Frequently Asked Questions

Answers compiled from Louisiana Board of Regents and University of Louisiana System staff.

• What is the best advice you can give me about preparing for college?

• Is there any difference between the selective admissions criteria and the critiera for TOPS?

• What is the Board of Regents' minimum admissions criteria for each university?

• Will some universities establish admissions criteria that exceed the Regents' minimum admissions criteria?  When will the criteria be effective?

• What are the minimum admissions criteria for out-of-state or home-school students?

• What are the minimum admissions criteria for transfer students?

• What are the minimum admissions criteria for international students?

• What are the minimum admissions criteria for nontraditional students?

• Does the criteria apply to a student with a learning disability?

• Can a student enroll in the summer?

• How will I know if I need developmental courses?

• If a student is missing a core class, can he or she take it at the university during the summer?

• With whom can I talk if my child was misadvised by the guidance counselor in high school and is now missing a core class?

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What is the best advice you can give me about preparing for college?

• The earlier you start to prepare, the easier it is
• Take challenging courses, especially math, beginning in middle school
• Read at least 30 minutes outside of school work every day
• Don't slack off if you've met all your college requirements.  Continue to take challenging courses (ex: Advanced Math) your senior year in high school

Is there any difference between the selective admissions criteria and the criteria for TOPS?

• The same courses required for admission to universities are necessary to receive a TOPS scholarship.  For up-to-date information and for students graduating from high school beyond 2005, see the Louisiana Board of Regents www.regents.state.la.us and Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid (LOSFA) www.osfa.state.la.us websites.

What is the Board of Regents' minimum admissions criteria for each university?

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Will some universities establish admissions criteria that exceed the Regents' minimum admissions criteria?  When will the criteria be effective?

• Some institutions have adopted or may choose to adopt additional requirements or put the minimum admissions criteria in place prior to Fall 2005.  Please check with the universities for specific admissions requirements.

What are the minimum admissions criteria for out-of-state or home-school students?

• Freshman students who graduate from out-of-state high schools or are home-schooled, must meet one of the following minimum admissions criteria:

Source: Board of Regents Master Plan Issues

What are the minimum admissions criteria for transfer students?

• Students (in-state and out-of-state) desiring to transfer to Louisiana's public, 4-year institutions must meet the following minimum admissions criteria:

Additional criteria:

1. Students must be eligible to return to the institution from which they are transferring.
2. Students desiring to transfer with the minimum GPA on college level courses, but less than the minimum college level hours earned, must also meet the freshman admissions criteria in order to be admitted as transfer students.
3. Students desiring admission as transfer students and in need of any developmental coursework will not be eligible for transfer to LSU, La Tech, UL-Lafayette, and UNO.
4. Students desiring admission as transfer students and in need of more than one developmental course will not be eligible for transfer to Grambling, LSU-A, LSU-S, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern, SLU, SU, SUNO, and ULM.

What are the minimum admissions criteria for international students?

* International students for whom English is a second language are required to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting the minimum required TOEFL score or providing other documentation deemed acceptable by the institution to which the student is seeking admission.

• Freshman international students must have completed a recognized secondary program comparable to U.S. high school graduation and have academic records comparable to those required to meet the freshman admissions criteria.  Admissions decisions for freshman international students must be made in accordance with recommendations in nationally recognized publications.  Students should have at least completed a program of study that would recommend them for admission to a university in their country.

• Transfer international students must have completed a recognized secondary program and meet transfer admissions criteria.

What are the minimum admissions criteria for nontraditional students?

Adults age 25 and over:

• who are defined as entering freshmen are not required to meet the minimum admissions criteria for first-time freshmen.

• who are defined as entering transfer students are required to meet the minimum admissions criteria for transfer students.  Such students who do not meet the criteria may be admitted under the transfer admissions exception category.

Adults age 21 - 24:

• who are defined as entering freshmen are required to meet the minimum admissions criteria.  Such students who do not meet the criteria may be admitted under one of the following categories:
  1.  Admissions exception
  2.  Non-matriculating.  Students admitted under this category may change their status from non-matriculating to matriculating by meeting the minimum transfer admissions criteria.
  3.  Matriculating, part-time.  Students admitted under this category may enroll for no more than 3 hours in the summer or 6 hours in the fall or spring semesters.  Students admitted under this category may be allowed to enroll in additional hours by meeting the minimum transfer admission criteria.

• who are defined as entering transfer students are required to meet the minimum admissions criteria for transfer students.  Such students who do not meet the criteria may be admitted under the transfer admissions exception category.

Does the criteria apply to a student with a learning disability?

• Individual courses may be waived for students with documented disabilities that prevent them from completing required courses.  Students should contact their high school counselor for information.

Can a student enroll in the summer?

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION:

• Students meeting all minimum admissions criteria are eligible for immediate admission in the summer or fall.  Students meeting all minimum admissions criteria, except for the allowable number of developmental courses, are not eligible for immediate admission in the fall.
• Some institutions may develop high school or summer bridge programs that would allow students to enroll in developmental courses. Upon successful completion of the required developmental courses, these students would then be eligible for admission for the fall semester.  Contact the admissions office at the university in which you are interested to learn more.

How will I know if I need developmental courses?

• Effective Fall 2005, students will need to score at least an 18 on the ACT English subtest and an 18 on the ACT Mathematics subtest to be placed into college level entry courses.  Students making a score of less than 18 will be required to enroll in developmental courses.

If a student is missing a core class, can he or she take it at the university during the summer?

• Students must complete all core courses prior to graduating from high school.

With whom can I talk if my child was misadvised by the guidance counselor in high school and is now missing a core class?

Contact the admissions officer at the university in which you are interested.  Here are links to the admissions pages of the universities in the University of Louisiana System:

• Grambling State University
• Louisiana Tech University
• McNeese State University
• Nicholls State University
• Northwestern State University
• Southeastern Louisiana University
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• University of Louisiana at Monroe

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