Florida Atlantic University has a rolling admissions system. Students can expect to hear an answer about six to eight weeks after hitting submit. A distraught friend  (A Former Owl) recently called me wondering why they hadn’t yet heard from FAU although they sent in her daughter’s new SAT scores and first-semester senior grades. “How long do we have to wait?” she pleaded. I told her to have her daughter call.

Of course, this is for students that have previously been denied admission and or have negotiated a sort of conditional admission. Sometimes, if you can show FAU that your grades have improved senior year or that you brought up that ACT/SAT, they may be willing to work out an agreement. Taking some classes at Palm Beach State College may be part of the deal, but if your student’s heart is set on being an Owl it may be worth the effort…and the call. There is a program called Link to FAU at Palm Beach State College that guarantees participants admission into FAU and a smooth transition.

Often we are apprehensive about calling the admissions departments of any college for fear of somehow being blackballed for phoning. Then, when lack of patience gets the best of us, we find out that the new scores never did actually arrive or they are there but haven’t been sent to the proper parties. It is not uncommon for this to occur, so if you are feeling uneasy about not having heard, there is nothing wrong with placing a call (or rather having your students do so since this is the true beginning of advocating for themselves).

As stated above, FAU has a rolling admissions process, so there is not a set date your student will hear if they are accepted or not. A simple call inquiring about whether their application is complete, or if their new scores/grades have arrived, will ease their minds (and yours). And, while they have them on the phone, it can’t hurt to politely inquire as to when they can expect to hear.

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The time has come to pay for your college costs and money panic sets in.  I remember receiving the tuition statement for my daughter, yet her student account showed no Prepaid Florida (which I was fortunate enough to have purchased for both 4-year college and 1-year dorm).  In addition, her bank account did not reflect her Bright Futures Scholarship funds. So when does this money get disbursed? Can you get a deferral for books, living accommodations, and student fees until the disbursement comes?

For your student’s specific account details, you should have them log into their account at MyFAU. HaveUHeard that FAU encourages all students receiving financial aid to sign up for a direct deposit? To sign up, go to MyFau.fau.edu to log in. On the top toolbar, select “Money Matters.” Here students will be able to view their student account and find more information on financial aid disbursement.

Here are some financial specifics to keep your bottom line in line:

Florida Prepaid Money

Florida Prepaid will bill your student after the end of the Drop/Add Period. Your student’s MyFAU account statement will reflect the Florida Prepaid billing before they disburse Financial Aid. The day after drop/add ends, students will receive an email confirmation for the amount Florida Prepaid was billed. There will also be an email confirmation on the day Prepaid credits to your student’s account. Determine the payment your student will receive from Florida Prepaid.

Students who do not want the Florida Prepaid College Plan billed or who drop or add a class after the drop/add deadline should contact the Controller’s office, especially the Tuition and Billing Office. The Tuition and Billing Office is located in SU 80, Room 130 Students will have to complete a Change in Billing form. This form must be completed and submitted by the initial fee payment deadline for each term.

Students participating in the Florida Prepaid College Program who are also expecting to receive financial aid (e.g. Bright Futures, Pell, student loans, other scholarships/grants) will have the Florida Prepaid applied first to tuition and applicable fees.  Financial aid received will be disbursed and applied to the balance of outstanding charges which may include tuition and fees not covered by the Florida Prepaid Program. Any excess financial aid that remains after debts have been paid will be refunded to the student (student/parent if PLUS Parent loan).

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is typically disbursed after the drop/add deadline each semester. Before loans can be disbursed, first-time Federal Direct Loan and Perkins Loan borrowers must complete Entrance Counseling.  In addition, the master promissory notes must be signed and on file.

Bright Futures & Scholarships

Typically, loans are disbursed prior to drop/add and scholarships (Bright Futures), and grants are disbursed after the drop/add. Disbursements will be received via direct deposit or paper check. To check the status of your Bright Futures and Financial Aid. Log in, then use the menu to locate Money Matters, where you can choose Aid Status or Awards and Disbursements for the correct academic year. For more information on Bright Futures.

Tuition and fees are due by the University’s published payment deadline which is normally the end of the second week of classes; however, qualifying students are able to postpone payment until the deferred fee payment deadline. The assumption with students receiving a deferment is that tuition and fees will be paid once the student’s financial aid disburses. For help in determining if you qualify for a tuition and fee deferment, please review.

Finally, if your student receives a private scholarship and the check is made out to them, they should notify the university’s financial aid office as it may impact their financial aid package. If the check is made payable to the university, they will need to mail it to the financial aid office.

Note: students awarded federal loans must accept those loans before the regular tuition and fee payment deadline in order to qualify for a deferment.

FAU does have a payment plan for tuition. Students can opt for a 50/50 payment plan or a three-installment payment plan. Students can sign up for the payment plan on the student account page of their MyFAU portal. All Payment plans are accessed at a $15 service charge. If payments are received late, there will be a $100 charge added to the student account. Payment Plans cannot be used on previous semester balances.

Bookstore Line of Credit

Students who receive financial aid may be eligible to use the FAU Bookstore Line of Credit. Students who are eligible financial aid recipients may receive a $400 line of credit for textbook purchases from the FAU bookstore. Students who are eligible will be notified 1 week prior to the start of the semester. Students can also apply for a Short Term Advance. Short-term advance is available to all degree-seeking students who are enrolled at least half-time at FAU. The maximum loan amount is $750. The short-term advance does not have to be used on books, but should not be used on tuition payments.

Dorm Payments

Rent is billed per semester and is due when tuition payments are due. Students are responsible for payment of their housing balance if financial aid money is not released in time to pay by the due date or if there is not enough money to cover all of the student’s university debts. For more information on rent deadlines and your student’s housing agreement.

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SEE END OF BLOG FOR CHANGES EFFECTIVE WITH THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC SCHOOL YEAR

Bright Futures has been a great source of financial aid for many Florida Students and is now shining even brighter. Summer 2018 was the first-year Florida Academic Scholars received 100% tuition and summer 2019, 75% of tuition is available for Florida Medallion Scholars. The $300 college-related expense stipend is still only available for fall and spring semesters.

The requirements for summer are as follows

• Must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours across all summer sessions.
• Students with less than 6 credit hours required for graduation, may receive FAS and FMS by submitting a memo on letterhead from an academic advisor indicating less than 6 hours are required for graduation.
• Graduate-level hours may be approved by the student’s academic advisor.  Students taking graduate-level courses must submit a memo from the academic advisor indicating graduate-level courses meet undergraduate graduation requirements.

NOTE: A maximum of 45 credit hours may be funded in one academic year.

The requirements for Bright Futures are as follows

The top scholarship awards students with an SAT score of 1290 or an ACT score of 29 and higher. The Florida Medallion Scholarship awards students with an SAT score of 1170 and an ACT score of 26.  In addition, there are weighted GPA minimums of 3.50 for the Florida Academic Scholars Award and 100 community service hours and a 3.00 GPA for the Florida Medallion Scholars Award and 75 service hours.

For the renewal of Bright Futures, students need a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 for the Florida Academic Scholarship and a minimum of a 2.75 for the Florida Medallion Scholarship (unweighted and unrounded).

Students who do not meet the annual minimum renewal GPA requirement in their first year of funding will be allowed a one-time restoration in a subsequent summer or academic year renewal period (end of spring term). Students who do not meet the minimum earned hours requirement or who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement after their first year of funding will NOT be permitted a restoration opportunity.

Funding from financial aid will not disburse until after the end of the drop/add period for each term, which is typically after the second week of each semester.

Florida Prepaid disburses first for tuition and then Bright Futures will be applied to any institutional charges on the student’s account. Any left-over credit will be funded into your student’s bank account.

FLORIDA ACADEMIC SCHOLARS AWARD

For high school students graduating in the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 academic years, a student must achieve an SAT combined score of 1290 or an ACT composite score of 29.

For high school students graduating in the 2020-2021 academic year and thereafter, a student must achieve the required examination scores published by the department, which is determined as follows:

The minimum required SAT score for the Florida Academic Scholarship must be set no lower than the 89th national 902 percentile on the SAT. The department may adjust the required SAT score only if the required score drops below the 89th national percentile, and any such adjustment must be applied to the bottom of the SAT score range that is concordant to the ACT.

FLORIDA MEDALLION SCHOLARS AWARD

For high school students graduating in the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 academic years, a student must achieve an SAT combined score of 1170 or an ACT composite score of 26.

For high school students graduating in the 2020-2021 academic year and thereafter, a student must achieve the required examination scores published by the department, which is determined as follows:

The minimum required SAT score for the Florida Medallion Scholarship must be set no lower than the 75th national percentile on the SAT. The department may adjust the required SAT score only if the required score drops below the 75th national percentile, and any such adjustment must be made to the bottom of the SAT score range that is concordant to the ACT.

For more information on FAU Bright Futures scholarship award requirements click here. Or more on the Bright Futures scholarship, visit here.

Should you have any questions about the number of hours your student needs or the impact of dropping a class or any other situation, download the interactive tool here  – BFCreditHourTool (8)

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Congratulations on Your Child Being Accepted! Now that that’s settled, the idea of actually paying for college looms.  Hopefully, you have prepared in some way but fear not. Finding scholarships can help with the cost of college.

If you live in Florida and have purchased a Florida Prepaid plan, then that will start working for you immediately.  Bright Futures Scholarships have also been a goal while in high school, and if earned, they will apply once your student has started.

Every year, I hear stories about thousands of dollars in scholarship money that are never applied for.  It does take a lot of work and time to research scholarships, apply for them, and to validate the authenticity of them.  But, that work can pay off at a reduced cost to you. Some are quite competitive, some last for four years, and some are downright silly, but pay for something.  Some scholarships require essays and believe it or not, those are the ones most avoided; therefore, have the least amount of people applying. Don’t steer away from these; seek help with the essay instead. It is also recommended to apply for any scholarships as early as possible and be sure to have your FAFSA form completed beforehand.

Find Scholarships

With so many scholarships available today, the trick is finding the ones that suit your student’s needs and that they will qualify for. Some are quite competitive, some last for four years, and some are downright silly, but pay for something. All make those bills for the next four (or more) years more bearable. Below we address the scholarship opportunities through FAU, read our blog on actual scholarships that are available to all students. To learn about other scholarship opportunities, make sure you read our blog on Searching for Scholarships.

A newer scholarship website, RaiseMe, is also being utilized by Florida Atlantic University. RaiseMe is a website for high school students; students can log their achievements in high school and earn micro-scholarships. The values of the Micro-scholarships vary from college to college, but they can add up. More information about RaiseMe.

The Office of Undergraduate admissions at FAU offers several merit or need-based scholarships, however, they can be competitive. More information on scholarships offered through FAU. Make sure to check all the requirements and deadlines for each scholarship, as some apply only to certain degree programs. FAU also has scholarships that are only available to incoming freshmen.

Each college within FAU offers scholarships, links can be found below.

• Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
• Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts & Letters
• College of Engineering and Computer Science
• College of Design and Social Inquiry
• College of Business
• College of Education
• Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
• Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
• Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

If your students are lucky enough to land a scholarship (or a few), it is highly recommended that they write a thank you note to the donor.

Finally, if your student receives a private scholarship and the check is made out to them, they should notify the university’s financial aid office as it may impact their financial aid package. If the check is made payable to the university, they will need to mail it to the financial aid office.

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Students usually choose a major over a period of time. I have always been a fan of taking a variety of classes until you find the ones that you enjoy most and choosing a major around that. Every school, including FAU, has its more popular majors as well. However; in these unprecedented times students might want to take recent events into consideration when choosing or changing their major.

As with any major event, such as a recession, war, or, in this case, a pandemic, there is a shift in what type of degree a student may want to consider pursuing. Certainly, the job market will look different in the future. Contemplating what jobs were sustainable throughout the pandemic may also help in the decision-making process. For instance, public health which can include hospital management, infectious disease, and clinical research, among other things, was already a fast-growing major, but may continue to grow due to an upcoming need. Similarly, we definitely learned the significance of our health-care workers.

There are many avenues that can stem from majors in the Health Sciences; including, but not limited to, degrees that can lead to careers as a physician assistant, biomedical engineer, occupational therapist, microbiologist, and nurse. Under the Health Sciences umbrella students can study Behavioral and Mental Health, Women’s Studies, Public/Global/Environmental Health, and Geriatrics (Aging Studies). FAU uniquely offers various majors in regard to Geriatrics. Students can study Gerontology or Healthy Aging.

Majors in Exercise Science and Health Promotion teach students to help people live healthier lives through exercise, rehabilitation, and nutrition. Students are groomed for careers that will undoubtedly take on a new look post-pandemic but will remain necessary. Graduates often pursue careers in fields, such as physical therapy, sports medicine, cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation, corporate fitness, medical school, allied health, coaching, and other industry positions.

Teaching has undoubtedly taken on a new lens, aside from many having a newfound respect for the value of a good educator. FAU offers degrees to prepare students for traditional and non-traditional avenues through their College of Education major. However, while the look of education has also been altered, teachers will always be needed and now could also benefit from a background in computer sciences.

Politics in one form or another, particularly since politicians and government seemed to have become an integral part of our daily lives, could be worth considering. FAU’s Political Sciences major prepares students for careers in law, government and non-government organizations, politics, and the private sector.

Wellness in mental health has taken on new forms (particularly those that can be done remotely) and have increased in popularity, so a major in psychology or social work, can lead to varying careers in this realm. A Bachelor of Science in psychology is widely sought in business, education, and mental health fields.

Majors in engineering range from Environmental, Civil, to Geomatics engineering; with an opportunity to enter a joint BS/MS degree program allowing students to complete both degrees in five years, it provides many positive choices for students long term.

Finance, as well, which can prepare students for careers in financial management, investments, and insurance; among others, are also available and will continue to be needed. Economics majors are taught skills and training for careers in business, law, government, politics, teaching, research, and a variety of other areas that lead to stable, higher-paying jobs that will undoubtedly remain popular. However, in today’s climate, it can’t hurt to consider what jobs can be done remotely as well.

In addition to choosing a major, students may want to add some skills like mastering Photoshop, Google-drive, Zoom, data analysis, computer programming, proficiency in a second (or third) language. There are many certificate programs that can be done outside of college classes that can only enhance your employability. Increasing your knowledge escalates your value to potential employers.

Some college majors may be changing and many are offered almost solely online. New ones may be added and others may disappear. Find out what major programs are of interest to you and how FAU can help you decide. Encourage your student to visit the Career Center or Career Advising and Consulting. They offer seminars and meetings to not only help find them a job but to educate them on the careers out in the working field; and for now, it is all offered virtually. And, for those students that are truly undecided, Major KnOWLedge is an early exploration tool that helps students identify personal interests to guide them to career pathways.

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When my daughter was a sophomore, she decided to take a heavy course load in addition to a math course. You’ll have to understand that math was always a struggle for my daughter. We discussed whether she should take this class along with such a heavy course load; however, my daughter believed she could do it. Four weeks into the class, she called me asking if we would pay for a private tutor. It was heartbreaking, as I knew that she had been attending every study session and doing review work every chance she got. While I tried to reassure her that an A in the class wasn’t necessary, I knew that I couldn’t bear to be in the class any longer that semester. The ultimate decision was hers; however, I believe she wanted my support and blessing in this decision. As her mom, her mental health was more important.

Students at FAU must drop a class by the 13th week of the class, which falls on October 30th for the fall semester and March 26th for the Spring Semester. This will give students a W on their transcript instead of an F. FAU does allow students to use grade forgiveness 3 times in their academic careers. In addition, the University’s Handbook explains the rules for undergraduates for dropping a class. Students can drop courses via the MyFau portal.

There are financial repercussions as well when your student drops a class. Your student will still be fee liable for dropped courses, and it is YOUR responsibility to know the requirements of any scholarships you have, including Bright Futures. Most course drops require repayment to Bright Futures and may require repayment to other programs. Please check with Financial Aid if you have concerns. Your academic advisor may be able to assist you with some financial issues, but Financial Aid is generally between you and Student Financial Affairs. Should you have any questions about the impact of dropping a class as it relates to Bright Futures, you can download the interactive tool – BFCreditHourTool (8)

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