Every class is set up for you to succeed so that you understand the material and can apply it. The grounds are beautiful and have a large population of wildlife, and there is even a farm that supports the cafeteria.

The dorms have a mold issue that the school is still addressing

Eckerd College provides a great learning environment with understanding professors, a diverse student community, and opportunities to work out in the field during designated class time. The hands-on opportunities offered here have helped me learn better and retain more knowledge about my desired major.

At times the food can be inedible or unappetizing at the main cafeteria.

The Marine Science courses are absolutely amazing. The Galbraith Marine Science Lab is directly on the waterfront, meaning that labs are often held on the beach or on the boat, which gives Eckerd Students many unique opportunities and experiences.

The food is the number one thing I don't like about Eckerd. There isn't a 24-hour option for food, and when food is available it often doesn't accommodate for certain allergies or even lactose intolerance. The college also requires all Freshmen to pay for the meal plan, so if they don't make food that you can eat, you still have to pay them AND pay for food that you can actually eat.

I choose to attend Eckerd College for multiple reasons. I love being at a smaller school because I feel very connected to the faculty and my professors. When I reach out to the school or my professors, I'm seen as a person and not just a number. The school's size also allows me to double major quite easily. Eckerd College also offers and encourages various semester-long and short-term study abroad opportunities for their studies. The campus community also encourages sustainability and environmental consciousness, which fit my values. Even though this private school comes with a high price tag, I believe that they offer their students multiple unique resources and opportunities. If you love water sports and the beach, this is the place for you!

The cafeteria has multiple options for different dietary needs, however, their variety of vegetarian/vegan meals isn't diverse enough. Furthermore, the quality of the cafeteria food isn't consistent. The school is also somewhat isolated from the local St. Petersburg community, so you have to drive to experience the local community.