I know what the website says but what is the reality? Should this be an option? What should he do in the fall. What can he and can’t do on campus?
Ask if he can take classes (and dorm) at Valencia. Otherwise, just chill for the fall, maybe travel, work his summer job longer (employers love that). All he will miss is football if he starts in the spring.
If he really wants to get up to Tallahassee and settle in he could take fall semester at TCC. While he can’t live on the FSU campus in the dorms there is an apartment complex right across the street from FSU that is called Southgate that is similar to a dorm. There are plenty of apartment complexes that are within walking distance to FSU that he could choose as well.
I think it comes down to whether or not FSU is truly your son’s first choice. Pretend he applied to Harvard and the school said we want him and his enrollment will start in January of 2021. Would he accept that? I’m guessing “yes.” If he really wants to go to FSU, then this is really a no-brainer. He can take classes at home during the Fall or go to another CC. While a Fall or Summer admit might have been the desire, this is an option that plenty of kids who were denied yesterday would jump at. FSU wants him.
Does FSU offer a first semester study abroad option ?
Yes, it’s the Pathways program. But I’m pretty sure it has to be offered to him.
OP should ask if his son can take advantage of that option.
Per the FSU Website: https://admissions.fsu.edu/freshman/decisions/
Spring Offer
The student applied for fall or summer term but was offered admission to the spring term, provided that they complete 15 semester hours of credit at another institution in the fall. To be admitted, the student must acknowledge the term change by completing the Spring Offer Reply Form on their Application Status Check. Acknowledging the spring offer does not commit the student to attend Florida State. Our office will periodically follow-up with the student over the summer and fall as we prepare for their enrollment in the spring.
I strongly suggest you and your S read every single thing that came along with the acceptance, call admissions for clarification if necessary. You both need to understand the exact terms of the offer of admission, what needs to be done in the fall semester, if any specific programs for the fall are offered by FSU, and what his situation will be if he enrolls in the spring (ex. housing, priority for course selection, is there any spring orientation etc.). Then he will decide if he’d rather start FSU in the spring or another school he gets accepted to in the fall.
@happy1 Good advice.