.
Should I include my social security number on my ACT or SAT application?
A. ACT no longer collects your social security number. HOWEVER, be sure that the name that you
use on the ACT exactly matches your name on file with your high school and the name you use
on the FAFSA. For example, if your high school records state that your name is John Q. Smith,
your ACT and your FAFSA should use the name John Q. Smith, not John Smith, not John Quincy
Smith, and not Quincy Smith. If your name differs in the slightest way in any of these documents,
the determination of your eligibility for TOPS may be delayed.
Provision of your social security number for the SAT is optional, and it is not necessary for
purposes of determining your TOPS eligibility.
Q-8. How does the ACT essay component impact TOPS eligibility?
A. The essay portion of the ACT test does not impact the ACT composite score, and therefore will
not affect TOPS eligibility. However, some colleges and universities require the essay. Check
with the admissions office of the school(s) to which you intend to apply.
Q-9. Is the SAT Essay test considered in the conversion of the SAT score to an ACT score for
TOPS eligibility?
A. No. The essay portion of the SAT is not considered for TOPS eligibility. However, many colleges
and universities require taking the essay for possible admission. You should check with the
schools you hope to attend.
Q-10. How is the ACT score reported to LOSFA?
A. LOSFA has an agreement with ACT, Inc. that requires ACT,
Inc. to electronically report to
LOSFA all ACT test scores for students who indicate they are a resident of Louisiana and all
students who included the “La Office of Student Financ Asst” (TOPS) report code of “1595” in
the list of institutions to receive the test scores when registering for the ACT.
If you take the ACT outside Louisiana and do not include code “1595” on the list of institutions
to receive test scores, you should contact ACT, Inc. to request that your scores be submitted to
LOSFA.
NOTE: Be sure that the name that you use on the ACT exactly matches your name on file
with your high school and the name you use on the FAFSA. For example, if your high school
records state that your name is John Q. Smith, your ACT and your FAFSA should use the
name John Q. Smith, not John Smith, not John Quincy Smith, and not Quincy Smith. If
your name differs in the slightest way in any of these documents, the determination of your
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eligibility for TOPS will be delayed. Your date of birth, home address, and email address
must also be the same.
Q-11. Will LOSFA waive ACT scores for a child with ADD or ADHD?
A. No. The minimum ACT score is established by the TOPS statute and cannot be waived. You may
apply to ACT, Inc. for special testing conditions, but you must take the test no later than the
deadline. See the answers to Questions 4, 5 and 6 for the deadline.
Q-12. I listed the incorrect ACT high school code or the incorrect year of graduation, or graduated
from a different high school than the one I attended when I took the ACT test that resulted
in the highest score. What do I do to correct this?
A. You must contact ACT and ask them to send an official ACT score report to LOSFA. You can do
this by creating an account at https://services.actstudent.org/OA_HTML/actibeCAcdLogin.jsp and
requesting that your ACT be sent to LOSFA using ACT code 1595.
Q-13. Can an SAT score be used in place of an ACT score, and if so, what is the minimum
qualifying score?
A. Yes. To qualify for the TOPS award, and beginning with SAT tests in May 2018, the total of the
subscores for the critical reading and mathematics sections of the SAT (the score for the writing
section is NOT included) must be at least:
Tech Award – 920
Opportunity Award – 1030
Performance Award – 1130
Honors Award – 1260
Q-14. What are the SAT test deadlines?
A. The SAT test deadlines for TOPS are the same as the test deadlines for the ACT, which is April
in the academic year you graduate from high school, or May, June, and July with a one semester
(or two quarters) reduction in eligibility for the award. See the answers to Questions 4, 5 and 6.
Q-15. How do I substitute an SAT score?
A. To substitute an SAT score, you must take the test no later than the ACT test deadline [April in
the year of high school graduation or achieve a qualifying score from a May, June, or July test,
which reduces your eligibility for the award by one semester or two quarters or in certain very
limited circumstances on a test taken before September 30 (See the answer to Question 6 above.)],
and you must direct the College Board to report the score to LOSFA, or you must personally send
a copy of your SAT test report to LOSFA
. LOSFA uses a conversion table to determine the ACT
equivalent of the SAT score. See the answer to Question 13.
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When registering for the SAT, you must indicate the “TOPS-Taylor Opportunity Program For
Students” code as a recipient of the score by entering code “9019” as one of the institutions to
receive a score report.
If you take the SAT outside Louisiana and do not include code “9019” on the list of institutions to
receive test scores, you should send a copy of the official SAT Score Report (write your date of
birth on the report) to LOSFA by mail or by fax to (225) 612-6508 or by email to custserv@la.gov.
Q-16. Can I increase the level of my TOPS Award if I take the June ACT or SAT?
A. Yes. You may qualify for a higher award based on the ACT or SAT score achieved on the June
ACT or SAT. Because the test is taken after the April national ACT test date, your eligibility for
the award will be reduced by one semester or two quarters.
The TOPS Tech Award provides students with two years of TOPS funding. If you qualify for the
Opportunity Award with a June ACT or SAT, you will be eligible to receive 7 semesters of TOPS
funding.
The TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards provide TOPS funding for 8 full time
semesters. If you qualify for a higher award with a May, June, or July ACT or SAT score, you
are required by the TOPS statutes to accept the higher award, and your period of TOPS eligibility
will be reduced by one semester or two terms.
Examples:
TOPS Tech to TOPS Opportunity Award:
Jane earned a 19 on the ACT in February of her
senior year in high school. Assuming all other initial eligibility criteria are met, she will qualify
for the TOPS Tech Award, which provides two full years of TOPS funding to be used for
enrollment in certain programs of study aligned to workforce priorities as determined by the Board
of Regents and the Workforce Investment Council. Jane retakes the ACT in June of her senior
year, and she scores a 21. Jane’s TOPS award will be upgraded to the TOPS Opportunity Award,
and she will be eligible for 7 full time semesters of TOPS funding to be used for enrollment in a
program of study of her choosing.
TOPS Opportunity Award to TOPS Performance Award: John earned a 22 on the ACT in
April of his junior year in high school. Assuming all other initial eligibility criteria are met, he
will qualify for the TOPS Opportunity Award, which provides 8 full time semesters of TOPS
funding to be used in a program of study of his choice. John takes the ACT again in June
immediately after he graduates from high school, and he scores a 24 on the ACT. John’s TOPS
Award will be upgraded to the TOPS Performance Award, and he will be eligible for 7 full time
semesters of TOPS funding plus a $200 stipend per semester to be used for enrollment in a program
of study of his choosing. Depending upon the college John plans to attend, the upgrade to a TOPS
Performance Award could result in him being eligible to receive less funding for his postsecondary
education.
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The TOPS Award Amount is based upon the tuition charged during the 2016-2017 academic year.
For the fall semester of 2020, the award amount per semester at LSU is $3,731.49. If John had
continued to be eligible for the TOPS Opportunity Award, he would receive $29,851.92
($3,731.49 x 8) over a period of 8 semesters, assuming that he maintains his TOPS eligibility
throughout his college career. Since John’s award was upgraded to TOPS Performance with his
June ACT score, he will receive a total of $27,520.43 (($3,731.49 x 7) + ($200 x 7)) over a period
of 7 semesters, assuming that he maintains his eligibility for the TOPS Performance Award
throughout his college career.
It is important to remember that if John does not maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA on all
courses taken at the end of each academic year, his TOPS Award will be redesignated as the TOPS
Opportunity Award, and the one semester penalty that was applied remains. Under this scenario,
John’s TOPS funding will be reduced even further. For example, John enrolls full time in the fall
semester of 2022 and the spring semester of 2023, and his TOPS Award was paid for both
semesters. After the spring semester of 2023, LSU reports to LOSFA that John earned 30 hours
during the academic year with a cumulative GPA of 2.95. John does not enroll in summer school,
so his cumulative GPA at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year is 2.95. The TOPS statutes
require that his award revert to the TOPS Opportunity Award for the remaining 5 semesters of his
eligibility. As a result, John will receive 2 semesters of TOPS funding with a stipend of $200 per
semester, totaling $7,862.98 (($3,731.49 x 2) + ($200 x 2)). The remaining five semesters of
funding total $18,657.45 ($3,731.49 x 5). Thus, the total TOPS funding for which John would be
eligible is $26,520.43.
TOPS Performance Award to TOPS Honors Award: John earned a 26 on the ACT in October
of his senior year in high school. Assuming all other initial eligibility criteria are met, he will
qualify for the TOPS Performance Award, which provides 8 full time semesters of TOPS funding
to be used in a program of study of his choice. John takes the ACT again in June immediately
after he graduates from high school, and he scores a 28 on the ACT. John’s TOPS Award will be
upgraded to the TOPS Honors Award, and he will be eligible for 7 full time semesters of TOPS
funding plus a $400 stipend per semester to be used for enrollment in a program of study of his
choosing. Depending upon the college John plans to attend, the upgrade to a TOPS Honors Award
could result in him being eligible to receive less funding for his postsecondary education.
The TOPS Award Amount is based upon the tuition charged during the 2016-2017 academic year.
For the fall semester of 2020, the award amount per semester at LSU is $3,731.49. If John had
continued to be eligible for the TOPS Performance Award, he would receive $31,451.92
(($3,731.49 x 8) + ($200 x 8) over a period of 8 semesters, assuming that he maintains his
eligibility for the TOPS Performance Award throughout his college career. Since John’s award
was upgraded to TOPS Honors with his June ACT score, he will receive a total of $28,920.43
(($3,731.49 x 7) + ($400 x 7)) over a period of 7 semesters, assuming that he maintains his
eligibility for the TOPS Honors Award throughout his college career.
It is important to remember that if John does not maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA on all
courses taken at the end of each academic year, his TOPS Award will be redesignated as the TOPS
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Opportunity Award, and the one semester penalty that was applied remains. Under this scenario,
John’s TOPS funding will be reduced even further. For example, John enrolls full time in the fall
semester of 2022 and the spring semester of 2023, and his TOPS Award was paid for both
semesters. After the spring semester of 2022, LSU reports to LOSFA that John earned 30 hours
during the academic year with a cumulative GPA of 2.95.
John does not enroll in summer school,
so his cumulative GPA at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year is 2.95. The TOPS statutes
require that his award revert to the TOPS Opportunity Award for the remaining 5 semesters of his
eligibility. As a result, John will receive 2 semesters of TOPS funding with a stipend of $400 per
semester, totaling $8,262.98 (($3,731.49 x 2) + ($400 x 2)). The remaining five semesters of
funding total $18,657.45 ($3,731.49 x 5). Thus, the total TOPS funding for which John would be
eligible is $26,920.43.
***NOTE that the examples provided are based on current award amounts and are illustrative
only. Other scenarios are possible, and even likely. Before deciding whether to attempt to upgrade
your TOPS Award with a June ACT score, you should determine whether the award upgrade will
provide a financial benefit to you utilizing the TOPS Award Amount at the school you plan to
attend. The TOPS Award amounts, by school, can be found here.
Q-17. After I graduated from high school, I was awarded the TOPS Opportunity Award. My only
qualifying ACT score was canceled during my second semester of college attendance. Am I
still eligible for TOPS? How long will my TOPS award be paid?
A. You are no longer eligible for a TOPS award, and no further payments will be paid. You will not
be required to repay any TOPS award amounts that have already been paid. The date LOSFA
received notification of the ACT score being canceled will determine whether you will receive
one more payment of your TOPS award. For more information, you should email LOSFA at
custserv@la.gov.
Q-18. If I discover that I used an incorrect social security number on either the ACT or SAT test,
what can I do to correct this?
A. You are not required to provide a social security number on either the ACT or the SAT. Be sure
that the name that you use on the ACT or SAT and the FAFSA exactly matches your name on file
with your high school or the Louisiana Department of Education. For example, if your school
records indicate your name is John Q. Smith, your ACT and your FAFSA should use the name
John Q. Smith, not John Smith, not John Quincy Smith, and not Quincy Smith. If your name
differs in the slightest way in any of these documents, the determination of your eligibility for
TOPS will be delayed because matching your records will require manual intervention by LOSFA
staff.
