[11][12] As of September 2018, she is focusing on eating disorders as a Ph.D. student under Dr. Cynthia Bulik at the University of North Carolina.

[17] In addition to her singles career, Flatt also competed as a pair skater from 2001 to 2004 with partner Andrew Speroff.

Later in 2005, Flatt was invited to compete at the 2005 North American Challenge competition as a junior lady, where she won the bronze medal.

Flatt was often referred to as "Rachael the Rock" and was often called " The Consistency Queen" because of her ability to compete cleanly, landing up to seven triples in a freeskate, including her triple-triple combinations.

She qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final, placing third in the short program, first in the free skate, and winning the silver medal.

At the 2008 U.S. Championships in St Paul, Minnesota, she won the silver medal on the senior level after winning the free skate.

[26] Nevertheless, her coach Tom Zakrajsek stated that he felt that Flatt could complete her elements despite the stress fracture and did not request that the alternate, Mirai Nagasu, compete in her place.

In May 2011, Flatt confirmed that she was leaving Colorado Springs in order to study chemical engineering at Stanford University and would look for a new coach in the Bay Area.

[29] On August 19, 2011, Flatt announced that she would be working with Justin Dillon and Lynn Smith in Oakland, California.

[7][30] She also spent some time training with Sergei Ponomarenko in San Jose and Charlie Tickner in Redwood City.

[32] Flatt said she would spend her holiday break in Colorado Springs working with Tom Zakrajsek and Becky Calvin.

[33] On October 30, 2012, Flatt said she would miss the rest of the season due to the recurrence of an injury in her right lower leg and ankle.

[37] Flatt signed an endorsement deal with AT&T, the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC), and has also served as a spokesperson for Reading Is Fundamental,[8][38] as well as the US Anti-Doping Agency.