• A student graduating from high school during the 2012-13 academic year and applying for state aid for the 2013-14 academic year must apply for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship after December 1 and prior to high school graduation. To apply a student must submit a completed Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) during the last year in high school.
• A student may receive funding for only one award (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, or Gold Seal Vocational Scholars).  The highest award earned by the student will be selected.
• Initial eligibility requirements must be met prior to High School graduation from a Florida public or FDOE-registered private High School.
• The submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an annual requirement for Bright Futures eligibility.  Note: The student’s FAFSA does not have to indicate need; however, must be complete and processed error-free prior to a student’s first disbursement of an award.  (The Florida State Programs May 15 deadline does not apply to Bright Futures.)

       3.0 weighted GPA using the credits listed below, combined with the test scores and community service hours listed below.  Weighting for more challenging, higher level courses is prescribed by law as .50 per course per year. 

Courses must include 16 credits of college preparatory academic courses.

•   4 English (3 with substantial writing)
•   4 Mathematics (Algebra I level and above)
•   3 Natural Science (2 with substantial lab)
•   3 Social Science
•   2 Foreign Language (sequential, in the same language)
  16 Credits
  

May use up to two additional credits from courses in the academic areas listed above and/or AP, IB, or AICE fine arts courses to raise the GPA