Florida State University is a significant public research institution that was founded in 1851 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Many of FSU’s 32,543 undergraduate students flock to FSU for its warm weather, more than 600 student organizations, and 18 NCAA Division I sports teams, known as the Seminoles.
FSU attracts students from highly diverse backgrounds who have a wide variety of interests. It truly has a program or social organization for everyone.
For example, FSU is popular with students looking to go into science because it boasts over 60 research institutes.
FSU’s fine arts program prides itself on connecting students with its many award-winning alumni.
Entrepreneurial students appreciate that FSU places deep emphasis on preparing its students for success post-college by partnering with local and national small businesses to foster student entrepreneurship.
In fact, FSU was chosen as the 2023 host for the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
FSU also fosters beneficial relationships between current and former students by weaving a solid alumni network to help students build connections even before graduation.
In addition to its thriving athletics association, numerous social opportunities, and dedication to encouraging the student body’s post-college success, FSU was ranked #55 of 1,466 schools on U.S. News and World Report’s list of top colleges and universities in the country.
If these features don’t properly encapsulate FSU’s appeal, the price will. FSU students get a top-notch education for a highly reasonable rate compared with other U.S. public institutions. U.S. News and World Report ranked FSU in the top 5 “Best Value” universities.
For these reasons, FSU is very popular not just among incoming college freshmen, but also transfer students.
The FSU transfer student application process looks a little different from that of new high school graduates. We’ve compiled everything prospective transfers should know about applying to FSU.
FSU Transfer Acceptance Rate
Florida State University enrolls about 3,000 transfer students every year. That brings their transfer rate of acceptance to about 30%, according to the common data set, which all colleges are required by law to report.
FSU says that the majority of their transfer students come from other schools in the Florida College System, but, of course, students from any accredited school at any level of higher education are welcome.
Similar to the incoming freshman application process, FSU takes a holistic approach to transfer students.
This means that, when reading a student’s application, admissions officers don’t accept or deny the student based on one specific criterion.
Instead, admissions representatives will read the entire application to assess the student’s strengths and weaknesses and determine whether or not they would be a strong fit for the university.
Before prospective transfers submit their application, they should familiarize themselves with FSU’s application requirements, as well as those of the particular program to which they are applying.
Application Requirements & GPA for FSU Transfer Students
According to PrepScholar, the average FSU-admitted SAT score is 1270, and the average ACT score is 28. Students still need to have a strong application that meets all the requirements to be accepted, and SAT/ACT scores can help with that.
So, what exactly are the FSU transfer application requirements?
Freshman and Sophomore-level transfer applicants must have earned at least a 3.0 GPA in high school.
Freshman and Sophomore-level applicants must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all attempted college courses.
Transfer applicants at the Junior and Senior-level must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on all college courses, and they must have completed 60+ semester hours of transferable credit.
Prospective FSU transfers must have a number of demonstrated strengths from taking classes at their previous institution.
FSU requires college-level proficiency in English and mathematics. This means that students must have received a grade C or higher in a minimum of three semesters of college-level English and math.
Students should double-check that their desired major doesn’t have its own special requirements for English and math. Some degree programs at FSU require students to complete six credit hours in each area.
Students should visit their prospective major’s website to learn about any deviations from the standard FSU transfer application process.
Transfer students must also satisfy the state of Florida’s world language requirement, which consists of two sequential units of world language or American Sign Language in high school.
If students did not complete the language requirement in high school, they must have completed the second elementary level of a language in college. Students who do not meet the world language requirements will not be accepted as transfers to FSU.
It’s important to note that applicants who received an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from a Florida public institution before transferring will be given priority consideration for admission to FSU.
FSU Transfer Deadline
Applicants can apply to transfer to FSU for the Spring or Fall semesters, as well as for Summer programs.
Spring admits must submit their application by November 1st.
Fall admits must submit their application by June 1st.
Summer admits must submit their application by March 1st.
FSU notes that if the deadline date falls on a weekend, applicants have until the following Monday to submit their completed application.
What Is the Decision Date for FSU Transfer Students?
According to FSU Admissions, transfer students are accepted on a rolling basis. This means there is no strict deadline on when students will hear whether or not they’ve been accepted.
Instead, students, should continue to check their application portal to see any updates.
Deciding Whether You Should Apply to FSU As a Transfer Student
There are certainly many reasons to transfer to Florida State University. Student-athletes are sure to be attracted by the myriad Division I sports teams.
Students looking to take part in exciting Greek life or wanting a long list of organizations and clubs will also find FSU to be a good fit.
Students interested in research will enjoy the many opportunities within FSU’s research institution.
Student entrepreneurs flock to FSU for its local and national small business partnerships that educate students on best business practices prior to graduation.
Whether striving for a degree in the sciences, fine arts, business, or another field, the quality of professors, researchers, and mentors at FSU ensures that students find themselves prepared for success post-college.
On top of its countless academic, social, and athletic opportunities, FSU offers a strong education at a much lower price than the national average.
Students on a tight budget or who are looking to expand their social calendar while earning a stellar education may consider transferring to FSU.
But students should keep in mind that FSU is a competitive school, and its transfer application program isn’t any easier than incoming first-year admissions.
Prospective transfer students should make sure they meet all the requirements, including a strong high school or college GPA and the required credits needed for transfer.
If a student checks all these boxes, they should set up a portal via the transfer admissions page on the FSU website to get started on their application.
Recap: How To Apply to FSU As a Transfer Student
The application process for students looking to transfer to FSU is straightforward, and all the relevant information can be found on FSU’s transfer admissions page on its website.
Before beginning the application, students should double-check they meet FSU’s transfer requirements. This means they have a minimum 3.0 high school GPA or minimum 2.0 college GPA.
Prospective transfer students should have received a grade C or above in three semesters of college-level English and math.
Additionally, students must have taken two sequential semesters of foreign language or American Sign Language in high school or have completed through the secondary elementary level of college foreign language.
If students meet all these requirements, they’ll then have to meet the application deadline for their respective semester of enrollment. As a recap:
Spring admits must submit their application by November 1st.
Fall admits must submit their application by June 1st.
Summer admits must submit their application by March 1st.
Once a student submits their application, the waiting game begins. Since enrollment results for transfer students are announced on a rolling basis, students will have to check their portals for acceptance or denial notifications.
The main consideration students should take into account when deciding whether to transfer or not is if they’d be happier at a different school.
Students should ask themselves what they’re missing from their current institution and research other schools that might be a better fit.
FSU has a vibrant student body and offers many opportunities for students to explore their interests. If a student is lacking this at their current institution, FSU just might be the school for them.
