1. Ponchatoula High School
SENIOR PARENT MEETING
Remind 101/App/Facebook/Website
Project Graduation
Graduation Requirements
Student Athletes
Students with Disabilities
Post-secondary Options
College
Paying for College

2. Staying Informed

3. Class of 2018 – Text reminders from Remind101

4. Ponchatoula High School App
Facebook

5. PHS Website
Click on Academics
Click on Counselors

6. Click on Senior Meeting – September 2017

7. Important Dates

8. Graduation Wednesday, May 16 Only students who have completed all testing and credit requirements will be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony. Deadline to complete all requirements – May 3.

9. Project Graduation

14. Info on completing FAFSA.
Monday, September 25
7:30 a.m. – 12:17 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26
Wednesday, September 27
7:30 a.m. – 10:07 a.m.
PHS Library
Info on completing FAFSA.

16. Thursday, October 26 PHS Library 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
College Application Night
Assistance with applying to college.
FAFSA completion assistance.

18. Graduation Requirements

19. Diploma Track (specific course requirements) TOPS University (24 credits) TOPS Tech JumpStart (23 credits + credentials) EOC (End of Course tests) English II or English III Algebra I or Geometry Biology I or US History FAFSA, Louisiana TOPS form, Waiver, District Hardship

20. Academic Audit

23. Transcript Course Credit Earned GPA Total Credits Semester Grades.
Spelling of Name
Social Security #
Date of Birth
Credit Earned
GPA
Semester Grades.
Not Final.
Total Credits
Rank
Determined by GPA.
GPA uses semester grades.

24. TOPS Report

25. TOPS GPA
At least 2.5

26. Has the course requirement been met?

27. Student Athletes

28. https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/

29. Students with Disabilities

30. It is the student’s responsibility to self-identify with the
Office of Disability Services
at their college.
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services Lila Toler
Job coaching/placement Cedar Crest Ave.
Post-secondary-financial assistance Baton Rouge, LA based on need (225) or  
Physical/academic modification assistance

31. Post-Secondary Options

33. Which way do I go? Employment Apprenticeship Technical/Trade School
2 year college
4 year college
Military

35. How do you find a job you will love?
Self-Assessment
What you like to do (interests)
What you have a natural talent for (aptitudes)
What you are good at (abilities)
What is important to you (values)
Investigate Your Career Choices
Research and read
Talk to people
Informational interviews
Job shadow
Internships
Volunteer
Network
Professional organizations
Find a Career Match

36. Career Website SLU Career Exploration What Can I do With This Major?
What Can I do With This Major?
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Louisiana Workforce Commission

37. College

38. Types of Colleges Four-year colleges Community/Junior colleges
Trade school/Technical colleges
Private vs. Public

39. How to Find the Perfect College for You
Career / Major
Size
Location
Cost
Athletics
Selectivity
Diversity
Campus Activities & Organizations
Academics
Classes
Housing/Dining
Other Considerations
Campus safety
Health services 
Career services and job placement
Library quality and hours

40. Comparing Colleges
How much debt does the average student of that college carry upon graduation?
What is the graduation rate?
Is the school accredited by a regional accreditation body?

41. Refining Your College List
Reach
Possible
Likely

42. College Admission Types
Early Admission
Early Decision
Early Action
Regular Admission
Rolling Admission

44. Transfer Degree http://latransferdegree.org/what-is-tdg/

45. College Admission Tests
ACT
SAT

46. College & Testing Websites

47. Paying for College

48. College Costs

49. LSU $6784
SLU $7310
ULL $6766
LaTech $8853

50. Three Primary Sources of Financial Aid
US Dept of Education
The federal agency that provides grant, work study, and loan funding.
State
Administers state scholarships, grants, loans, and college savings and prepaid tuition programs.
Colleges & Universities
May offer their own scholarships, grants, and loan programs.
Availability and eligibility varies WIDELY between schools

51. Types of Financial Aid Grants Scholarships Colleges/Universities
academic, athletic or other talent
Civic organizations
Churches, PTA, Elks, Kiwanis, cultural leagues, etc
Private businesses
Parental affiliations
Employers & labor unions
Online scholarship searches
Loans
Federal
Private
Federal Work Study

52. Direct Loans Interest Rates

53. Federal Direct Loan Amounts
Annual Loan Limits
Freshmen - $5,500 ($3,500 max subsidized)
Sophomore - $6,500 ($4,500 max subsidized)
Junior/Senior - $7,500 ($5,500 max subsidized)
Grad Student - $20,500 (Unsub ONLY!)
Lifetime Maximums
Dependent Undergrads - $31,000 ($23,000 max subsidized)
Independent Undergrads - $57,500 ($23,000 max subsidized)
Grad & Law - $138,500
Med, Vet Med, Pharm, Dentist - $224,000

54. School Debt for Louisiana
Average debt: $23,025
Proportion with debt: 47%
Source:

55. 1st step – FSA ID
Student & Parent
2nd step – complete FAFSA beginning Oct 1

57. 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

60. The four award components of the TOPS Program are:
TOPS Opportunity Award
TOPS Performance Award - additional $400 per year
TOPS Honors Award - additional $800 per year
TOPS Tech Award
Completion of Consent Form
Completion of TOPS Core Curriculum for award level
Qualifying ACT or SAT scores for award level
Minimum 2.5 GPA in TOPS Core for Opportunity and Tech
Minimum 3.0 GPA in TOPS Core for Performance or and Honors

61. Fee waivers available for students who qualify.
ACT
Tech Award – 17 or Silver Workkeys
Opportunity Award – 20
Performance Award – 23
Honors Award – 27
April 30 deadline w/o penalty
June 30 deadline w/ loss of 1 semester of funding
Fee waivers available for students who qualify.
SAT
Tech Award – 900
Opportunity Award – 1020
Performance Award – 1130
Honors Award – 1280
March deadline without penalty

64. LOSFA has launched the new Student Hub to give you more options for tracking your award eligibility and status, and to provide you with easier account maintenance features.
To register, click the "Register" link then click the "Student" button on the next page, where you can start the registration process with either your LOSFA ID (LOSFAID) or your Louisiana Secure ID (LASECID).
See your counselor.

68. Click on Scholarships

69. Over 1,000 scholarships listed
Over 1,000 scholarships listed

70. Read then follow the directions.
Things to consider:
Takes time but opportunity for big payoff.
Should not cost money to win money.
Be wary of companies that charge a fee.
The number one winning scholarship tip:
Read then follow the directions.

71. Financial Aid Websites

72. Decisions, Decisions How to Pick the Best College for You

73. http://www. thepelicanpost

74. Why are students taking longer to graduate?
Aimless course selection
Picking courses that do not fit their majors
Courses aren’t available
Students don’t take full loads
15 hours/semester
Switching schools
Remedial-course delay
Source: Why your child won’t graduate from college on time – CBS News

75. Additional Info
Requests for a letter of recommendation should be submitted to your counselor at least one week in advance.
SLU Dual enrollment students
– request transcripts

76. What do I need to do? FSA ID – now Register with Selective Service
FAFSA – beginning Oct 1
Scholarships – begin now
Apply to college
college tours
deadlines – priority, application, housing
Take/Retake ACT
ACT Score = Composite, English, Math
Evaluate
Graduation requirements
Overall gpa/TOPS gpa
Register with NCAA Clearinghouse