How Can Parents Help?

1
NORTHSHORE HIGH JUNIOR / SENIOR INFORMATION
NIGHT
2
COLLEGE PREP GUIDANCE PRESENTATION

• ACADEMICS
• TAKING THE ACT/SAT
• TOPS /SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID
• COLLEGE/CAREER INFORMATION
• HOW CAN PARENTS HELP
• QUESTIONS

3
ACADEMICS

• To graduate - 23 TOTAL CREDITS must be earned.
• IF YOU ARE NOT PASSING A COURSE, consider getting
  a tutor and talking to your teacher. Check
  grades on STI Home to help keep up with your
  childs progress.
• https//stihome.stpsb.org
• In addition to 23 credits, students must PASS THE
  
• GEE 21 English, Math AND Science OR Social
  Studies.

4
Louisiana High School Diploma Endorsements-Academi
c

• TOPS Opportunity Core Curricula
• Also may choose to complete four elective credits
  in an area of concentration and two related
  elective credits
• Pass all 4 components of the GEE with a minimum
  score of Basic
• TOPS Opportunity GPA 2.5
• ACT of 23
• Senior Project OR 1 Carnegie unit in an AP course
  with a score of 3 or higher on AP exam OR 3
  College hours of non-remedial, articulated credit
  in core area (Mathematics, Social Studies,
  Science, Foreign Language, or English/Language
  Arts)

5
Louisiana High School Diploma Endorsements-Career/
Technical

• TOPS Opportunity OR TOPS TECH core curricula
• Four elective credits in area of concentration
  and two related elective credits
• Pass all 4 GEE 21 components with a minimum score
  of Approaching Basic
• TOPS Opportunity or TOPS Tech GPA ACT
  requirements ( 2.5 AND 20)
• Approved Industry-based certification OR 3
  college hours in a Career Technical program
• Minimum of 90 work hours of work-based learning
  experience

6
TESTING PSAT

• 11th grade college bound students may choose to
  take the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying
  Test, the PSAT in October.
• Registration is with Mr. Lusignan in the Guidance
  Department at NHS thru Friday, Sept. 25th.
• Cost 20.00 (payable at registration)
• Test Date Saturday, October 17, 2009

7
TESTING ACT/SAT

• Register to take or retake ACT. Test dates are
  Oct. 24, Dec. 12, Feb. 6, April 10, and June 12.
  Register online. at www.actstudent.org
• Regular registration fee is 47.00 plus Writing
  or 32.00 No Writing. If a student gets reduced
  or free lunch, they can have a fee waiver (up to
  2). See your counselor for details.
• Your registration fee includes sending scores to
  FOUR (4) colleges you select and grid in on your
  registration form.
• Students eligible for TOPS should enter the TOPS
  code in section which is 1595.
• LSUs code is 1590
• SLUs code is 1608
• Delgados code is 1577
• Check the registration information for more codes

8
TESTING ACT/SAT cont

• Social Security Number
• The year of graduation from high school 2010 or
  2011
• The High School Code (192-747) must be entered
  correctly.
• Check with your colleges to see if you need to
  take the SAT.

9
FEDERAL STUDENT AID

• Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
  Grants (FSEOG)
• Perkins Loans
• Stafford Loans
• PLUS (parental) Loans
• Federal Work Study College Work-Study
• To apply for all of the above, complete the FAFSA
  after Jan.1, 2010 priority consideration
  deadline is MAY 1, 2010. TOPS deadline is July
  1, 2010.

10
FEDERAL STUDENT AID cont...

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA
  cannot be completed until after January 1 of
  your students senior year.
• It will be processed MUCH quicker if it is
  completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Paper copy can be requested by call
  1-800-433-3243
• Completing this form is ONE way of applying for
  TOPS.

11
Did you know?...

• Louisiana Public University Minimum Admissions
  Criteria
• TOPS core curriculum is required for admission to
  all four-year public universities.
• There are additional admission requirements
  specific to each individual university. Please
  contact the college/university admissions office
  for details or see the university website.
• Community and Technical Colleges have an open
  admissions policy.

12
TOPS/SCHOLARSHIPS

• TO EARN THE TOPS OPPORTUNITY AWARD, a student
  must
• Complete all courses in the TOPS core curriculum
  with a grade point average in these courses of
  2.5.
• AND
• Earn an ACT score of 20 by the April 10, 2010
  test date.
• NOTE This is the first level of available TOPS
  awards, see www.osfa.state.la.us for details of
  all awards.

13
TOPS/SCHOLARSHIPS

• TO EARN THE TOPS TECH AWARD, a student must
• Complete all courses in the TOPS TECH core
  curriculum (Level I or Level II) with a grade
  point average in these courses of 2.5.
• AND
• Earn an ACT score of 17 by the April 10, 2010
  test date.
• NOTE The TOPS Tech Award MAY NOT be used at
  any institution toward an academic
  degree/program. See www.osfa.state.la.us for
  program details.

14
TOPS/SCHOLARSHIPS cont

• TO APPLY
• complete the Free Application for Federal Student
  Aid (FAFSA) using income tax information from the
  calendar year 2009 by May 1, no later than July
  1.
• PLEASE NOTE THAT the Social Security Number that
  you enter must match the one entered on the ACT
  registration!
• The FAFSA will also allow you to apply for
  institutional aid
• Check to see if your college has a separate
  financial aid application
• Check to see if your college requires the
  CSS/Profile .

15
SCHOLARSHIPS cont.

• Use the Internet to research private
  scholarships and grants.
• Refer any questions about scholarships and
  financial aid to 1-800-259-5626 ext. 1012 or by
  e-mail at custserv_at_osfa.state.la.us
• Add the following to your list of Web sites
  Everything youve always wanted to know about
  going to college in Louisiana
  www.regents.state.la.us select High School
  Students

16
Early Start Criteria

• 11th and 12th grade public Louisiana High School
• Student must be at least 15 years old
• PLAN or ACT scores on file at school that meets
  the criteria for enrollment
• Student in good standing as defined by school
• Student must have parent, high school and college
  permission
• Course can earn both college and high school
  credit (must be on track for Regents/TOPS core)
• To continue enrollment, student must have
  successfully completed courses through the program

17
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

• Check on students work and grades. E-mail or
  call teachers if necessary.
• Help your son/daughter do searches for colleges
  and scholarships.
• Attend
• College/Career Fair at Castine Center on Sept. 30
• TOPS Scholarship Info. at City Auditorium on Oct.
  20.
• FAFSA information at City Auditorium on Jan. 12
• College/Career Quest Fair at Castine Center on
  Feb. 23
• Check the College Counseling Handbook for
  important phone numbers and web addresses.
• Help student gather all applications for colleges
  and scholarships and keep calendar of important
  deadlines. You should begin applying to college
  now. Read the Senior Newsletter for Scholarship
  deadlines.
• Be aware of testing deadlines and fees.

18
AND..

• Collect income tax information to be ready to
  complete the FAFSA after January 1, 2010
• The application for TOPS is the FAFSA. Usual
  delivery is in January.You will get faster
  results by applying on the Web. And, if you make
  any mistakes, you can correct them immediately.
• Complete the FAFSA by May 1, 2010 to avoid
  penalties.
• Keep copies of everything you complete!
• Help your son/daughter budget for all the
  expenses ACT 46, college applications 15-75,
  visits to colleges, deposits on dorms, etc.

19
MORE.

• The St. Tammany Parish College Counseling Center
  is available to you at http//college.stpsb.org
• Contact Annette ORegan or Christine Woodard,
  college counselors.
• Prospective College Athletes - register with the
  NCAA Clearinghouse at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

20
QUESTIONS ??

• GLAD YOU COULD BE HERE!!
• If you have any questions, call Mr. Lusignan or
  Mrs. Calderone, at 649-3620.
• Contact Mrs. ORegan at either annette.oregan_at_stps
  b.org or 985-898-6456.
• Contact Mrs. Woodard at either christine.woodard_at_s
  tpsb.org or 985-898-6458