1.      You DO need a score from the ACT or SAT to gain admission to the 12 SUS institutions.

The schools wish they could be test optional this year.  However, this is a Board of Governors’ decision, not a decision for the individual schools within the SUS.  The University of South Florida believes that the test scores they are receiving this year are lower than the scores they received at this time last year.  Fewer students have been able to retest to improve their scores. 

2.     The Florida Department of Education will pay for one ACT or SAT test to be administered at school.

The school districts have to hustle to make this happen, and many will.  The ACT and SAT have been administered successfully on Saturdays in many places around Florida.  Many Seniors took either the ACT or SAT at their public or private school last year (Alachua County Juniors took the ACT in February; P. K. Yonge and St. Francis students took the SAT last year; etc.). 

3.     The new Bright Futures scores take effect this year.

Last year, the scores needed on the ACT were 26 for Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS also known as 75% of tuition) and 29 for Florida Academic Scholars (FAS also known as 100% of tuition).  This year, the ACT scores are 25 and 29, respectively.  For the SAT, last year’s thresholds were 1170 and 1290.  This year, the necessary scores are 1210 and 1330, respectively.  Students still need the required grade point average and volunteer hours in addition to the test score.  Why the changes?    The current SAT was revised a few years ago and there is now enough data to compare the two tests again.  Simply put, a 1210 on the new SAT compares to a 25 on the ACT. 

4.     Some schools are hosting physical tours.

Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Florida Polytechnic (the newest state university in Lakeland), the University of North Florida (UNF), and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) are hosting limited tours of their campuses.  Almost every school in the United States offers virtual tours. 

5.     The Common Application and the Coalition Application have added a COVID-19 question.

We have all been impacted by COVID-19.  If a student has been impacted dramatically, they can share that information on their application. 

6.     Florida State University (FSU) has moved their priority application deadline to December 1.

The University of Florida (UF) deadline is still November 1.  UF will accept test scores until December 15.  FSU will accept test scores through the month of December. 

7.     The Class of 2021 will NOT be adversely affected by students from the Class of 2020 taking gap years.

The gap year thing hasn’t really happened.  In a true gap year, the student delays schooling for one year to do something cool (study abroad, travel, intern, unique work experience, etc.).  Most of these cool things aren’t happening because of COVID-19.  Most of the admitted Class of 2020 are in college right now.  The twelve SUS schools need approximately 170,000 new students next year. 

Student First Educational Consulting would be happy to answer your questions.