Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

High school students in Florida should start working toward the eligibility requirements of the bright futures scholarship as early as 9th grade. An academic track that includes an early start in geometry can help prepare students for college and it will lead to higher standardized test scores as well.

The bright futures scholarship helped me pay for school and graduate debt free, so I wouldn't definitely recommend working toward this merit-based program as a top priority. There is no luck involved or tricky application, the only secret is to get good grades and test scores. If there's anything that stops students from getting the scholarship its when they don't take the right classes in high school, so make sure to check out the link above showing the exact requirements. If you meet all the requirements exactly, you get the award. Its that simple!

Even with the current budget problems, the bright futures scholarship will still be funded for upcoming Florida college students. The program has been around for many years and helped many students pay for college, and likewise the state's universities and community colleges are somewhat reliant on the tuition money the bright futures scholarship brings in. Besides, no politician wants to be the one to tell students who have been working toward a specific set of goals for four years that their scholarship is suddenly no longer valid.

Always pay close attention to the requirements of this or any scholarship program. Small details can cancel eligibility, and the financial aid administrators won't have the luxury of a personal relationship with you, the student. One missed class, or a few points on the SAT can make all the difference between paying tuition or letting the state pick up the bill.