11th &12th Grade College Planning Meeting 2015-2016 Archbishop Rummel High School
What is TOPS? program of state scholarships for Louisiana residents who attend Louisiana Public Colleges and Universities, part of the Louisiana Community and Technical college system, or institutions that are part of Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in other words: FREE COLLEGE TUITION
How Does My Son Earn TOPS? composite score on ACT of 20 or higher core grade point average of 2.5 or higher measures ability measures work ethic TOPS Performance Award gives additional $400 for students with 23 composite score and 3.0 core grade point average TOPS Honors Award gives additional $800 for students with 27 composite score and 3.0 core grade point average
When Can My Son Take the ACT? Test Date October 24, 2015 December 12, 2015 February 6, 2016 April 9, 2016 June 11, 2016 Registration Deadline September 18, 2015 October 2, 2015 (Late) November 6, 2015 November 20, 2015 (Late) January 8, 2016 January 15, 2016 (Late) March 4, 2016 March 18, 2016 (Late) May 6, 2016 May 20, 2016 (Late) take the ACT as many times as possible to reach the highest score possible register at http://www.actstudent.org/regist/
What is the Core GPA? grade point average based on the TOPS Core Curriculum 4 point scale with no pluses or minuses semester grades are used - NOT QUARTER GRADES not all ARHS courses are part of the TOPS Core Curriculum (e.g. Religion, Pre-Professional, other electives) ARHS grade point average typically DOES NOT EQUAL the Core grade point average colleges and universities also look at Core grade point average Academic Courses Grade Quality Points A 4 B 3 C 2 D 1 F 0 AP/Honors Courses Grade Quality Points A 4.0 B 3.2 C 2.4 D 1.6 F 0
What is the Difference Between the Core GPA and the other GPA on My Son s Report Card? report card GPA represents the GPA for ALL courses taken at ARHS during the year this is also known as the Rummel GPA includes all +/-, extra quality points for AP/Honors classes Rummel GPA is used for ranking purposes and scholarships for individual schools (Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Torch Awards) Rummel GPA does not affect TOPS qualification in most cases, the Rummel GPA is HIGHER than the TOPS Core GPA
TOPS core GPA Semester Grades are the only grades sent to colleges and TOPS Rummel quarter GPA The TOPS GPA is updated at the end of each semester. The new TOPS GPA will be displayed on the 3rd quarter report card.
What is the TOPS Core Curriculum? Subject Number of Units English 4 Math 4 Science 4 Social Studies 4 Foreign Language 2 Fine Arts 1 TOTAL 19 these are the ONLY subjects used to determine TOPS eligibility
What are the English Requirements? 4 units English I English II English III English IV no other English courses affect TOPS Core GPA English V fulfills the ARHS requirement that students must take an English course each year - NO EFFECT ON TOPS
What are the Math Requirements? 4 units Algebra I Algebra II best 2 units from Geometry, Advanced Math, Pre- Calculus, Calculus, Statistics no other math courses affect TOPS Core GPA
What are the Science Requirements? 4 units Biology Chemistry best 2 units from Physical Science, Environmental Science, Physics, Biology II no other science courses affect TOPS Core GPA
What are the Social Studies Requirements? 4 units World Geography Western Civilization American History Civics no other social studies courses affect TOPS Core GPA
What are the Foreign Language Requirements? 2 units best 2 from Spanish I, Spanish II, and Spanish III best 2 from Latin I, Latin II, Latin III, and Latin IV both units must be the same language no other foreign language courses affect TOPS Core GPA
What are the Fine Arts Requirements? the best 1 unit from: Fine Arts Survey Art I Art II Art III Art III Ceramics Art IV Art IV Ceramics Band it is an ARHS requirement that a student take Art I before Art II, Art III, etc. no other art courses affect TOPS Core GPA
What Courses Are Needed for Graduation But Not TOPS? Religion I, Religion II, Religion III, Religion IV PE I, PE II 4 Electives these courses affect Rummel grade point average but not the TOPS Core grade point average
How Do I Determine My Son s TOPS GPA? TOPS grade point average updated each semester reports sent home each semester guidance counselor has access to information
Make sure social security number is correct NOT the TOPS core GPA TOPS core GPA average of semester 1 and semester 2 grades
Can My Son Go Back and Improve His TOPS GPA? credit recovery completed online through Louisiana High School Correspondence Courses http://www.lhscc.org the grade in the course will be used if it is beneficial to the student before registering for any correspondence course, see grade level counselor summer school full six weeks in summer some courses (e.g. math) lend themselves to summer school environment of teacher/student classroom the grade in the course will be used if it is beneficial to the student seniors can do this after graduation without affecting graduation status
Where Do I Go from Here? practice ACT type questions practice timed ACT tests begin a plan of action for applying to college month by month to-do list never too early to start
September have college choices narrowed down to no more than 5 request applications to those schools request recommendation letters from teachers, counselor, etc. begin college essays (if needed) register for October ACT and/or November SAT visit college campuses (permission slips in college advisor office) ask college advisor any questions you are having
October continue college visits take the ACT send test scores to prospective colleges send applications to universities (makes copies of everything you send) request college advisor to have transcripts mailed out
November take the SAT continue completing applications register for December ACT and/or December SAT continue with college visits continue to ask college advisor questions if needed
December take the ACT and/or SAT study for exams to maintain or improve first semester grades if you applied for early decisions, you should be hearing back register for January SAT
January request semester transcripts be sent to universities take the SAT register for February ACT and/or March SAT fill out income tax forms as soon as possible (you will needs them for the FAFSA) inform college advisor of any acceptance letters or scholarships that you may have received juniors may want to make a preliminary college list, get information on these colleges, and make sure they have a social security number
February take the ACT register for April ACT and/or March SAT check on college application status complete the FAFSA once your taxes are complete https://fafsa.ed.gov you should be receiving your Student Activity Report (SAR) within four weeks of submitting the FAFSA check on scholarship opportunities inform college advisor of any acceptance letters or scholarships that you may have received juniors should meet with their counselor to discuss preliminary college list and register for April ACT
March stay focused and keep studying take the SAT register for April ACT and/or May SAT complete FAFSA as soon as possible if not already done so inform college advisor of any acceptance letters or scholarships that you may have received juniors can start reaching out to colleges on their preliminary list to obtain admission and financial aid information
April take the ACT register for June ACT and/or May SAT if more than one college has accepted you and you know which one you are going to attend, notify the other universities that you will not be attending most universities will require a decision by May 1st inform college advisor where you want final transcript sent inform college advisor of any acceptance letters or scholarships that you may have received juniors can start looking into summer internships pertaining to their potential career interest fields
May notify the college that you wish to attend and notify the other colleges that may have accepted you that you will be attending another university (do this by May 1st) take SAT register for June ACT (if necessary) and/or June SAT (if necessary) register for credit recovery courses or summer school (if necessary) juniors can begin to visit colleges by setting up visitations days through the college admissions offices
June take the June ACT/SAT (if necessary) take credit recovery or summer school courses (if necessary) juniors should continue visiting colleges and have their preliminary list narrowed down to no more than 5 juniors should register with NCAA, seniors should already be registered
July TOPS eligibility is confirmed by the state universities process tuition bills or make changes to tuition bills based on TOPS eligibility you may initially receive a bill that does not reflect TOPS award juniors should continue visiting colleges and have their preliminary list narrowed down to no more than 5
Additional Resources http://www.rummelraiders.com/guidance--collegeplanning1.html remain in constant contact with grade level counselor https://www.collegeboard.org each individual college s website