Financial aid questions answered at LOSFA session

 Parents of high school seniors know that the second half of their child’s, or children’s final high school year can be daunting.

There are college applications to fill out, tests to take and, of course, the Free Application for Student Aid.

“The key word is ‘free’,” Kyleigh Quiroga, a representative for the Louisiana Office of Federal Student Aid (LOFSA), told parents at Crowley High Wednesday night. “There are several websites that will charge you $60 to $100 to fill it out, but it is actually 100 percent free.”

Quiroga presented information to interested parents at Crowley High School’s annual Financial Aid Awareness Night. The night also saw parents of students through grade 11 able to learn more about the TOPS Core Curriculum.

FAFSA is also the recommended way to apply for TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students), though students can apply through the TOPS website directly.

“If there are budget shortages and TOPS can’t pay all of the awards, those TOPS online applications would be the first cut,” said Quiroga. “So FAFSA does offer you that extra safety net for your award.”

Senior counselor Charlesetta Andrus urged parents and students in attendance to fill out the form if they believe there is even the slightest chance that the student may qualify for aid.

“It’s so important if you think you are eligible for financial aid that you apply,” she said. “I read an article ... that last year over $43 million in aid was left by graduates in Louisiana.”

That same article explained that, nationwide, that number exceeds $2.9 billion, and that was free federal grant money, meaning funds that a student does not have to pay back. These numbers are based on a study by NerdScholar, the higher education team at NerdWallet.

LOFSA also receives the student’s FAFSA information when a student lists a Louisiana school, but LOSFA also needs a students ACT or SAT scores. When filling out where to send ACT scores, students are urged to add the 1-5-9-5 code, according to Quiroga to make sure that the office gets the information.

Students were reminded that the April ACT test date is the deadline without penalty to take the test for the fall semester. For those opting for the SAT, the March test is the deadline.

While students’ parents will have to wait until taxes for both are done, the online application for FAFSA does have an “IRS retrieval tool” that makes transporting the information easier. That tool will be available in February for parents and students who have completed their 2014 IRS tax return.

Parents and students alike will also have to apply online for a personal identification number (PIN) at www.pin.ed.gov to sign the FAFSA.

Parents of multiple children only need one PIN, but each child needs a PIN.

Other information also was provided by Quiroga regarding FAFSA as well as a breakdown of TOPS and its awards.

For those unaware, to qualify for TOPS, students must have completed the TOPS Core Curriculum for graduates of 2014 through 2017, which includes four units of English, math, science and social studies, two foreign language units (in the same language) and one unit of fine arts.

To earn awards students must also have a certain GPA and ACT composite score, or SAT equivalent. The breakdown is as follows:

• TOPS Opportunity: 2.5 cumulative TOPS Core Curriculum GPA and the prior year’s state ACT composite score average, which is currently 20. Students will receive funds for tuition (no fees, room/board, etc.) at a state public school or a weighted average of payments to an eligible private school.

• TOPS Performance: 3.0 cumulative TOPS Core Curriculum GPA and a 23 ACT composite score. Students will receive funds for tuition (no fees, room/board, etc.) at a state public school or a weighted average of payments to an eligible private school. They also receive a $400 per year stipend.

• TOPS Honors: 3.0 cumulative TOPS Core Curriculum GPA and a 27 ACT composite score. Students will receive funds for tuition (no fees, room/board, etc.) at a state public school or a weighted average of payments to an eligible private school. They also receive a $800 per year stipend.

Students also can apply for the two-year TOPS Tech Award.

The student will be notified, after filling out the FAFSA form, by July, as to what financial aid he or she is eligible for, including TOPS. In fact, Quiroga explained that if a student has not received an awards letter from LOSFA by July, it is imperative that the family contact LOSFA immediately.

TOPS, like many other forms of aid, comes with rights and responsibilities, which is where many students’ questions arise after one of those responsibilities hits them. For example, a student must maintain a certain grade-point average in college to keep his or her award. Furthermore, for those receiving stipends, once the stipend is lost, it is gone for good.

With FAFSA season beginning Jan. 1 officially, LOSFA is doing all it can to help parents and students be prepared to fill out the form. Its social media sites are providing tips and it will host Louisiana College Goal Sunday on Sunday, March 1. According to the site, 15 colleges, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Moody Hall, Room 103) and SOWELA Technical Community College (Arts and Humanities Building, first floor multi-purpose room) in Lake Charles.

For these events, doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the program will begin promptly at 2 p.m.

Locally, Andrus explained that Crowley High will host “FAFSA Frenzy” at the Acadia Parish Library in Crowley, located at 1125 N. Parkerson Ave., on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6-8 p.m.  This event will give parents the chance to complete their FAFSA forms online. Computers will be available for parent use and Wi-Fi connections will be available for those wishing to bring and use their own laptops.

Advance registration for this event is required. 

For more information, contact Andrus at 783-5313.