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 child’s 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-Academic 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 11 th 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. 25 th. 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 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. LSU’s code is 1590 SLU’s code is 1608 Delgado’s 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 student’s senior year. It will be processed MUCH quicker if it is completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov 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. www.osfa.state.la.us

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. www.osfa.state.la.us

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@osfa.state.la.us custserv@osfa.state.la.us Add the following to your list of Web sites: Everything you’ve always wanted to know about going to college in Louisiana – www.regents.state.la.us select “High School Students” www.regents.state.la.us

16. Early Start Criteria 11 th and 12 th 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 student’s 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 O’Regan or Christine Woodard, college counselors. Prospective College Athletes - register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at: www.ncaaclearinghouse.net 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. O’Regan at either annette.oregan@stpsb.org or 985-898-6456. annette.oregan@stpsb.org Contact Mrs. Woodard at either christine.woodard@stpsb.org or 985-898-6458 christine.woodard@stpsb.org