I admit it– I took TOPS for granted.
As a student from Louisiana, I heard it over and over again:
“TOPS is so important!”
“Don’t forget about TOPS!”
TOPS this. TOPS that.
To be quite honest, my teenage self failed to understand the importance of TOPS. To this day, I wish I had made an effort to listen. And that is why I write today.
I implore you to keep reading, and in doing so, I hope you don’t make the same mistake I did.
Let’s start from the beginning–what is TOPS?
TOPS is an incentive program that rewards high-achieving Louisiana students with scholarships to Louisiana colleges and universities. The criteria for students’ achievement is based on their ACT score. The higher the score earned, the higher the scholarship offered.
In other words, TOPS is money.
Louisiana State University (LSU) is known to be one of the best schools in Louisiana, offering a plethora of top-rated programs. With a score of a 20 on the ACT, a student is awarded money that covers 60% of yearly tuition. With those who have an even higher score on the ACT, tuition can be fully covered with additional scholarships.
At Southeastern Louisiana University (SELU) an ACT score of a 20 covers tuition by 64%. With higher ACT scores and additional scholarships, tuition can be fully covered–and you may even get money back. Yes, you can get paid to go to school! I had a 29 on the ACT, and because of this, I received a “full ride” to SELU, and money was refunded into my bank account. See tables below.
Here’s an estimated Tuition/Fee breakdown for 4 years with the addition of TOPS:
LSU VS SELU
WITHOUT TOPS:
$48,000 / $35,000
SCORE AT LEAST A 20:
$18,200* / $12, 600*
SCORE OF AT LEAST 23:
$16,800 / $11,000
SCORE OF AT LEAST 27:
$15,200 / $9,400
*With at least a 20 on the ACT, tuition/fees drop to more than half its original cost.
Combined with TOPS, SELU offers “honor scholarships” to freshmen, depending on their high school GPA and ACT score. That’s it. Once you submit your scores, you automatically qualify. Here is how much tuition and fees would cost for each year.
| Out of Pocket expenses (GPA 3.5-4.0) | Out of Pocket Expenses (3.0-3.49) | |
| ACT 23 | $1,713 | N/A |
| ACT 24-26 | $213 | $713 |
| ACT 27-29 | $0 (+ money in your bank account) | $0 (+money in your bank account) |
| ACT 30+ | $0 (+money in your bank account) | $ 0 (+ money in your bank account) |
TOPS can make all the difference in your college career and beyond.
I am very thankful for becoming a SELU alumni (here comes the but) . . . but I wish I had taken the ACT more seriously during my high school career. I wish I better understood the full benefits of TOPS. If I had trained and practiced for the test, I believe I could have made a higher score, allowing me to attend LSU without paying any tuition. At the time, LSU was my dream school, offering programs and resources that SELU did not offer. I did not reach my full potential with the ACT, but my husband did. He attended LSU–cost free–with an ACT score just a few points higher than mine.
Going to school without a financial burden can make a dramatic difference. I had friends who did not score very well on the ACT. Because of this, their college career became extremely challenging. They had to pay out of pocket for tuition, and some had to take out loans. Due to being in student debt, they needed to work longer hours during the semesters. Working extra hours took detrimental time and focus away from their education. They grew extremely stressed, could not manage their time, and began failing classes. Failing classes meant retaking them, which meant more money and more time spent in school. It was a vicious cycle.
In contrast, those who do not have a financial weight on their shoulders may have a greater opportunity for success. Ultimately, how well students finish in their undergraduate studies deeply affects their next steps, whether it be applying for graduate programs or competing for a post-graduate career. It all matters, and it starts with excelling at the ACT.
TOPS can very well be the life-changing opportunity you need to reach your dreams.
The team at Prime education and Tutoring wants to help you do that. Check out our ACT courses or book a tutoring session with one of our skilled ACT tutors.
Information sourced from:
https://www.lsu.edu/financialaid/types_of_scholarships/tops.php
http://www.southeastern.edu/admin/fin_aid/scholarships/tops/index.html
http://www.southeastern.edu/admin/fin_aid/scholarships/freshman-sch/index.html
written by Madison Loper