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FGCU is actively engaged with Southwest Florida through cultural activities, educational
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See what’s available to enhance your FGCU experience. Find out what’s happening on
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The Accelerated Collegiate Experience is our scholastic program designed for highly
motivated high school students. Learn more about how to begin earning college credits
and start your path toward achieving your academic dreams.
The ACE program has done more than just shape me into the scholar I am today. This
experience gave me the guidance, support, and direction I needed to understand my
full potential and passions.”
Prospective ACE applicants must have a 3.0 unweighted and a 3.7 weighted high school
GPA at the time of application. Per state statute, homeschool students are exempt from the GPA requirement.
SAT and/or ACT score minimums must be met at the time of application:
Applicants must meet the total score and section score minimums to be considered for
admission. We do not require the Essay component of the SAT.
ACT
Minimum Composite Score: 22
Minimum Math Sub-test Score: 19
Minimum English Sub-test Score: 19
Minimum Reading Sub-test Score: 19
Applicants must meet the composite score and sub-test score minimums to be considered
for admission. We do not require the Writing portion of the ACT.
Score Reports
When signing up for the SAT or ACT, please select FGCU as one of the schools that
you would like your score report sent to. This reduces the amount of time it takes
to receive your official scores for review.
FGCU offers many different undergraduate programs. Visit our Undergraduate Programs List for more information.
The ACE Program offers its diligent students scholarship opportunities upon graduation
from the program.
(ACE scholarships may not duplicate other FGCU merit scholarships offered in the Office
of Undergraduate Admissions).
Early College Honors Graduateswill receive upon high school graduation:
$5,000.00 per year renewable for three years (6 semesters)
Eligibility:
Beginning eligibility is the term following high school graduation (excluding summer);
The student must be a US citizen or meet requirements of an eligible non-citizen as
defined by the Federal Student Aid Program (Please see the Director of Early College Programs if you are not a U.S. citizen).
The student must have a minimum of 3.0 FGCU cumulative institutional GPA;
The student must have completed a minimum of 48 credits earned at FGCU and successfully
completed the Early College Honors Program criteria;
The scholarship will be awarded once high school graduation certification has been
received and FGCU GPA verified.
Criteria for Renewal:
The student must maintain full-time academic enrollment at FGCU, completing a minimum
of 30 credits each academic year toward the chosen degree program.
The student must maintain a 3.0 FGCU institutional grade point average.
(ACE scholarships may not duplicate other FGCU merit scholarships offered in the Office
of Undergraduate Admissions).
Early College Prgoram graduates will receive upon high school graduation and admission to FGCU:
$3,000.00 per year renewable for three years (6 semesters)
Eligibility:
Beginning eligibility is the term following high school graduation (excluding summer)
Students must be a US citizen or meet requirements of an eligible non-citizen as defined
by the Federal Student Aid Program. (Please see the Director of Early College Programs if you are not a U.S. citizen).
The student must have a cumulativeFGCU institutional GPAof at least 3.0 and have completed a minimum of 24 credits hours at FGCU;
The student must apply for the scholarship through the ACE office by the published
deadline. The scholarship will be awarded once high school graduation certification
has been received and FGCU GPA verified.
Criteria for Renewal:
The student must maintain full-time academic enrollment at FGCU, completing a minimum
of 30 credits each academic year toward the chosen degree program.
The student must maintain a 3.0 FGCU institutional grade point average.
Prior to completing the application steps below, a student should: Meet with their high school counselor to discuss eligibility and attend an ACE Public Information Meeting.
If you are interested in a rigorous curriculum along with advanced scholarship and
engagement in high-impact experiences (research, leadership, scholarly experiences,
service, publication, presentations at professional conferences, etc.), the ACE Program
may be right for you. The best candidates have met the minimum test score and high
school GPA requirements and have demonstrated maturity, critical thinking, academic
and service engagement and have an interest in leveraging resources at FGCU to advance
their academic and career goals. In addition, a student applicant must feel confident
about her/his ability to make sound decisions, take initiative, seek help when needed,
communicate effectively, manage time and obligations, and be willing to mature quickly
into a student-professional role.
Do I need to attend an ACE Public Information Meeting before I apply?
Yes. It is important that both students and parents understand the scholarly expectations
of the ACE Program along with the benefits of the program. Often, current or former
ACE students attend the sessions to give their perspective of the program. An admission
decision may depend on whether the student has a clear understanding of the program.
Why is it important to meet with my high school counselor before I apply?
It is important to inform your high school counselor about your interest in the ACE
Program. There are many accelerated options for students, and ACE is only one of them.
Your high school counselor will sign a Program Authorization Form that indicates they
support your application to ACE.
Do I need to know what I want to do for my career?
No. College often is the best place to learn about potential careers, but it is important
to be ready to explore. ACE students begin with general education courses that can
be applied toward any baccalaureate degree at FGCU. Some programs will require a program
track that begins the first semester so students are encouraged to discuss any areas
of interest with their academic advisor.
Will FGCU accept college credit awarded through other programs?
Probably. College credit earned at another accredited post-secondary school will be
reviewed. An official college transcript must be sent to the FGCU Office of Undergraduate
Admissions prior to review. Instructions for review of other advanced credit will
be provided by the academic advisor during intake.
Intake is the opportunity to meet with an FGCU academic advisor after admission to
discuss the student’s academic goals, schedule and register for classes, and to discuss
other academic issues prior to the beginning of classes. Once admitted, a student
will be contacted by the academic advisor to schedule for intake. Registration is
dependent on the submission of immunization documentation and the completion of other
intake requirements. Students will receive a detailed e-mail about the intake process
when they receive their admission decision letter.
A student may take a Florida Virtual School course as long as the course is required
for high school graduation and is not offered at FGCU. Permission from both the Early
College Programs Director and the high school counselor must be given. The only exception
to this policy is economics. Students may fulfill the high school diploma economics
course through FLVS while also enrolled in the ACE Program. The FLVS economics course
is not included in the minimum of 12 FGCU credit count per semester. Students that
wish to take economics through FLVS will still need to be enrolled in a minimum of
12 FGCU credits for fall and spring semesters. We recommend that economics be completed
during the summer between 11th and 12th grade or during winter break for senior students.
Can I participate in other educational experiences and/or certifications while in
ACE.
It depends. One thing is certain: It will not be like your high school schedule. A
student admitted to the program will work with an FGCU academic advisor regarding
their schedule. The advisor will advise regarding appropriate courses based upon remaining
high school graduation requirements and the student’s area of interest or major. Courses
are offered at different times and on different days, so usually the student is able
to build a schedule that works best for them.
I hear that the program is “scholarly.” What does this mean?
The expectation is that an ACE student will leverage and engage in high-impact opportunities
offered by the university. This may include research, publication, participation in
musical ensembles, attendance at scholarly presentations, membership in appropriate
campus clubs and organizations, leadership development and service. Furthermore, ACE
students are permitted and encouraged to enroll in FGCU Honors College courses.
How would the ACE program assist me in recognizing what high-impact experiences may
be available?
All new ACE students are required to enroll in a 1-credit course, IDH 1930 – ACE Elements
of Honors, during the initial semester. The honors course introduces the importance
of high-impact collegiate experiences and how these experiences can advance the student’s
scholarship goals. The ACE office assists with connecting students to individuals,
activities, and opportunities that may be of interest to the student.
Yes, ACE students are encouraged to enroll in courses that are offered through the
Honors College. Designation of the honors status is noted on the official transcript.
Only FGCU Honors College and ACE students are permitted to take these courses.
How will I be notified if I am admitted to the ACE program?
Decision letters will be mailed to you in mid-May, and an email will be sent to the
dual-enrollment counselor at the high school with the names of the students admitted.
Class schedules will be forwarded to the high school dual enrollment counselor from
the FGCU Early College Programs office.
If I am not admitted to ACE for my junior year, may I re-apply for my senior year?
After admission, the FGCU academic advising office will contact the student for intake,
which includes class registration. In early June, a link will be sent to the student’s
email address for registration for ACE Orientation.
Do I have to attend ACE Orientation? What if my parent cannot attend?
Admitted ACE students must attend the one-day ACE Orientation. At orientation, the
student will be introduced to University web-based programs, will obtain their parking
permit and University ID card, tour the major resource centers and be introduced to
key staff. A responsible adult (aunt, uncle, grandparent, sibling) in the family (21
or over) may attend on behalf of a parent. A student risks disenrollment from the
program if they do not attend orientation.
When and how will my high school receive my grades?
Student transcripts with course history and grades will be scanned and emailed to
the dual enrollment counselor at the high school from the FGCU advising office. Batch
transcripts will be sent at the end of each term as soon as grades are posted to students’
records.
Can I withdraw from a class in which I am not doing well?
No. After the first week of classes, a student may not withdraw from any class. However,
there may be extenuating circumstances (death in immediate family, illness, etc.)
in which the withdrawal of a course or courses will be in the best interest of the
student. This is always discussed first with the student’s counselor and a “drop”
will not be processed until the counselor has been notified and both FGCU and the
district administration are in agreement with the action.
No. As long as a student is in the ACE program, a course cannot be repeated. If the
student graduates from high school and continues their academic program at FGCU, the
course may be repeated for grade forgiveness. Students are advised to seek guidance
from their academic advisor and the FGCU Catalog regarding the process and criteria
for seeking grade forgiveness.
ACE students do tend to hang out together on campus. They begin to meet each other
at ACE Orientation. They also see ACE students in the required ACE Honors class and
may see ACE students in other classes, as most are taking similar classes. About two
weeks into the fall semester, the ACE Program hosts a “Meet and Greet” in which all
ACE students are invited to attend. Often, ACE students will form study groups together,
meet for lunch or arrange to have other ACE- only events, such as movies, ice cream
parties, etc. on campus.
While the focus of the program is to get you engaged in collegiate experiences on
campus, a student may participate in after-school activities at their home high school
if it does not interfere with coursework and activities at FGCU. Students are advised
to consult with their high school counselor regarding high school participation policies.
Are there areas of study (major) that I cannot pursue while in the ACE Program?
Yes. While ACE students may take general education music courses and may audition
for ensembles in the Bower School of Music, Music majors have definitive performance
classes for which credit may not be applied to the high school transcript. ACE students
are not permitted to take the Music major courses until after high school graduation.
Can I live in campus housing while in the ACE Program?
There are very few restrictions as an ACE student, but some are: no residence on campus,
no participation in Greek life, no participation in NCAA athletics (intramural and
club sports are permitted), permission from parents to utilize the services of the
Health Clinic and Counseling and Psychological Services. There may be other restrictions
while you are legally “underage.”
Yes, if you continue at FGCU to complete the baccalaureate after high school graduation.
Students are advised to inform their academic advisor early of their intention to
meet A.A. requirements. Award of the A.A. is completed after graduation when the student’s
status changes to degree-seeking at FGCU.
