what is financial aid? “louisiana’s first choice for college access”

www.osfa.la.gov

“Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access”

www.osfa.la.gov

LOSFA Programs

College Access & Outreach LA GEAR UP

Scholarships & Grants

TOPS Scholarship Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship Go Grant LEAP Grant SAFER Tuition Reimbursement Program Chafee Grant

www.osfa.la.gov

LOSFA Programs

START Saving Program

High School Opportunities TOPS Tech Early Start Program Early Start Program

www.osfa.la.gov

What is Financial Aid?

What does college cost?Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA)

Based on estimated expenses at Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge for a dependent student living on campus who graduates from high school in 2011 assuming a 5% annual increase and a 9 month academic year.

Academic Year

Tuition & Fees

Room & Board

Books & Supplies

Trans-portation

Personal Expense Total

2011-2012 $5,508 $11,586 $1,575 $1,049 $1,819 $21,537

2012-2013 $5,573 $12,165 $1,654 $1,156 $2,006 $22,764

2013-2014 $6,072 $12,773 $1,737 $1,214 $2,106 $23,902

2014-2015 $6,376 $13,412 $1,823 $1,275 $2,211 $25,097

Total $23,739 $49,936 $6,789 $4,694 $8,142 $93,300

www.osfa.la.gov

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

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA

The primary purpose of the FAFSA is to establish the student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The EFC is used by the institution, in a process called packaging, to determine your eligibility for campus based aid programs including FSEOG, LEAP, Go Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, SMART Grant, Federal Work Study, Perkins Loans and Direct Loans

www.osfa.la.gov

Financial Need

COST OF ATTENDANCE ($10,000)

- EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION: ($5,000)

FINANCIAL NEED: ($5,000)

www.osfa.la.gov

Financial Need Cost of Attendance (COA) based on

Tuition and fees Room and board Books and supplies Transportation Miscellaneous personal expenses MINUS

Expected Family Contribution (EFC) based on Income Assets (excluding the family home) Family size Number of family members attending college Age of parents EQUALS:

www.osfa.la.gov

FINANCIAL NEED

THE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL AID YOU HOPE TO RECEIVE.

AWARDS LETTERS will come to you from the college telling if you are eligible for grants, student loans, work/study, etc. (Will not mention TOPS)

TOPS LETTER comes to you separately from our office (LOSFA) saying “Congratulations, you have received a TOPS award!”

www.osfa.la.gov

Types of Financial Aid

Scholarships Gift Aid – Based on Merit - TOPS

Grants Gift Aid – Based on Need – PELL

Employment Opportunities May be based on need – WORK/STUDY

Loans – Perkins, William D. Ford Direct Must be repaid – may be based on need

www.osfa.la.gov

Sources of Financial Aid

State of Louisiana: TOPS

Federal Government: PELL, LOANS

Campus Based: VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS

Military: NATIONAL GUARD

Private: MCDONALD’S, EXXON, WALMART

www.osfa.la.gov

Federal Aid: decided by your college financial aid office

Federal Pell Grant – Need-based, does not need to be paid back

Other Federal grants (FSEOG, etc.)

Federal Stafford and Perkins loans

Federal Work/Study Program

FAFSA ONLY APPLICATION NECESSARY

www.osfa.la.gov

Money from your COLLEGE Each college has its own merit-based scholarship

programs

Many colleges have their own need-based aid programs

Investigate aid opportunities early Each college has its own aid application process

and deadline College websites list scholarship opportunities

Departmental Scholarships Scholarship opportunities for students in a

specific major

www.osfa.la.gov

Military Educational Opportunities

G.I. Bill

Loan Repayment Program

ROTC Scholarships

Louisiana National Guard Tuition Exemption

www.osfa.la.gov

Private Aid:

The best source of information on private aid is the Internet. There are numerous free scholarship search services available:

www.osfa.la.gov “SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES”

Providers of private aid include companies, civic organizations, religious organizations, clubs, etc., student or family employer (“MCDONALD’S,” “EXXON,” “WALMART”)

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSADo not submit the FAFSA before January 1 of

the year you graduate from high school

But try to submit it as soon as possible AFTER January 1

Your family does not have to have submitted its Income Tax: it can ESTIMATE household

income and later, when it has completed its income tax, you can correct your FAFSA online

– if there is a significant difference between what you estimated and what you really made

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: Mardi Gras

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application for both federal and state aid programs

The FAFSA is the only application needed for the TOPS scholarship

The FAFSA is the only application needed for FEDERAL aid

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA

Be sure to submit the FAFSA even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for need based aid

Submitting the FAFSA will not interfere with future aid if you decide not to go to college that year

Try never to submit two or more FAFSAs per student per year. It is much better to correct the ONE you have submitted already.

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA

You should never be asked to pay to fill out the FAFSA. It is a FREE application

DO NOT give your credit card number or bank routing numbers for FAFSA - EVER

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA Filing Methods

FAFSA On the Web: www.fafsa.ed.gov Faster processing “Skip logic” – students are only asked

questions which apply to them Immediate EFC estimate Online receipt verification Live online help

Paper Application Available by calling the Federal Student Aid

Information Center at 800-433-3243 or downloading from www.fafsa.ed.gov

www.osfa.la.gov

Get a PIN

Apply at www.pin.ed.gov

The PIN allows you to sign the FAFSA electronically For dependent students, both you and a

parent must have a PIN Parents may use the same PIN for all of their children

The PIN allows you to make corrections to the FAFSA online

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: Student Information

Social Security Number

State of Legal Residence

Citizenship status

Interest in STUDENT LOANS and Work-Study programs

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: Student Status

This section determines your dependency status

The EFC of a dependent student is based on both your financial information and your parents’ financial information

The EFC of an independent student is based on your (and your spouse’s) financial information

www.osfa.la.gov


To be considered an independent student, you must be:

24 years old

Married

Have a child who will receive more than half of its support from you

www.osfa.la.gov


Have another person who lives with you and receives more than half of their support from you

At any time since you turned age 13, had both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were a dependent or ward of the court

www.osfa.la.gov


Already have an undergraduate degree

Are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training

Are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

www.osfa.la.gov


Otherwise, you are considered an INDEPENDENT STUDENT and do not need to use your PARENT INFORMATION

and do not need your PARENT TO SIGN the FAFSA

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: Student StatusSpecial Circumstances

Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

Are you or were you in legal guardianship as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?

At any time on or after July 1, 2008, were you determined by certain governmental agencies to be an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: Parent Information

Whose information do you use?

Grandparents, foster parents and legal guardians are NOT considered parents

If this is your case, see a Financial Aid Officer in the Financial Aid Office of your college

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA : Parent Information

If your parent is single or has been divorced or separated, the parent on your FAFSA should be the parent who has custodial guardianship or with whom you lived most during the past 12 months If this parent is remarried as of today, answer the

questions about that parent and their spouse

If you divide your time equally between both parents, the parent on your FAFSA is the who contributes most to your financial support

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: School Information

May list up to 10 colleges to receive your FAFSA data when filing online

Make sure to list a Louisiana school first, so that TOPS receives your FAFSA information

www.osfa.la.gov

FAFSA: Signatures

For a dependent student, both the student and the parent must sign

FAFSA on the Web may be signed by: Using a pin number

The parent and student must have separate pin numbers

Parents may use the same PIN for all of their children

Printing the signature page Must mail within 14 days

www.osfa.la.gov

Student Aid Report (SAR)

In response to your FAFSA, you will receive a document – several colored pages listing the answers you put on the FAFSA

Check these answers carefully to make certain everything is correct

If anything is incorrect, you can use your 4-digit PIN, get back into your online FAFSA ,and correct your answers online

www.osfa.la.gov

Student Aid Report (SAR)

The SAR provides you with: Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Pell Grant Eligibility Listing of Institutions which will receive your

data A financial aid history A listing of your responses to the FAFSA

Corrections may be made: Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov By phone at (800) 433-3243

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS General Eligibility Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident who is eligible to apply for citizenship

Have no criminal convictions Excludes misdemeanor traffic violations

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:

Any student will meet the TOPS residency requirements if s/he graduates from a Louisiana approved high school and actually resides in Louisiana for his/her last two full years of high school

Or, a parent or custodian of a dependent

student has been a resident of Louisiana for the 24 months prior to high school graduation

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core Curriculum

All TOPS core curriculum courses must be completed by the date of high school graduation

Distance learning courses approved by the high school may be used to qualify for TOPS

College courses taken in the classroom, online, or by correspondence may be used to qualify for TOPS provided that they are determined to be equivalent courses and appear on the student’s official high school transcript

Effective for the graduating class of 2013-2014, the TOPS Core Curriculum will change to a subset of the Core 4 Curriculum

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:

17.5 COLLEGE CORE COURSES completed by high school grad date

2.50 grade point average over the college core ONLY (NOT overall high school gpa) by high school grad date

Qualifying ACT OR SAT score by JULY 1 of high school senior graduating year, PLUS

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:

FINAL NON-ACADEMIC REQUIREMENT:

The FAFSA which must be submitted by July 1, 2012

by students graduating high school in 2011

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS OPPORTUNITY AWARD

This is the basic TOPS award, which will pay for 8 semesters’ or 12 quarters’ tuition to any accredited or State college, community college, technical college, or approved proprietary or cosmetology college in Louisiana

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Opportunity Core Curriculum

English English I English II English III English IV

www.osfa.la.gov


Math Algebra I or Integrated Mathematics I

Or Applied Algebra 1 Or Algebra I – Parts 1 & 2 (two units) Or Applied Algebra 1A & 1B (two units) Or Applied Mathematics I & II (two units)

Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics II

www.osfa.la.gov


Plus one of these:

Geometry, Applied Geometry, Calculus, Advanced Math I, Advanced Math II, Pre-Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, Algebra III, Applied Mathematics III, Integrated Mathematics III or AP Calculus

2 units required for the class of 2014 and beyond

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Opportunity Core Curriculum Science

Biology I or II

Chemistry I or II, or Chemistry Com

Plus one of these: Earth Science, Physical Science, Environmental

Science, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics, Physics II, Physics for Technology, AP Physics, or Agriscience I and II (two units)


www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Opportunity Core Curriculum Additional Math or Science from ONE of

these: Geometry, Applied Geometry, Calculus,

Advanced Math I, Advanced Math II, Pre-Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Discrete Mathematics, Algebra III, Applied Mathematics III, Integrated Mathematics III, or AP Calculus

Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics, Physics II, or AP Physics

Not required for the class of 2014 and beyond

www.osfa.la.gov


Social Studies

American History

Civics and Free Enterprise (1 unit combined), Civics (1 unit), or AP American Government

World History, Western Civilization, World Geography, or European History


www.osfa.la.gov


Foreign Language

Two units in the same language

English is not considered a foreign language

American Sign Language (2 units)

www.osfa.la.gov


Fine Arts Survey or two units of performance courses in music,

dance or theater* or two units of studio art* or two units of visual art* or two units of Speech III & IV* or 1 unit of an elective from among the other

subjects listed in this core curriculum

* The two units may be any combination of whole and half units

www.osfa.la.gov


½ unit of Computer Science I or II, Computer Technology Literacy, Business Computer Applications, Introduction to Business Computer Applications, or Computer Science Elective Or ½ unit of an approved computer science

course or 1/2 unit of an elective from among the other

subjects listed in the core curriculum

Not required for the class of 2014 and beyond

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core Curriculum GPA

The TOPS Core Curriculum GPA is calculated using ONLY grades achieved in the core curriculum courses

Uses the highest grade in each core category

For high schools using any grading scale other than a 4.00 scale, all grade values must be converted to a 4.00 scale

GPA cannot be rounded up

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS CORE CURRICULUM

When two units for a one unit category, the grades from the two courses will be averaged together and substituted as one unit

“P” (PASSING) grades are not included in the TOPS Core GPA calculation and will not affect your TOPS gpa

www.osfa.la.gov

ACT

Highest composite score will be considered TOPS does not consider the Essay portion of

the ACT

ACT Registration TOPS Code 1595 Social Security Number Date of Birth

ACT Deadlines for 2011 Graduates Without penalty: April 9, 2011 Loss of one semester eligibility: June 11, 2011

www.osfa.la.gov

SAT

An equivalent SAT score may be substituted for the ACT score TOPS does not consider the Essay portion of the

SAT

SAT Registration Scholarship Code 9019 Social Security Number Date of Birth

SAT Test Deadlines Without Penalty: March 12, 2011 Loss of 1 semester eligibility: May 7, 2011 and

June 4, 2011

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Opportunity Award: Eligibility Requirements

Completion of the TOPS Core Curriculum by high school grad date

2.50 minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA by high school grad date

ACT score equal to the prior year’s state average, but never less than 20 ? for 2011 graduates

SAT score of ?

TOPS general eligibility requirements

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Opportunity Award: Eligibility Requirements

Submission of the FAFS A

By July 1 of the year following high school graduation

2010 high school grads can apply for TOPS until July 1 2011

www.osfa.la.gov

Opportunity Award Benefits Provides an amount equal to tuition at a

Louisiana public college for 8 semesters Or an amount equal to the weighted average

public tuition at a LAICU private institution $1515.47 per semester for Academic Year 2010-

2011 TOPS does not cover academic excellence

fees, energy surcharges, technology fees, books, room & board, parking fees, lab fees or any other fee that was not in effect on January 1, 1998

A TOPS award may be combined with other forms of financial aid up to the “Cost of Attendance” for the institution

www.osfa.la.gov

Opportunity Award Benefits

May be received for a maximum of eight semesters or 12 quarters

Not available for summer terms except for students enrolled in a Qualified Summer Session Students with 60 or more hours Required to attend summer by major Courses required for major only offered in

summer Technical Programs

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Opportunity Award Benefits

May be used to pursue:

Academic undergraduate degree Vocational or technical certificate Non-academic degree

Effective for 2011 graduates, the award may be used at eligible Louisiana cosmetology and proprietary schools

www.osfa.la.gov

ANY TOPS AWARD

A TOPS award may be combined with Federal aid, other State aid, college scholarships, military aid, and private aid up to the “Cost of Attendance” for the institution

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Performance Award

Eligibility Requirements Completion of the TOPS Core Curriculum 3.0 minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA ACT score of 23

SAT score of 1060

Award Benefits Provides the same benefits as the

Opportunity award, plus $400 annual stipend

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Honors Award

Eligibility Requirements Completion of the TOPS Core Curriculum 3.00 minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA ACT score of 27

SAT score of 1210

Award Benefits Provides the same benefits as the

Opportunity award, plus $800 annual stipend

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Tech Award Eligibility Requirements

Completion of one the three TOPS Tech Core Curricula by the high school grad date Opportunity Core Curriculum TOPS Tech Option 1 TOPS Tech Option 2

2.50 minimum TOPS or TOPS Tech Core Curriculum GPA obtained by the high school grad date

ACT score of 17, 18, or 19 SAT score of 810, 860, or 900 WorkKeys Silver Certificate

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Tech Award Benefits

May be used to pursue vocational or technical certificate or diploma

or non-academic degree in skill or occupational training

May receive for two years

Summer terms are covered for students attending a technical program Summer attendance is not required

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Tech Award Benefits: Award Amounts

Public 2-year Institution The award will pay an amount equal to

tuition

Cosmetology or Proprietary School The award will be an amount equal to the

weighted average paid for students enrolled in a technical program at a public institution

www.osfa.la.gov

Disabled Students & Exceptional Children A core curriculum course may be waived for

a disabled student or exceptional child if documentation is provided that the reason the student failed to successfully complete the course was due solely to the student’s disability or exceptionality

There is no exception to the GPA or ACT/SAT requirements ACT or SAT Special Testing for Students with

Disabilities is available

Affected students should contact LOSFA for details

www.osfa.la.gov

Award Acceptance

Must enter an eligible institution as a full-time student by the fall semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation

Exceptions: Returning Out-of-State Students Military Service

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE Do not have to enroll throughout the first

year following high school graduation

Can stay out of college completely

Can attend college part-time at the student’s expense

Can attend non-eligible college full-time at student’s expense

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE - HOURS

But once enrolled full-time, must enroll full-time thereafter, EVERY SEMESTER until eight semesters are used

Fulltime definition: Student must be enrolled for 12 or more hours by the end of the14th day of class attendance: that is, 14 days that classes have been offered

www.osfa.la.gov


Students may drop below full-time at the end of the 15th day of class attendance,

But must complete 24 hours at the end of each spring semester, with a D or better, for the academic year (that spring and the preceding fall)

TOPS does NOT count summer hours

www.osfa.la.gov


Failure to enroll full-time each semester, or

Failure to earn 24 hours at the end of the year,

will result in permanent award cancellation

Unless the student can document illness, injury, death in the family, a diagnosis of depression, anxiety, etc., pregnancy, military or religious commitment, et . Or other reasons beyond the student’s control

www.osfa.la.gov


TOPS will now count fall intersession hours, spring intersession hours, and hours from any short course, or midmester, or minimester, or correspondence course taken BETWEEN AUGUST and MAY: in other words, NOT taken in summer, toward the 24 hours required at the end of the spring semester for that year

www.osfa.la.gov


These short courses may not be used for INITIAL FULLTIME ENROLLMENT for each semester,

But may be used to “save your TOPS,” or insure that you finish each year with the requisite number of hours

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE - GRADES

TOPS looks only at CUMULATI VE or OVERALL grade point average (gpa), never semester, term, or yearly

That means that every college grade you ever make, even in college courses taken in high school or summers or out of state colleges, counts toward your TOPS grade point average

www.osfa.la.gov


Your cumulative gpa can drop as low as a 2.00 (steady academic progress) at the end of any fall or winter term, and TOPS will pay for the following term

But by the end of each Spring term, you must achieve a cumulative college gpa of 2.30, or

TOPS will cease to pay, until you bring it up to a 2.30

www.osfa.la.gov


After you have earned 48 hours, you need a cumulative gpa of 2.50 at the end of the spring semester.

Of course, if you bring your grades up to requirement at the end of a summer or fall or winter term, TOPS will resume paying the following semester. You do not have to wait until after spring.

www.osfa.la.gov


YOU MUST CONTINUE TO ENROLL FULLTIME EACH SEMESTER AND COMPLETE YOUR 24 HOURS, EVEN THOUGH TOPS HAS CEASED TO PAY,

OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR TOPS FOREVER

www.osfa.la.gov


When your gpa comes back up to requirement, then TOPS will resume paying

You have to go four semesters in a row that TOPS will not pay because of your grades, before you will lose your TOPS forever, on account of grades

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE - GRADES That means, it takes TWO YEARS with

grades below requirement, before you lose your TOPS on account of grades

About F’s: TOPS does not mind if you make an F: but 3 hours of F means that you have lost 3 hours’ credit; and you might end up your spring semester with 21 hours instead of 24: therefore losing your TOPS forever

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE: HOURS

But you can lose your TOPS forever, before receiving a single payment, on account of HOURS

Please learn about college hours and how you can be certain that you are enrolled full-time and finish full-time in the spring

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE: GRADES

After you have earned 48 hours, you will need a cumulative gpa of 2.50, at the end of ech spring term

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS: HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS IN COLLEGE: GRADES If your grades fall below requirement, DO NOT DROP OUT OF COLLEGE

You can count summer grades, and you can take anything you want, not just required courses

If you drop out of college just because of grades, then you WILL lose your TOPS forever

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS TECH AWARD:

HOW TO KEEP YOUR TOPS TECH AWARD IN COLLEGE:

You must enroll full-time each term, but you can count summer hours toward your 24, and TOPS will pay for summer school

But you must end each spring term with a 2.50 cumulative grade point average

www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS PERFORMANCE & HONORS AWARDS - GRADES:

You must complete each spring semester with a 3.00

Or you will lose your stipend (extra money), forever

But NOT your TOPS tuition award

LOSFA Social Sites

http://www.facebook.com/LOSFA

http://www.twitter.com/LOSFA

http://www.youtube.com/ LOSFA1000

http://www.Flickr.com/LOSFA

TOPS Blog

http://www.louisianatopsprogram.com/

www.osfa.la.gov

what is financial aid? “louisiana’s first choice for college access”

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