Meet basic eligibility requirements. Students being graduated from high school in 2011 must have a minimum SAT score of 1270 or a minimum ACT score of 28 to be named a Florida Academic Scholar (FAS). To be named a Florida Medallion Scholar (FMA), you must have a minimum SAT score of 970 or a minimum ACT score of 20. Both FAS and FMA are eligible for funding of up to 100 percent of a college curriculum of up to 120 credit hours.
Study the specific requirements. As of 2009-10 academic year, Bright Futures recipients are required to meet a new minimum requirement for credit hours, based on amendments by the Florida legislature to the law that created the program, reports FDE. Full-time students must now earn a minimum of 24 semester hours, or the equivalent in clock hours, to be able to renew their scholarship, reports FDE. FAS must also maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. FMS must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA. The awards and renewal requirements are pro-rated for part-time students.
Measure renewal requirements by semester hours. For example, a full-time student receiving funding for 12 or more semester hours per term must receive at least 12 earned hours per term to meet the minimum requirement. A "three-quarter time" student receiving funding for nine to 11 semester hours must receive at least nine earned hours per term. A "half-time" student receiving funding for six to eight hours must earn at least six.
Measure renewal requirements by clock hours. For example, a full-time student receiving funding for at least 360 hours per term must show at least 360 earned hours per term. A three-quarter time student receiving funding for 270 to 359 hours must demonstrate at least 270 earned hours per term. A half-time student receiving funding for 180 to 269 hours must show at least 180 earned hours.
Measure renewal requirements by the quarter hour. For example, a full-time student receiving funding for at least 12 or more quarter hours per term must demonstrate at least 12 earned hours per term. A three-quarter time student receiving funding for nine to 11 quarter hours must show at least nine earned hours, and a half-time student receiving funding for 120 to 179 quarter hours must show at least 120 earned hours per term. There are similar matching requirements for clock hours by quarter and also by quinmester.
Account for an inconsistent school year. Students who vary their level of enrollment during the academic year "must earn the required hours that correspond to their enrollment for each term," explains FDE. "For example, a student enrolled at a semester hour institution as full-time (12 hours) for the fall term and half-time (six hours) for the spring term is required to earn 18 semester hours and the required GPA to be eligible for renewal."
Use it for graduate school, too. Students with FAS and FMS designations earning a bachelor's degree during the 2010-11 academic year (and thereafter in seven semesters or fewer, or the equivalent in credit hours), can receive funding for one term of graduate study at the undergraduate rate, explains FDE. The award cannot exceed 15 semester hours.