NORTHSHORE HIGH JUNIOR / SENIOR INFORMATION NIGHT

COLLEGE PREP GUIDANCE PRESENTATION

ACADEMICS

TAKING THE ACT/SAT

TOPS /SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

COLLEGE/CAREER INFORMATION

HOW CAN PARENTS HELP

QUESTIONS

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.

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)

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

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

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. LSU’s code is 1590 SLU’s code is 1608 Delgado’s code is 1577 Check the registration information for more codes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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

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”

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Contact Mrs. Woodard at either christine.woodard@stpsb.org or 985-898-6458