- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Score Board
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- SEC Score Board
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
TOPS (or lack of it) and the effect on LSU
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:16 am
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:16 am
What's the word on TOPS around campus? Despite my screen name, I don't have a kid at LSU yet. After they cut TOPS last semester, I assumed they would simply increase the ACT score/GPA and give good money to fewer students instead of giving pennies to everyone. Apparently that hasn't happened yet. And with the state being $300 million in the hole again, I'm guessing a quick fix isn't in sight yet. Does anyone have the inside scoop (I'm sure there are people related to state legislators floating around here on the OT)? LSU's merit scholarships are pretty crappy, though of course they weren't much needed when TOPS was in full force. Is there talk of increasing merit scholarships if TOPS doesn't stay afloat? Do you hear of more people looking around because a solid ACT score will get you full tuition elsewhere as opposed to a couple thousand a year at LSU?
This post was edited on 2/3/17 at 10:19 am
17
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:17 am to TigrrrDad
The new student housing complexes are fricked.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:18 am to TigrrrDad
We can't increase the ACT score/GPA because it's "racist" or selects against "bad test takers". I think it's more likely to eventually become "need" based. Thankfully, I've already taken my money and run.
Yes, I realize I used a lot of "quotations".
Yes, I realize I used a lot of "quotations".
This post was edited on 2/3/17 at 9:21 am
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:20 am to TigrrrDad
quote:
Do you here
I think so
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:35 am to TigrrrDad
If you have the highest level of TOPS you still get a good sum of money.
Think I paid roughly $1,500 this semester for my tuition after using TOPS money plus a small university scholarship.
Which in the grand scheme of things, $1,500 per semester isn't that bad of a deal if you're getting a degree in return.
ETA: Yep, i'm a dumbarse. I forgot the "1"
Just looked at my fee bill, it was $1,500. (not $500)
But still, $1,500 is not that bad in the grand scheme of things for a college education!
Think I paid roughly $1,500 this semester for my tuition after using TOPS money plus a small university scholarship.
Which in the grand scheme of things, $1,500 per semester isn't that bad of a deal if you're getting a degree in return.
ETA: Yep, i'm a dumbarse. I forgot the "1"
Just looked at my fee bill, it was $1,500. (not $500)
But still, $1,500 is not that bad in the grand scheme of things for a college education!
This post was edited on 2/3/17 at 11:19 am
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:37 am to TigrrrDad
I'd rather see them make the GPA and ACT requirements for TOPS tougher and give full TOPS scholarships to fewer students than to give small TOPS scholarships to a bunch of kids, a large chunk of which might not graduate anyway
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:39 am to TigrrrDad
Enrollment by in state students will decrease, usage of federally backed student loans will increase, schooarships will likely stay the same, out of state enrollment will increase, graduation rate will increase, housing bubble near campus will burst and burst hard.
This post was edited on 2/3/17 at 9:44 am
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:43 am to TigrrrDad
TOPS is still a great deal for those who qualify.
Before they tightened the belt, any swinging dick could get a good sum of money to go to LSU. In a lot of cases, marginal students would spend a few semesters at LSU, paying the bare minimum, and then leave or flunk out; making any tuition paid through tops essentially dead money.
Louisiana higher Ed is fricked until people get this "chicken in every pot" mentality out of their heads. College isn't for everyone, we don't need a four year university in every Podunk town in the state, and just because little Johnny can fill out out his name on an ACT scantron, shouldn't mean that he's entitled to free money to attend college.
ETA
its an incredible deal. The fact that people complain (I'm not saying that you are) that they have to pay a few hundred or even a few thousand a year to attend a four year univeristy is mind boggling.
Very few other states make education this accessible and this affordable. And not surprisingly, Louisiana ranks at or near the bottom in most higher education categories, because of the wasted funds and the devaluation of a Lousiana degree compared to other state universities.
Before they tightened the belt, any swinging dick could get a good sum of money to go to LSU. In a lot of cases, marginal students would spend a few semesters at LSU, paying the bare minimum, and then leave or flunk out; making any tuition paid through tops essentially dead money.
Louisiana higher Ed is fricked until people get this "chicken in every pot" mentality out of their heads. College isn't for everyone, we don't need a four year university in every Podunk town in the state, and just because little Johnny can fill out out his name on an ACT scantron, shouldn't mean that he's entitled to free money to attend college.
ETA
quote:
Which in the grand scheme of things, $500 per semester isn't that bad of a deal if you're getting a degree in return.
its an incredible deal. The fact that people complain (I'm not saying that you are) that they have to pay a few hundred or even a few thousand a year to attend a four year univeristy is mind boggling.
Very few other states make education this accessible and this affordable. And not surprisingly, Louisiana ranks at or near the bottom in most higher education categories, because of the wasted funds and the devaluation of a Lousiana degree compared to other state universities.
This post was edited on 2/3/17 at 9:48 am
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:46 am to TigrrrDad
Glad I balled out hard on TOPS in 2006-2010. Current situation is a cluster.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:52 am to TigrrrDad
quote:
What's the word on TOPS around campus?
Nothing yet. Still waiting to see what comes out of the regular session in April.
There have been a number of ideas thrown around by the Board of Regents including selling naming rights to TOPS, scaling payments based on academic level (fresh, soph, etc), and increasing retention requirements. So far, nothing has been approved or really agreed on. Don't expect much to change in terms of barrier to entry.
The real numbers and future will come from the regular session.
Administrators are aware of the merit scholarship values and the comparisons to other schools.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 9:53 am to TigrrrDad
When it comes to LSU, ending tops might be the best thing for the univ in the long run or raising the standards of receiving tops much higher.
LSU needs to increase the amount of academic schollys for sure.
Tops is great for the la HS students
LSU needs to increase the amount of academic schollys for sure.
Tops is great for the la HS students
Posted on 2/3/17 at 10:04 am to TigrrrDad
I can't tell you how many kids I know that had no intention of ever going to school for more than one year that got TOPS and took advantage of it.
They used it as a one year frick off period before dropping out and going to work. The money being wasted is insane.
They used it as a one year frick off period before dropping out and going to work. The money being wasted is insane.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 10:10 am to TigrrrDad
My oldest starts lsu in the fall. She has above 3.5 gap at brmhs and a 30 on her act. I have no idea what I will be paying per semester and have about 30k set aside for her ,which was meant to allow her to live in the dorms as a freshman. I'm now guessing that won't last nearly as long as I'd hoped now , and with two more kids behind her - ouch. I put a grand a month in the start program between the three of them. I might have to increase that- maybe I can cut out groceries.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 10:39 am to TigrrrDad
Send your kid to trade school
Posted on 2/3/17 at 10:51 am to TigrrrDad
TOPS could be pretty well fixed if they removed the bottom tier (the one that requires only a 2.5 GPA and a 20 on the ACT) and means tested the rest.
The more TOPS is cut, the more you're going to see the metric frickton of new apartments that have gone up along Burbank over the past 5-6 years go Section 8.
The more TOPS is cut, the more you're going to see the metric frickton of new apartments that have gone up along Burbank over the past 5-6 years go Section 8.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 11:02 am to TigrrrDad
The third generation immigrant frat stars are going to have a hard time paying their dues now.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 11:17 am to TigrrrDad
they have no idea. it will come down to the wire, with probably more cuts, as the elgislature will never raise more taxes. the program is unsustainable. at least i got 3.5 semesters of it for my kid.
Posted on 2/3/17 at 12:06 pm to TigrrrDad
Tops sends kids to school who probably have no business even graduating high school
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News