Talented Twenty Program; receive priority consideration for state universities admissions and need-based financial aid

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2008-09
Talented Twenty Program
Fact Sheet
Program Description
This is not a scholarship or grant program, but rather an opportunity for students in the top twenty percent of their high school graduation class to receive priority consideration for state universities admissions and need-based financial aid.

The Talented Twenty Program is part of the Governor's Equity in Education Plan. Students eligible for the Talented Twenty Program are guaranteed admission to one of the eleven state universities and are given priority funding from the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG). The FSAG program is a need-based grant; therefore, Talented Twenty students must meet FSAG eligibility requirements in order to be eligible for priority funding. Please note that while eligible students are guaranteed admission at one of the state universities, they are not guaranteed admission to the campus of choice.

A student’s school district will notify each student of his/her designation as a Talented Twenty student.

Qualifications
In order to qualify for the Talented Twenty Program, the student will:
Be enrolled in a Florida public high school and graduate with a standard diploma.
Be ranked in the top 20% of the class after the posting of seventh semester grades (with validation of eighth semester ranking).
Take the ACT or SAT (no minimum score is required) prior to completing the first semester in college.
Complete all eighteen core course requirements for state university admission.

Application for State Universities
High school counselors are prepared to assist students with the application process for state university admissions. To be considered for the FSAG program, a student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in time to be completed error free and meet the application deadline established by the institution he/she plans to attend. The FAFSA is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and uses parent and student income information in a formula developed by the United States Congress to calculate the financial contribution families are expected to make toward a student’s postsecondary education. The postsecondary institution uses this figure to determine a student’s eligibility for participation in the FSAG program.

Initial and renewal eligibility information regarding the Florida Student Assistance Grant Program is available on the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) Web site at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/.

For further information visit the Talented 20 Web site at http://www.fldoe.org/Talented20/, contact the financial aid offices at state universities, or contact OSFA, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, 1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759. Call OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004. The Web site www.FACTS.org provides state university contact information as well as additional information regarding the Talented Twenty Program.