Trailblazer Camp 2007 Welcome! Trailblazer Camp 2007

Why Do I Need Student Financial Aid?

What does college cost? Based on estimated expenses at Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge for a dependent student living on campus who graduates from high school in 2008 assuming a 4% annual increase Academic Year Tuition & Fees Room & Board Books & Supplies Trans- portation Personal Expense Total $4,898$9,587$1,040$992$1,697$18, $5,094$9,970$1,082$1,032$1,765$18, $5,298$10,369$1,125$1,073$1,836$19, $5,510$10,784$1,170$1,116$1,909$20,489 Total$20,800$40,710$4,417$4,213$7,207$77,347

Trailblazer Camp 2007 How are you going to pay for it?  A TOPS Scholarship pays tuition and certain fees at a Louisiana public institution  TOPS does not cover:  Technology Fees  Academic Excellence Fees  Energy Surcharges  Mandatory fees imposed after January 1, 1998  Room & Board  Books & Supplies  Transportation or Personal Expenses

Trailblazer Camp 2007 So how are you going to pay for the rest of it?

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Basis of Aid  Merit-Based aid is based on a student’s academic achievement, grades, ACT/SAT scores, talent, ability, athletic achievement, etc  Need-based aid is based on the student’s financial need

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Need COST OF ATTENDANCE - EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION FINANCIAL NEED

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Need  Cost of Attendance (COA)  Tuition and fees  Room and board  Books and supplies  Transportation  Miscellaneous personal expenses  Expected Family Contribution (EFC)  Income  Assets (excluding the family home)  Family size  Number of family members attending college (excluding parents)  Age of parents

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Types of Financial Aid  Scholarships  Gift Aid – Based on Merit  Grants  Gift Aid – Based on Need  Employment Opportunities  Loans  Must be repaid – may be based on need

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Sources of Financial Aid  State  Federal  Institutional  Private

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship  Open to students majoring in Forestry, Wildlife or Marine Science  Awarded competitively  Maximum Annual Award: $1,000  Total Maximum Award: $7,000  5 years undergraduate study  2 years graduate study  Must attain a degree in one of the eligible fields or repay funds

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Rockefeller Eligibility Requirements  Be a U.S. Citizen, national, or eligible non- citizen, and be registered with selective service if required  Be a Louisiana Resident for at least one year prior to July 1 of the scholarship award year  Must complete the Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship application and the FAFSA by July 1 preceding the award year  Be enrolled full-time in one of the designated programs at a Louisiana public institution

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Rockefeller Eligibility Requirements  If you have earned fewer than 24 hours by the June preceding the award year, you must have:  2.50 cumulative high school GPA and have a 20 on the ACT (or equivalent SAT score);  or must have completed the 12 th grade level of a BESE Approved Home Study program, have a 22 on the ACT (or an equivalent SAT score), and if a high school was previously attended, provide certification that you were in good standing at the time you last attended  If you have earned 24 or more hours of college credit you must have a minimum 2.50 cumulative college GPA  Graduate students must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA on all credits earned in graduate school

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Rockefeller Continuation Requirements  Maintain continuous full-time enrollment unless granted an exception by LOSFA  Achieve a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.50 at the end of each academic year as an undergraduate student; or at least a 3.00 as a graduate student  Earn at least 24 hours for the academic year  Have received the award for not more than 7 academic years (5 undergraduate and 2 graduate)  Continue to pursue a course of study in a qualified major  Sign a promissory note each term prior to receiving funds

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Institutional Aid  Each institution has its own merit-based scholarship programs  Many schools have their own need- based aid programs  Investigate aid opportunities early  Each institution has its own aid application process and deadline  Upperclassmen should also check with their department for aid opportunities for students in a specific major

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Private Aid  The best source of information on private aid is the Internet. There are numerous free scholarship search services available  See LOSFA website Useful Internet Links page or Surfing the Web for a listing  Private aid can be based on merit or financial need  Providers of private aid include companies, civic organizations, religious organizations, clubs, etc.

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Federal Pell Grant  General Information  Gift aid  Portable - can receive at any eligible institution  Maximum Award: $4,050  Eligibility Criteria  Undergraduates without a bachelor’s degree or first professional degree  Must demonstrate financial need

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Campus-Based Federal Aid Programs  FSEOG  LEAP  Academic Competitiveness Grant  National SMART Grant  Federal Work Study  Perkins Loans  Stafford Loans

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)  General Information:  Gift aid  Maximum award $4,000  Eligibility Criteria:  Undergraduates without bachelor’s or first professional degree  Must demonstrate exceptional financial need

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)  LEAP uses federal and state funds to provide need-based grants to academically qualified students  Maximum Award: $4,000  Recipients determined by the institution’s financial aid office

Trailblazer Camp 2007 LEAP Eligibility Requirements  Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen  Be a Louisiana resident  Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student  Apply by completing the FAFSA  Demonstrate substantial financial need  Must have one of the following:  2.00 cumulative high school GPA  45 on the GED  20 on the ACT  2.00 cumulative college GPA  Schools may establish additional criteria

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Academic Competitiveness Grant  General Eligibility Requirements  U.S. Citizen  Pell Grant eligible  Full-time student

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Academic Competitiveness Grant  First Year Students  Must have completed a rigorous high school program of study  Achieve a specified score on 2 Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Courses  Complete a State Scholars Initiative Program  Louisiana Academic Diploma Endorsement  Complete a set of course requirements similar to the State Scholars requirements  TOPS Core Curriculum  Complete one of 19 Advanced or Honors programs  Maximum Award Amount: $750  Second Year Students  Must have a 3.0 cumulative college GPA  Maximum Award Amount: $1,300

Trailblazer Camp 2007 National SMART Grant  National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant  Available for third and fourth year students  Maximum Award Amount: $4,000

Trailblazer Camp 2007 National SMART Grant  Eligibility Requirements  U.S. Citizen  Pell Grant eligible  Full-time student  Must be enrolled in a four-year institution  Must major in mathematics, science (including physical, life and computer sciences), technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language  Must have a 3.0 cumulative college GPA

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Federal Work Study  General Information:  Wages must be not less than current minimum wage  Eligibility Criteria:  Undergraduate, graduate or professional students, including less-than-half-time students  Must demonstrate financial need

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Federal Perkins Loan  General Information:  5% interest rate  Annual Loan limits -  $4,000 for undergraduates;  $6,000 for graduate or professional students  Repayment begins 9 months after leaving school  10 year repayment period  Eligibility Criteria:  Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students  Must demonstrate financial need  Must be willing to repay the loan

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)  Largest source of long-term, low-interest loans for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, and parents of dependent students  Subsidized Stafford Loan  Unsubsidized Stafford Loan  Parental Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)  Consolidation Loans

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Why Should Your Loan be Louisiana Guaranteed?  LOSFA uses revenues derived from the student loan program to offset the cost of state aid programs such as the popular but expensive TOPS program and outreach programs such as Trailblazers  Income earned from the administration of Louisiana Guaranteed loans stays in Louisiana and is reinvested to the benefit of Louisiana students, parents and educators

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Why Should Your Loan be Louisiana Guaranteed?  The State of Louisiana will pay the 1% Default Fee for borrowers whose lender does not pay the fee  Revenues from loans guaranteed by out- of-state guarantors leave the state forever  Last year LOSFA representatives made personal contact with more than 68,000 Louisiana citizens by participating in high school, college, and parish-wide educational outreach activities

Trailblazer Camp 2007 Why Should Your Loan be Louisiana Guaranteed?  Our local service representatives are familiar with the special needs of Louisiana students  Information about your loan is just a toll- free call or message away at (800) Ext. 1012, (225) or  Tell your Financial Aid Officer that you want a Louisiana Guaranteed loan!