1. TOPS & FAFSA for 2015 Graduates

2. Citizenship
A student must be a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident who is eligible to apply for citizenship
Residency
A student who has resided in Louisiana, completed their last two full years of high school in an approved school and graduated, as certified by the high school, shall have met the residency requirement for TOPS OR
24 consecutive months for a parent or custodian of a dependent student
Criminal Convictions
Must not have any final criminal convictions. This does exclude misdemeanor traffic violations

3. TOPS Core Curriculum – 19 Units For students graduating in 2014 - 2017
English – 4 Units
Math – 4 Units
Science – 4 Units
Social Studies – 4 Units
Foreign Language – 2 Units (same language)
Fine Arts – 1 Unit (or 1 Performance, Studio, Visual Art or Speech III & IV)
Please visit our Web site for more details

4. ACT Without Penalty: April 18, 2015
Loss of 1 semester eligibility: June 13, 2015
Students who fail to achieve a qualifying ACT score by July 1 of the graduating year shall not be considered for an award
Highest composite score will be considered
TOPS does not consider the essay portion of the ACT when calculating the composite score needed to qualify
List TOPS code 1595 & your SSN on the ACT

5. SAT An equivalent SAT score may be substituted for the ACT score
SAT Test Deadlines
Without Penalty: March 14, 2015
Loss of 1 semester eligibility: May 2, 2015 and June 6, 2015
Students must use the SAT scholarship code 9019 on the registration form
TOPS does not consider the essay portion of the SAT when calculating the composite score to qualify

6. Opportunity, Performance & Honors Awards
GPA on a 4.00 scale (not rounded) on 19.0 core units
Must complete the 19 core units (for 2014 – 2017 grads)
Maximum of eight semesters or twelve quarters
A TOPS award may be combined with other forms of financial aid up to the “Cost of Attendance” for the institution
Provides amount equal to tuition to a public school in Louisiana OR the average cost of a public education tuition to a private LAICU school
($2324 per semester for )

7. TOPS Eligible Institutions: LAICU
Centenary College
Dillard University
Louisiana College
Loyola University
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Our Lady of Holy Cross College
Our Lady of the Lake College
St. Joseph Seminary College
Tulane University
Xavier University

8. 4 Year TOPS Awards Opportunity Award (tuition amount)
2.50 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
A minimum score of a 20 on the ACT (940 SAT)
Performance Award (tuition plus $400 annual stipend)
3.00 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
A minimum score of 23 on the ACT (1050 SAT)
Honors Award (tuition plus $800 annual stipend)
A minimum score of 27 on the ACT (1210 SAT)

9. 2 Year TOPS Tech Award Eligibility Requirements:
2.50 core curriculum GPA on a 4.00 scale
A minimum score of 17 on the ACT (810 on the SAT)
Completion of one of the Tech Core Option curriculums or the OPH curriculum
Eligible schools:
Louisiana Technical College Campuses
A community college if the student is enrolled in a 2-year Tech program
Approved Cosmetology and Proprietary schools
Examples of eligible programs:
Medical Assistant Computer Network Technology
Pharmacy Technician Construction Technology Management
Culinary Arts Digital Media
Criminal Justice Office Administration

10. TOPS Application Apply Jan 1 – July 1 of graduation year
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) –
Must be completed if the student is eligible for federal grant aid (Pell Grant)
Must be completed if the student is seeking any other form of financial aid
The only application needed for TOPS

11. FAFSA Information Needed
PIN Number and Signatures
Student Demographic Information
Independent/Dependent Student Status
Parent Demographic Information
Student and Parent Financial Information
Student and Parent Tax Information
You can estimate your taxes if you file late
School Information (add a LA school first)
Student Aid Report & making corrections

12. TOPS Processing Cycle STEP 1 – Student takes ACT
ACT scores are sent to LOSFA electronically
STEP 2 – Student files FAFSA (Jan 1-July 1)
FAFSA data is sent to LOSFA electronically
STEP 3 – Student completes 19 core units before graduation
Academic Records from the high schools are sent to LOSFA electronically
STEP 4 – Student is determined eligible for TOPS
Students can create a Louisiana Award system account on our Web site to check their TOPS eligibility in June
Students will be mailed an award letter (by mid-July)
College will see student online at TOPS Master Roster
STEP 5 – College will send LOSFA a bill
Students enrolled full-time through the 14th class day

13. Award Details
TOPS Recipients serving in the National Guard will receive: tuition exemption equal to the TOPS award amount, any applicable TOPS stipend and $600 annually for books and supplies
Students who join the military have 1 year from their date of separation to enroll in college
Returning Out of State Students – cannot use TOPS out of state, can come back and use remaining semesters if continuation requirements were met
Graduate Study – can use remaining semesters

14. Award Letter
TOPS recipients should familiarize themselves with the Rights and Responsibilities included with their award letter
TOPS recipients are personally responsible for knowing and complying with the TOPS continuation requirements
Award Acceptance
Students have one year in which to enroll in a Louisiana approved post-secondary institution
Must be continuously enrolled on a full-time basis during the Fall and Spring semesters or Fall, Winter, Spring quarters
Award Retention
24 Hours each academic year, excluding Advanced Placement hours
GPA requirement for each award level
Renewal of the FAFSA is highly recommended

15. At the end of each Academic Year, the following cumulative GPA must be maintained:
Opportunity Award: first academic year
2.50 all subsequent years
Performance Award: 3.00
Honors Award: 3.00
Students falling below 3.00 would revert to the Opportunity Award
Tech Award: 2.50
Must meet steady academic progress requirements of 2.00 at the end of any semester or quarter
Award is reinstated upon attainment of the required GPA
Students failing to meet their GPA requirement will be placed on suspension not to exceed two years/one year for Tech or Award will be canceled

16. What is College?
Think of “college” as any form of education after graduating high school:
Public Colleges
Private Colleges
Community Colleges
Louisiana Technical Colleges
Cosmetology Schools
Proprietary Schools
Find the perfect fit & major for you!
2-year, 4-year, etc.

17. Types of Financial Aid Scholarships Grants Employment Opportunities
Gift Aid – Based on Merit
Grants
Gift Aid – Based on Need
Employment Opportunities
Loans
Must be repaid – may be based on need

18. Institutional Aid
Each institution has its own merit-based and need-based scholarship 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

19. Private Aid
The best source of information on private aid is the Internet. There are numerous free scholarship search services available
See LOSFA Web site Useful Internet Links page
Private aid can be based on merit or financial need
Sources of private aid include companies, civic organizations, religious organizations, clubs, etc.

20. START Saving Program Louisiana’s 529 college savings program
Chafee Grant
Awards up to $5,000 annually during the academic year to qualified students who have been in the foster care system
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship
Forestry, Marine Science, Wildlife
$2,000/annually for undergraduates
$3,000/annually for graduate students
Competitively awarded for up to 5 years

21. Go Grant
Need based grant
$1000 maximum yearly benefit for AY 2012/13
Safer Volunteer Firemen’s Tuition Reimbursement
Sponsored by the LA State Firemen’s Assoc.
For eligible applicants who sign up to serve as Louisiana volunteer firemen after graduation
Awards up to $8,000 for 2 year degree
Awards up to $16,000 for 4 year degree
TOPS Tech Early Start
$600/AY for eligible 11th & 12th grade students attending public schools who concurrently enroll for up to six credit hours/semester in a vocational course of study leading to a TOP Demand Occupation

22. www.studentaid.ed.gov Federal Work Study Pell Grant
Maximum award amount is $5,500/yr
FSEOG
Grants range from $100 - $4,000
TEACH Grant
Provides up to $4,000/yr to students who intend to teach in schools that serve students in low income families
Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant
Federal Perkins Loans
Direct Loans

23. Senior Year Timeline

24. Summer before Senior Year:
Contact the financial aid offices of the colleges you are interested in attending for information on institutional aid opportunities
Search for private scholarships and grants
Schedule campus visits at the schools you are interested in attending

25. Fall of Senior Year:
Meet with your counselor to make sure you are on track for TOPS and college admissions requirements
Apply for college admissions
Apply for institutional scholarships
Apply for private aid
Attend College Fairs and Career Day events
Take the ACT or SAT again

26. Spring of Senior Year:
Apply for TOPS and Federal Aid by filing the FAFSA at
Take the ACT or SAT again
Contact the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend to verify: FAFSA deadline, notify the office of any private aid you will be receiving, complete the institutional data form (if required)
Receive your financial aid award letter
Compare your financial aid packages and decide which school you want to attend

27. ACT Sub-Score
Beginning academic year a minimum English AND Math sub-score on ACT are required for a student to qualify for college level coursework at a four-year public institution in Louisiana
English Sub-score = 18
Math Sub-score = 19
Students who do not meet the minimum English AND Math ACT sub-score requirement will require developmental coursework, therefore making them ineligible for admission at a four year institution
It is always recommended to speak with the Admissions Office at the school you wish to attend as some may give special consideration based on other factors

28. 2014 College Admission Standards
MINIMUM ADMISSION STANDARDS for FIRST-TIME FRESHMEN
These are the minimum admission standards for regular Freshman admission to a Louisiana, public four-year university for Fall 2014.
Students should check with the specific institution for additional information about the university’s requirements and process for admission.*

29. 2014 College Admission Standards
High School Curriculum = Core 4 Curriculum Courses in the English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and Arts categories listed in Bulletin 741 as Core 4.
Overall HS GPA = 2.0 (minimum)
Developmental Courses Needed = None.
Demonstration of College Readiness:
ACT English score = 18 (minimum)
ACT Math Score = 19 (minimum)

30. 2014 College Admission Standards
4. Core GPA (courses listed above) → OR ← ACT Composite (minimum)
LSU A&M
LA Tech, UL Lafayette, UNO
Grambling, LSUA, LSUS,
McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern, Southeastern,
Southern A&M, SUNO, UL Monroe
Universities may consider admission appeals for exceptions; check with the institution.
Community or Technical College Admission: Open to High School Graduates.

31. LOSFA Social Media Sites

32. 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Contact LOSFA
(225)
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday