Trailblazer Camp 2007
Welcome!
Trailblazer Camp
2007
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Why Do I Need
Student Financial
Aid?
What does college cost?
Academic Tuition
Year
& Fees
Room & Books & TransPersonal
Board
Supplies portation Expense
Total
2008-2009
$4,898
$9,587
$1,040
$992
$1,697 $18,214
2009-2010
$5,094
$9,970
$1,082
$1,032
$1,765 $18,943
2010-2011
$5,298
$10,369
$1,125
$1,073
$1,836 $19,701
2011-2012
$5,510
$10,784
$1,170
$1,116
$1,909 $20,489
$20,800
$40,710
$4,417
$4,213
$7,207 $77,347
Total
Based on estimated expenses at Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge for a
dependent student living on campus who graduates from high school in 2008
assuming a 4% annual increase
Trailblazer Camp 2007
How are you going to pay for it?
A TOPS Scholarship pays tuition and
certain fees at a Louisiana public
institution
TOPS does not cover:
Technology Fees
Academic Excellence Fees
Energy Surcharges
Mandatory fees imposed after January 1, 1998
Room & Board
Books & Supplies
Transportation or Personal Expenses
Trailblazer Camp 2007
So how are you going to
pay for the rest of it?
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Basis of Aid
Merit-Based aid is based on a student’s
academic achievement, grades, ACT/SAT
scores, talent, ability, athletic
achievement, etc
Need-based aid is based on the student’s
financial need
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Financial Need
COST OF ATTENDANCE
- EXPECTED FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION
FINANCIAL NEED
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Financial Need
Cost of Attendance (COA)
Tuition and fees
Room and board
Books and supplies
Transportation
Miscellaneous personal expenses
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Income
Assets (excluding the family home)
Family size
Number of family members attending college
(excluding parents)
Age of parents
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Types of Financial Aid
Scholarships
Gift Aid – Based on Merit
Grants
Gift Aid – Based on Need
Employment Opportunities
Loans
Must be repaid – may be based on need
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Sources of Financial Aid
State
Federal
Institutional
Private
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship
Open to students majoring in Forestry,
Wildlife or Marine Science
Awarded competitively
Maximum Annual Award: $1,000
Total Maximum Award: $7,000
5 years undergraduate study
2 years graduate study
Must attain a degree in one of the eligible
fields or repay funds
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Rockefeller Eligibility Requirements
 Be a U.S. Citizen, national, or eligible noncitizen, and be registered with selective service
if required
 Be a Louisiana Resident for at least one year
prior to July 1 of the scholarship award year
 Must complete the Rockefeller State Wildlife
Scholarship application and the FAFSA by July
1 preceding the award year
 Be enrolled full-time in one of the designated
programs at a Louisiana public institution
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Rockefeller Eligibility Requirements
 If you have earned fewer than 24 hours by the
June preceding the award year, you must have:
 2.50 cumulative high school GPA and have a 20 on the
ACT (or equivalent SAT score);
 or must have completed the 12th grade level of a BESE
Approved Home Study program, have a 22 on the ACT
(or an equivalent SAT score), and if a high school was
previously attended, provide certification that you were
in good standing at the time you last attended
 If you have earned 24 or more hours of college
credit you must have a minimum 2.50 cumulative
college GPA
 Graduate students must have a minimum 3.00
cumulative GPA on all credits earned in graduate
school
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Rockefeller Continuation Requirements
 Maintain continuous full-time enrollment unless
granted an exception by LOSFA
 Achieve a cumulative college GPA of at least
2.50 at the end of each academic year as an
undergraduate student; or at least a 3.00 as a
graduate student
 Earn at least 24 hours for the academic year
 Have received the award for not more than 7
academic years (5 undergraduate and 2
graduate)
 Continue to pursue a course of study in a
qualified major
 Sign a promissory note each term prior to
receiving funds
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Institutional Aid
Each institution has its own merit-based
scholarship programs
Many schools have their own needbased aid programs
Investigate aid opportunities early
Each institution has its own aid application
process and deadline
Upperclassmen should also check with
their department for aid opportunities for
students in a specific major
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Private Aid
The best source of information on private
aid is the Internet. There are numerous
free scholarship search services available
See LOSFA website Useful Internet Links
page or Surfing the Web for a listing
Private aid can be based on merit or
financial need
Providers of private aid include
companies, civic organizations, religious
organizations, clubs, etc.
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Federal Pell Grant
General Information
Gift aid
Portable - can receive at any eligible
institution
Maximum Award: $4,050
Eligibility Criteria
Undergraduates without a bachelor’s degree
or first professional degree
Must demonstrate financial need
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Campus-Based Federal Aid Programs
FSEOG
LEAP
Academic Competitiveness Grant
National SMART Grant
Federal Work Study
Perkins Loans
Stafford Loans
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Federal Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
General Information:
Gift aid
Maximum award $4,000
Eligibility Criteria:
Undergraduates without bachelor’s or first
professional degree
Must demonstrate exceptional financial need
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
(LEAP)
LEAP uses federal and state funds to
provide need-based grants to
academically qualified students
Maximum Award: $4,000
Recipients determined by the institution’s
financial aid office
Trailblazer Camp 2007
LEAP Eligibility Requirements
Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Be a Louisiana resident
Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate
student
Apply by completing the FAFSA
Demonstrate substantial financial need
Must have one of the following:
2.00 cumulative high school GPA
45 on the GED
20 on the ACT
2.00 cumulative college GPA
Schools may establish additional criteria
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Academic Competitiveness Grant
General Eligibility Requirements
U.S. Citizen
Pell Grant eligible
Full-time student
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Academic Competitiveness Grant
First Year Students
Must have completed a rigorous high school
program of study
Achieve a specified score on 2 Advanced
Placement or International Baccalaureate Courses
Complete a State Scholars Initiative Program
 Louisiana Academic Diploma Endorsement
Complete a set of course requirements similar to
the State Scholars requirements
 TOPS Core Curriculum
Complete one of 19 Advanced or Honors programs
Maximum Award Amount: $750
Second Year Students
Must have a 3.0 cumulative college GPA
Maximum Award Amount: $1,300
Trailblazer Camp 2007
National SMART Grant
National Science and Mathematics
Access to Retain Talent Grant
Available for third and fourth year
students
Maximum Award Amount: $4,000
Trailblazer Camp 2007
National SMART Grant
Eligibility Requirements
U.S. Citizen
Pell Grant eligible
Full-time student
Must be enrolled in a four-year institution
Must major in mathematics, science
(including physical, life and computer
sciences), technology, engineering, or a
critical foreign language
Must have a 3.0 cumulative college GPA
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Federal Work Study
General Information:
Wages must be not less than current
minimum wage
Eligibility Criteria:
Undergraduate, graduate or professional
students, including less-than-half-time
students
Must demonstrate financial need
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Federal Perkins Loan
General Information:
5% interest rate
Annual Loan limits $4,000 for undergraduates;
$6,000 for graduate or professional
students
Repayment begins 9 months after leaving
school
10 year repayment period
Eligibility Criteria:
Undergraduate, graduate, and professional
students
Must demonstrate financial need
Must be willing to repay the loan
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Federal Family Education Loan Program
(FFELP)
Largest source of long-term, low-interest
loans for undergraduate, graduate, and
professional students, and parents of
dependent students
Subsidized Stafford Loan
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Parental Loans for Undergraduate
Students (PLUS)
Consolidation Loans
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Why Should Your Loan be Louisiana
Guaranteed?
LOSFA uses revenues derived from the
student loan program to offset the cost of
state aid programs such as the popular
but expensive TOPS program and
outreach programs such as Trailblazers
Income earned from the administration of
Louisiana Guaranteed loans stays in
Louisiana and is reinvested to the benefit
of Louisiana students, parents and
educators
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Why Should Your Loan be Louisiana
Guaranteed?
The State of Louisiana will pay the 1%
Default Fee for borrowers whose lender
does not pay the fee
Revenues from loans guaranteed by outof-state guarantors leave the state forever
Last year LOSFA representatives made
personal contact with more than 68,000
Louisiana citizens by participating in high
school, college, and parish-wide
educational outreach activities
Trailblazer Camp 2007
Why Should Your Loan be Louisiana
Guaranteed?
Our local service representatives are
familiar with the special needs of
Louisiana students
Information about your loan is just a tollfree call or e-mail message away at (800)
259-5626 Ext. 1012, (225) 922-1012 or
custserv@osfa.state.la.us
Tell your Financial Aid Officer that you
want a Louisiana Guaranteed loan!