Recently I got this letter from the official website stating “Congratulations! You have met academic eligibility based on your final transcript evaluation for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program for the 2016-17 academic year. Because you may receive funding for only one award, the highest award has been selected for you. If you believe your scholarship eligibility status is not correct, please contact your high school counselor within 30 days from this notice.” …if any of you have gotten bright futures before, what type of letter did you receive and is it similar to mine? I’ll tried contacting my counselor but she sends me straight to voicemail.
Yes, you received the Vocational Scholars level (the third level). “Gold Seal Vocational Scholars receive between $39-$48 per semester credit depending upon their program of study.”
The letter is telling you that if you think you should have received a higher award, the Medallion ($77/cr) or the Academic ($103/cr) you should contact your HIGH SCHOOL counselor. It may be incorrect if you have a higher ACT score than they have on file if you took it again, if you completed more community service hours than reported.
Omg thank u soooo much!
You also need to see where you can use the Vocational scholarship. Used to be any school, but I think now it is just at certain vocational school where you are trying to get a certificate, not at 4 year schools. If you think you were close to the Medallion level, see if you made it as it will give you more options.
ohh okay! Do you think a community/public college would qualify? I’m not sure what vocational school means I googled it but nothing gives me a clear explanation. I am going to be working on my AS in nursing at a community college. I only listed one school on my application I feel like I wouldn’t have received it if my school didn’t qualify for it. Thank your for your responses!
Yes, it looks like you’d get $48/credit hour toward an AS degree, see page 4 for a chart:
Technical Degree Education Program
(AS, AAS, CCC)
$48
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/PDF/BFHandbookChapter2.pdf
Good luck. Bright Futures helps when paying those bills. When I had to call the people at Bright Futures, they were very nice and very helpful, but your school may already have the information if you listed the school in your BF application. If not, there are probably directions on the letter or your high school guidance counselor can help.