Can someone explain how the summer start works? Is there a formal program? Where do students live? Can you stay in the same dorm room? How many classes do you have to take? Are there specific courses that have to be taken (freshman English?) What is the cost? Is there somewhere on the website with specific information? Thanks!!!
FSU Admissions tweeted that they would be taking phone calls to answer questions regarding admissions decisions that were released today until 8:30 pm tonight. Why don’t you give them a call? Also, in following the FSU Admissions Twitter account, I see they are quick to respond to questions and DMs.
Students admitted for summer start with the Summer C semester, which usually starts in mid-to-late June (look up the FSU academic calendar for the official date). There are certain dorm buildings that are open for summer; not all of them are. If you live on campus you probably won’t get the same room for summer and fall, but it can happen.
You generally take 6 credits worth of classes (2 classes). If you haven’t gotten credit for the class, you are required to take the freshman English class. The cost is the same as every other semester for tuition and stuff per credit hour, though housing is less expensive since it’s only for 6 weeks. You can look all of that up on FSU’s website.
I called admissions and what @Pasbal said is mostly accurate. I was told that 9 credits is required. Summer semester is treated as it’s own entity so when you come back in the fall it’s new housing, roommate…all new just like the regular fall freshman students - only summer kids are already familiar with campus.
I actually applied for the Summer term, but they put my application in the Fall term, and after they rejected said application, they changed it to Summer 2017, so I don’t know what was up with that.
You’re required to take 9 credit hours total during the summer semester in undergrad - it’s a state requirement. That’s likely what they meant by you have to take 9 credit hours, since the easiest way to meet that requirement is to just do it during your summer semester on campus that you’re already going to be there for anyway. However, you aren’t required to take more than 6 credits in the Summer C semester as a new freshman student.
@Pasbal - thanks for clarification. Now that you say it - that is exactly how the woman said it. I find that a relief - I think 9 credits in 6 weeks seems like a lot for a summer freshman.
Did any of you click the link to accept the non-binding offer for the Summer term yet? My son did and entered the required information. however, at the very last screen, instead of a confirmation page he got an error. He retried and got the same error every time. Any one else experience this?
It looks like his acceptance went through because he did get a confirmation email (actually several of them due to the multiple attempts). But, the error screen did concern us a bit. Wouldn’t want an IT issue to cause a problem with his acceptance.
I emailed admissions regarding this and am waiting for a response. I was just curious if anyone else saw the same thing.
Thanks Raam1012. So, can you just take 1 class? Or do they require 2 for the Second 6 week C Summer session as a minimum?
Figure if you have to go another summer anyway, why bother killing yourself, take 1 class, work into the system/school and environment, then pick up the other 2 classes another summer.
2 classes during 6 weeks for somebody right out of High School, plus the campus/college change of life etc…seems a bit much for most kids.
Thx
@techlogik You have to take 6 credit hours to be considered a full time student (aka in order to get bright futures and stuff) I believe. Typically they’re fairly easy classes such as ENC101. Some students have trouble, but they’d probably have trouble adjusting anyways even if they were only taking 1 class
Ok. But Brightfutures is only available for Fall/Summer terms. There are no BF in Summer for students. But 6 credits is full time, then I guess that is the required minimum. Thanks
At least you would be able to have a grip on the courses you’re taking and knock them out by the time you start Fall. If you applied with good stats and worked hard while you were in high school, it shouldn’t matter if 9 credits seems tough or not. IMO at least.
As someone that once did 13 credits in the summer (thankfully not all in a six-week semester), 9 credits for an incoming freshman crammed into one six-week “semester” is not a good idea. The classes that are offered to incoming freshmen in Summer C are going to try and cram 15-16 weeks of learning into that short time period, meaning you’re meeting twice as often and for longer periods of time and have the same amount of work. It’s not fun.
There’s a reason FSU has incoming students take ~6 credits instead of 9. They want you to succeed, not overload yourself and burn out practically before you’ve gotten started.
I have a general question about FSU and summer classes. My daughter, who is accepted for Summer 2017 told me that it is required of all FSU students to take classes one summer during their four years? Is this a correct statement? I never heard of such a thing. Thanks for your input on this.
That is correct. I don’t know the details but I believe it is a state requirement for all Florida public universites. Also, I think that the requirement is nine credits. The typical freshman takes 6 credits in summer C. So, that leaves 3 more in some future summer session. However, I also think that there are some other ways to satisfy that requirement. For example, I’m pretty certain that it can get waived with dual enrollment or AP credits earned while in high school.
Keep in mind that my comments are pretty much based on info that I’ve read on these boards. Your best bet would be to contact FSU and verify with them. I’d be interested to see how accurate my understanding is.
I think I found the pertinent info on FSU’s website. Click on the below link and then scroll down to item #7 under the section titled “Graduation Requirements/Liberal Studies for the 21st Century”. It looks like the AP/Dual enrollment exemption was discontinued in 2011. So, I must have seen that in an old thread.
http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/undergraduate/information/undergraduate_degree/
Well that sure does add a bit of financial concern. If one is required to spend a summer that’s additional room/board, tuition. As a summer admit, we are already in for an extra semester - if she doesn’t take 9 credits this summer she would have to be back for another summer. While I did not want to throw 9 credits at her this summer I might just have to. Uggh!
It’s a state-wide requirement I believe. Plus study abroad counts towards the summer requirements. Students also have the option to take online classes. It’s really not a hassle for the majority of students
On line classes - that works! Study abroad - that works too 
Thanks.