OK, first and foremost this is the most beautiful campus in the US- I defy anyone to show me a more beautiful campus!

As a recent grad (BA '99), I will be very straigtforward about Flagler. This review is meant to be geared toward prospective students, and I will try to tell you some things that aren't mentioned in the brochure!

1. The city of St. Augustine is gorgeous, and there is lots to do- as far as nightlife goes, it's mostly small bars (you have to go to Jacksonville (Jax) or Daytona to really go clubbing). But the small bars are great- especially regaee Sunday- highly enjoyable. The beaches are gorgeous, the surf is good, the shopping is decent, and unique- especially on St. George Street. (Please see my E-pinion on St. Augustine for further information about the town.)

2. The professors and staff at Flagler are wonderful! Really good people, I think I got an excellent education, and I landed my dream job 2 months out. The class sizes are small, so you get a lot of individual attention. I once took an English exam while I was very, very sick with the flu. When I got the exam back, there was simply a note saying "see me." I thought, oh-oh! When I went to speak to my professor, he asked if there was any sort of problem in my personal life, since he was shocked at how poorly I performed on the exam, compared to my usual grades. When I explained the 103 fever, and migraine that accompanied me to the exam, he promptly re-scheduled the test for me, and created a new exam for me to take the following week- which I aced. Such a thing would never happen in a larger University or college! You will generally get the class you want, though with some of the more popular classes, you may need to try twice. Most of the classes are held in Keenan hall, which is attached to Ponce De Leon Hall (dorms, dining hall) by a breezeway. The breezeway was once a carraige drive when the college was a hotel, and is a very popular student hangout spot. I like the compact size of campus, so that I have all of my classes close to each other, and only yards away from the library.

3. Affordable! Approximately $10,000 a year for tuition, room and board. You must live on campus if you are a freshman. (More about that in a bit!)

4. The CLAST (College Level Aptitude Skills Test) is a state exam you take in your Junior year which tests your English and Match skills. Sort of an advanced SAT. You must pass it in order to graduate, though you are given numerous chances and tutorials when needed.

5. Flagler is a Dry Campus! but there are usually parties w/in walking distance & a movie theater w/ a smoking section that serves alcohol just down the road. Cops did break up parties, but they were fairly lax about it, most of the time, so long as no one was drinking and driving. Another important factor is no interdorm visitation- if you have a significant other while living on campus, you will spend some serious $$ on motel rooms or get VERY comfortable about PDA. I found this to be frustrating in that my male friends couldn't just hang out in my room with me and chat or watch a movie. Also, there is NO airconditioning in the girls dorm! There is also no cable TV hookups. The girls dorm is the old Ponce de Leon Hotel, and is stunningly beautiful, and each room has an en suite bathroom. You will need to invest in a few fans. Trust me on this one. The boy's dorm is Lewis Hall, and it is located just across the street. It looks, from the outside, like a hotel, with outside balcony entrances to rooms. The men do have cable, and A/C. It certainly doesn't have the charm that the girl's dorm does, but it doesn't have the discomfort, either. I cannot comment on how the inside of Lewis looks, because of the aforementioned visitation policy.

6. Greek life- practically non-existent, I am a '99 grad, and when I attended, there was one sorority, and I use the term loosely.

7.Sports- A great Tennis team. Basketball is available, and surfing is very, very popular! Sports really weren't my thing, so I can't comment accurately beyond that!

8. Clubs- there are a number of very involved clubs on Campus, Deaf Ed. is a very popular major, and there are some great signing clubs. Ariel, the Spanish club is also very involved. As is the Young Life group. As far as clubs go, there is something here for everyone!

9. Off Campus Housing is plentiful and affordable, and within easy walking distance of the college. I lived downtown my sophomore and junior year, and then moved to the beach when I had my car senior year.


Bottom line is this- I miss my college desperately and would ABSOLUTELY suggest this college to anyone.
If you have any specific questions, please leave a comment, or E-mail me, and I would be happy to talk to you about my experience!

Recommended: Yes