FSU CARE program

CARE Recruitment: Florida State University

College & Career Counselors,

My name is Justina Jones, the Associate Director of the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement (CARE) at Florida State University.

CARE provides preparation, orientation, and academic support programming for students who are among the first in their family to attend college and may face unique challenges in college because of educational or economic circumstances. The CARE Summer Bridge Program (SBP) is an alternative admission program for first-generation college students and students who are disadvantaged by economic or educational circumstances. This high school-to-college bridge program is designed to help ease students' adjustment to college life and build a foundation for academic success. Students will be required to apply for financial aid, and those with financial need will have 100% of their need for the Summer Bridge summer term met from non-loan sources.

For more information about CARE, please review the below information or visit our website at care.fsu.edu.

Summer Bridge Program Experience

All CARE participants will live together in campus housing during the initial summer term, along with current Florida State students who will serve as residential peer counselors, guides, and mentors. Participants will also:

• Tour campus facilities and the local community
• Meet key University faculty, staff, and administrators who will become part of the student's support system
• Meet campus student leaders to learn more about what the University has to offer
• Participate in cultural enrichment activities
• Have fun and make lifelong friends.

Students admitted to the University through CARE will begin their studies during the summer term. Throughout the remainder of their enrollment at FSU, they will participate in a variety of required and optional activities to ensure successful completion of their bachelor's degree.

Qualifications for Summer Bridge Program

Academic Requirements

• A minimum 3.0 weighted academic GPA,
• 980 SAT total, and/or
• 19 ACT Composite
• Complete the minimum academic courses as required by the State of Florida

Financial Eligibility Guidelines

• Qualify as socioeconomically disadvantaged as determined by the FAFSA and supporting documentation
• Qualify for federal financial assistance
• Students must apply for financial aid by completing BOTH the 2017-18 FAFSA (available now) AND the 2018-19 FAFSA (opens October 1, 2017). They can be found at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• Both FAFSA's must be submitted by November 1, 2017 to be considered for CARE.
• All students admitted to CARE must be eligible for the Pell Grant during summer and fall/spring terms.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a first-generation college student (neither parent can have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher)
• Must be a Florida Resident for tuition purposes
• Must be eligible for Federal financial aid
• Must be Pell-eligible for both Summer and Fall/Spring terms
• Must complete the CARE short answer prompts

CARE Application Process

The application and all supporting documents required for CARE must be received by November 1, 2017.

1.  Apply online at admissions.fsu.edu or mycoalition.org.

2. Create your Self-reported Student Academic Record (SSAR) at admissions.fsu.edu/freshman/ssar using your official high school transcript.

3. Submit the following items on the Application Status Check (admissions.fsu.edu/StatusCheck):

Complete the supplemental CARE application.

• Self-report all ACT or SAT test scores.
• Link your Self-reported Student Academic Record (SSAR) by copying the 32- character code from your SSAR account.
• Choose one of five essay questions found at admissions.fsu.edu/freshman, and upload your essay. The essay should be no longer than 550 words.
• Upload one résumé.
• Complete the Residency Declaration for tuition purposes form.

4. Complete both the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using the IRS Data-Retrieval Tool found at fafsa.gov.

Contact the academic department directly if majoring in Dance, Film (animation or production), Music, or Theater.

Log into the Online Status Check regularly to monitor the status of your application.

Justina Jones

Associate Director

Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement (CARE)

Thagard Building (THC) 109 Collegiate Loop

Jpjones3@fsu.edu

850-644-9699