<p>Themclos: it’s pointless to tell a student they can do anything they want - that’s how they create lists that turn disapppointing and unaffordable. At UMiami, a 3.4 places the student within the bottom 10% applicant so OP would have zero chance (the bottom 25% are athletes, legacies, students who had to overcome great obstacles such as illness or poverty…) We don’t know what Op’s Weighted GPA is so you cannot say that FSU and UF are within reach when those schools’ averages are 3.8 and above 4 weighted (unofficial UF).
A 3.4 GPA represents a B+ student. That’s a solid, strong student who has many choices but not a student who can apply anywhere and get in. There are lots of good colleges that CollegeBound1216 can get into, so s/he should look into the Florida publics (USF or UNF come to mind) and the Colleges that change lives (which are solid schools for B+/A- or even B students - in Florida, those include New College and Eckerd, I think, and Eckerd would definitely be within range for OP.) Then, OP can look for private colleges within the South, Midwest, MidAtlantic, and Pacific Northwest where s/he will provide geographical diversity.
Without an SAT or ACT score and a rank it’s hard to provide more advice than that.
The first two schools to find are the safeties: schools you like, are 100% sure you can get into, and can afford. Then, you add 3-5 matches (where you’re above the average GPA/SAT and up to top 25%, and where selectivity in that case would be around 50-60%). Then, you can add as many reaches as you wish or can afford, and for OP those would be UF, UMiami, or Emory.
So, OP has his reaches for now… time to find the two real safeties (colleges you like, can afford, and are 100% sure you can get into).</p>