| Important Changes in TOPS Criteria
There are important changes, effective for the Class of 2008, in the criteria for the two highest TOPS awards:
Performance Award: 3.0 GPA and 23 ACT (If a student meets the criteria for this award, he is eligible for tuition at a public university plus $400 per year.)
Honors Award: 3.0 GPA and 27 ACT (If a student meets the criteria for this award, he is eligible for tuition at a public university plus $800 per year.) Both the Performance and Honors Awards formerly required a TOPS GPA of 3.5.
The criteria for the basic TOPS Opportunity Award has not changed: 2.5 GPA and 20 ACT (If a student meets the criteria for this award, he is eligible for tuition at a public university.) Another change in TOPS effective for the Class of 2008 is that the required courses on which the TOPS GPA is calculated have increased from 16.5 to 17.5 Units, inclusive of an additional math or science course.
Financial Aid Information
TOPS: Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students
TOPS only applies to colleges and universities in the state of Louisiana. The priority deadline to apply for TOPS by submitting the FAFSA, which must include a Louisiana post-secondary school, is May 1, 2008. The final deadline without penalty is July 1, 2008.
To apply for TOPS, students must complete the FAFSA, the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, and include a Louisiana post-secondary school in Step Six of the FAFSA.
Although the FAFSA is the general application for financial aid, it becomes the application for TOPS when a Louisiana post-secondary school is included in Step Six. The same FAFSA form can be used to apply for both general financial aid and TOPS. TOPS is an acronym for Louisiana's Tuition Opportunity Program for Students.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Your FAFSA form opens the door to the financial aid process. To apply for financial aid at any university, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Go to the FAFSA Web site to find answers to your questions and to fill out your FAFSA online. The priority deadlines to submit the FAFSA that are posted by the colleges and universities vary. However it is advisable to submit the FAFSA by mid-February.
College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile)
Depending upon the college or university you are applying to, you may have to complete the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile) to apply for financial aid.
The CSS Profile web site offers a list of universities that require the CSS Profile.
More Web Sites About Financial Aid.
For additional links about applying for financial aid, visit the "Helpful Web Sites For College" page and scroll down to "Financial Aid."
Blue Jay Named Presidential Scholar 
Matthew Levy
2008 Presidential Scholar
|
Congratulations to senior Matthew Levy for being selected as a 2008 Presidential Scholar. Matthew is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Gary T. Levy of Metairie. He is Jesuit’s third Presidential Scholar in six years following Perry Tsai ’03 and Michael Puente ’06. Matthew was chosen as the male representative from Louisiana. Each year, some 2,600 candidates are identified based on exceptional academic and artistic abilities. Matthew has been invited to National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C., in June, where he will attend a special Presidential Scholars Award Ceremony sponsored by the White House. |
Blue Jays Recognized For Leadership by the Greater New Orleans Council 
Juniors Ryan Gupta (left) and Kanwal Matharu are joined by their junior class counselor Derek Mitchell, who coordinated the scholarship competition for Jesuit.
Youth Salute is a scholarship program sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Council on Youth Leadership. This program recognizes academically-gifted juniors who display leadership in their school and civic communities. Jesuit submitted ten students for consideration to compete against applicants from the best schools in the metropolitan area. Jesuit congratulates junior Ryan Gupta for being named 2008 Youth Salute Outstanding Male Youth Leader of the Year. For his efforts, Ryan has earned a $1,000 scholarship and will participate at the Town Meeting on Tomorrow, to be held later this year at Washington University in St. Louis. Also, junior Kanwal Matharu has been awarded a $250 scholarship in recognition for being selected as an alternate to attend the Town Meeting in St. Louis. Congratulations to Ryan, Kanwal, and all the Blue Jays who participated in this year’s competition. |
College Night Introduces Jesuit Families to Over
60 Universities
Junior Andrew Puente and his father meet with a representative from St. Louis University. College Night is an opportunity for juniors and seniors to discover what
some of the best universities in the nation have to offer Jesuit students.
View College Night Photo Gallery. |
