Hey, I’m a junior and I’m just wondering if it’s possible to get a full ride scholarship (or close) from UCF, USF, FSU, or UF?
My parents have set up Florida pre paid for me. I also (hopefully) qualify for the highest level of bright futures. Taking ACT in February and hoping for a 30+ (32 is ideal). Currently have a 3.5UW and 4.2W but in a week when the semester is over they will both rise. I’m also planning on renting an apartment and making my own food. What type of scholarships would I be offered and how close would it be to me paying nothing?
With your pre-paid and Bright Futures, just exactly how much do you have left to cover?
I have no idea. How can I find this out? I’m a junior and this is hypothetically speaking (best case scenario).
Everybody’s situation is different, and I would definitely do your own research on this but I’ll share my story with you. I had a 4.0 unweighted GPA and 7.0 weighted GPA in high school (I took lots of AP classes). My highest SAT score was 1430, and ACT was 30. I got the highest level of Bright Futures, which currently covers full tuition. I got the USF Director’s Award, which is $4,000 per year for four years. Combined with local scholarships, I do not have to pay for college out of pocket.
USF has merit-based scholarships that are solely based on GPA and standardized test scores. They are listed on the website along with the requirements you need to reach them. Bright Futures is similar but also requires volunteer hours.
In my opinion, I think you’ll be able to get a full ride. For the USF merit-based scholarships, make sure you meet the requirements by keeping your GPA high and doing well on standardized tests. I’m sure the other colleges you mentioned also have scholarships like these; make sure you research them! For Bright Futures, get volunteer hours. You can ask your guidance counselors for advice on where to volunteer and how to document your hours. Also ask your guidance counselors if your high school works with organizations giving out local scholarships. For these, you want good grades and test scores and volunteer hours. But you also want to have extracurriculars.
Don’t quote me on any of this information. This is all based on my personal experience and advice. Make sure you confirm all of this for yourself so you have a good understanding of where you are at financially. I know it can be overwhelming - just ask for help! Your parents, an older sibling or friend that has gone through this already, guidance counselors, even teachers. Best of luck to you 
Thank you so much. I really found this helpful. Out of the colleges I listed I actually found that USF would probably be the best for me financially due their merit scholarships and second best for education in what I want to do making it number one on my list. When do you think I should start applying/looking at local scholarships? Hopefully Bright Futures stays the same in the it pays full tuition. If it goes back to paying a certain amount per credit hour do you think I would be set? Also, what if I have “extra” scholarship money. Does it become mine or do they keep it? I have around 180 volunteer hours now and will probably do a paid internship this summer.
How’s the housing situation you have? Do you live in a dorm or apartment? Do you have enough money for that?
@Hdiflfodj585902 sorry last question. So you have tuition paid for by Bright Futures so that’s done. What you have left is home, food, books, and transportation expenses. Is that all covered by the $4K every year plus the other mini scholarships you have?
Can he use his Florida prepaid money to pay for room and board?
You can use florida prepaid for other expenses if you want to. It is like a 529 plan except that it will pay tuition even if the account doesn’t have enough in it. Florida tuition is only about $6600 per year, so that might not cover room and board.
Florida Pre-paid will go towards tuition first. Then Bright Futures, with any extra bright futures $ being deposited into your banking account.
For example, lets say you have $3,000 tuition bill, and a $2,500 housing charge (living on campus in a dorm). You have Pre-paid, Bright Futures and a merit scholarships. Pre-paid pays out first, and goes towards your tuition. Then BF pays and would go towards your housing charges. What’s left over is deposited into your banking account, including any $ from merit scholarships.
Don’t forget that you will owe taxes on funds not used for tuition, books and certain approved expenses. I’m pretty sure this applies to Bright Futures too if it is used for room and board but you might want to double check.
Gator88NE, you don’t HAVE to use prepaid at all if you don’t want to. You can save it for grad school or another year.
Bright Futures allows the colleges to decide what BF funds can be used for. Most schools seem to be very flexible, especially the public schools, but my daughter attends a (private) school that only allows BF to be used for tuition. I’m just lucky that way! It did make a difference for us these last two years as she had too much money for tuition and not enough for room and board when she no longer lived in the dorms.
Outside scholarships may be allowed to be used first. BF is like any scholarship and if it is used for QEE, it is not taxed but if used for room and board or other non-QEE, it is subject to federal tax. Pre-paid, on the other hand, is a 529 plan and not taxed if used for room and board, another reason to not have the school apply it to tuition first.