PONCHATOULA HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PARENT MEETING Graduation ACT/SAT TOPS Financial Aid Scholarships Post-secondary Options

On the sheet of paper you were given, please indicate how confident you are in your ability to navigate your or your child’s senior year. 1 – No clue what needs to be done. 2 3 – Some understanding of what needs to be done. 4 5 – I got it. I could do this presentation.

Graduation Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Transcripts & TOPS Reports are being distributed to your child through academic homerooms.

2.5 minimum

ACT Test DateRegistration Deadline(Late Fee Required) September 21, 2013August 23, 2013August 24–September 6, 2013 October 26, 2013September 27, 2013September 28– October 11, 2013 December 14, 2013November 8, 2013November 9–22, 2013 February 8, 2014*January 10, 2014January 11–24, 2014 April 12, 2014March 7, 2014March 8–21, 2014 June 14, 2014May 9, 2014May 10–23, 2014

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 SAT Test Dates October 5, 2013 November 2, 2013 December 7, SAT Test Dates January 25, 2014 March 8, 2014 May 3, 2014 June 7, needed to qualify for TOPS Tech 940 needed to qualify for TOPS

What is the difference between the ACT and SAT? The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities. The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test. The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you're applying to. The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing. The ACT has an Interest Inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career options. Source:

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 different 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 Minimum 2.5 GPA in TOPS Core TOPS Core Curriculum Flyer TOPS Opportunity, Performance, Honors Award Flyer TOPS Tech Award TOPS Award Amounts Surfing the Web for Financial Aid Surfing the Web for TOPS Tech Award

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). FAFSA Presentation Tuesday, January 6 p.m College Goal Sunday

Scholarships PHS Counselors’ Web Page LELA Louisiana Connect

Scholarships PHS Counselors’ Web Page LELA Louisiana Connect

Lela

Scholarships PHS Counselors’ Web Page LELA Louisiana Connect

Louisiana Connect

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

Things to Consider Admission Requirements Degree Program Scholarships

Board of Regents reminder

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

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

Decisions, decisions How to Pick the Best College for You Rankings Location Available Concentrations & Departments Your Potential Major Costs and Financial Aid Faculty

Comparing Colleges education/college-score-card

Guide to College Cost

Transfer Degree

ACT Score = 17, 20, 23, 27 TOPS GPA = 2.5, 3.0 Overall GPA Deadlines – Priority, Application, Housing Scholarships Tours Complete Application Process Register with NCAA Clearinghouse

Northshore College & Career Fair Tonight 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. SLU’s Pennington’s Center New Orleans National College Fair New Orleans National College Fair Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Tuesday, October 1 : 9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Baton Rouge National College Fair Baton Rouge National College Fair Baton Rouge River Center Wednesday, October 2 9:00am - 12:00pm, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Useful Websites

Counselors A-D Denise Latour E-K Orlisa DePhillips L-Q Katherine Meadors R-Z Tommie Robertson

On the sheet of paper you were given, please indicate how confident you are in your ability to navigate your or your child’s senior year. 1 – No clue what needs to be done. 2 3 – Some understanding of what needs to be done. 4 5 – I got it. I could do this presentation.