Bright Futures Initial Eligibility

2017-2018
High School Graduates
 Florida Financial Aid General Eligibility

Florida resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Pursue an undergraduate degree at an eligible Florida postsecondary
institution
Begin using the scholarship funds within 2 years of high school graduation
(unless enlisted in military)
Graduate from a Florida public high school or FLDOE-registered private high
school (for GED, Out-of-State & Home Education exceptions see
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/ssfad/bf
Not be guilty of, or pled no contest to, a felony charge
Be enrolled for at least 6 non-remedial semester credit hours
Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August
31st after graduation
 Florida Academic
FLORIDA Scholars Award
FINANCIAL AID &
THE BRIGHT Florida Medallion
Scholars Award
FUTURES
SCHOLARSHIP
Florida Gold Seal
Vocational Award
 GPA
3.5 weighted GPA in required college preparatory
credits (not rounded)
Required Credits-- 16 college preparatory credits

Florida 4 English (3 with substantial writing)

4 Math (Algebra I level and above)
Academic 3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
3 Social Science
Scholars 2 Foreign Language (sequential, in the same

Award language)
Community Service
100 hours approved by YOUR high school
counselor
Test Scores
1290 SAT Reasoning Test or 29 ACT National Test
 Florida
Academic One FAS award recipient per county
Scholars Ranked on BF GPA and SAT/ACT score
Award Award established annually by the Florida
Legislature in the General Appropriations Act
prorated by term and hours
Florida Determined end of fall term following HS
Top graduation and after term one
disbursements
Scholars Students and high school notified in
Award November following high school graduation
 GPA
3.0 weighted GPA in required college preparatory
credits
Required Credits--16 college preparatory credits
Florida 4 English (3 with substantial writing)
4 Math (Algebra I level and above)
Medallion

3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)

Scholars 3 Social Science

2 Foreign Language (sequential, in the same
Award language)
May use up to 2 additional credits from courses in these academic areas and/or AP, IB, or
AICE fine arts courses to raise GPA.

Community Service
75 hours approved by YOUR high school counselor
Test Scores
1170 SAT Reasoning Test or 26 ACT National Test
Scholarship Awards How Does It Work?

Public and Private Institutions

Students will receive the specified award amounts established
annually by the Florida Legislature in the General
Appropriations Act.
Funding begins the Fall following high school graduation.
Summer funding is not available
Forcurrent year award amounts visit:
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf/awardamt.htm
 Eligibility Evaluations

Completed twice a year based on transcripts electronically sent to

the Florida Department of Education by the graduating high school:
Begins in March, after 7th semester (fall term) January 31st
Begins June/July, after 8th semester (graduation) June 30th

Note: Students MUST check eligibility ONLINE at

www.floridashines.org
 New Award Amounts Florida Academic Scholars
2017-2018 (FAS) will receive an award to cover 100%
of tuition and applicable fees and $300 for

Florida both fall and spring semesters for

additional educational expenses.

Academic Students attending a public institution will

have tuition and applicable fees covered.
Scholar These fees include activity and service fee,
Award health fee, athletic fee, financial aid fee,
capital improvement fee, campus

Amount access/transportation fee, technology fee

and tuition differential fee.
 www.FloridaShines.org

FloridaShines.org is Florida's official online one-stop-shop in transitioning students from

middle school through college.
It is an advising system that can assist high school students, college students, parents,
and even counselors to help plan and track educational progress in Florida.
Go www.floridashines.org
Click on Go to College
Click on Pay for College
Select Check Your Eligibility
Login Social Security Number or Florida ID # provided to the school
 For More Information.

www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org
E-mail: OSFA@fldoe.org
1-888-827-2004 (Grants/Scholarships)
1-800-366-3475 (Student Loans)
 WWW.FASTWEB.COM

FastWeb offers a free scholarship database that includes over 1.3

million scholarships worth over $3 billion
Database sources include local, national, and college-specific
scholarships
Search and compare detailed college profiles on FastWebs database
FastWebs database allows you to also search for internships or part-
time job openings near your home or school
FastWeb is recommended by more than 16,000 schools and 3,600
colleges
Access FastWeb by visiting www.fastweb.com - requires ID/Password
 OTHER RESOURCES

Use www.finaid.org to search for available monies through scholarships and

grants nationwide
www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org
High School Counseling Office
Be aware of recent scholarship scams
Scams can be received via phone, letter in the mail, or E-mail
Visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website at www.ftc.gov for
additional information on scams, or contact the FTC by calling 1-877-FTC-
HELP (1-877-382-4357) or TTY 1-866-653-4261
Keep all copies of
your financial aid
documentation.
 THANK YOU!!

SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
armstronga@duvalschools.org
ferrells1@duvalschools.org
mortensenk@duvalschools.org
(904) 346-5620