Counselor Portal (Slate.org)

Slate.org is a free tool that allows high school and independent counselors to view their students' application status. Counselors are also able to upload official transcripts, add a school profile, and other documents through this portal.

To register, visit Slate.org and click the registration link in the center of the page. The first counselor to register from a school will be the designated person to manage permissions for that specific school. Click the following link for a video overview of how to register and manage your school's Slate.org profile.

Counselor Resources

FAFSA Resources

AXS Toolbox for Counselors

The AXS Toolbox is a free resource designed to empower counselors in assisting students through the Common App using AXS Companion, a 501(c)3, NACAC-approved platform.

The goals of AXS Companion and AXS Toolbox:

• Increase student success in completing Common App
• Streamline applications for students, counselors, and families
• Simplify the seemingly overwhelming application process with clear, easy-to-follow instructions
• Support high school counselors to save valuable time and onramp new staff

AXS Toolbox was created for counselors by counselors and contains customizable lesson plans & slides, video tutorials, interactive student worksheets, and a wealth of resources.

Deadlines and Decisions

While the application does not include Early Action as a deadline option, students who qualify as a Florida resident and who submit their application by November 1st and required materials by November 8th will be added to the Early Action plan and receive an admissions decision on December 12, 2024.

• At least one test score must be submitted before the application deadline, but additional tests may be considered if provided by these dates. Please note: FSU does not accept self-reported test scores from the Common App. Students should self-report their test scores on the Application Status Check using the Self-reported Test Scores form.
• February test scores are the last exam date that can be used for admissions purposes.
• Admissions decisions are made available through the Application Status Check.

Application Fee & Waivers

Florida State University's first-year application fee is $30.

Students who qualify for an ACT, CollegeBoard, or NACAC application fee waiver or who meet other indicators of economic need may have the application fee waived by selecting the qualifying application fee waiver category on the admissions application.

The SSAR (Self-reported Student Academic Record)

All first-year applicants must complete a SSAR except:

1. Applicants who have not followed an academic curriculum patterned after the U.S. system - must submit official or certified copies of all secondary school records and/or examination results. This includes students who have attended an institution not patterned after the U.S. system for any length of time. All academic records not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. In addition, these credentials must be evaluated by a credential evaluation agency. We recommend a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or International Education Credential Services provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
2. GED graduates - students must submit their official GED transcript, along with official partial high school transcript(s).

The SSAR lists all courses and associated grades that have been attempted, or will be attempted, for high school and/or college credit. When creating their SSAR, students must have a copy of their high school transcript available to use as a reference to ensure their self-reported academic information is accurate. Students can link their Self-Reported Student Academic Record through their Application Status Check. Please allow one to two business days after linking for the checklist item to be satisfied.

For more information on the SSAR, please refer to our SSAR FAQ.

Test Score Information

FSU, along with Florida's 11 other public universities, is subject to Florida Board of Governors admissions regulation 6.002 which requires first-year students seeking admission to submit an ACT, CLT, or SAT test score.

FSU does not accept self-reported test scores from the Common App. Students should self-report their test scores on the Application Status Page using the Self-reported Test Scores form.

At least one test score must be submitted before the application deadline, but additional tests may be considered if provided by the test score deadline. Since accuracy is critical, students must have a copy of their score report(s) available to reference when self-reporting their scores. We strongly recommend using your complete score report when completing the Self-reported Test Scores form. To complete this form, you must list at least one set of test scores. If admitted, student will be required to submit official test score reports prior to enrollment at FSU.

In May 2023, the Classic Learning Initiatives, Inc. published The Concordance Relationship Between the Classic Learning Test (CLT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), establishing a concordance table between the CLT and the SAT.

Essay & Resume

The essay and resume provide another opportunity to learn more about you.

The essay, a required component of the application, should be no longer than 650 words, and may be uploaded after the application has been submitted. Please choose a topic from the list below:

Application Essay Prompts

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The resume should be no longer than two pages, and may be uploaded after the application has been submitted. It should include a list of activities such as (but not limited to) service work, employment, family contributions such as caring for siblings or sick relatives, and extracurricular and summer activities.

Please allow 3-4 business days for us to pull your essay and resume/activities if you submitted your application through the Common App.

Earning both a High School Diploma and an Associate in Arts (AA) degree

A high school student earning both the standard high school diploma and an Associate in Arts (AA) degree through dual enrollment from the Florida College System or the State University System of Florida must apply to FSU as a first-year student. Applicants must adhere to the first-year admission deadlines. In addition, applicants may be subject to additional major deadlines/requirements. Carefully review all major requirements at Academic Program Guide.

Those students who are receiving an AA degree but do not meet the admissions requirements under the Florida Board of Governors Admission Regulation 6.002, may be considered for admission under Florida Board of Governors Admission Regulation 6.005. Students admitted under this regulation are first-time-in-college (FTIC) students although they are not required to submit ACT, CLT, or SAT scores. However, they should meet the requirements for their selected major as listed in FSU's Academic Program Guide. If admitted, they must submit a $200 enrollment deposit, attend a first-year orientation session, and are eligible to apply for on-campus housing. Admitted students without a test score are not eligible to be considered for first-year merit scholarships from the Office of Admissions. Students considered for admission under FL BOG 6.005 will be required to submit all official college transcript(s) for evaluation prior to an admission offer being made; they must also provide a final official college transcript displaying the A.A. before enrolling at FSU. Any FTIC student admitted under this regulation must immediately notify the Office of Admissions if they will not receive their degree. All first-year students admitted under this regulation who do not receive the Associate in Arts degree will have their offer of admission revoked.

University Housing

Students who have been admitted for the Summer or Fall term are eligible to complete a housing contract. The university housing contract opens in late February each year. Florida State has 18 residence halls in total; 14 of the residence halls are reserved for first-year students. Students may also want to consider applying to live in a Living-Learning Community (LLC). An LLC is a small group of students who live together, share an interest, and take one or two of their classes together - usually in a small classroom inside their residence hall. On campus housing is not required, but strongly encourage for first-year students. On-campus housing is limited, so we encourage admitted students to complete a contract as soon as possible if they are interested in living on campus. Students do not need to pay their admissions deposit to submit a university housing contract. The housing contract and pre-payment should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than May 1st. To learn more, visit housing.fsu.edu.