Questions were answered by Mike Perry, executive director of admission, and Eroica Davis, senior associate director of financial aid.
Q1. How much weight do grades, test scores and extracurriculars carry?
At Florida Tech, what courses high school students take and their grades in those courses carry the most weight. We directly admit students into degree programs at the time of admission, so it’s important they have a proper course background (i.e. math and science) to be successful in their chosen program of study.
We receive many different types of grades. There is not a lot of consistency throughout the U.S. on GPA scales and how they are calculated. In admissions, we look at “weighted” GPAs on a 5.0 scale and often must convert a different school districts’ posted GPAs to this scale.
Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, CLT) are required in our admission process. This supports what we are seeing in the courses and grades. We look for scores above published benchmark scores for each testing organization.
Extracurricular programs are great and can demonstrate interest in a particular area, but they carry very little weight in the admission decision process.
Q2. What is the No. 1 thing colleges usually look for in an applicant?
Potential for success. Admission offices are looking to admit students who will attend and can handle the curriculum and environment. We want students to be successful in our classrooms and pass their courses, be persistent in registering for future courses, and be on track to complete a four-year degree on time. Their past academic performance is usually the best indicator of future academic success.
Q3. What are some common mistakes students make when applying to college?
The most common mistakes we’ve seen are missed deadlines, including the application and supporting material submission deadlines, not submitting the “optional but recommended” materials and listing the wrong school name in their application because they used the same application to apply to multiple schools.
Q4. What is the best way to make my essay or personal statement stand out?
The best way to make your admission essay stand out is by answering any direct prompts—make it personal by explaining life experiences and how they might relate to academic success.
Q5. What is difference between scholarships, grants and loans?
Scholarships and grants are both considered “gift aid” and do not have to be repaid. Scholarships are typically awarded to students based on merit, or past academic performance, which is generally measured by weighted GPAs and standardized test scores. Grants are awarded based financial need or other criteria. Need-based grants are based on a student’s financial need, which is determined by his or her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application results (Student Aid Index, or SAI). Other grants, such as state grants, are determined based on criteria such as state residency.
Loans are an optional resource for students and families to help finance their education, but they must be repaid with interest. Students qualify for federal loans through the FAFSA application. These include Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans and Parent PLUS loans. Private loans are made through other financial institutions, such as banks.
A student’s financial aid offer is usually a combination of all different sources of aid available to a student. Generally, an aid offer is not just one scholarship or grant, but this will vary from institution to institution.
Q6. How do students usually find and apply for scholarships?
- Apply for admission and be admitted. Some colleges have separate scholarship applications, and some automatically review admitted students for university-based scholarships based on information in their admission application. Scholarships always start with applying to college and being admitted.
- Complete state aid applications. Some scholarships are offered by the state in which you reside. Florida has the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program. Graduating domestic seniors at a Florida high school complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), typically with the help of their high school guidance or career center during their senior year.
- File the FAFSA. It is not mandatory to file the FAFSA, but it is highly recommended. You must file a FAFSA to be considered for and federal forms of financial aid. Students/families can submit a FAFSA after Oct. 1 annually for the following academic year (i.e., on Oct. 1, 2025, the FAFSA opened for students going to college in fall 2026).
- Search online. Students can find scholarship opportunities through online scholarship databases, such as Scholarship America and Fastweb, or through search engines; however, it is critical that they be savvy and steer clear of anything that could be a scam.
Q7. What’s one thing you wish you knew before writing your college application?
One thing we wish we knew before starting our college applications was that you can connect directly with your designated admission counselor and ask for help in completing the application and enrollment process (communicating directly with the university).
This piece was featured in the fall/winter 2025 edition of Reinvented Magazine.
