2020 graduates can take college courses with no out-of-pocket costs

Seminole State’s Bridge the Gap program helps first-time-in-college 2020 graduates ease back into education.

Friday, April 9, 2021
Written by: Emily Hollingshead

Seminole State College of Florida is offering the Bridge the Gap program this summer, a unique program designed for 2020 high school graduates who delayed beginning their college careers. Through the program, students will take two courses over the Summer Term, which runs May 10 – Aug. 4, and the College will use available financial aid and/or institutional funds to cover tuition, fees and books so students will have no out-of-pocket costs. The deadline to apply for the program is April 28.

Due to the effects of COVID-19, many 2020 high school graduates put off going to college for a variety of understandable reasons, from getting jobs to help support their families to a dislike of taking classes online. However, the long-term effects of delaying college and neglecting postsecondary education are clear. According to a College Board report, “In 2018, the median earnings of bachelor's degree recipients age 25 and older with no advanced degree working full time were $24,900 higher than those of high school graduates.” Additionally, a Georgetown University study estimated that over their lifetime, bachelor’s degree graduates make over $1 million dollars more than those without a bachelor’s degree.

The longer these students stay out, the harder it will be for them to get back in that academic mindset.

Joe Huston.

“We want to re-engage these graduates with higher education,” said Joe Huston, director of the Academic Success Center at Seminole State. “The longer these students stay out, the harder it will be for them to get back in that academic mindset. Our Bridge the Gap program aims to eliminate as many of the barriers of entry as we can and get these students back on track.”

Through the Bridge the Gap program, students will take a college success course, which focuses on teaching crucial skills for future success including how to set goals and manage their time, and English I. Courses will be offered in a hybrid and in-person format respectively with class options on both the College’s Sanford/Lake Mary and Oviedo campuses.

The program was created by Seminole State in collaboration with Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS). While priority will be given to SCPS students, all 2020 Florida graduates are welcome to apply!

Embedded tutors and librarians will provide additional access to college resources and, for those interested, students can take part in a Math Boot Camp to refresh their mathematics skills before the Fall 2021 semester. While the boot camp will not affect the student’s GPA, participation will make them eligible for a book stipend for their fall math course.

To learn more about the program and eligibility, visit seminolestate.edu/bridge-the-gap.

Bridge the Gap

Deadline: April 28
May 10 - Aug. 4
seminolestate.edu/bridge-the-gap



About Seminole State College

Seminole State College of Florida, established in 1965, serves nearly 30,000 students across six sites in Central Florida. A comprehensive college, Seminole State has awarded more than 100,000 credentials, from bachelor's degrees to high school diplomas, and offers more than 200 degrees, certificates and programs designed for success. For more about the college, visit seminolestate.edu
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