Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Contents
Program [ edit ]
The Bright Futures program allows Florida high school seniors with significant academic merit to earn a scholarship to any public college/University in the state. It also offers the same funds to students attending a private college in Florida. This scholarship does not apply if the student chooses to attend college outside the state of Florida and the scholarship may only be earned while in high school. There are also retention requirements in both G. P.A. and credit-hour academic load. [ 1 ]
The program is divided into 3 types of grant and is designed to meet needs of three distinct groups in Florida higher education. As of the 2011-2012 academic year, each pays a fixed amount award to a specific recipient group. The Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) program (formerly known for paying 100% of tuition and mandatory fees) pays the highest amount of any award. It was conceived at helping the high school "A-Student" afford a 4-year degree and pays $101 per semester credit-hour. The Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) program (formerly known for paying 75% of university or 100% of community college tuition and fees) was designed to motivate high school "B-students" to strive for College as well and pays $76 per credit-hour. The final program, the Florida Gold Seal Vocational (GSV) scholars program was designed to facilitate a post-high school vocational degree and also pays $76 per semester credit hour. All payments mentioned are for work done at 4-year universities. Other rates apply at different institutions, like community colleges. There is also a new program awarding extra funds to the top scholar in each school district. [ 2 ]
A SAT score of 1270 (counting only the critical reading and mathematics sections) or ACT composite score of 28, minimum weighted high school academic GPA of 3.5 and 100 hours of community service is required to earn a FAS Award. The testing requirements will increase to a 1290 or a 29 on the SAT or ACT respectively for the high school class of 2014. The Requirements for FMS are 980 on the SAT or 21 on the ACT and 75 hours of community service. By 2014, the testing requirements on the SAT and ACT will adjust to 1170 and 26, respectively. [ 3 ]
The scholarship only applies to undergraduate coursework (unless some graduate level classes are required for a bachelor's degree). Those who complete their undergraduate coursework in seven or fewer semesters may apply up to 15 award hours toward their graduate tuition. Summer semesters are currently not eligible for bright futures funding, even though most Florida Public Universities require at least six credits to be earned through summer study. This requirement can generally be satisfied by Advanced Placement or CLEP examination.
From 1997 through 2007, the scholarships paid fixed percentages of tuition and mandatory fees. FAS (100%) also included a book stipend up to $300 per semester. Beginning with the budget cuts caused by the economic downturn from a slump in Florida's real estate market, the Florida Legislature decoupled tuition from the scholarship by changing the system to pay fixed-dollar amounts. Ideas had been circulated to raise the standards to qualify for the grants, but concerns of impact to minority and disadvantaged students paused such legislation until subsequent budget cuts forced changes. In addition, differential tuition was added as a way to boost funding to Universities. Bright Futures funds were not allowed to cover such costs.
Controversy and Reform Proposals [ edit ]
The Bright Futures Scholarship was first created in 1997, and was meant to emulate neighboring state Georgia's HOPE Scholarship. Originally the Program disbursed just above 42,000 scholarships for about $70 million. Over the last decade the cost for the scholarship has ballooned substantially. The Scholarship is solely funded by lottery proceeds, and was appropriated 329.4 million through the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund for 2012-13. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] The requirements for attaining the scholarship were meant to increase each year but have not, resulting in the current state of the award.
While many types of controversy have existed over the course of the program's existence, one large critique is that Bright Futures is solely merit-based in its award determination. This allows students whose parents could afford the tuition and fees to receive the funding over needier students. However, there are myriad programs designed to assist the poor and first-generation-in-college student on federal, state, and institutional levels. [ 7 ] The cost of college is now largely in living while in school as food, rent, and books cost far more than tuition and mandatory fees. [ 8 ] As a result, the scholarship may not be as impactful as it would be in a higher-tuition state. Another aborted attempt to change the program was to award additional funds to certain majors in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. It was abandoned as students across the state vigorously campaigned with social media and physical lobbying to drop the bill. [ 9 ]
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
^ 1. The GPA used to calculate for Bright Futures eligibility is not the same as what a high school student might have for his or her current GPA. The GPA is calculated by just using the "core classes" which are the classes that are required for graduation.
^ 2. Just like the Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award, the high school GPA is calculated by "core classes"
^ 3. Criteria for GPA is the same as the criteria for the Florida Medallion Scholars Award.
Are You Aware Of The Changes To Bright Futures Scholarships?
Background
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program was created in 1997 in an effort to keep the best and brightest Florida high school graduates in the state by offering scholarships for postsecondary education in Florida.
The Florida Legislature created the program to reward students for their academic achievements during high school.
The merit-based program offers three levels of scholarship awards with different eligibility requirements.
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV)
More than 1.5 million Bright Futures awards have been disbursed since the start of the program, totaling more than $3.2 billion.
New Eligibility Requirements
Students are now required to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA .
State Senators say the new FAFSA requirement is meant to collect financial data on the student recipients and their families. They say it is not an effort to move the program to a need-based scholarship.
Students must now also complete the following community service hours:
FAS – 100 hours
FMS – 75 hours
GSV – 30 hours
Lawmaker Says Financial Aid Could Depend On Classes, Not Just Test Scores
Bright Futures Scholarship Program
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which is primarily funded by the Florida Lottery, was created in 1997 by the Florida Legislature to assist students in pursuing postsecondary educational and career goals. Since the program's inception, the Florida Lottery has contributed more than $4.29 billion to send more than 650,000 students to college.
For more information about Bright Futures Scholarships, visit the Department of Education's Bright Futures website at www. FloridaStudentFinancialAid. org/SSFAD/bf or call the hotline at 888-827-2004.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Requirements and Eligibility
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship helps students across the state with free money for college – if you are in Florida and you follow the eligibility requirements it can help you pay for college too!
The program is split up in to various awards, based on the student’s academic track, grades, and test scores. Find the award you’re most likely to be eligible for, then be sure to complete all of the required classes.
Gold Seal Vocational Award
75% of Public College/University Tuition
$94 dollars per credit in a four year program – $47 – 64 per credit for community colleges and vocational centers
Yes, you can get a scholarship to attend a Florida college even if you’re in a vocational program and you want to further that vocational training to a degree in the field or specialty – or heck, even if you want to do something completely different.
Grade Point Average: 3.0 weighted in 15.5 “core credits” and 3.5 in 3 credits of vocational classes
Standardized Test Scores: 440 in BOTH the Math and Critical Reading Sections of the SAT; OR ACT scores greater than or equal to a 17 in English, an 18 in Reading, and a 19 in Math.
GOLD SEAL CORE CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
4 Credits of English
3 Credits of math (including Algebra 1 or higher)
3 Credits in Natural science
3 Credits in Social science
1 Credit in Performing art OR 1 Practical art or .5 in each
.5 credit Life Management Skills
.5 credit Personal Fitness
.5 credit Physical Education
Florida Medallion Scholars Award
75% of Public College/University Tuition
Up to $94 per credit for four year programs and $74 per credit at a community college
This award is worth a little more if you’re going to a community college, but the payout is basically the same as the Vocational program scholarship. The major difference is the classes required to achieve eligibility: Students pursuing the Medallion version of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship will be required to take a foreign language AND two of their sciences with a lab component.
Grade Point Average: 3.0 weighted in 15 “core” credits
Standardized Test Scores: 970 or higher on the student’s best combination of the math and verbal sections of the SAT. You could get a 490 in each section, or a 500 in math and a 470 in verbal. Any combo works to secure eligibility. The listed ACT score is 20 (not including writing).
CORE CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
4 Credits of English
3 Credits of math (Algebra 1 and above – take Geometry, too!)
3 Credits in Natural science (2 with substantial laboratory work)
3 Credits in Social science
2 Foreign Language (IN THE SAME LANGUAGE!)
This foreign language requirement is the one that gets people in trouble. Some people will take Spanish 1 and French 1 – but they will NOT qualify! You have to take two levels of the same language . One friend of mine did not qualify because the language they had taken in another country did not count. Another friend was disqualified for not taking a language. They WILL NOT let you get around this requirement. It is incredibly important and will ruin your eligibility for all four years of college if you do not complete it. Take your two languages, and take them early. It will help you on the English section of the SAT (really!) and you’ll probably be glad its out of the way.
Florida Academic Scholars Award
Up to $125 per credit for four year degree programs and $86 per credit at public community colleges.
Grade Point Average: 3.5 weighted in 15 “core” credits
Standardized Test Scores: 1270 or higher on the student’s best combination of the math and verbal sections of the SAT. You could get a 640 in each section, or a 500 in math and a 770 in verbal. Any combo works to secure eligibility. The listed ACT score is 28 (not including writing).
CORE CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
4 Credits of English
3 Credits of math (Algebra 1 and above – take Geometry, too!)
3 Credits in Natural science (2 with substantial laboratory work)
3 Credits in Social science
2 Foreign Language (IN THE SAME LANGUAGE!)
See the note in the above scholarship award regarding the language classes required for eligibility. I’ve known several people who got caught up on this requirement and missed out on a few thousand dollars because of a technicality.
Community Service for a Brighter Future
To be eligible for the big award, you need 100 hours of community service approved by the school district or the student’s private school. This is also not negotiable. Like the language, I recommend doing this early. Community service will give you great experience, a rewarding sense of accomplishment, and a chance to help out someone or someones in need. Oh yeah, don’t forget – it will help you qualify for and win even more scholarships, other than the Florida Bright Futures! Don’t put it off to the last minute because you’re “not sure” if you’ll make the other qualifications like SAT scores and grades. If you’ve invested in the 75 hours of community service, you’ll have more motivation to keep the grades up and study hard for the SATs and ACTs. Its worth 25% of your tuition – and that’s money that could be used to buy a car, a laptop, or it could even be the difference between needing small student loans or no loans at all.
Forget Luck – Plan Ahead
I was going to wish you good luck in your quest for a free college education but I decided that was silly because luck has nothing to do with it! The premise is simple. Florida will help to pay for your college tuition if you can use your high school years to prove that you’re willing to work hard and follow instructions. If you’re that type of person, society wants you to succeed – heck, we need you to succeed .
At a public university in Florida, 75% of tuition doesn’t seem like much (since the tuition is so low to begin with) but it is an incredible deal when you realize you only have to pay out about $1000 for a full semester’s worth of classes and textbooks. Many semesters, I would pay more for my books than I did for the classes! That’s a deal – and the government is willing to give you that same deal if you can get decent grades and follow the correct course of study while you’re in high school.
Double Check Course Requirements
Grades and SATs aren’t everything – and two of my friends learned this the hard way. Their high school financial aid counselors weren’t up to date on the eligibility requirements and they ended up being disqualified on a technicality. Don’t let this happen to you! Since the criteria for selection is completely based on high school scores and classes, there is no way to appeal Florida state’s decision after you graduate high school.
These are the people who contribute major breakthroughs that advance society, these are the people who build businesses that employ others, and these are the people who love a challenge because they love the rewards of overcoming obstacles.
Never too early to start
Start before you’re even a freshman in high school. Sign up for language classes before you even see your new school. Study hard. Do your homework. Then, when you’re within one year of graduating, fill out the Florida Bright Futures application form at www. FloridaStudentFinancialAid. org. The only thing you will regret is if you let this great opportunity for free money pass you by.
Not Eligible? Not Enough Money for College?
If you’re not eligible or if the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship isn’t going to cover all of your costs in college, make sure to sign up for other scholarship search services like Fastweb and ScholarshipExperts. com . There are so many shcolarships and awards out there that you won’t ever know what is available for you to apply for unless you go out and look!
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