Chance me for Florida colleges?

State Forums
1

I’m currently an incoming senior from Florida mostly looking at in-state public schools. I’m certainly not aiming for top schools, and am only hoping to get into a decent school without racking up too much debt or resorting to community college. My story is similar to a lot of people- I messed up my first two years of high school, in a very depressed state of mind for several personal/family reasons, getting mostly C’s and earning myself a 2.4 GPA. However, I finally got my act together starting junior year, and got straight A’s throughout the whole year, which will hopefully reflect an upward trend. I also plan to continue getting straight A’s next year, and I hope to have a 3.0 by the end of the first semester at least.

GPA: around 2.9 UW, around 3.4 W

ACT: 30 (E:36, M: 23, R: 36, S: 25) I’m hoping to retake it and get a better science and math score. I’m not sure if my ACT score is high enough to make up for my subpar GPA?

ECs: I volunteer at my local public library’s teen advisory board every week, and volunteered at my city’s non-profit art museum for most of the summer, and I have more than 100 hours total. I was in a few clubs like the gay/straight alliance and technical theater club which sometimes requires you to work on sets during the weekends and long after school.

Schedule: 4 AP’s so far, earning 5’s on all of them. I plan on taking three more next year. The rest of my classes have been honors and one regular math class.

I also have documented learning disabilities if that’s relevant.

The schools I’m most interested in are USF or USFSP, which may be reaches, and FSU, which is a definite reach. Also looking at UCF, UNF or FAU, University of Tampa, and Flagler. Any suggestions would be a appreciated, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be in Florida. I’d definitely be interested in liberal arts colleges in or out of state, as long as it’s not too expensive.

2

You have a good upward trend and a strong ACT score. That’s good. You can use that to your advantage in your essay. Spin it around into something positive. Tell them a story about how you overcame adversity and got all A’s in your junior and senior year! The worst possible thing they can do is say no. While you’re at it, apply for Florida and FSU!

3

Go to this link, and review the 2017 SUS Matrix and the 2017 USF System Matrix. These will give you the admissions information for each school.

http://www.flbog.edu/board/office/asa/admissionstour.php

For example, lets look at USF SP.
USF SP
% of applicants accepted Summer/Fall 2017: 66%/32% (notice that Summer B has a higher acceptance rate)
Mid Range Accepted GPA Summer/Fall: Summer 3.03-3.62;Fall: 3.48-4.17
Middle Range ACT Accepted students Summer/Fall: Summer: 21-24; Fall: 23-28

Notice how it’s easier to be accepted in Summer B than Fall? If given the choice, apply for Summer B. However, you do have the grades to make Fall, even if your weighted GPA is a bit low.

USF offers nice merit based scholarships, but your GPA is a bit low.

https://www.usf.edu/admissions/freshmen/admissions-scholarships/index.aspx

However, you may qualify for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. Either the FAS (100% tuition) or FMS level(50% tuition). Make sure you’ve submitted your volunteer hours to your school, so they can be included (you need 100 hours).

http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/PDF/BFHandbookChapter1.pdf

4

Your gpa is not that big of a deal breaker because the obvious shift in your grades shows your story. Elaborate on it in either your essay of the “additional information” part of the application for clarification. You could turn it into a positive by saying how you overcame and talk about your upwards projectory. An ACT score of 27-29 is what is needed to get into most schools nationwide, hell its in the ACT range for NYU. Your test score will help you build your case, especially if you get it even higher.

The only school you mentioned that might be a reach would be FSU, but strong test scores and an awesome essay could save you. All of the rest are targets or safetys. I know a kid who got into FSU with a gpa similar to your weighted gpa and lower test scores. UT is pretty easy to get into but is expensive since its private.

I can’t give you suggestions without knowing your intended major, but I’m about to go to UCF and have been very impressed so far. I felt completely at home during orientation and everyone who goes here that I know absolutely loves it.