Senior Success Summit

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College Students, You Need to Know This to Retain Your Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Award

ENROLLMENT

As a TOPS recipient, you must enroll as a full-time student during each fall and spring semester during the academic year, remain continuously enrolled, and must earn 24 hours of credit during the academic year. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your TOPS award. The Academic Year begins with the fall semester, quarter or term and continues through all semesters, quarters, terms and intersessions until the following fall semester, quarter or term begins.

EXCEPTIONS

Exceptions to the requirements to enroll full-time or to remain continuously enrolled or to earn 24 hours of credit each Academic Year may be granted for circumstances beyond the student’s control. Students seeking an exception to these requirements must submit a request for exception form (www.mylosfa.la.gov/request for exception) and provide all necessary documentation. If approved and all other continuation requirements are met, the award will be reinstated. Requests for exception must be received no later than six months after the date of the notice of cancellation.

CREDIT HOURS

Earning 24 credit hours each Academic Year is the responsibility of the student. Advanced Placement credits and credits earned while you are in high school cannot be used to meet the 24 hour requirement. Hours earned in remedial courses and hours earned in intersessions will count toward your 24-hour requirement. All Award recipients can use hours earned in summer sessions to meet their 24-hour per Academic Year requirement as well.

RENEWAL FAFSA

To renew your TOPS award for the next Academic Year, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or renewal FAFSA must be received by July 1 of each year unless you can demonstrate that you do not qualify for federal grant aid. TOPS funding is contingent upon appropriations.

CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE

At the end of each academic year the following TOPS cumulative grade point average (GPA) as determined by LOSFA, must be maintained:

Opportunity Award: 2.30 with 24-47 Hours of Academic Credit 

2.50 with 48 or More Hours of Academic Credit Performance Award: 3.00 with 24 or More Hours of Academic Credit Honors Award: 3.00 with 24 or More Hours of Academic Credit Tech Award*: 2.50 with 24 or More Hours of Academic Credit 

*also applies to Opportunity, Performance and Honors recipients enrolled in a technical program of study 

The TOPS cumulative GPA is calculated on all course work attempted and may not be the same as that calculated by the school. Performance or Honors Award recipients who fail to maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of any academic year, will have their award converted to the Opportunity Award, provided they have maintained the GPA necessary for renewal at that award level. Once the recipient’s award is converted to the Opportunity Award, the Performance or Honors Award cannot be reinstated. Grades earned for college credit courses taken while in high school through dual enrollment programs are included in the calculation of your cumulative college GPA and will affect your TOPS continuation eligibility. Students who fail to maintain steady academic progress at the end of any semester, quarter or term shall have payment of their award suspended. Steady academic progress is defined as a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA. Students whose awards are suspended for failure to maintain the required GPA or steady academic progress may be reinstated upon attainment of the required GPA provided that the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than two years (one year for the Tech Award) and the student has met the requirements noted in the first paragraph.

College Planning: 12th Grade
Want to know if you’re on track in the college application process? This checklist shows you what you should be doing, and when.  When you complete steps marked with * you may be eligible for College Board Opportunity Scholarships.

Learn more at:
cb.org/opportunity.

FALL

¨ Strengthen Your College List*: Meet with a counselor
about your college choices and, if you’ve not yet done so,
download college applications and financial aid forms.
Make sure you have a balanced list of academic safety, fit,
and reach schools. Plan to visit as many of these colleges
as possible.
¨ Create a master list or calendar that includes:
§ Tests you’ll take and their fees, dates, and
registration deadlines
§ College application due dates
§ Required financial aid application forms and
their deadlines (aid applications may be due
before college applications)
§ Other materials you’ll need
(recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
§ Your high school’s application processing deadlines
¨ Ask a counselor to help you request a fee waiver if you
can’t afford application or test fees.
¨ Improve Your Score*: Many seniors retake the SAT in the
fall. Additional coursework and practice with Official SAT
Practice on Khan Academy® since your last test could help
you boost your performance. Plus you already know what
to expect on test day.
¨ Be sure to have your SAT scores sent to the colleges to
which you are applying.
¨ Complete the FAFSA*: To apply for most financial aid,
you’ll need to complete the FAFSA. Oct. 1 is the first day
you can file the FAFSA.
¨ Complete the CSS Profile: CSS Profile™ is an online
application used by certain colleges and scholarship
programs to determine eligibility for their aid dollars.
¨ Prepare early decision/early action or rolling admission
applications as soon as possible. Nov. 1–15: Colleges may
require test scores and applications between these dates
for early decision admission.
¨ Ask a counselor or teacher for recommendations if you
need them. Give each teacher or counselor an outline of
your academic record and your extracurricular activities.
For each recommendation, provide a stamped, addressed
envelope and any college forms required.
¨ Write first drafts and ask teachers and others to read
them if you’re submitting essays. If you’re applying for early
decision, finish the essays for that application now.
¨ Apply to College*: Submit your applications to the schools
that you want to attend.
¨ Ask counselors to send your transcripts to colleges. Give
counselors the proper forms at least two weeks before the
colleges require them.
/MyBigFuture @MyBigFuture @collegeboard 
Have your high school send a transcript—it is
sent separately by mail to colleges if you apply online
to colleges.

WINTER

¨ Keep photocopies as you finish, and send your
applications and essays.
¨
¨ Give the correct form to your counselor if the college
wants to see second-semester grades.

SPRING

¨ Keep active in school. If you are waitlisted, the college will
want to know what you have accomplished between the
time you applied and the time you learned of its decision.
¨ Visit your final college before accepting. You should
receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by midApril. Notify your counselor of your choice. If you have
questions about housing offers, talk to your counselor or
call the college.
¨ Inform every college of your acceptance or rejection of
the offer of admission and/or financial aid by May 1.
Colleges cannot require your deposit or your commitment
to attend before May 1. Talk to your counselor or adviser if
you have questions.
¨ Send your deposit to one college only.
¨ Take any AP® Exams. Show what you’ve learned in your
AP classes. A successful score could even earn you credit,
advanced placement, or both in college.
¨ Waitlisted by a college? If you intend to enroll if you are
accepted, tell the admission director your intent and ask
how to strengthen your application. Need financial aid? Ask
whether funds will be available if you’re accepted.
¨ Work with a counselor to resolve any admission or
financial aid problems.
¨ Ask your high school to send a final transcript to your
college.
¨ Review your financial aid awards: Not all financial aid
awards are the same, so it’s important to choose the aid
package that’s best for you and your family. Be sure to note
what you have to do to continue receiving financial aid from
year to year, and how your aid might change in future years.
 

2024 - 2025 School Year

 Senior Success Summit – August 21
 ASVAB Test – September 4
 Fall Break – October 7
 Report Card Conference Night – October 15
 College & Career Night – October 22
 ACT @ CHS – October 26 (Deadline to Register: September 20)
 Ring Day – October 31
 Teacher/Student Holiday – November 1
 Teacher PD Day (Student Holiday) – November 5
 Thanksgiving Holidays – November 25 - 29
 ACT @ CHS – December 14 (Deadline to Register: November 8)
 Fall Semester Exam Days – December 19 & 20
 Christmas Holidays – December 23 - January 3
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – January 20
 Teacher PD Day (Student Holiday) – January 21
 ACT @ CHS – February 8 (Deadline to Register: January 3)
 Mardi Gras Holidays – March 3 - 7
 Senior Prom – March 15
 ACT @ CHS – April 5 (Deadline to Register: February 28)
 Easter Holidays – April 18 & 21
 Senior Awards Ceremony – April 16
 Senior Spring Semester Exam Days – April 23 & 24
 Graduation Rehearsal – April 29
 Graduate Check-Out Day – April 30
 Honors Recognition Ceremony – May 2
 Advanced Placement Exams – May 5 - 16
 Graduation Day – May 8