Hello, I am a high school senior who is going to attend college in Florida Atlantic University. I have a 4.0 unweighted and 4.19 weighted GPA, as well as a recently attained 26 ACT score.
This now qualifies me for the FMS bright futures scholarship which offers the applicant 77 dollars per credit hour. The next highest scholarship from Bright Futures is 100 dollars per credit hour. Tuition at Florida Atlantic is 200 dollars per credit hour.
In order for me to be eligible for the 100 dollar per hour scholarship, I have to bump by ACT score up to a 29 before June. My main question is, should I bother taking the ACT again? I already have ample scholarship funds, but my parents are pushing me to retake it and aim for more. What am I missing out on with 3 extra points. Other than the extra 15% scholarship from Bright Futures, will I be missing out on anything if I do not retake the ACT and stick with this score?
With athletic scholarships, financial aid, and Bright futures combined I have over 200% scholarship for tuition. I have taken the old SAT before and got roughly a 1600. This is the first time taking the ACT however. Other than the Bright Futures Scholarship, what scholarship would be available if I do get a 29+?
I can actually use the money for aid. The Bright Futures maybe cannot, however athletic can go over 100% and still be taken for whatever, as well as Financial Aid. I will use the money for Gas, and other expenses and put aside the rest. But specifically, if I were to get a 29+ do you know what other scholarships would be attainable, if any?
Do you have a formal award letter for your aid or are you basing the 200% number on your calculations? It sounds like you potentially have this money which is great but not a sure thing.
Athletic scholarships can be lost. It depends on the school and the specific type of scholarship but this funding source can go away for reasons besides academic performance.
By financial aid, I assume you mean need based aid. This aid is not usually stacked on top of your other awards but is more like backfill that’s used to cover what your merit and athletic scholarships don’t. So need based aid amounts can change based on not only your athletic and merit awards but also on your parents’ income…meaning it could disappear entirely.
That leaves your Bright futures award. This is a source of money that won’t go away if your parents’ income changes or if you are injured. You have this award with the only restriction being that you keep your GPA up…which is something you have a lot more control over.
None of this money is free or guaranteed. Be smart and optimize your funding sources by studying/drilling and retaking the ACT.
^^ I agree and if your financial aid package includes loans, you’d be wiser to try to bump that score up 3 points and try to get the $100/hr Bright futures award.
“You have this award with the only restriction being that you keep your GPA up…which is something you have a lot more control over.”
Something that you have a lot of control over, and yet inordinate amounts of students lose every single year. Like 3/4 of the friends I have who were on Bright Futures lost it.
Don’t underestimate the smackdown that is college.