Marco is 15, a sophomore at Lake Nona High School with a 3.3 GPA, hundreds of hours at his dad's auto repair shop, and a self-built go-kart made from salvage parts. This is the plan Scaffold built for them.
This is the actual intake form the Medina family completed. It took about 10 minutes. No jargon, no trick questions. The answers below produced the full strategy you can read in the other tab.
Marco at a glance: Current sophomore, 3.3 unweighted GPA, PSAT 1060. Strongest assets are his mechanical aptitude (years of real work at a functioning auto repair shop, a self-built go-kart), systems thinking (flagged by his biology teacher), and quiet reliability. Main vulnerability is a thin academic record with no honors/AP coursework and a math struggle that will cap his test scores if not addressed. Projected SAT range: 1100-1220. Hispanic/Latino male, first-generation four-year college student, small business family.
| School | Tier | Est. Net Cost/Year | Financial Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| UF (Engineering) | Reach | $3,000-7,000 | Very Low (if admitted) |
| Florida State (Engineering) | Target | $4,000-8,000 | Very Low |
| UCF (Engineering) | Target | $2,000-6,000 | Very Low |
| Florida Polytechnic | Target | $1,500-5,000 | Very Low |
| FIU (Engineering) | Target | $2,500-6,500 | Very Low |
| Embry-Riddle (Daytona) | Target | $12,000-18,000 | Moderate |
| Florida A&M (Engineering) | Target | $3,000-8,000 | Low |
| USF (Engineering) | Safety | $2,500-6,000 | Very Low |
| Florida Gulf Coast | Safety | $1,500-5,000 | Very Low |
| Valencia to UCF (DirectConnect) | Safety | $0-2,000 | Essentially Zero |
The financial floor: UCF with Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship. Admission probability: ~80%. Estimated net cost: $2,000-4,000/year. In nearly every simulation, Marco is admitted to at least one Florida public university with Bright Futures covering the majority of tuition. If everything else falls through, UCF with Bright Futures is a genuinely good outcome. It's 15 minutes from your house, it has a solid engineering program, and the cost is almost nothing.
Sofia, Roberto. I want to address something before we get into the plan.
Roberto, you're not wrong that Marco is good with his hands. You're not wrong that the shop is valuable. You're not wrong that plenty of people waste money on degrees they don't use. All of that is true.
Here's what's also true: Marco doesn't just turn wrenches. He diagnoses problems by sound. He built a functioning go-kart from salvage parts and a riding mower frame. His biology teacher says he "understands systems." That's not a mechanic. That's an engineer. And the difference between a mechanic and an engineer is about $40,000 a year in salary and the ability to design the systems instead of just fixing them.
An engineering degree doesn't take Marco away from the shop. It makes him the guy who could open five shops. Or design diagnostic tools. Or work for NASA, which is literally 45 minutes from your house at Kennedy Space Center. The path through college and the path through the shop are not different paths. They're the same path with more options at the end.
Sofia, you said Marco doesn't think of himself as "college material." That's not because he's not capable. It's because nobody has told him he is. His school hasn't. His friends aren't. The system is designed to celebrate the kids with 4.0s and ignore the ones with 3.3s and engine grease under their fingernails. That's a system failure, not a Marco failure.
Here's what this plan is and what it isn't.
It is: A specific, data-informed plan for Marco's next two and a half years, built around your finances, your geography, and the kid you've described to me. It includes a course plan, a school list, an application strategy, and a financial simulation that models 10,000 scenarios.
It isn't: A guarantee. Marco might decide engineering isn't for him. He might pull his GPA up to a 3.6 or it might stay at 3.3. He might crush the SAT or he might not. This plan works at multiple levels of outcome. The floor is solid. The ceiling is real.
A few things I want to be honest about:
1. The Builder. This is the anchor. Marco builds things. He's been building things since he started helping at the shop at 12. The go-kart is the signature project, but it's part of a larger pattern: he sees broken systems and wants to fix them, or better yet, build something new from what's available. On a college application, this isn't "I helped at my dad's shop." It's "I've been solving real mechanical problems in a professional environment for four years, and I designed and built a vehicle from salvage parts."
2. The Systems Thinker. Mr. Reeves nailed it: Marco understands how things connect. He doesn't just memorize facts, he sees relationships. The engine diagnostics by sound, the biology class questions that surprised his teacher, the way he taught himself guitar by watching and deconstructing YouTube videos. Engineering schools want students who think this way. Most applicants write about wanting to "solve problems." Marco actually solves them, with his hands, every Saturday.
3. The Family Business. Marco isn't just a kid who works at a shop. He's the next generation of a family business started by an immigrant who built something from nothing. Roberto came from Puerto Rico at 19, worked at dealerships for a decade, and opened his own place. That story is Marco's story too. For engineering programs that value entrepreneurship, real-world experience, and diverse backgrounds, this is gold.
4. The Quiet Creative. The guitar is more important than it looks on paper. A kid who teaches himself an instrument from YouTube, who learns "Besame Mucho" to play for his grandmother's birthday, who keeps this completely separate from any academic or social pressure. That's a kid with interior life, with discipline he applies on his own terms, with cultural roots he values even if he won't speak Spanish at school. This thread humanizes the application and gives admissions officers a window into who Marco is when nobody's watching.
Florida Academic Scholar (FAS): Requires 1330 SAT (or 29 ACT), weighted 3.5 GPA, 100 community service hours, and completion of specific course requirements. Award: 100% of tuition and fees at any Florida public university, plus $300/semester for books. At UCF, that's roughly $6,700/year in tuition covered.
Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS): Requires 1210 SAT (or 25 ACT), weighted 3.0 GPA, 75 community service hours, and completion of specific course requirements. Award: 75% of tuition and fees. At UCF, that's roughly $5,000/year in tuition covered.
GPA: 3.3 unweighted. Weighted will be higher once he adds honors/AP courses. He needs a weighted 3.0 for Medallion (he'll clear this) and a 3.5 weighted for Academic Scholar (achievable with strong junior/senior years).
SAT: PSAT was 1060. He needs 1210 for Medallion and 1330 for Academic Scholar. The 1210 is realistic with prep. The 1330 is a stretch but possible.
Service hours: He currently has essentially zero documented community service hours. He needs 75 minimum (Medallion) or 100 (Academic Scholar). This is urgent.
| Scholarship | Tuition Covered | Room/Board | Annual Out-of-Pocket (UCF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAS (Academic Scholar) | 100% (~$6,700) | Not covered (~$11,500) | ~$5,500 (room/board + fees - Pell) |
| FMS (Medallion) | 75% (~$5,000) | Not covered (~$11,500) | ~$7,700 (tuition gap + room/board + fees - Pell) |
| No Bright Futures | 0% | Not covered | ~$12,200 (full cost - Pell) |
The difference between FAS and FMS is about $2,200/year, or $8,800 over four years. The difference between FMS and nothing is about $4,500/year, or $18,000 over four years. Bright Futures is worth fighting for.
Ten schools. One reach, five targets, two safeties, and one community college transfer path. Every school on this list is in Florida except one. Every school has a realistic path to costing your family under $12,000/year. Most will cost significantly less.
The list is heavily weighted toward Florida public universities because that's where the math works best for your family. Bright Futures only applies to Florida public and some private institutions. In-state tuition at a Florida public university is roughly $6,400-6,700/year. Out-of-state tuition at a comparable school would be $20,000-35,000. Florida is the play.
Gainesville, FL. ~23% overall admit rate (engineering more selective). ~35,000 undergrads. UF is a top-5 public university and its engineering college is ranked in the top 25 nationally.
Fit: Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Industry partnerships (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Harris Corp). The Integrated Product and Process Design program has teams building actual products for companies.
The honest truth: Marco's 3.3 GPA and 1060 PSAT put him below the typical UF engineering admit (3.8+ GPA, 1350+ SAT). However, UF has an Innovation Academy option with slightly lower standards, and a strong upward trend plus 1200+ SAT makes this a realistic long shot.
Estimated net cost: $3,000-7,000/year (with Bright Futures + Pell) | 4-year total: $12,000-28,000 | Financial risk: VERY LOW (if admitted).
Tallahassee, FL. ~25% admit rate (joint engineering college). ~33,000 undergrads. Jointly operated with Florida A&M, so Marco gets the resources of two universities.
Fit: Mechanical Engineering is one of the strongest departments. Senior design capstone projects are industry-sponsored. For a kid who's been solving real problems since he was 12, this is natural.
Estimated net cost: $4,000-8,000/year | 4-year total: $16,000-32,000 | Financial risk: VERY LOW.
Orlando, FL. ~43% admit rate. ~60,000+ undergrads. Right in your backyard. Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research partners with NASA, Siemens, and the Air Force.
Fit: Growing engineering program, proximity to Kennedy Space Center, Lockheed Martin, and the I-4 tech corridor. Hispanic/Latino population ~28%. Lake Nona is 15 minutes from campus.
Commuter option: Live at home, cost drops to $0-2,000/year with Bright Futures. That's essentially free college.
Estimated net cost: $2,000-6,000/year (on campus) or $0-2,000/year (commuter) | Financial risk: VERY LOW.
Lakeland, FL. ~45% admit rate. ~1,800 undergrads. The only public university in Florida dedicated exclusively to STEM. Every student is in a STEM field.
Fit: This is where the fit is strongest. Florida Poly's entire model is project-based, hands-on engineering education. Class sizes average 25 students. Faculty know your name. For a kid who builds go-karts, this is the school that was designed for him.
Estimated net cost: $1,500-5,000/year | 4-year total: $6,000-20,000 | Financial risk: VERY LOW.
Miami, FL. ~58% admit rate. ~48,000 undergrads. Hispanic-serving institution, student body over 60% Hispanic. Roberto suggested this one and he's not wrong.
Fit: ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering, Wall of Wind research center (hurricane engineering). Culturally, probably the most comfortable school on the list. Marco wouldn't have to code-switch. Spanish is everywhere.
Estimated net cost: $2,500-6,500/year | 4-year total: $10,000-26,000 | Financial risk: VERY LOW.
Daytona Beach, FL. ~68% admit rate. ~6,000 undergrads. Private university (no Bright Futures). The premier school for aerospace, aviation, and mechanical engineering in the Southeast. An hour from your house.
Fit: Heavily project-based Mechanical Engineering. Partnerships with NASA, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, Boeing. The motorsports engineering minor is literally designed for a kid who builds go-karts. Formula SAE team builds a race car every year.
The honest truth: Sticker price is ~$44,000/year, but Embry-Riddle is aggressive with merit aid. A 3.4+ GPA and 1150+ SAT could get $15,000-25,000/year. Net cost will still likely be $12,000-18,000, at or above your cap. Apply, see what they offer, compare.
Estimated net cost: $12,000-18,000/year (with merit aid) | 4-year total: $48,000-72,000 | Financial risk: MODERATE.
Tallahassee, FL. ~38% admit rate. ~8,500 undergrads. Same joint engineering college as FSU, same faculty, same labs, same accreditation. Different home campus with strong institutional scholarships and student support.
Estimated net cost: $3,000-8,000/year | 4-year total: $12,000-32,000 | Financial risk: LOW.
Tampa, FL. ~48% admit rate. Solid Mechanical Engineering, connected to Tampa Bay's defense and tech sectors. ~90 min from Orlando.
$2,500-6,000/year | Risk: Very Low.
Fort Myers, FL. ~76% admit rate. Engineering Technology program. The "everything else fell apart" option. Affordable and he'd get a degree.
$1,500-5,000/year | Risk: Very Low.
Orlando, FL. Open admission. Guarantees UCF admission after completing an AA with a 2.0 GPA. Two years at Valencia for nearly free, then transfer to UCF Engineering.
| Year | School | Tuition | Bright Futures | Pell Grant | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Valencia | ~$3,500/yr | Covers most/all | ~$2,500 | ~$0-1,000/yr |
| 3-4 | UCF | ~$6,700/yr | FMS/FAS | ~$2,500 | ~$2,000-6,000/yr |
Total 4-year cost: $4,000-14,000. That's the cheapest path to a UCF engineering degree.
Roberto, here's the pitch: Two years at Valencia where Marco keeps working at the shop, then two years at UCF for the engineering degree. Total cost: maybe $10,000. He comes out with a UCF degree and zero debt. And he still has the shop.
Estimated net cost: $0-2,000/year (Valencia) then $2,000-6,000/year (UCF) | Financial risk: ESSENTIALLY ZERO.
| # | School | Tier | Admit Rate | Bright Futures | Est. Net Cost/Yr | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UF Engineering | Reach | ~23% (eng. lower) | Yes | $3,000-7,000 | Very Low* |
| 2 | FSU Engineering | Target | ~25% (joint) | Yes | $4,000-8,000 | Very Low |
| 3 | UCF Engineering | Target | ~43% | Yes | $2,000-6,000 | Very Low |
| 4 | Florida Poly | Target | ~45% | Yes | $1,500-5,000 | Very Low |
| 5 | FIU Engineering | Target | ~58% | Yes | $2,500-6,500 | Very Low |
| 6 | Embry-Riddle | Target | ~68% | No (private) | $12,000-18,000 | Moderate |
| 7 | FAMU Engineering | Target | ~38% | Yes | $3,000-8,000 | Low |
| 8 | USF Engineering | Safety | ~48% | Yes | $2,500-6,000 | Very Low |
| 9 | FGCU | Safety | ~76% | Yes | $1,500-5,000 | Very Low |
| 10 | Valencia → UCF | Safety | Open | Yes | $0-2,000 → $2,000-6,000 | ~Zero |
Sofia, you mentioned that Roberto keeps bringing up FIU. He has good instincts. But here's the insight most families miss: Embry-Riddle's $44,000 sticker price is terrifying, but with Bright Futures covering the Florida publics, several of those schools will cost you $2,000-6,000/year. That means even if Embry-Riddle gives Marco $20,000 in merit aid, UCF with Bright Futures still costs less. The private school needs to offer something the public schools can't, not just a lower sticker price than its own sticker price.
Filing basics: Both Sofia and Roberto file, since you're married and in the same household. File October 1 of Marco's senior year (October 1, 2027), within the first two weeks. The tax year used: your 2026 return.
Roberto, the shop creates a wrinkle. Here's what you need to know:
Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI): At $105K combined income, household of 4, one in college, with a small business, your SAI will likely be in the $12,000-18,000 range. Marco will qualify for some need-based aid but is unlikely to qualify for Pell Grant at the full level. Estimated Pell: $1,000-2,500/year.
Key point: Because your income is above the Pell threshold for maximum grants, Bright Futures and merit scholarships are MORE important than need-based aid for your family. The FAFSA matters, but merit is the main play.
Bright Futures filing: Administered through the Florida Department of Education. No separate application. File the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) online, and Bright Futures eligibility is determined automatically based on GPA, test scores, and service hours. Critical: The service hours must be documented and verified by the school counselor. Start now. Log every hour. Get sign-off from supervising adults.
10,000 simulated outcomes at the optimistic profile level. Each draws admission, Bright Futures, and merit results independently for every school, then identifies the cheapest option Marco gets into.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| P(at least one admission) | 99.9% |
| P(at least one REACH admission) | 22.4% |
| P(at least one TARGET or better) | 96.8% |
| Median number of acceptances | 6 |
| Mean number of acceptances | 5.8 |
Marco will get into college. Multiple colleges. The question isn't whether, it's where and at what price.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| P(at least one school under $12K/year) | 88.3% |
| Median best 4-year total cost | $20,000 |
| 10th percentile (best case) | $6,000 |
| 25th percentile | $12,000 |
| 75th percentile | $32,000 |
| 90th percentile (worst realistic case) | $48,000 |
The median outcome is $20,000 total for four years. That's $5,000/year. Inside your budget. The 90th percentile ($48,000 total, $12,000/year) is right at your cap. Even in a bad scenario, you're likely OK because Bright Futures and Florida's in-state tuition keep the floor low.
The 12% of simulations where no school comes in under $12K/year are mostly scenarios where: (a) Marco doesn't hit Bright Futures thresholds and (b) the engineering programs he's admitted to don't offer enough institutional aid. In those cases, the Valencia-UCF path keeps the total well under budget.
| School | P(Admitted) | P(Admitted AND Under $12K/yr) |
|---|---|---|
| UF Engineering | 18% | 17% |
| FSU Engineering | 55% | 50% |
| UCF Engineering | 75% | 70% |
| Florida Poly | 78% | 75% |
| FIU Engineering | 82% | 78% |
| Embry-Riddle | 72% | 25% |
| FAMU Engineering | 65% | 58% |
| USF Engineering | 80% | 75% |
| FGCU | 92% | 90% |
| Valencia → UCF | 99% | 99% |
The story this table tells: The Florida public schools are affordable almost every time Marco is admitted, because Bright Futures covers most of the tuition. Embry-Riddle is affordable only 25% of the time it admits him, because it's private and the merit aid is uncertain. The Valencia path is the backstop that works in virtually every scenario.
What Will You Actually Pay?
(Best financial outcome per simulation, 10,000 scenarios)
$0-10K |██████████████████ 18%
$10-20K |████████████████████████████████████ 35%
$20-30K |██████████████████████████ 26%
$30-40K |██████████ 12%
$40-50K |█████ 6%
$50K+ |██ 3%
──────────────────────────────────────────
Median: $20,000 total | $12K/yr cap = $48K total
53% of simulations come in under $20,000 total for four years.
79% come in under $30,000 total.
At Least One Reach Admission: ███████████ 22% At Least One Target+ Admission: █████████████████████████████████████████████████ 97% At Least One Admission (Any): ██████████████████████████████████████████████████ 99.9%
0 schools | 0.1% 1 school |█ 1.2% 2 schools |████ 4.1% 3 schools |████████ 8.5% 4 schools |█████████████ 13.2% 5 schools |███████████████████ 19.4% 6 schools |█████████████████████████ 24.8% ← median 7 schools |████████████████████ 16.5% 8+ schools |████████████ 12.2%
Scenario 4-Year Total Cost (Median) ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── FAS (1330 SAT, 3.5 w-GPA) $14,000 FMS (1210 SAT, 3.0 w-GPA) $22,000 No Bright Futures $38,000 Valencia → UCF (any BF level) $8,000 FAS saves ~$24,000 over four years vs. no Bright Futures. FMS saves ~$16,000 over four years vs. no Bright Futures.
This chart is the one to put on your refrigerator. Every SAT point Marco gains and every service hour he logs is money you don't have to spend.
When acceptances and financial aid packages arrive, here are the most likely scenarios.
Probability: ~15-18%
What it looks like: Marco is admitted to UF's engineering program with Bright Futures (FAS or FMS). Net cost: $3,000-7,000/year.
4-year total cost: $12,000-28,000
Recommendation: Take it. UF Engineering is the best program on this list, and the cost with Bright Futures is outstanding. This is the dream scenario. Marco goes to a top-25 public engineering school, graduates with minimal debt, and has access to Florida's best engineering job pipeline.
Probability: ~45-50%
What it looks like: Marco is admitted to FSU or UCF (or both) with Bright Futures. Net cost: $2,000-8,000/year depending on the school and Bright Futures level.
4-year total cost: $8,000-32,000
Recommendation: This is the most likely good outcome. Compare the specific offers:
All are strong. All are affordable. Choose on fit.
Probability: ~15-20% (admitted with enough aid to come near budget)
What it looks like: Embry-Riddle offers $20,000+ in merit scholarships, bringing the net cost to $12,000-15,000/year. This is at or slightly above your cap.
4-year total cost: $48,000-60,000
Recommendation: Only if the net cost is genuinely under $15K/year and Marco is passionate about the program. The motorsports engineering track and Formula SAE team would be a dream for him. But don't stretch the budget for a dream if UCF or FSU offer a comparable education at half the price. Compare the offers side by side.
Probability: ~10-12%
What it looks like: Marco's SAT doesn't hit the Bright Futures thresholds. He's admitted to UCF, USF, or FIU but without the scholarship. Net cost: $8,000-12,000/year.
4-year total cost: $32,000-48,000
Recommendation: Still manageable, but tighter. This is where the Valencia-UCF path becomes worth serious consideration. Two years at Valencia (nearly free) then two at UCF (with or without Bright Futures) could cut the total in half. If the four-year school offer is above $10K/year and he's not getting Bright Futures, run the Valencia numbers.
Probability: Available in 100% of scenarios
What it looks like: Marco does two years at Valencia, completes his AA, and transfers to UCF through DirectConnect. Total cost: $4,000-14,000 for all four years.
Recommendation: Roberto, this is the one I know you're looking at. It's the cheapest path. It works. The degree at the end is the same UCF degree. Marco can keep working at the shop during the Valencia years. The risk is that he needs to stay on the pre-engineering track (Calc I/II, Physics, Chem) and maintain a strong GPA. If he can do that, this is the smartest financial play on the board.
Sofia, Roberto. Here are the five things to do before the end of this school year:
Detailed planning tools. Come back to them when you need them. Each section stands alone.
Strengths: Real mechanical aptitude and hundreds of hours of hands-on experience. Systems thinking (teacher-flagged). Self-directed learner (guitar, go-kart build). Responsible and reliable (shop attendance).
Gaps: No honors or AP courses on transcript. 3.3 GPA with no upward trend yet. No documented community service hours. No formal extracurriculars (no clubs, no sports, no organizations). Math weakness that limits SAT scores. PSAT 1060, needs significant improvement for Bright Futures.
Academics: Start Khan Academy SAT prep (2-3 hours/week, focused on math). If Pre-Calculus is on the fall schedule, review Algebra 2 concepts over summer. Read two books about engineering or technology (suggestions: "The Innovators" by Walter Isaacson, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig).
Extracurriculars: Continue working at the shop. Start documenting: photos, hours, skills learned. Work on the go-kart: improvements, documentation, consider filming a build video. Start community service: target 20-30 hours (Habitat for Humanity, community auto clinic, library volunteer, church).
What Not to Do: Don't do nothing. This summer is critical setup time. Don't sign up for 5 activities to pad the resume. Don't let Marco spend the entire summer gaming and working at the shop with no academic preparation.
| Course | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English 3 | Honors | Push for Honors. His reading scores justify it. |
| AP Environmental Science | AP | Mr. Reeves recommended it. Take it. |
| Pre-Calculus | Honors if available | Must be on track for Calc or AP Stats senior year |
| U.S. History | Honors | Humanities course where he can engage |
| Spanish 3 | Regular or Honors | Third year of language strengthens transcript |
| Elective: Engineering/Tech | Any | Maintain the applied learning thread |
Target GPA this year: 3.5+ unweighted, 3.8+ weighted. An upward trend from 3.3 to 3.5+ shows growth and effort.
Extracurriculars: Shop work continues (document 8-10 hours/week). Join one school club related to engineering/tech: Robotics Club, FIRST Robotics, Science Olympiad, or TSA. If none exist, start one. Continue community service (target 40-50 hours, cumulative 60-80). Consider entering the go-kart in a science/engineering competition.
SAT: Take in October or November 2026. Target: 1150-1200 on first attempt. If below 1210, retake in March or May 2027. Stretch goal: 1330 for Bright Futures Academic Scholar.
What Not to Do: Don't skip the AP class because his friends aren't in it. His friends don't pay tuition. Don't take a light course load to protect the GPA. Don't wait until spring to start SAT prep. Don't forget the service hours. Sofia, don't let the counselor put Marco in standard-track everything again.
| Course | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| English 4 | AP English Lit or Honors | AP if he can handle it; Honors is fine too |
| AP Statistics or Pre-Calculus | AP or Honors | AP Stats is more achievable than AP Calc for Marco |
| Government/Economics | Honors | Required, take at highest available level |
| Science Elective | AP or Regular | Builds on APES if he did well |
| Spanish 4 | Regular or Honors | Four years of language is strong |
| Elective: Engineering/Tech | Any | Senior capstone project if available |
Target GPA this year: 3.5+ unweighted. Maintain the upward trend.
Applications: Apply to all 10 schools (September-November). UF deadline: typically November 1. Submit FAFSA October 1, 2027.
What Not to Do: Don't get senioritis. Don't apply only to UCF because it's easy. Don't skip Embry-Riddle because of the sticker price. Roberto, don't talk Marco out of applying to UF. Sofia, don't take out Parent PLUS loans to cover a gap at Embry-Riddle.
| English | Social Studies | Math | Science | Language | Elective | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (current) | English 2 | World History | Algebra 2 | Biology | Spanish 2 | Digital Info Tech |
| 11th | English 3 Honors | U.S. History Honors | Pre-Calculus (Honors) | AP Environmental Sci | Spanish 3 | Engineering/Tech |
| 12th | English 4 Honors/AP Lit | Government/Econ Honors | AP Statistics | Physics or Elective | Spanish 4 | Engineering Capstone |
Total APs over two remaining years: 2-3. That's not a lot compared to the 4.0/ten-AP kids, but it's a significant jump from zero, and it shows growth. Engineering programs care more about math/science rigor than AP count.
| Component | Projection |
|---|---|
| GPA (UW / Weighted) | 3.45 / 3.8 |
| SAT | 1220 (EBRW 620, Math 600) |
| APs taken by senior fall | 2 (APES + AP Stats or AP Lit) |
| AP Scores | 3-4 on APES |
| Class Rank | Top 30-35% at Lake Nona |
| Primary Activity | Family auto repair business (4+ years, 500+ hours) |
| Signature Project | Self-built go-kart from salvage parts |
| Club Involvement | Robotics/TSA (1-2 years, potential leadership) |
| Demographics | Hispanic male, first-gen four-year, small business family |
| Bright Futures | Medallion likely (1210+ SAT), Academic Scholar possible (1330) |
| Component | Projection |
|---|---|
| GPA (UW / Weighted) | 3.35 / 3.6 |
| SAT | 1150 (EBRW 590, Math 560) |
| APs taken | 1-2 |
| Primary Activity | Same |
| Bright Futures | Medallion borderline (1210 threshold is tight at 1150) |
The realistic profile still gets Marco into UCF, USF, FIU, Florida Poly, and FGCU. It makes FSU and UF harder. It risks losing Bright Futures Medallion, which would cost $16,000-18,000 over four years. This is why SAT prep matters.
10 activities, ordered by distinctiveness. Items 3, 4, 5, and 8 are projected. The shop work (#1), go-kart (#2), guitar (#7), and cultural activities (#10) are already real.
| # | Type | Role | Activity | Hrs/Wk | Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Work (Family Business) | Technician / Apprentice | Medina Auto Repair. Diagnostics, brake systems, oil changes, customer vehicles. Learning business operations alongside technical work. | 10 | 9-12 |
| 2 | Independent Project | Designer / Builder | Self-designed and built go-kart from riding mower frame, salvaged parts, and Harbor Freight engine. Documented build on YouTube (2,000+ views). | 5 | 10-12 |
| 3 | Club/Organization | Member → Leader | Robotics Club / Technology Student Association, Lake Nona HS. [Projected: join junior year, leadership role senior year.] | 4 | 11-12 |
| 4 | Community Service | Organizer | Community Auto Clinic. [Projected: free basic car maintenance for low-income families, organized through Medina Auto Repair and community center.] | 3 | 11-12 |
| 5 | Community Service | Volunteer | Habitat for Humanity, Orlando chapter. Construction and building projects. | 3 | 11-12 |
| 6 | Academic | Student | AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics. Courses representing academic growth from standard-track to advanced coursework. | N/A | 11-12 |
| 7 | Art (Music) | Self-Taught Musician | Guitar. Self-taught from YouTube over 3+ years. Classic rock, Latin music. Plays for family, learned songs by request for grandmother. | 4 | 9-12 |
| 8 | Competition | Competitor | Science Fair or TSA Competition. [Projected: engineering/automotive project entry, regional level.] | 5 | 11-12 |
| 9 | Work (Paid/Seasonal) | Various | Summer or part-time employment (if applicable beyond the shop). | 8 | 11-12 |
| 10 | Family/Cultural | Family Member | Regular visits to Puerto Rico, connection to extended family. Bilingual household, helping grandmother navigate English-language systems. | 2 | 9-12 |
| # | Honor | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bright Futures Medallion Scholar (or Academic Scholar) | 12th | Aspirational |
| 2 | AP Scholar | 12th | Likely (if 2+ APs with 3+) |
| 3 | Science Fair Regional Recognition | 11th-12th | Aspirational |
| 4 | TSA State Competition Placement | 11th-12th | Aspirational |
| 5 | Honor Roll (semester-based) | 11th-12th | Likely |
| 6 | Lake Nona HS Engineering/Tech Department Award | 12th | Aspirational |
Honest assessment: Marco's honors list will be thin compared to the AP-loaded kids. That's OK. Engineering admissions weight the portfolio, the work experience, and the upward trend more heavily than a list of academic awards. The go-kart project and the shop work ARE the honors.
The essay is the go-kart. Not as a project description. As a story about how Marco thinks.
The angle: Start with the problem (a riding mower frame, a pile of junk parts, no blueprint). Walk through the process of figuring it out: the YouTube research, the trial and error, the trips to the junkyard with his dad, the moment it first started and then immediately died, the fix, the moment it actually ran. What it felt like. What it taught him about learning.
This essay should show a kid who doesn't wait for someone to teach him. He figures it out. That's the engineering mindset, and it's more convincing coming from a kid who actually built something than from a kid who wrote about "my passion for problem-solving" after attending a summer program.
What the essay should NOT be: A resume of his shop experience. "My dad is an immigrant and I learned hard work from him" (true but cliche). A generic "I want to be an engineer because I like building things." Anything that sounds like it was written by an AI or a college consultant.
| School | Prompt Type | Angle |
|---|---|---|
| UF | "Why UF" | Connection between shop diagnostics → systems thinking → UF's Integrated Product and Process Design program. Mention specific labs or research groups. |
| FSU | "Why Engineering" | The FAMU-FSU joint model appeals because of diverse perspectives. Connect to growing up in a bilingual, multicultural family. |
| UCF | "Community" | Building the community auto clinic idea. UCF's engineering + Orlando community. |
| Florida Poly | "Why Poly" | The small, hands-on, project-based model is exactly how Marco already learns. Reference specific capstone projects. |
| FIU | "Identity/Background" | Puerto Rican family, grandfather who was a Navy mechanic, the shop as cultural inheritance. |
| Embry-Riddle | "Why Embry-Riddle" | The Formula SAE team. The motorsports engineering minor. Go-kart → race car is a real trajectory. |
Recommender 1: Mr. Reeves (Biology / AP Environmental Science). When to ask: Early fall of senior year. What the letter should convey: Marco's systems thinking, his curiosity, the fact that he asks better questions than the honors kids. Mr. Reeves saw something in Marco that the transcript doesn't show. This letter needs to say that.
Recommender 2: Engineering/Tech Teacher (Junior or Senior Year). When to ask: Fall of senior year, after building a relationship in the class. What the letter should convey: Marco's technical skill, his ability to work with his hands, his problem-solving approach in a classroom/lab setting.
Recommender 3: Roberto Medina (Supplemental / Employer). Some schools accept a supplemental recommendation from an employer or mentor. Roberto can write (or dictate) a letter about Marco's work at the shop: reliability, skill development, maturity, business awareness. This carries weight because it's a real employer, not a parent writing a character reference.
Counselor letter: Sofia, you need to meet with the counselor EARLY in junior year and share Marco's story. The counselor has 500 students. They need context. Give them: the shop work, the go-kart, the service hours, the upward GPA trend, the family business story. A good counselor letter can compensate for a thin transcript.
Before/during/after photos of the build process. A written description (1-2 pages) of the design decisions: why the riding mower frame, how he solved specific problems, what failed and what he learned. The YouTube video (link it). If possible, a short video of the kart running with Marco explaining the build.
Photos of Marco working on vehicles (action shots, not posed). A list of the most complex jobs he's done (engine diagnostics, brake systems, etc.). A brief statement from Roberto about Marco's skill level relative to his age and experience.
UF, FSU, and UCF don't have formal portfolio submission processes for engineering, but the Common App additional information section allows uploads and links. Use it. Embry-Riddle actively values demonstrated interest in building/making. Include the portfolio with the application. Florida Poly's admissions process is holistic for engineering. A maker portfolio gives context that a 3.4 GPA doesn't.
What NOT to include: Don't over-produce it. A Google Doc with photos and honest descriptions is better than a slick PDF that looks like someone else made it. Don't include the guitar. Save that for the essays. The portfolio should be focused on engineering/making.
If Marco gets admitted to multiple schools with different financial packages, you can negotiate. Here's how:
| Month | Action Items |
|---|---|
| Aug 2027 | Finalize school list. Start Common App account. Begin Common App essay draft. |
| Sep 2027 | Complete Common App essay. Start supplemental essays for top 3 schools. Request recommendation letters (give teachers 6+ weeks). File FFAA for Bright Futures. |
| Oct 2027 | File FAFSA (October 1). Submit UF application (early deadline, typically Nov 1). Continue supplemental essays. Take SAT if retaking. |
| Nov 2027 | Submit FSU, UCF, Florida Poly, FIU, Embry-Riddle applications. Complete all supplemental essays. Verify Bright Futures service hours with counselor. |
| Dec 2027 | Submit remaining applications (USF, FAMU, FGCU). Follow up on any missing materials. Relax over winter break. |
| Jan 2028 | Monitor application portals. Submit any remaining financial aid materials. Start external scholarship applications. |
| Feb-Mar 2028 | Admission decisions begin arriving. Compare financial aid offers. Visit campuses if possible. |
| Apr 2028 | All decisions and aid packages in hand. Use the Decision Framework above. Compare net costs side by side. Negotiate if applicable. |
| May 1, 2028 | Commit to a school. Submit enrollment deposit. Celebrate. |
| Scholarship | Amount | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | $500-5,000 | Varies (typically Feb) | Marco qualifies. Apply. |
| Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) | $1,000-5,000 | Varies | Engineering-specific, Hispanic students. |
| NACME (National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering) | Varies | Through member universities | Check if target schools are members. |
| Florida Engineering Society Scholarship | $1,000-2,500 | Varies | Florida students pursuing engineering. |
| Salute to Education (Orlando) | $1,000-5,000 | Spring | Local Orlando scholarship, Hispanic focus. |
| Dell Scholars Program | $20,000 | Nov-Jan | Low-income, first-gen, high motivation. Competitive but worth applying. |
| Bright Futures (FAS/FMS) | $5,000-6,700/yr | Automatic via FFAA | The big one. Not external, but the most important scholarship on this list. |
Note on QuestBridge: At $105K household income, Marco is above the typical QuestBridge threshold. QuestBridge is not applicable for this family.
Each number is an estimate based on published admission rates, institutional data, and adjustments for Marco's projected profile.
| School | Published Rate | Adjusted Rate | P(BF FMS) | P(BF FAS) | P(Merit) | Net Cost (FMS) | Net Cost (No BF) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UF Engineering | 23% (overall) | 18% | 55% | 25% | 10% | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| FSU Engineering | 25% (joint) | 55% | 55% | 25% | 15% | $5,000 | $9,000 |
| UCF Engineering | 43% | 75% | 55% | 25% | 20% | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Florida Poly | 45% | 78% | 55% | 25% | 25% | $2,500 | $6,500 |
| FIU Engineering | 58% | 82% | 55% | 25% | 15% | $3,500 | $8,000 |
| Embry-Riddle | 68% | 72% | N/A (private) | N/A | 60% | N/A | $15,000 (w/ merit) |
| FAMU Engineering | 38% | 65% | 55% | 25% | 25% | $4,000 | $9,000 |
| USF Engineering | 48% | 80% | 55% | 25% | 20% | $3,500 | $7,500 |
| FGCU | 76% | 92% | 55% | 25% | 15% | $2,500 | $6,000 |
| Valencia → UCF | 99% | 99% | 55% | 25% | N/A | $1,000 | $3,500 |
Adjustments for Marco's profile: Hispanic male (moderate boost at public universities with diversity goals), first-generation four-year (moderate boost at most schools), upward GPA trend (positive signal), real work experience and maker portfolio (strong positive for engineering programs), below-median test scores (negative for UF, neutral for others), no AP history (negative, partially offset by adding APs junior/senior year).