About the Nova High School BRACE Office
The Broward Advisors for Continuing Education (BRACE) program is unique to the Broward County School System. There is a BRACE Advisor in most Broward County public high schools! BRACE Advisors are postsecondary planning specialists who collaborate with School Counselors to help students realize their postsecondary aspirations.
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Here are some things your BRACE Advisor can help you with:
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Florida Bright Futures Scholarship process and eligibility information
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SAT/ACT testing, test fee waivers and college application fee waivers
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NCAA/NAIA Athletic Eligibility Clearinghouse completion and fee waivers
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Federal Financial Aid Process (FAFSA) and deciphering offers of financial aid
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Appealing admissions decisions and financial aid offers
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Special circumstances
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Your School Counselor can help you with personal issues, grades, course selection, schedule changes, credits and graduation requirements.
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Planning
Nova High School's BRACE Office is dedicated to assisting high school students, specifically juniors and seniors plan for their lives after high school. Whether the plan is two- or four-year college, technical college, US. Military Service Academy admissions or U.S. Military enlistment, a Gap Year of Service, Apprenticeship or Direct Job Force Entry, your BRACE Advisor is here to help!
Earning a college degree or technical certification/diploma helps people earn higher incomes. College and Career Training is possible for every type of student! Nova's BRACE Advisor encourages students to keep open minds, explore all their options and have a plan in place BEFORE they graduate from high school.
The college application and admissions processes can be complex and sometimes stressful. BRACE Advisors help make things a little easier by advising students throughout the college application, admissions, selection and financial aid processes. They help students compile college lists, complete college applications, and help them decide the best path forward. One plan does not fit all!
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Funding
Think you can't afford to go to college? Think again! There are many affordable options.
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Through a combination of federal financial aid, scholarships, institutional aid and (sometimes) compromise, your dream of a college education can become a reality! While encouraging students to keep student and parent loan debt to a minimum, the BRACE Advisor is passionate about helping students find FREE MONEY by sharing scholarship opportunities and providing hands-on assistance with the federal and institutional financial aid process to students and their families. Nova's BRACE Advisor, sends scholarship information to students and their families based on results from the optional Student Information Survey. Each question on the Survey relates to a scholarship. Seniors are strongly encouraged to sign up for BRACE texts through Remind.com.
Undocumented? There's money to help you! BRACE Advisors are allies to all students!
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Choosing
Nova's BRACE Advisor has worked with tens of thousands of families! She helps students analyze college offers of financial aid and scholarships, request financial aid adjustments and and helps them choose the plan that works best for them and their families. This process involves self-reflection, honest dialogue between students and their families, flexibility and sometimes, compromise.
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It's not about where you go. It's what you do with your time wherever you wind up!​​
SENIOR TOOLKIT: READY TO APPLY TO COLLEGE?
Even if you have lots of Dual-Enrollment/AP/AICE credits, you will still be considered a "Freshman First Time in College."
Check out "Porter's Senior Toolkit!"
Have questions? The Answers may be right here!
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It's full of timelines and documents to help answer many of the most common questions and walk you through many of the steps!
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Applying to a Florida public university? Click here for links, application information and deadlines for all 12 institutions.
Are you State University of Florida-eligible?
Know where you stand.
Check out Florida's public university Admissions Matrix to view stats stats on the mid-50% of students admitted from Class of 2023 and more.
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IMPORTANT 2023-2024 DATES for SENIORS:
Ongoing:
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APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS CONSTANTLY! That means NOW!!
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August 1st:
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Parents/Guardians: Low-income? Think your child may qualify for SAT/ACT test and college application fee waivers? Authorize us to give them to your child by completing the district's 2 required forms! They must be completed every year!
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Create your Common App and Coalition App accounts.
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List your school counselor's name and email address correctly so s/he will receive recommendation and transcript requests.
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Make your college list!
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Start your college applications. DO NOT wait for better grades or higher SAT/ACT scores! Apply, retake the tests and send new scores. Most colleges consider your grades from 9th - 11th grades. Need help? Ask Mrs. Porter
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Make sure to apply to many different types of schools! Have plenty of safe schools on your list!
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Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation only if needed. Provide a completed Brag Sheet to each recommender.
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October
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​Apply for Florida Scholarships and Grants (FFAA) - Florida Financial Aid Application/FFAA Opens! Complete the FFAA as early as possible to get in line for first-come, first-served money, even if you think you won't be eligible for any of the scholarships and grants--you never know! It's super easy. It's just an authorization form that tells the state to consider you for all forms of money available.
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December/January
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Apply for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) - THE NEW Free Application for Federal Student Aid/FAFSA Opens!! Complete FAFSA as early as possible to get in line for first-come, first-served money, even if you think you won't qualify for financial aid?
May 1st
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National College Decision Day. Four-Year Colleges give you until this date to make your decision and place your enrollment deposit to reserve your spot.
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Graduation Day, June 10, 2024
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Satisfy Bright Futures' GPA, test score, and community service hour requirements - You must complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), earn a qualifying Bright Futures recalculated GPA, test scores (June scores count!) and the minimum required community service/work hours by graduation day in June! (Exception: Students earning AICE diplomas need 100 service/work hours and a completed FFAA)
June 2024
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June SAT/ACT scores count! Satisfy Bright Futures' ACT/SAT test score requirements. You can still qualify for a Bright Futures Scholarship or even increase your award level with higher June test scores.