The Synthesis Reflection gives you the opportunity to reflect on your three experiences and explain in your own words how the three experiences are related, how you have developed leadership, professional, citizenship, and/or research skills through those experiences, and how you have collaborated with others during these experiences. It should document your perception, awareness, and knowledge about the three engagement areas and their interconnectedness.
The Synthesis Reflection must be submitted online by the posted deadlines. Overall Program Advisors and Synthesis Reviewers will complete the Synthesis Reflection evaluation and you will have one opportunity for revision.
For specific deadlines based on your graduating semester, please see the Deadlines page.
Synthesis Activation
Students will receive Synthesis tab access once all three Engagement Areas are approved in the Student Portal. If you are a graduating senior, once all three Engagement Areas are approved or approved pending completion in the Student Portal you will receive Synthesis tab access. Synthesis tab access does not ensure induction into the Garnet & Gold Scholar Society. During your final semester at FSU, GGSS Administrators will complete the GPA, student conduct record, and University graduation application checks.
Your Synthesis will be reviewed by your Overall Program Advisor, or a Synthesis Reviewer, and scored based on the rubric. Similar to the Engagement Area Reflections, you will receive feedback if you are scored Unsatisfactory on any of the rubric criteria, and you will have one week to revise.
Synthesis Reflection and Evaluation
Utilizing the Garnet and Gold Scholar Society web portal, you will respond to the following reflection prompts relating to all three engagement area experiences. These responses will be evaluated as part of the process of completion of the Garnet and Gold Scholar Society Program. You should have your responses reviewed and, if appropriate, edited prior to submission.
If your Synthesis Reflection is not approved, you have one week to revise (including holidays and weekends) and resubmit. You only have one chance to revise. If your Synthesis Reflection is rejected a second time, you must submit a formal appeal if you wish to continue your progress with the Garnet & Gold Scholar Society.
Synthesis Reflection Prompts
Drawing on specific examples from your three engagement experiences, reflect on the following questions. Please contain your total response to 1200 words.
- How did your Engagement Area experiences complement each other? What themes or surprising connections emerged?
- What did you learn through your experiences?
- How did your perceptions change?
- How will you integrate these lessons learned through the GGSS experiences as a student, and how will you integrate these lessons learned post-graduation?