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1. What are the requirements to qualify for the Talented Twenty program?
    In order to qualify for the Talented Twenty Program, the student must:

• Be enrolled in a Florida public high school and graduate with a standard diploma
• Be ranked in the top 20% of the class after the posting of seventh semester grades
• Take the ACT or SAT (no minimum score is required) prior to completing the first semester in college
• Complete all eighteen core course requirements for state university admission. (Rule 6C-6.002(5), FAC)

2. What are the benefits of being eligible for the Talented Twenty program?
    Students are identified as a top 20% high school graduate.
Students have a space reserved at one of the 11 state universities.
Please note that, while eligible students are guaranteed admission at one of the state universities, it may not be to their first choice of schools.
Students are given priority for the awarding of funds from the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG), if they are eligible for this needs based grant.



3. What courses count toward the eighteen core course requirements for state university admission?
   

Students must complete at least 18 units of high school work in the core areas listed below. A listing of courses that were approved as meeting “college prep” requirements for SUS admission is available in the Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook under State University Admissions Policies at www.FACTS.org. Select Advising Manuals.

Core Course	Number of Required Units
English	4
Mathematics	3
Natural Science	3
Social Science	3
Foreign Language	2
Electives	3
Total	18

4. After a student has been denied acceptance at one or more universities, what should the student do?
    The student should contact his/her high school counselor. After three notifications of denial, other universities will provide complimentary reviews of the transcripts of the Talented Twenty applicants at the request of the high school counselor. Once any university accepts the student, the guarantee for admissions has been considered met, even if the student does not wish to attend that particular university. See BOG Regulation 6C-6.002(5), FAC (PDF).



5. Does a student have to complete an application to be considered for the Talented Twenty program?
    No. Students who meet the requirements to qualify for the Talented Twenty program are potentially eligible pending high school graduation and are mailed a notification letter in the spring of their scheduled graduation year.



6. Is the Talented Twenty program also a scholarship award program?
    No. However, students who qualify for the Talented Twenty program are given priority for awarding of funds from the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG), a need-based grant. Talented Twenty students must meet FSAG eligibility requirements in order to be eligible for priority funding.



7. What is financial aid?
    Financial Aid is money provided by various agencies to help students with the costs of attending college. It includes gift aid such as grants and scholarships, and self-help opportunities such as loans and student employment.



8. How can a student obtain financial assistance?
   

• Contact a high school counselor to inquire about federal, state, and other student assistance programs.
• Request a financial aid packet from the school(s) that the student wishes to attend.
• Complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) to be considered for State of Florida student financial aid programs including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. This is available from a high school counselor or online at http://www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org
• Contact the college/school the student wants to attend and request a financial aid application packet. The packet will provide the student with information about the financial aid programs the school offers and the forms the student will need to complete.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application is available from a high school counselor or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• When a student applies, the student will be considered for the many State of Florida financial aid programs, including the Florida Student Assistance Grants.
• Apply early, in January or February of the senior year. The earlier students apply, the better chance they will have of being considered for all available programs!

9. How can a student obtain an evaluation of their progress toward meeting the eighteen core course requirements for State University System admission?
    A student may obtain an online evaluation by visiting www.FACTS.org and selecting High School Planning from the left side of the home page. In addition a student may obtain a progress evaluation toward meeting Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility and high school graduation requirements.



10. Where can I find the official requirements for the Talented Twenty program?
    The Department of Education Florida Division of Colleges and Universities Rule 6C-6.002(5), FAC provides the requirements for the Talented Twenty program.

 

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The Florida Prepaid College Program

The Florida Prepaid College Program is the plan that lets you pay for future college tuition, dormitory and fee expenses today

The plan works best if parents sign children up for it the day they are born, but even High School Juniors can enter the prepaid program and benefit from it. It locks in and guarantees your child’s future college education at a fixed price.

Note the following:

• When your child is ready for college, the plan covers the actual cost at any Florida public college or university.
• The program allows prepaid benefits to be transferred to most private universities in Florida or out-of-state colleges and universities.
• You fight inflation by paying for future tuition costs today. The State of Florida financially guarantees the Florida Prepaid College Plan under Section 1009.98 (7) and (8) of the Florida Statutes, so you cannot lose your money.
• Prepaid dormitory contracts are also available with some restrictions.
  For additional information, including an enrollment kit, call (800) 552-GRAD(4723) – Press Prompt 1, or via the Web at www.myfloridaprepaid.com .

THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD IS NOW THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2010.

If you are already enrolled in this program you are eligible to transfer your payment to bi-weekly payroll deductions prior to the beginning of the 2010-11 school year, for payroll deductions to commence in September, 2010.