This story is part of an ongoing "Mustangs Ahead" series detailing some of the challenges and opportunities LRHS seniors face as they consider their futures in higher education.
Mia Morelli - Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) - Senior year brings new challenges as students navigate the college process.
For Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) seniors, the start of the school year often brings excitement about graduation and life after high school. However, along with senior events and preparing for graduation comes an important responsibility: navigating the college application process.
From taking standardized tests to applying for financial aid and scholarships, seniors have several deadlines and requirements to keep track of. For Florida students, one of the most crucial programs to understand is Bright Futures, a state scholarship program that can help pay for college.
LRHS Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government and Politics and AP Macroeconomics teacher Benjamin Hall said many seniors already know some of the basic Bright Futures requirements.
“Most of my seniors know the key requirements of Bright Futures, so I try to highlight some of the lesser-known aspects of the process,” Hall said.
One detail students may not realize is that they can continue working toward meeting Bright Futures testing requirements even after graduating from high school. According to Hall, students can continue to take tests until they begin college in August. Additionally, students who complete their undergraduate degree with money remaining in their Bright Futures account may be able to apply those funds toward graduate-level courses.
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For seniors hoping to qualify for Bright Futures, Hall recommends completing the Florida Financial Aid Application as soon as possible. This application is what students use to register for Bright Futures.
Students can complete the application through the Florida Student Financial Aid website.
Another major part of the college process is completing the free application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA. FAFSA is a form students complete to apply for federal financial aid for college. The information provided on the application helps determine what financial aid a student may qualify for.
Hall encourages seniors to complete the FAFSA as early as possible after it opens on October 1.
“The process takes only about 30 minutes to complete both steps,” Hall said.
The FAFSA process consists of two main steps. Students first enter their own information and then ask their parents to complete their portion of the application. Hall explained that the process was updated last year so financial information can be pulled automatically from parents’ tax returns from the prior year.
Completing the FAFSA early can be especially important because some federal financial aid is limited and may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For seniors, submitting the application early can help ensure they are considered for financial aid.
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