We answer your questions about UCF’s Self-Provided Academic Record for Knights (SPARK) Form.
Can I enter grades of plus/minus on the SPARK form?
No. UCF does not recognize grades of plus and minus in the calculation of the high school or homeschool GPA.
Can I make edits to my SPARK form once it’s been completed and submitted?
No. Once your SPARK form is submitted, it will be locked and no further updates will be possible. You will have the opportunity to indicate schedule changes and add first semester grades once they are available (typically after the New Year).
Can I self-report test scores to UCF?
UCF does not accept self-reported SAT, ACT, AP, IB, AICE or CLEP scores. Official score reports are to be submitted electronically or via mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Can I submit a high school transcript instead of a SPARK form?
No. High school or homeschool transcripts will only be accepted after you have graduated. The SPARK form serves as your academic record until such time that a final official transcript is available. Your application for admission will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the SPARK form has been received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Can I substitute the SRAR (self-reported academic record) or the SSAR (self-reported student academic record) for the SPARK form?
No, UCF only accepts the SPARK form for self-reporting high school and homeschool coursework and grades.
Can I use the SPARK form to submit grades to other colleges?
No, the SPARK form is proprietary to UCF and cannot be used for admission to other colleges.
Do I have to submit an official final college transcript for dual enrollment after graduation?
If you took dual enrollment classes through a college or university during high school, an official final transcript must be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions once your grades have posted, even if they appear on your high school transcript. A cumulative 2.0 GPA is required for dual enrollment courses.
Do I have to submit an official final high school transcript after graduation?
Yes. An official final transcript showing the date of high school graduation is required to complete your application file. A final transcript is due to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions no later than June 30 for students enrolling in the summer term, and no later than July 15 for students enrolling in fall. The status of the receipt of these transcripts is available at myUCF. All information on your final high school transcript will be verified. If your transcript does not match information provided on your SPARK form, your offer of admission may be changed to a different term or rescinded.
Do I have to submit first semester senior grades on the SPARK form once they are available?
Yes. Once first semester senior grades are available, you will be prompted via email to log back into your SPARK form and submit grades from the first term.
Does the SPARK form weigh courses that are AP, IB, AICE, honors or dual enrollment automatically?
Yes. Report all grades exactly as they are listed on your high school or homeschool transcript. The course level designation will determine the amount of weight added to each accelerated course.
How do I enter grades on the SPARK form?
You are required to have a copy of your current high school or homeschool transcript available to refer to when completing the SPARK form. Once you have your transcript nearby, visit the SPARK instructions page at www.ucf.edu/admissions/undergraduate/spark.
How do I report grades if I transferred high schools?
If your previous high school transferred all coursework and grades to your current high school’s transcript, only add the high school you are graduating from and include all transferred coursework under this school’s entry. If only some or no course details were transferred between schools, visit the SCHOOL INFORMATION section of the instructions page for more information.
How do I report senior grades on my SPARK form?
The SPARK form uses semester grades only. If senior year first semester grades are available, enter them in the 1st Semester grade field on the SPARK form. If the courses are in progress, choose IP as the grade. If second semester courses and grades are known at the time of submission, enter them in the 2nd Semester grade field on the SPARK form. If the courses are not known, leave the field blank. If the courses are in progress, choose IP as the grade. See the section on ADDING COURSES and GRADE ENTRY DETAILS on the instructions page for additional details.
How do I update my SPARK form if my schedule changes?
Once your SPARK form is submitted, it will be locked and no further updates will be possible. You will have the opportunity to indicate schedule changes and add first semester grades once they are available (typically after the New Year).
Should I complete and submit a SPARK form if I already graduated from high school?
If you already graduated from high school, an official final copy of your high school transcript with graduation date posted should be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. DO NOT submit a SPARK form if you are applying for admission and have already graduated high school.
Should I complete and submit a SPARK form if I am home-schooled?
Yes. If your homeschool follows a traditional U.S.-based high school curriculum, you should complete and submit a SPARK form. Otherwise, please email ucfsparkhelp@ucf.edu for assistance.
Should I complete and submit a SPARK form if I attend an international high school?
Do not submit a SPARK form if you are attending a high school outside of the United States (excluding DoD schools and schools with U.S. accreditation). All official transcripts(s), graduation certificate(s) and/or leaving exam results for all secondary coursework completed outside of the United States must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For more information, please review our international admissions requirements.
Should I include courses taken in middle school on the SPARK form?
Every academic course that you have attempted or completed for high school credit – even if it was completed in middle school – must be listed on the SPARK form under the high school you will be graduating from.
Should I include courses taken through dual enrollment (college) on the SPARK form?
Yes. Dual enrollment coursework should be added under the college or university where the course was taken.
Should I include repeated or withdrawn courses on the SPARK form?
If you repeated coursework, only enter the course with the highest grade.
NOTE: Repeat courses must exactly match previous attempts—including the course level. For example, if you took AP Biology and repeated the course as Biology Honors, this is not considered the same course and both courses must be added to the SPARK form. Courses that you withdrew from and earned a “W” do not count for credit and may be omitted.
What happens if I do not complete and submit a SPARK form?
Your application for admission will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the SPARK form has been received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
What if I am unsure what courses I will take in the second semester of my senior year?
Leave the 2nd semester field blank if you have not planned or registered for courses in the second semester at the time of SPARK form submission.
What if I can’t find my high school listed within the SPARK form menu?
The SPARK form automatically searches for schools as you type the school name. If you use an abbreviated name for your high school (e.g. Boone High School) and your school name does not appear, try entering the full name (e.g. William R. Boone High School). If your school still does not exist in SPARK, continue typing the full name and enter the address information at the bottom of the school entry section.
What if I make a mistake on the SPARK form?
You are required to certify the accuracy of the information provided on your SPARK form at the time of submission. If you made an error, you can email ucfsparkhelp@ucf.edu.
What is the Self Provided Academic Record for Knights (SPARK) form?
The SPARK form is an online portal through which first-time-in-college applicants self-report their high school courses and grades for admission to the University of Central Florida.
When and where can I access the SPARK Form?
You can create a SPARK account after you submit your application and it is processed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
To create your SPARK account and access the form, log into your myUCF student portal and following this navigation:
Student Self Service > Undergraduate Admissions > Application Status
The link to access your SPARK account and form is in the first paragraph.
When does the SPARK form need to be completed and submitted?
We recommend that you complete and submit the SPARK form as soon as the link is available on your myUCF account. Your application for admission will remain incomplete and will not be reviewed until the SPARK form has been received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Where are the instructions for completing and submitting the SPARK form?
Instructions are listed at www.admissions.ucf.edu/spark. In addition to reviewing the instructions, you are required to have a copy of your current high school or homeschool transcript available to refer to when completing your SPARK form.
Where do I create and submit my SPARK form?
Once your application is received and processed, a link to the SPARK form will be available on your myUCF account.
Who can I contact if I encounter difficulty submitting my SPARK form?
You can email us at ucfsparkhelp@ucf.edu.
Who is required to complete and submit the SPARK form?
All FTIC applicants to the summer 2021 term and beyond must complete and submit a SPARK form, with the following exceptions:
- If you have already graduated from high school, DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM. Submit your official final high school transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions electronically or by mail.
- If you have earned a GED, DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM. Submit your GED scores and partial high school transcript(s) to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- If you are attending a high school outside of the United States, DO NOT SUBMIT THIS FORM. Official transcripts(s), graduation certificate(s) and/or leaving exam results for all secondary coursework completed outside of the United States must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For more information, please review our international admissions requirements.