As senior year comes to a close, there is so much going on: deadlines to meet, forms to submit and people to reach out to. Students need to stay up to date on important deadlines for colleges, as well as for Bright Futures and other scholarship opportunities.
The Florida Bright Futures scholarship is of major importance in senior year for any student planning to attend college. The Bright Futures scholarship has two main tiers. The top tier is The Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition. The requirements for this scholarship are at least a 3.5 weighted GPA, at least a 29 on ACT or 1330 on SAT, and at least 100 volunteer and/or work hours combined. The second tier is the Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) which covers 75% of tuition but has slightly less rigorous requirements. To qualify, students must have at least a 3.0 weighted GPA, a 24 ACT or 1190 SAT, and at least 75 volunteer/work hours.
The deadline for applying for the scholarship is Aug. 31 after graduation. At the beginning of April, students who have already applied are able to access their Bright Futures eligibility reports to ensure everything is on track for their scholarship. Students should log into their Bright Futures student portal to check their reports. For assistance students can email [email protected] or set up a meeting with their counselor to overview any possible issues.
“By May 1, students should have already informed their college of choice that they plan to attend for the upcoming year,” counselor Dr. Andrea Fuhrer said.
Councilor Tonya Mcintyre stresses the importance of students knowing what college they truly desire to attend, and not making decisions rashly based on availability or [lack of] time.
“I’m a proponent of waiting until you have all of the information [about a college] and then going from there, so that you don’t miss out on opportunities that could best suit you,” Mcintyre said.
It is very important for students to have this decision made as soon as possible in order for colleges to make arrangements for incoming students. After students have already committed to a college, logging into the school’s portal and reviewing deadlines is also necessary. Every student has to attend an orientation for their college, and most sign-ups for orientations open mid-spring.
As well as signing up for orientations, planning for housing is important if students plan to live on campus. Most tasks can be completed online, but making a few phone calls or setting up a meeting to speak to a college representative in person can also prove to be very helpful.
As seniors, it can be truly difficult to balance college deadlines and juggling the daily tasks of school, work and everyday life. It is encouraged that students reach out for help if they feel overwhelmed. Counselors are always available to assist students in any processes and help to answer any questions.
