Bright Futures Changes for the Class of 2030
If you haven’t heard, Florida Bright Futures just raised the score needed to earn the scholarship. Most of my tutoring students have earned the GPA needed and number of volunteer or work hours. It’s the test score that’s typically the sticking point. To earn full Bright Futures (tuition completely paid at a Florida public university - not room and board), this year’s seniors needed a 1330 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT. Current juniors will need a 1350 (typically one extra question right - the scoring is a bit opaque) or a 29 on the ACT (the only score that hasn’t changed). To earn 75% Bright Futures (which covers about $6000 less over the four years), current seniors needed an 1190 on the SAT or a 24 on the ACT. Next year, students will need a 1200 on the SAT or 25 on the ACT.
Students who earn the AICE diploma will have secured full Bright Futures (assuming they meet the GPA and hours criteria). Bright Futures is scholarship money; it does NOT have anything to do with admission to a university. Students will still need competitive test scores to be admitted to Florida’s public universities. As you know from reading these posts, each school has different score thresholds.
And I’ll say it again for those in the back. Senior year is NOT the time to start test prep. It breaks my heart year after year and student after student when seniors reach out at the start of the school year, and I just don’t have time to help them. Also, there aren’t that many weeks on the calendar to really put in the work to see significant score gains. Junior year is the time for test prep or possibly the summer before junior year. That will give students the time to take the SAT and ACT and focus on whichever test seems more suited to their learning style. If I were the senior, I’d like to have my final score by the end of the summer or in September at the absolute latest. Getting a few tests under their belt during junior year will at least give an idea of where they’re at so students can build a balanced list of schools to apply to.
