Can you still get into a Florida public university?

"College Pete" forwarded an alarming story to me a few hours ago. Even though both of us are out of town, the story was so important that I wanted to pass it onto you.

It appeared in today's Miami Herald. The header - "Budget cuts lock more out of state universities."

The story profiles some outstanding South Florida's college-bound students who cannot beg, borrow or steal their way into a state college, thanks to budget cuts and enrollment freezes! Kids with excellent grades (top 5% in the class) and leadership positions (class president, yearbook editor) cannot get into to "safety" schools anymore! Another student (3.4 GPA, varsity baseball captain, newspaper editor-in-chief) cannot get into University of South Florida.

The article is posted below.

So if your child is a high school junior or even a 10th grader, don’t wait another second and register for one of our workshops at http://www.collegeplanningadvice.com/wkshpsched.htm.

* The Five Greatest Myths About How the Financial Aid Process REALLY Works;

* Three Critical Questions You Must Ask Each College Before You Even Think About Applying;

* How much money your neighbors ACTUALLY have saved up for college and where you stand; and

* The "dirty little secret" about Florida Pre-paid and Bright futures.

Here's the article.

Top Florida high school students once considered Florida International University a ''safe'' fallback for those rejected by more-elite colleges like the University of Florida. Now that a budget crisis has forced drastic cuts at all 11 state universities, that's no longer the case.
Freshman enrollment is capped at the previous year's level for the first time in recent memory. Admission standards are rising, and many students find themselves squeezed out of a system they had long taken for granted.

Consider high school senior Ashley Casal, 18: class president at Miami Beach Senior High; yearbook editor; community volunteer; likely top 5 percent of her graduating class. Not enough to get her into FIU.

''I was really disappointed,'' Casal said. ``It's been really hard this year. Everybody has been feeling it.''

University-bound high school students like Casal know the routine: Take college-level classes, do your service hours, round out the package with an interesting hobby and a compelling essay. Not long ago, a Florida kid with all of the above and decent test scores could count on getting into a state school.

Not anymore.

''They're doing everything they're being told they need to do,'' said Cindy Woodring, continuing education advisor at Coral Springs High. ``They're either deferred or denied college acceptance.''
Carolyn Roberts, chairwoman of the Florida Board of Governors, said today's high school juniors and seniors will be most affected by the cutbacks.

''Students not only are prevented from attending the universities from which they are qualified to attend, it also means that if they are accepted, they are sitting in classes that are very crowded and dealing with advisors who are overworked,'' Roberts said.
FIU President Modesto ''Mitch'' Maidique said making it harder for Florida students to get into state colleges will hurt the state's ability to compete globally.

''We're taking a step backward,'' Maidique said, ``because if you reduce the number of folks who go into the pipeline, you reduce the number of students exiting the pipeline.''
For today's high school juniors and seniors -- and the school advisors who help them plan their path into higher education -- there are fewer certainties when it comes to getting into a Florida university.

''It's their party,'' said Pam Kirtman, the continuing education advisor at Nova High in Davie. ``They can invite who they want.''

The only sure bet, Kirtman said, is a community college.

For a student who dreamed of growing up to be a Gator or a Seminole, community college can be a tough sell. Still, it's an option advisors more often pitch lately because students who earn an associate's degree from a community college are guaranteed admission to a state university -- though not necessarily the university of their choice -- to finish their four-year degree.
That's a strategy Vanessa Jaramillo, a senior at Beach High, is considering. Denied acceptance at FIU, she is hoping to spend some time at Miami Dade College and then transfer to either FIU or the University of Miami.

''It's definitely been stressful,'' said Jaramillo, an honors student who also serves as class secretary. ``I felt really bad for some kids. They were really having a rough time.''
Enrollment continues to rise at both Miami Dade College and Broward Community College. Both expect capped university enrollments to send even more recent high school graduates their way in the fall.

While community colleges will keep their doors open, they, too, are in a budget crunch. Students are encouraged to register as early as possible to get the classes they need.
BCC spokeswoman Jillian Printz said the college is ``looking very carefully at how we expand sections, how we use space, how we use our facilities to serve enrollment growth.''
Victoria Hernandez, MDC's director of governmental affairs, said the college may not be able to offer enough classes to meet demand.

''At some point, we have to ask: What is the breaking point for Miami Dade College?'' she said. ``As it is, our classes are full.''

Sonja Miller, the College Assistance Program advisor at Miami Norland Senior High, said besides urging students to consider community college, she also is encouraging them to explore colleges and universities in other states. In some instances, the out-of-state alternatives are cheaper than their Florida counterparts, she said.

''There are students who want to stay in Florida but can't,'' she said. ``Our children are literally being forced out of the state.''

Miami Norland scholar-athlete Michael Allen applied to three colleges last semester -- two in-state and one in Washington, D.C.

Allen, who has a 3.4 GPA, is taking three advanced placement classes this year. He's is captain of the varsity baseball team and editor-in-chief of the student newspaper.

But Allen did not get into the University of South Florida. He hadn't heard back from Florida Atlantic University and Howard University, and he plans to apply to Florida A&M University.
''We hear it all the time: The number of applicants is going up, especially in the major schools,'' Allen said.

Although high school seniors are the ones dealing with last-minute decisions and rejection letters, juniors are worrying too.

''It's really hard,'' said Anais Alfonso, 17, of Hollywood. The Nova High junior, who is considering a career in nursing, said she has stopped thinking in terms of where she wants to go. Now, she's looking for schools that will admit her with at least a half scholarship.
Nova High school senior Zachary Rosen, who lives in Miramar and will attend Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, advised juniors to start their application process as early as possible.

''It could be too late for them,'' said Zachary, 18, pointing out that students need to work on their academics well before junior year. ``I would be talking to the freshmen.''
Kirtman, the Nova High advisor, said she urges parents not to attach their egos to where their kids go to college, and assures kids that there are many places where they can flourish.

''I make it really, really clear to them that their success in life and their happiness as a person isn't hinged on where they go to college,'' she said.

College Pete and I talk about this stuff 4-5 times per month...see, we weren't making it up!!!! Wake up and smell the coffee - stop blowing off your college planning!

http://www.collegeplanningadvice.com/wkshpsched.htm