1. PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PARENT MEETING Graduation ACT/SAT TOPS Financial Aid Scholarships Post-secondary Options

2. On the sheet of paper you were given, indicate on a scale of 1 - 5 how confident you are in your ability to navigate your or your child’s senior year. 1 – No clue what needs to be done. 2 3 – Some understanding of what needs to be done. 4 5 – I got it. I could do this presentation.

3. Graduation Wednesday, May 21, 2014

4. Important Dates October 10Order graduation supplies during English classes November 1Last home football game-senior night recognition November 4Senior re-orders and payments during both lunches November 6-8Senior portraits from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in auditorium *There will be a sign-up sheet in the main office to choose a time. You must take a picture for the yearbook at this time. No pictures from an outside source will be used in yearbook. December 3Senior re-orders and payments during both lunches January 8-9Senior portraits re-takes/make ups from 11-5 in auditorium January 10Senior re-orders and payments during both lunches February 4Senior re-orders and payments during both lunches March 17MANDATORY Big Senior Meeting-7:45-11:30 a.m. Information concerning remaining senior responsibilities will be discussed in detail., and senior supplies will be distributed. YOU MUST BE CLEARED FROM ALL CURRENT FINE LISTS TO RECEIVE YOUR ORDER.

5. Transcripts & TOPS Reports are being distributed to your child through Academic Period.

8. 2.5 minimum

10. http://www.lela.org/documents/2013-14_senior_checklist.pdf

11. ACT www.actstudent.org Test DateRegistration Deadline(Late Fee Required) September 21, 2013August 23, 2013August 24–September 6, 2013 October 26, 2013September 27, 2013September 28– October 11, 2013 December 14, 2013November 8, 2013November 9–22, 2013 February 8, 2014*January 10, 2014January 11–24, 2014 April 12, 2014March 7, 2014March 8–21, 2014 June 14, 2014May 9, 2014May 10–23, 2014

12. Avoid remedial/developmental classes English subscore of 18 Math subscore of 19 17 composite required to qualify for TOPS Tech 20 composite required to qualify for TOPS Opportunity April 30 deadline w/o penalty June 30 deadline w/ loss of 1 semester of funding

13. SAT http://sat.collegeboard.org/home 2013 SAT Test Dates October 5, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, 2013 2014 SAT Test Dates January 25, 2014 March 8, 2014 May 3, 2014 June 7, 2014 820 needed to qualify for TOPS Tech 940 needed to qualify for TOPS

14. What is the difference between the ACT and SAT? The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test. The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you're applying to. The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing. The ACT has an Interest Inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career options. Source: http://www.actstudent.org/faq/actsat.html

15. TOPS http://www.osfa.la.gov/index.jsp TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) is a program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend either one of the Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities Louisiana Community and Technical College System Schools Louisiana approved Proprietary and Cosmetology Schools Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities The four different award components of the TOPS Program are: TOPS Opportunity Award TOPS Performance Award TOPS Honors Award TOPS Tech Award

16. Completion of TOPS Core Curriculum for award level Qualifying ACT/SAT scores for award level Minimum 2.5 GPA in TOPS Core TOPS Core Curriculum Flyer http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/Core_Curriculum_14.pdf TOPS Opportunity, Performance, Honors Award Flyer http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_OPH_brochure_8-11.pdf TOPS Tech Award http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Tech_brochure_8-11.pdf TOPS Award Amounts http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Tuition_Amounts.pdf Surfing the Web for Financial Aid http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/surfin.pdf Surfing the Web for TOPS Tech Award http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/surfinTT.pdf

17. Financial Aid http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ It is necessary to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)in order to be considered for most federal financial aid programs. Many state financial aid programs and various scholarships also require the submission of the FAFSA. The Department of Education processes the FAFSA and notifies applicant with the Student Aid Report (SAR). FAFSA Presentation Tuesday, January 14, 2014 @ 6 p.m. College Goal Sunday

18. Scholarships PHS Counselors’ Web Page http://www.tangischools.org/Page/7324 LELA http://asklela.org Louisiana Connect https://www.louisianaconnect.org

21. Lela

24. Louisiana Connect

26. Post Secondary Options Employment Apprenticeship Technical/Trade School 2 year college 4 year college Military

27. Things to Consider Admission Requirements Degree Program Scholarships

28. Board of Regents reminder

29. Louisiana Public Universities Grambling State University www.gram.edu/ Louisiana State University – Alexandria www.lsua.edu/ Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge www.lsu.edu/ Louisiana State University – Eunice www.lsue.edu/ Louisiana State University – Health Science Center New Orleans www.lsuhsc.edu Louisiana State University – Health Science Center Shreveport ww.sh.lsuhsc.edu/index.html Louisiana State University – Shreveport www.lsus.edu/ Louisiana Tech University www.latech.edu/ McNeese State University www.mcneese.edu/ Nicholls State University www.nicholls.edu Northwestern State University www.nsula.edu Southeastern Louisiana University www.selu.edu Southern University – Baton Rouge www.subr.edu/ Southern University – New Orleans www.suno.edu/ Southern University – Shreveport www.susla.edu/ University of New Orleans www.uno.edu/ University of Louisiana at Lafayette www.ull.edu/ University of Louisiana at Monroe www.ulm.edu/

30. Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (LAICU) Centenary College www.centenary.edu/ Dillard University www.dillard.edu/ Louisiana College www.lacollege.edu/ Loyola University www.loyno.edu/ New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary www.nobts.edu Our Lady of Holy Cross College www.olhcc.edu Our Lady of the Lake College www.ololcollege.edu/ St. Joseph Seminary College www.sjasc.edu Tulane University www.tulane.edu Xavier University www.xula.edu

31. Louisiana Community and Technical College System Community Colleges www.lctcs.edu Baton Rouge Community College www.mybrcc.edu Bossier Parish Community College www.bpcc.edu Delgado Community College www.dcc.edu Louisiana Delta Community College www.ladelta.edu Nunez Community College www.nunez.edu River Parishes Community College www.rpcc.edu South Louisiana Community College www.southlouisiana.edu

32. Technical Community Colleges www.ltc.edu L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College www.fletcher.edu/ Sowela Technical Community College www.sowela.edu Louisiana Technical College www.ltc.edu

33. Louisiana Proprietary Schools American School of Business http://www.americanschoolofbusiness.com/ Aveda Institute http://www.avedainstitutes.com/ Ayers Career College http://www.ayers.edu Career Technical College http://www.careertc.com/ Crescent City School of Gaming & Bartending http://www.crescentschools.com/ Delta School of Business & Technology http://www.deltatech.edu/ Diesel Driving Academy http://dda.edu Fortis College http://www.FortisCollege.edu ITI Technical College http://iticollege.edu/ Louisiana Culinary Institute http://www.louisianaculinary.com Remington College http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/ South Louisiana Beauty College http://www.slbc-houma.com/

35. Decisions, Decisions How to Pick the Best College for You Rankings Location Available Concentrations & Departments Your Potential Major Costs and Financial Aid Faculty

36. Comparing Colleges http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher- education/college-score-card http://whichcollege4u.org/ http://www.aft.org/pdfs/highered/JUSTASK_042711.pdf https://www.louisianaconnect.org http://www.nextstepu.com/tools/college-match/ https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

37. 2012-2013 Guide to College Cost http://www.lela.org/documents/2012-2013%20Guide%20to%20College%20Cost.pdf

38. Transfer Degree http://www.latransferdegree.org/whatistdg.html

39. ACT Score = 17, 20, 23, 27 TOPS GPA = 2.5, 3.0 Overall GPA Deadlines – Priority, Application, Housing Scholarships Tours -- 10/5, 10/9 Complete Application Process Register with NCAA Clearinghouse http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.jsp

40. Northshore College & Career Fair Tonight 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. SLU’s Pennington’s Center New Orleans National College Fair Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Tuesday, October 1 9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Baton Rouge National College Fair Baton Rouge River Center Wednesday, October 2 9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

41. Useful Websites http://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm http://www.laworks.net/Stars/default.aspx http://www.self-directed-search.com/

42. Additional Info Request for a letter of recommendation should be submitted at least one week in advance. Dual enrollment students – request transcripts SLU http://www.southeastern.edu/admin/rec_reg/transcript_request/ Louisiana Technical College Do not pay for form completions or scholarship searches.

43. Counselors A-D Denise Latour E-K Orlisa DePhillips L-Q Katharine Meadors R-Z Tommie Robertson

44. On the sheet of paper you were given, indicate on a scale of 1 - 5 how confident you are in your ability to navigate your or your child’s senior year. 1 – No clue what needs to be done. 2 3 – Some understanding of what needs to be done. 4 5 – I got it. I could do this presentation.