<p>Its $4100. Can't beat that!</p>
<p>Well, you're right. What I guess I was talking about is if I didn't get BF AND there wasn't an honors program here at UCF. Sorry, I forgot to mention that factor.</p>
<p>The thing is, after UF, not many other universities besides UM (and that's super-expensive to begin with, even without travel) have the same kind of academic prestige, unless you factor in New College. The fact I got into the UCF Honors College stopped me from considering OOS options.</p>
<p>So if I didn't know about UCF honors, yes, I might have gone somewhere else. I already have a lot of winter clothes, and my primary reasons for looking at schools in those two states is because I have family there as well. Also, the scholarships I was offered would have offset some of the tuition costs.</p>
<p>^ I don't know FSU is a very good option as well (they also have an Honors Program).</p>
<p>I know, but my dad graduated from UF, and I was raised a Canes fan because my grandfather was a former linebacker there, so I have a genetic hatred for FSU. :)</p>
<p>I never applied. I think part of it is that Tally is so far away from South Florida, as much as 8 hours (Even longer if you're from the Keys. 11 Hours from Key West.) without stopping assuming there is no traffic. I've begun to notice a pattern of S-FL students choosing UCF over FSU because it's half the distance away and, frankly, there's a whole lot more to do in the Orlando area when you have free time. The theme parks always find ways to bring UCF students in, with occasional free ticket opportunity and heavy discounts (better than the FL Resident rate or AAA rate) if you buy your ticket in the Student Union. I've already had the opportunity to go to Universal for free twice this year, and my 3rd free ticket is in the mail. (Thank you Super Bowl Ad!)</p>
<p>dvm- You say that FSU is "so far from South Florida" but you would have considered going to Maryland or Illinois? Please. </p>
<p>Without BF most students would stay instate and pay the $4100 tuition.</p>
<p>^ Most mediocre Middle Class student would, but not people with dvm's stats.</p>
<p>He has a legitimate argument</p>
<p>We are in a recession. College endowments have suffered. Its the full payers that will have their pick of colleges. Unless you make less then $60k you will likely be paying more than $4100 to go OOS. And we'll see how long the new FinAid policies last at the top privates. In a bad economy, and where you actually PAY for college, most will choose the cheapest & best college option available to them.</p>
<p>I am just wondering what the elite college students feel about the BF scholarship for vocational students? Who will fix your A/C, automobiles, plumbing and electrical systems?
Who will properly color, style and cut your hair without turning you bald or green? What do you think about the current policy of BF assisting students to learn the trades?</p>
<p>Well the lottery money has to go somewhere, and I would rather it be a merit based scholarship than anything else.</p>
<p>As I said before: why invest in student who need remediation?</p>
<p>SSOBICK - Are you saying vocational students need remediation? If they are learning a trade I don't believe they waste time on general education classes, they learn physical, mechanical, practical skills to do a job and earn a living sometimes higher than some college graduates.</p>
<p>I personally think we are trying to make everybody go to college even though we also need to encourage and support students who have better practical skill capabilities.</p>
<p>The scholarship is called Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award</p>
<p>Do you have any thoughts on the BF fixed amount awards for students who attend Florida PRIVATE Post secondary institutions? Those students attending a non-profit private institution also receive FRAG Florida Residence Access Grant money as well.</p>
<p>ssobick,
I not sure why you're so strongly against the investment plan in remediation... but remember that phrase "No Child Left Behind" many people hated it b/c children were still left behind due to higher standards that many slower learners cannot reach (one reason). I believe every student should have an investment by the state, the more people we have in poverty (due to the best and brightest getting the best investments, while the ones who need just a boost, get nothing) the worse the country will get. Now I do understand that the best and brightest may not be getting the full support they need in education, but that is life-we all do not get what we deserve and we earned the right to have it. Just life, we have to deal with it, whether it is a good economy or bad. What kind of requirements you believe bright futures should have? For advantage and disadvantage students.</p>
<p>Oreo,</p>
<p>It's called an airplane, and it's your friend :)</p>
<p>Flying to Illinois or Maryland is much shorter than a 8-9 hour car drive. And these days, airfare on a discount airliner such as Southwest to BWI or MDW would only cost a little more than the fuel needed to get me to FSU, with their current rates out of S-FL. Currently, it takes about $40-$45 worth of gasoline to fill up my car when on empty, with prices going up again. About half the tank is used by the time I get from S-FL to Orlando, so one tank would barely take me to Tally, if at all. (I drive a small, but 10-year-old four-door sedan.) In my mind, the price difference is very reasonable and worth it.</p>
<p>SSobick,</p>
<p>The lottery money is nothing but a shell game. As money comes in, it doesn't supplement the money given by the legislature for the education--it's replacing it. The whole idea that we're helping our young children receive a better education and sending more HS grads to college by playing more Powerball is nothing but a scam started by Jeb Bush. People may believe they're supporting education by playing the lotto, but in the end, the real benefits of playing are diverted towards other pet projects, mostly up North, where all the political power is gerrymandered to be.</p>
<p><em>I'm not sure why...</em> could not edit my post.</p>
<p>DVM- YOU are the one who said this: "I never applied. I think part of it is that Tally is so far away from South Florida, as much as 8 hours".</p>
<p>There are tons of need based scholarships out there. Just because a family has a relatively high income does not mean they have tons of money to throw around. Bright Futures encourages students to perform well, and they are rewarded by decreased tuition at Florida schools. The standards should be raised because as it stands, the people who receive it don’t necessarily deserve it based on their GPAs and scores.</p>
<p>The Bright Futures requirements will not change. All FL students will pay more tuition that is not covered by the BF Scholarship. Too political to change entire system.</p>
<p>The new chancellor Frank Brogran thinks it might be a good idea to raise the standards.</p>
<p>You all need to tell him to raise the bar, or I can darn well guarantee they are going to keep flushing the money down the toilet on students who need remediation. We need to INVEST in Florida’s best & brightest (the future of Florida’s economy is at stake, and we need to change to a knowledge based economy that focuses on biotechnologies and brings in the venture capitalists). </p>
<p>At $436 million it is not sustainable, and the smart kids need to fight for their share of the pie. Need based aid already comes in the form of Pell Grants, the Obama Scholarship, and other charitable organizations (not to mention UF now has the Opportunity Scholarship and FSU has the C.A.R.E. program). Once Merit Aid is going the smart kids will be SOL!</p>
<p>There are many options for students who cannot afford tuition.
I won’t qualify for ANY financial aid because my stepfather is a doctor who makes a crapload of money. My mother doesn’t work. My father and I don’t speak to each other. Nobody will pay for my tuition. I plan on pursuing some type of graduate degree whether it be a PhD or MD, so I would be much happier getting 100% BF than ending up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. BF should definitely raise the criteria, which would solve many money problems.</p>
<p>I am a senior at a Florida high school, and I personally Sobick’s posts are offensive to most high schoolers. While I am no valedictorian, or even top 10%, I worked my behind off to meet the minimum for the scholarship that was once called 100%. I got a 28 ACT, just recently did my community service, and now an old guy , who I am assuming had his children use the system already, wants to cut it because he got his fair share, Bright Futures should be sustained at any cost.</p>