Seminole State College of Florida — Local services in Sanford

If you've ever found yourself standing before the Financial Aid SAP Appeal Review Board at Seminole State College of Florida, you know it feels a bit like auditioning for a reality TV show where the judges are inexplicably strict yet entirely unfazed by your life story.

Picture this: You walk in, armed with an epic saga of struggles—housing issues and the challenges of raising children over a decade ago—only to be met with a panel that seems more like a council of ancient sages than financial aid reviewers. Their expressions? As stoic as a cat watching a laser pointer—entertaining but completely noncommittal.

Now, I understand that rules are rules, but denying an appeal because of events from 11 years ago feels a bit like saying, "Sorry, you can't go to the grocery store because of the way you handled your lunch money in kindergarten." Come on! Just because I had to withdraw from classes back then doesn’t mean I’m still living in a time warp. I’ve graduated to adulting 101, complete with late-night diaper changes and a subscription to “How to Find Affordable Housing.”

The committee’s rationale could make for a great sitcom plot. "Why did you withdraw in 2013?" “Because my life was like an episode of Survivor, and I was voted off the island—while holding a toddler.” Maybe the board is stuck in some cosmic loophole where past failures can haunt you like a bad haircut from high school.

I can’t help but imagine the hidden agenda here. Perhaps they think if they deny enough appeals, they’ll finally discover the secret to eternal youth? Or maybe they just really enjoy the thrill of rejecting heartfelt pleas. Whatever the case, it's hard not to feel like they have a secret scoreboard somewhere, tallying how many years back they can dig to justify a denial.

Let’s be real—life happens! Denying my appeal feels like a plot twist that even M. Night Shyamalan wouldn’t touch. I can only hope the board reflects on the impact of their decisions. After all, denying my future because of my past seems like a storyline that deserves a bit more consideration.

So, dear Review Board, while I respect your stance, I encourage you to remember that people can change and grow—especially after a decade of juggling parenthood and housing woes. After all, if my epic journey can’t qualify for a second chance, what’s next? Banning students from ever having pets because they might get distracted during finals?

In conclusion, while I may not have the financial aid I need, I certainly have a newfound appreciation for the absurdities of the academic world. Here’s hoping for more understanding—and perhaps a few less plot twists—when it comes to the saga of...

I submitted my FAFSA five months early for both the 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 academic years. As of today, I still haven’t received a single financial aid award letter—nor have I been given the opportunity to appeal. Instead, I continue to get notifications telling me to “contact the financial aid office,” which I’ve done many times. I’ve gone in person, followed up by email, and even reached out to the Director of Financial and Student Affairs—but I have yet to receive a single response or acknowledgment.

Today, I went to the financial aid office yet again, and the advisor I spoke with was not only unhelpful but openly admitted she doesn’t know what’s going on. She even said she tries contacting the director herself and gets no response. So it’s not just students being left in the dark—it’s their own staff too. That’s a major red flag. Even the student advisors have no idea how to work the portal to help out and I've received an email saying they can't help me because they dont understand the portal and only can give information after clicking around to see if they can figure it out.

I was told my only options were to pay out of pocket for my classes or withdraw, despite still waiting on my FAFSA offer. Last semester, I followed the advice of another advisor who said to stay enrolled and “wait for aid to process.” But since Seminole doesn’t process aid until after the add/drop period, students are left trapped—either having to pay out of pocket or withdraw and get a “W” on their transcript. Thankfully, I fought hard and had the “W” removed since it was entirely their fault, but this level of disorganization should never happen in the first place.

Im just trying to take my pre-reqs to get into medical school and financial aid office is a massive blockade and achieving that goal. Like being told to just take half of an important class in session B because Fin Aid office is continously behind with absolutely no communication on their status with the student body. What a shame.

Seminole State promotes itself as being supportive of nontraditional and returning students, but their lack of communication, accountability, and basic organization hurts the very students they claim to help. It’s frustrating, disheartening, and completely avoidable—yet nothing changes.

If you're trying to improve your future and further your education, do yourself a favor: choose a school with a financial aid department that actually...

I’m currently enrolled in the HVAC-R program at Seminole State College. The absolute best part of this program has been our instructor, Mr. Rose. His dedication, knowledge, and commitment to his students’ success are outstanding. He brings real-world experience into the classroom every day, ensuring that we not only learn but fully understand how to apply these skills in the HVAC industry. His effort and passion for teaching have made a tremendous difference for all of us.

Unfortunately, the administration has created serious challenges for students during this term. When we enrolled, we were given a schedule that allowed us to balance school, work, and family obligations. What was never disclosed to us at the time of enrollment is that the college was aware they were not meeting certain in-person instructional hour requirements, and that our hours might be subject to change mid-program. This critical information was not shared before we made financial, employment, and family commitments based on the original schedule.

More than three-quarters into the program, the administration unilaterally changed the schedule, significantly extending classroom hours. This last-minute change has made it nearly impossible for many students to maintain employment, support their families, or manage their personal lives. Sadly, it has already led to several students withdrawing entirely.

Through all of this, Mr. Rose has continued to fully support and encourage his students, doing everything in his power to keep us engaged and prepared, despite the added strain the new schedule has placed on everyone. His commitment has never wavered, and his efforts have been the one steady, positive force throughout these challenges.

This program has excellent instructors who care deeply about student success. But until the administration begins fully disclosing potential changes upfront, involves students in critical decisions, and respects the commitments made at enrollment, I cannot confidently recommend this program to future vocational students who need...