1. Trailblazer Camp 2007 OverVieux Carre Financial Aid Time Line & Resources

2. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Aid Time Line  Follow TOPS core curriculum throughout high school  Take the ACT and/or SAT often  Contact the scholarship offices of the colleges you are interested in attending for institutional aid opportunities by early fall of your senior year  Search for private scholarships and grants  Schedule a visit to the campus of the schools you are interested in attending

3. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Aid Time Line  Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1, 2008, and before July 1, 2008, for funding for the 2008-2009 academic year  Or, you may complete the TOPS On-line Application if you are not eligible for federal grant aid  Verify institution FAFSA deadline  In May, set up an account on the LOSFA website to track TOPS eligibility status at www.osfa.state.la.us

4. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Aid Time Line  Retain verifiable evidence of the date the FAFSA was electronically filed or mailed  Web confirmation  FAFSA Receipt Notification Postcard  Contact the financial aid office of the institution you are planning to attend if you have any unusual circumstances  Notify the financial aid office of any private aid you will be receiving  Complete institutional data form, if required

5. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Aid Time Line  The financial aid office of the institutions you listed on the FAFSA and to which you have been accepted for admission will send you an Award letter detailing your financial aid package  Respond to institution award letter by accepting or declining each type of aid offered  Any TOPS award listed is an assumption

6. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Aid Time Line  If you are accepting a loan:  Indicate that you want a Louisiana Guaranteed loan  Select the participating lender of your choice  You will receive a Promissory Note from your guarantor  Mail the signed Promissory Note to your lender or complete online promissory note  Complete Loan Entrance Counseling  Receive financial aid at registration

7. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Financial Aid Resources  LOSFA  U.S. Department of Education  High School Counselor  Institution  Financial Aid and Scholarship Offices  Academic Department  Internet  Free Scholarship Searches  Institution Websites  Library – Scholarship books  Employers  Organizations

8. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Scholarship Applications  Your letter is your introduction; it should be clear and concise  Fully complete applications, follow any instructions exactly and provide only what is requested  Explain your situation and ideas clearly, choosing your words carefully; your space and the reader’s time are limited

9. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Scholarship Applications  Sell yourself; present yourself in the best light, but be honest  Send a complete packet including applications, transcripts, and letters of recommendation  To ensure you meet the application deadline, mail early to allow for mailing delays  Choose a font that is easy to read. Type all correspondence and check for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors

10. Trailblazer Camp 2007 Avoiding Scholarship Scams  The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back  You can’t get this information anywhere else  May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship  We’ll do all the work  The scholarship will cost you some money  You’re a finalist in a contest you never entered