Day 2 2026 Semester 1

Today’s Agenda

• Warm Up: What Colleges Consider

• Instruction:

Building your application
Florida's public universities
Transcript terminology
Bright Futures Requirements

• Work Period: Exploring BigFuture

• Closure: Ready to read?

Draw

Draw how you're feeling right now. Include at least 3 details of your appearance!

​I WILL TAKE YOUR PHONE

​Proximity (closeness) impacts cognition (learning & understanding). For that reason, I highly suggest that you relocate your phone to my podium. In fact, I will give you extra credit for checking your phone in with me. If I confiscate your phone, I will return it to you at the end of the period. If you are a repeat offender, there will be additional consequences.

The 12 Public Florida Universities

​The 12 Public Universities of Florida

​Public universities are funded by tax money; private universities are funded by tuition, so they tend to be far more expensive.

​Private vs. Public Tuition

​Jacksonville University: $48,500
Duke University: $70,265
University of Miami: $63,465

​University of North Florida: $6,390
University of Florida: $4,477
FAMU: $5,645

​Private universities often offer scholarships to offset their tuition costs, but it s important to remember that Florida public universities offer the best, least expensive post-secondary educational options.

Multiple Choice

How many public universities are in Florida?

• 6

• 10

• 12

• 16

Multiple Choice

What is the only public HBCU in the state of Florida?

• FAMU

• Florida Memorial Univeristy

• Bethune Cookman University

• Edward Waters College

Multiple Choice

What is the primary difference between public and private universities?

• Public universities are funded by state governments, while private universities are funded through tuition and private sources.
• Public universities offer smaller class sizes compared to private universities.
• Private universities receive most of their funding from state taxes.
• Public universities charge higher tuition fees than private ones.

Word Cloud

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Warm Up

College admissions counselors consider 3 primary factors:

• I. Application: This is your essays, letters of

recommendation, and extra-curricular activities
(job, sports, clubs, volunteering)

• II. Standardized Test Scores: These reflect

your basic skills in Reading, Writing,
Math (Science on ACT)

• III. Academic Transcript: Your grade point

average (GPA) & Academic Rigor (the difficulty
of the courses you took)

• Hint: One is worth 50%.

Reorder

Arrange the elements of your college application from LEAST to MOST important.

• Application

• Test Scores

• Transcript

1

2

3

• 1
• 2
• 3

The classes you
take & how you
perform in them
are the most
important factor
colleges consider.

Application:

15%

Test scores: 35%

Transcript: 50%

Reorder

Arrange the elements of your college application from LEAST to MOST important.

• Application

• Test Scores

• Transcript

1

2

3

• 1
• 2
• 3

Poll

Which of the elements of your college application are you MOST concerned with being able to fulfill?

• None, I've got this

• My GPA

• My Test Scores

• Clubs, Sports, Volunteering

Poll

How do you feel about your academic progress last year?

• It killed me.

• I could have done better.

• I did pretty well.

• I killed it.

Word Cloud

What are 1-2 words that explain your previous answer?

Word Cloud

What's a food you can't live without?

Academic Transcript Terminology

• Core Classes: These are standard requirements everywhere

~English

~Science

~Math

~Social Studies ~World Language

• Electives: These are classes you choose to take, they may be required, academic, or

neither (gym)

• Required Non-Core Courses: HOPE, Performing/Fine Art, any Online Course, & 6

total electives

• Grade Points: A=4

B=3

C=2

D=1

F=0

• Credits: Full Year=1

Semester=.5

• Weights: Pre-IB, Honors= +.5

AP, IB, DE=+1

*** There are no weights for D's & F's***

​Notice how sometimes the higher quarter grade "wins", while other times the lower grade does... This is a result of semester exams.

​Grades Sample

​Graduation Requirements

​4.5 GPA IS Possible!

This student earned B's and even C's on their final transcript last year, but their GPA is still so high because so many of their classes are Honors, AP, or IB.
Reflect on what you did last year & its results.
What did you do (or not do)?
So what? (what were the results?)
Now what? (what are you going to do moving forward?)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a core class?

• English

• Spanish

• Health

• Science

Multiple Choice

How much is a B in Honors English worth?

• 3.0

• 3.5

• 4.0

• 4.5

Multiple Choice

How much is a C in AP World History worth?

• 2.0

• 2.5

• 3.0

• 3.5

Multiple Choice

How much is a D in Honors Chemistry worth?

• 1.0

• 1.5

• 2.0

• 2.5

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Building Your Application

Your college application consists of both who you are inside and outside of the classroom. Your test scores and transcripts
tell admissions officers about the measurable parts of you, but the application covers the rest. The primary components
are:

Essay or Personal Statement: Some colleges will require you to respond to a specific prompt, while
others want a personal statement. Regardless, the purpose of the essay is to show the admissions officer who
you are, how you got here, and where you are going. This is your one opportunity to be heard.
Letters of Recommendation: Many schools require at least one letter of recommendation
Extra-curricular activities: Although you may not yet be participating in any of the following, it is
essential for you to begin considering how you will build this part of your resume.

Volunteering

Athletics

Employment

Clubs

Jacksonville Volunteer Organizations

Word Cloud

If you volunteer, where do you volunteer? (If you don't, please do not write anything!)

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VolunteerMatch - Where Volunteering Begins

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Volunteer at the Library | Jacksonville Public Library

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Animal Care and Protective Services
https://www.jacksonville.gov/acpsvolunteer

JaxCorps

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Home

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Multiple Choice

What is the single most important element of your college application?

• SAT or ACT scores

• Extracurricular activities

• Academic transcripts

Current Bright Futures Requirements

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does Bright Futures use when calculating your GPA?

• All courses attempted

• Core & elective courses

• Core courses

Multiple Choice

The minimum weighted GPA to earn Bright Futures is:

• 2.5

• 3.0

• 3.5

• 4.0

Home – BigFuture | College Board

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Closure

✓Do you understand the 3 elements

of the college application &
their value?

✓Are you familiar with the 12

Florida public universities & their
requirements?

✓Do you

know the requirements for Florida B
right Futures?

✓Did you complete the Self-Care

Survey?