PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PARENT MEETING Remind 101 Graduation Requirements Post-secondary Options ACT/SAT/Compass TOPS Financial Aid Scholarships College Search

Class of 2015 – Text reminders from Remind101

Ponchatoula High School App

Graduation Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Graduation Requirements Diploma Track (specific course requirements) Core 4 (24 credits) Basic (24 credits, AOC) Career (23 credits, AOC) EOC (End of Course tests) English II or English III Algebra I or Geometry Biology I or US History

Area of Concentration area-of-concentration-guide-(effective-through-cohort- 2017).pdf?sfvrsn= area-of-concentration-guide-(effective-through-cohort- 2017).pdf?sfvrsn=4 Complete 4 primary courses Education for Careers I & II * course in AOC 2 additional courses Complete 2 related courses Computer course 1 additional course

Spelling of Name Social Security # Date of Birth Course Credit Earned GPA Total Credits

Post Secondary Options Employment Apprenticeship Technical/Trade School 2 year college 4 year college Military

Two-Year Colleges – 44.5% Four-Year Colleges – 34.8% College Dropout Rate 2013 First to Second Year Source: ACT

Louisiana 4 Year Public College 15.5%

Louisiana 2 Year Public College 8.8%

Useful Websites

College Admission Tests

ACT

Avoid remedial/developmental classes English subscore of 18 Math subscore of composite required to qualify for TOPS Tech 20 composite required to qualify for TOPS Opportunity April 30 deadline w/o penalty June 30 deadline w/ loss of 1 semester of funding

SAT needed to qualify for TOPS Tech 940 needed to qualify for TOPS

Compass Test COMPASS is a computer-based test designed to test an individuals knowledge of subject areas. There are two subject areas: Math and English. This test is not timed. Compass tests are administered Mon. - Thurs. by appointment. The institution fee for this exam is $10 per test and must be paid prior to scheduling an appointment. A student may take each section two times. To help you prepare to take the compass exams, here is the website to review the study guides: To schedule an appointment call (985)

Paying for College

TOPS 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

The four award components of the TOPS Program are: TOPS Opportunity Award TOPS Performance Award TOPS Honors Award TOPS Tech Award Completion of TOPS Core Curriculum for award level Qualifying ACT/SAT scores for award level Opportunity Award - 20 Performance Award - 23/additional $400 per year Honors Award - 27/additional $800 per year Tech Award 17 Qualifying ACT/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 and Honors

2.5 minimum

Financial Aid It is necessary to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)in order to be considered for most federal financial aid programs. Many state financial aid programs and various scholarships also require the submission of the FAFSA. The Department of Education processes the FAFSA and notifies applicant with the Student Aid Report (SAR). LOSFA - TOPS & FAFSA Presentation January LELA – assistance with completing FAFSA College Goal SLU March 1, p.m. – 4 p.m.

Scholarships PHS Counselors’ Web Page LELA As you begin your scholarship search, please keep in mind the following: Sifting through the lists of scholarships will take time and may even prove frustrating as you read through lists of criteria, but a few hours of work may pay off with a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars (not necessarily a free ride, but every amount counts)! * It should not cost money to win money! Be wary of scholarship applications that charge a fee. * Be wary of companies that charge a fee for finding you grants and scholarships…everyone can apply for grants and scholarships on their own. * If you join a scholarship search service (one that required personal data) be aware that you may be signing yourself up for lots of junk mail * If you are told that you have received an award for which you never applied, be wary!!

PHS Website

Lela

Decisions, Decisions How to Pick the Best College for You Checklist for College Planning Admission Requirements Rankings Location Your Potential Major Costs and Financial Aid Faculty

Louisiana Public Universities Grambling State University Louisiana State University – Alexandria Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge Louisiana State University – Eunice Louisiana State University – Health Science Center New Orleans Louisiana State University – Health Science Center Shreveport ww.sh.lsuhsc.edu/index.html Louisiana State University – Shreveport Louisiana Tech University McNeese State University Nicholls State University Northwestern State University Southeastern Louisiana University Southern University – Baton Rouge Southern University – New Orleans Southern University – Shreveport University of New Orleans University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at Monroe

Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (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

Transfer Degree

Louisiana Community and Technical College System Community Colleges Baton Rouge Community College Bossier Parish Community College Delgado Community College Louisiana Delta Community College Nunez Community College River Parishes Community College South Louisiana Community College

Technical Community Colleges L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College Sowela Technical Community College Louisiana Technical College

Louisiana Proprietary Schools American School of Business Aveda Institute Ayers Career College Career Technical College Crescent City School of Gaming & Bartending Delta School of Business & Technology Diesel Driving Academy Fortis College ITI Technical College Louisiana Culinary Institute Remington College South Louisiana Beauty College

Comparing Colleges education/college-score-card

Ponchatoula High School College & Career Fair Thursday, 9/11 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. New Orleans National College Fair Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center Tuesday, September 30 9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Baton Rouge National College Fair Baton Rouge River Center Wednesday, October 1 9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Additional Info Request for a letter of recommendation should be submitted at least one week in advance. Dual enrollment students – request transcripts SLU Louisiana Technical College Do not pay for form completions or scholarship searches.

ACT Score = Composite, English, Math TOPS GPA = 2.5, 3.0 Overall GPA Deadlines – Priority, Application, Housing Scholarships FAFSA – after Jan 1 Register with NCAA Clearinghouse

Counselors A-D Denise Latour E-K Orlisa DePhillips L-Q Katharine Meadors/Alice Salassi R-Z Tommie Robertson