LSU AlexandriaYour Future is Our Future

August

• If you have not taken the ACT, or if you want to retake the test, register for the October examination. See your high school guidance counselor for materials or visit www.act.org for more information. Be sure to send LSU Alexandria your scores! Our ACT Code is 1589.
• Visit LSUA and the other top colleges on your list to get a sense of what campus life is like. Ask current students what they think of their experiences and opportunities.

September - October

• Meet with your guidance counselor to begin the admission and scholarship application process for LSUA and any other colleges under consideration.
• Attend college fairs at your school or for your parish. All Louisiana colleges and universities will have representatives at these fairs as well as admission and scholarship application forms. Bring a list of questions to ask campus representatives including questions about deadline dates, campus visit and tour dates, and admission requirements.
• Visit the LSU Alexandria website for current information and upcoming dates for open houses and campus tours.
• Read through the LSU Alexandria General Catalog and explore "Academic Departments" on the LSU Alexandria Website for lists of majors and their requirements. If you are unsure about a major, you can take a free aptitude test from home by contacting the LSU Alexandria Office of Student Services at 318-473-6545. You will receive a PIN to take DISCOVER test, or you may make an appointment to take the test on campus during your Thanksgiving or Christmas break.

November - December

• Apply for admission:  LSUA's priority deadline to qualify for scholarships is December 1.  Don't miss your chance to be considered. LSUA accepts applications online; click LSUA Online Application. Once your application has been received, LSUA will send you a letter with further instructions.
• For a list of the scholarships offered at LSU Alexandria, check out our Scholarships List. 

January

• If you wish to apply for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as your parents receive their W-2 forms. Remember that your parents do not need to file taxes prior to completing your FAFSA. You just need the information from the forms. The deadline to complete the FAFSA is May 1. If you expect to receive TOPS, be sure to review TOPS deadlines, which differ from FAFSA deadlines. LSU Alexandria’s code for the FAFSA is 002011. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA, please contact our Enrollment Management office at 318-473-6423.

February/March

• If you wish to take the ACT again, be sure that you apply now for the April test. For ACT prep classes, please visit the LSU Alexandria Department of Continuing Education.
• All men over the age of 18 must register with Selective Service. Under State law, no man may register for classes until he is registered with Selective Service. To register, visit a local post office or register online.
• Enjoy the last few months of your senior year!

April/May

• In the final stretch of your senior year, we hope you celebrate your victories intelligently and safely!
• Use your Official ACT scores to determine what classes you need in your first semester and prepare a tentative class schedule. [View ACT Placement] The LSUA academic calendar and class schedules are available online. Mark the dates you need to be on campus scheduling the dates you should be on campus for advising, orientation, and registration. You are almost a freshman at LSU Alexandria!
• Complete all forms required by the LSU Alexandria Financial Aid Office. Additional forms are needed to verify the information you submitted to FAFSA. If you have not received them within 6 weeks of filing your FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@lsua.edu. You can also download the forms from the LSUA Website.
• Apply for on-campus Housing at The Oaks.  We look forward to having you as a new resident.
• You will be notified of LSUA's fall orientation and registration dates by mail. Orientation will help explain the protocols of our university and ensure your smooth transition from high school to college. You are on your way!

September/October

• Talk to your guidance counselor to make sure you are taking the right classes for TOPS and the Core 4. These courses help pay tuition and ensure your acceptance at any public Louisiana university.
• Attend college fairs at your school or in your parish. Keep the materials you collect from LSUA and other university admissions counselors until you have a short list of top colleges. You may want to make a file for each university, and keep any notes from conversations you want to recall later.
• Attend open house at LSUA and at any other school that interests you. Campus visits give you a good sense of the college and whether its environment is right for you. For open house dates at LSU Alexandria, please visit the calendar of events on our Website.

November/December

• Register to take the ACT, which is given in April. Your guidance counselor should have information about the exam, or visit www.act.org for more information. Be sure to send LSU Alexandria your scores. LSUA's ACT Code is 1589.
• Explore financial aid options. Begin researching how you will pay for your education. These Websites might be helpful:
  • Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance; FinAid
  • Peterson's
  • Mapping Your Future

March/April

• You are almost a senior! Continue to work hard! Remember that the work you do now will help you compete for acceptance to the university of your choice.
• Make an appointment with your guidance counselor to schedule classes for next year. Be sure that you discuss the TOPS Core 4 Curricula. Like most universities, LSU Alexandria requires completion of the Core 4 for admission.
• Schedule a LSUA campus tour by contacting the Admissions Office at 318-473-6417, 1-888-473-6417, or visiting Schedule A Campus Tour page.

If you are interested in taking college classes in the summer, please see our requirements for Early Start. If you think you are qualified for this special admission category, complete the Early Start application, which must be signed by your parents and school, and send LSU Alexandria your official high school transcript and ACT Scores. (You may be able to take up to 6 credit hours over the summer and continue taking classes throughout your senior year. For classes offered in upcoming semesters, see the Section Schedule or contact admissions@lsua.edu .)

If you are unsure of your major, you can take a free aptitude test that may help you with your decision by contacting the LSU Alexandria Student Services office at 318-473-6545. You can obtain a PIN and take the DISCOVER test from home or make an appointment to take the test on our campus. This test will give you insights you may not have thought about and contacts to obtain additional information.

Your sophomore year is an excellent year to prepare for acceptance to college. Work hard and take the appropriate classes in order to ensure your acceptance and success at LSU Alexandria. These tips may help you while you are thinking about college:

• Speak with your guidance counselor. Understand and follow the TOPS core and Core 4 Curriculum. Not only will this curricula help you apply for free tuition at any Louisiana public university, it will help you gain acceptance to the University.
• Attend meetings with college representatives who visit your high school. Take these meetings seriously and keep the information that you collect.
• Visit college Websites to see what majors are available and think about how they fit your interests. You can view the LSU Alexandria General Catalog and click on "Academic Departments" on the LSUA Website.
• Now is the time to prepare for taking the ACT. Talk to your guidance counselor about taking the PLAN test offered through ACT. The PLAN test will give you an idea of what to expect on the ACT. Challenging courses in high school will help prepare you for college. Don't avoid math courses--you'll only have to take them in college!
• Keep track of any activities you are involved in. Maintaining good grades and taking part in extracurricular activities help with scholarship applications.
• Write down questions you have about college. Discuss these with your guidance counselor.
• Ask college students about their experiences and suggestions they may have for you. They will be willing to share information and can recommend taking certain courses in high school to prepare for university courses.
• Remember that what you do now will affect your future. Universities review high school transcripts carefully.

Getting into LSUA requires preparation even in your freshman year.

• Learn which courses are required to apply for TOPS and to fulfill the Core 4 Curriculum, so that you might receive free tuition when you need it.
• Remember that colleges and universities like LSUA examine which classes you take and what grades you earned from 9th grade through 12th grade.
• Get involved in student clubs, as well as community activities. Extracurricular activities may help put you at the top of scholarship lists in the future.