Governor proclaims October is college application month
Contact Brittany FrancisPublic Information and Communications Director (225) 219-3306 Office Tyana Daquano Public Information Officer (225) 342-5173 Office Office Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) October 1, 2020
Governor proclaims October is college application month
Baton Rouge – A college degree, certification, high-value credential or military training, can provide a pathway to job stability and financial gain, which is critical in achieving success. As such, Governor John Bel Edwards has proclaimed the month of October as Louisiana College Application and Access Month, or LCAAM. The initiative, sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) and Louisiana GEAR UP (LGU), helps high school seniors navigate the college application process.
“LCAAM is part of our commitment to ensure our students receive guidance to identify their best post-secondary match,” said Dr. Sujuan Boutte, LOSFA’s Executive Director. “By providing students line-by-line support, high school seniors can apply to colleges that best fit their needs, in order to reach their career goals.” Research shows that students who apply to two colleges, instead of just one, are 40 percent more likely to enroll in college. “Many seniors need guidance when it comes to making post-secondary decisions,” said Brittani Williams, LOSFA’s Financial Aid and Career Development Specialist. Williams also coordinates the LCAAM initiative. “I have found that by participating in LCAAM, our students gain a greater sense of direction about how to reach their college aspirations. This is why we [LOSFA] do the work that we do.”During LOSFA’s 2019 LCAAM campaign, more than 70 high schools participated, with students completing more than 6,000 college applications. Students are encouraged to visit unlockmyfuture.org, LOSFA’s 5-point match and fit tool, to determine which colleges and universities best fit their needs based on five match points:
What am I good at? (Aptitude, Skills, and Interests Match)
Can I get in? (Academic Match)
Can I afford it? (Cost of Choice Match)
Who gets me? (Social and Emotional Match)
Will I stay, or will I go? (Retention Match)
This year, LCAAM will be conducted virtually. LOSFA will also provide resources to support students who choose the military path. LOSFA piloted LCAAM in 2013. Since that time, the office has collaborated with education partners around the state to help high school seniors navigate the college admissions process and ensure that each participating student submits at least one college application. “Students should also take this time to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available on the first of October,” Boutte said. “The FAFSA is a one-stop shop for federal, state, and institutional aid such as TOPS, TOPS Tech, and the GO Grant. We are encouraging students to complete the FAFSA as early as February 2021, to maximize their opportunity to receive federal and state financial aid awards.” Leading up to LCAAM, LOSFA partnered with the Association for the Study of Higher Education for #WhyApply Day. For the social media campaign, LOSFA asked individuals to share photos of themselves in their college gear and why they applied to college. The campaign was part of LOSFA’s work with the American College Application Campaign (ACAC) to increase the number of first-generation college students from low-income families pursuing a degree or higher education credential. LOSFA Programs encourages students, teachers, and counselors, who participate in their school’s LCAAM activities, to post on social media using the hashtags #CollegeConvos, #IApplied, and #LCAAM2020. To schedule an LCAAM event, clickhere, scroll down, and select ‘Register for virtual seminars and/or workshops for small and large groups,’ to connect with a LOSFA representative for Louisiana College Application and Access Month. To view the governor’s proclamation, click here.
