A Parent’s Guide to
the gold standard
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The Journey Begins Helping your child find the “perfect” university is a painstaking process. Will she fit in here? Is this the right academic environment for him? What research and financial aid opportunities are available? Sifting through all of the information can be an overwhelming and time-consuming task. We’re glad you and your child are considering LSU and want to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. This introductory guide is meant to help you get to know LSU a little better. However, we strongly encourage you to visit our campus, meet with an enrollment advisor, professors, and other parents of LSU students, and ask lots of questions so that you can have a complete picture of what it means to be a Tiger.
An aerial view of the LSU campus showcases the red-tile roofs that are part of the University’s Italian Renaissance-style architecture.
LSU is one of the country’s most popular universities among high school students, according to U.S. News & World Report. In its 2009 publication, “Most Popular Colleges: National Universities,” LSU was ranked 16th. 1
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LSU’s Memorial Tower rises above vibrant crepe myrtle trees. To the right is Thomas Boyd Hall, named for one of LSU’s first presidents, which is home to the current Chancellor’s office, among others.
Honors classes are smaller than regular classes, and provide closer contact with faculty who, like Honors students, are chosen from among the best at LSU.
Table of Contents Becoming an LSU Tiger ............................................. Page 4
Applying to LSU .............................................. Page 5
Expenses ....................................................... Page 7
Deadlines ....................................................... Page 7
Scholarships & Student Aid ..…………………........ Page 9
Getting to Know LSU……………………………………..... Page 10
Campus Tours……………………………............... Page 11
Parent Resources……………………………...…….. Page 11
Life at LSU..........……………………………….…….….…Page 12
Student Resources……............……....……...…….Page 13
Campus Life...... ….....................................……Page 15
Unique Educational Opportunities……….....……....Page 19
Contact Us………………………………………...……......Page 21
Since its first commencement in 1869, LSU has awarded more than 221,000 degrees. The student body consists of nearly 28,000 students from all 50 states and 110 foreign countries.
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Becoming an Tiger LSU mascot Mike the Tiger, pictured in front of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, engages students and fans at the University's many sporting events and celebrations.
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In the University’s impressive history, which spans 150 years, legendary Tigers have included published authors, political heavyweights, engineers and architects, world-class athletes, and successful businessmen and women, among others.
Applying to LSU
Admission to LSU is based on a review of the student’s complete high school record including rigor of courses completed, grades, test scores (SAT or ACT scores), educational objectives, and school leadership.
Minimum Requirements for LSU Admission: • Academic gpa: 3.0 • SAT Score: 1030 (Critical Reading and Math) or • ACT Score: 22 Composite Students must be eligible to enroll in university-level English and mathematics courses, as evidenced by a minimum SAT Critical Reading score of 450 (ACT English subscore of 18) and a minimum SAT Math score of 460 (ACT Math subscore of 19).
College Credit and Advanced Placement: Once admitted, LSU offers five different opportunities to receive college credit and placement based on work completed in high school: AP, CLEP, IB, ACT/SAT scores, and subject exams taken at orientation.
Dual Enrollment Program: LSU also offers a Dual Enrollment Program, which allows exceptional high school seniors to enroll in one or more courses at LSU when space, faculty, and other facilities are available with the following requirements: • gpa: 3.0 • ACT: 27 composite or • SAT: 1210 • Recommendation by a high school principal or counselor
Honors College: For high achieving students, LSU also has an Honors College, which offers unique academic and research opportunities suited to their academic skills. To apply, students should check the option for Honors College admission consideration on their LSU Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships. The deadline to apply and be considered for the Honors College is November 15. Requirements for admission are as follows: • gpa: 3.50 • SAT 1330, with a critical reading score of 660 or • ACT 30 with an English score of 30 or ACT 29 with an English score of 31 • Completion of the essay writing component of the ACT or SAT Learn more at www.honors.lsu.edu.
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LSU classes range from small to large and generally shrink substantially in size once students move beyond their introductory, general education classes into their specialized fields. Faculty members maintain office hours for extended one-on-one attention outside of class time.
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Expenses
LSU’s academic reputation and affordable price tag are recognized by The Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Application Deadlines
Tuition & Fees: How We Stack Up
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For the 2009-10 academic year, LSU was more than $2,700 less expensive than average in-state tuition at flagship universities nationwide, and more than $7,200 less expensive for out-of-state students.
November 15 • Priority date for students to be in full consideration for freshman scholarships
Housing Costs 2009-10 Housing & Meal Plan Costs Typical two-student room with hall bath Resident Tiger meal plan Total Typical Annual Room & Meal Plan
• Deadline for all students applying to the upcoming summer term or fall semester
$4,610 $3,320 $7,930
• Deadline for interested and qualifying students (incoming freshmen, transfer, and continuing students) to apply to the Honors College for the upcoming fall semester
December 1 • Deadline for all students, excluding international students, to apply for the upcoming spring semester
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Students often socialize between classes in the Quadrangle, or "Quad," which is at the core of LSU's campus.
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Scholarships & Student Aid
Scholarships Available to Incoming Freshmen
Student Aid
LSU awards scholarships to entering freshmen in the form of cash awards, fee exemptions, room and board scholarships, and employment opportunities to students meeting certain academic qualifications and are awarded to students on the basis of standardized test scores and a weighted high school grade point average based on a six-semester transcript. Scholarships restricted to students pursuing a particular major, such as degree programs in the fields of agriculture, engineering, music, and mass communication, may also be available to entering freshmen.
There are three basic types of federal student aid to know about: grants, work-study, and loans.
Entering freshmen (applying for LSU summer or fall semester following their graduation from high school) need to submit a completed application for admission, official transcript, and official standardized test scores on or before November 15 of their senior year in high school for full priority scholarship consideration. All materials must be postmarked by this priority date for consideration. It is the intent of LSU to award all eligible students who meet this deadline the applicable scholarship as long as funds are available. Students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 (of their senior year) as possible to apply for need-based financial aid for the following academic year. Students are encouraged to go to www.fafsa.gov and submit the form online.
TOPS Louisiana residents may also qualify for tuition assistance and cash stipends through the state’s TOPS program (www.osfa.la.gov). Visit www.lsu.edu/scholarships for more details.
Grants: Grants are awarded based solely on financial need and amounts vary. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be repaid.
Work-study: The Federal College Work-Study program allows students to earn money to assist with their educational expenses. Students can work up to 20 hours per week and earn up to $2,400 per year in a part-time job either on campus or in a community service work site.
Loans: Loans are awarded based upon various factors, including, but not necessarily limited to, financial need. Amounts vary, and unlike grants, loans must be repaid. Learn more at www.lsu.edu/financialaid.
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Getting to know A great way to get to know LSU is to come for a visit. This allows you and your future Tiger to get a feel for what life at LSU is really like and to experience firsthand the beauty of the campus. The LSU Parade Ground, located in front of the University's Memorial Tower, is a green space where students often engage in leisure sports, attend outdoor concerts, and enjoy relaxing on the grass.
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Campus Tours
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions & Student Aid offers tours of the LSU campus every weekday, excluding holidays. Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes an information session followed by a student-led walking tour of the academic areas of campus. Visit www.lsu.edu/visitcampus to customize your campus visit.
Parent & Family Programs
Tiger Insiders
If you haven’t already, sign up to be a Tiger Insider at www.lsu.edu/tigerinsider and log in frequently for information and updates on LSU programs.
Parent & Family Programs helps connect families of current students to the University community through orientation programs, campus events, and ongoing outreach and education. Among the activities facilitated by Parent & Family Programs are: • Parent & Family Weekend: Each fall, parents are invited to campus for a weekend of activities and programs, including an LSU football game, special workshops, and campus attractions. • Family Orientation: All parents of incoming students are invited to participate in Family Orientation, a two-day program that increases familiarity with LSU as well as helps answer questions about University resources, opportunities, and first year expectations. Staff members from around campus and current students are available to answer questions. Learn more at www.lsu.edu/lsufamily.
LSU is the only public university in Louisiana designated as having very high research activity (RU/VH) by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the highest ranking awarded to doctorate-granting institutions.
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Life at
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LSU's renowned "Golden Band From Tigerland" is comprised of 325 talented students who play at athletic and campus events. Their pregame performances during football season are legendary among Tiger students and fans.
If you attended college and lived on campus, you might be a little envious of the amenities students enjoy today. Laundry machines that text you when your laundry is finished? Faculty offices within the residence halls? Living rooms, private study areas, libraries…all right outside of students’ rooms? These are not the “dorms” of yesteryear.
Student Resources
LSU has many programs in place to help students thrive. Among those are: The University Center for Freshman Year, which helps prepare incoming students for success, helps them define their academic and career goals, and provides a full-time counseling staff to obtain academic, career, and/or personal counseling. LSU’s national award-winning Center for Academic Success, which helps students develop effective, efficient college-level learning strategies that result in greater understanding and higher grades thus assisting them in maximizing their learning potential. The Comprehensive Academic Tracking System (CATS), which encourages academic success and progression towards timely degree completion by helping students determine the most effective route through their curricula, alerting them when they get off track, and directing them to resources that can help them stay focused and develop good study habits. Learn more at www.cats.lsu.edu. Disability Services, which provides appropriate auxiliary aids and services for students with disabilities in an effort to ensure their full participation in all activities, programs, and services to the University. In addition to working with students, the office consults with the LSU administration on development and revisions of policies and procedures relevant to students with disabilities. Learn more at www.lsu.edu/disability. In addition, students can join one or more of more than 350 registered student organizations including cultural, governing, Greek, honorary, military, political, professional, recreational, religious, service, special interest, and sports clubs.
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LSU has a variety of residence hall options. The Department of Residential Life hosts daily tours Monday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., except holidays. Tours can be customized based on your child’s needs.
Campus Life Residence Halls LSU offers residence halls within walking distance of all campus activities. LSU also offers Residential Colleges, allowing students to live and learn with other students who share similar interests. Options include honors, information technology, global studies, freshman experience, mass communication, agriculture, business, and engineering residential colleges. Once your child has been accepted to LSU, he or she should apply for campus housing at www.lsu.edu/housing. Your student must apply for housing separately from his or her application to the University. Due to demand, it is important to apply for on-campus housing as soon as possible after admittance.
Resident Dining & Meal Plans All first-year students living on campus are required to participate in one of the University’s flexible meal plans that offer a combination of meals which are served in the two all-you-careto-eat dining halls and “Paw Points” which can be used like dining dollars at any of the retail LSU Dining locations around campus.
Residence Hall Safety All of LSU’s residence halls operate on card-access security systems, allowing entry to residents via swipe cards. In addition, a key or card access is required to access each floor and room with guest visitation procedures in place. Residences are also equipped with fire safety equipment that activates the central fire alarm system and emergency exits that alarm when opened. Learn more at www.lsu.edu/housing.
LSU has produced a number of distinguished undergraduates, including four Marshall Scholars, 26 Goldwater Scholars, 14 Rhodes Scholars, and six Truman Scholars.
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Tiger Stadium, where LSU's "Fighting Tigers" football team plays, has a designated section for students, who show their school spirit by singing fight songs and cheering the team to victory.
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Transportation Student vehicles are welcome on campus but do require a valid parking permit, which can be obtained through their LSU registration process. For students without vehicles, LSU offers an on-campus bus service whose routes are designed to provide frequent service for highly populated student areas, as well as campus transit, which provides free rides to and from campus locations after dark, operating seven days a week, from 5:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. In addition, LSU is a bike-friendly campus; however, Baton Rouge city ordinance requires bicycles to be registered with the Baton Rouge Police Department for a $5 fee.
Student Health Center LSU hosts a Student Health Center comprised of the Medical Clinics, Mental Health Service, and the Wellness Education Department that consists of formal and informal teams that provide comprehensive assessment, education, and treatment related to a variety of health issues. The Center is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care. Full-time students pay a Student Health Fee, which provides them unlimited visits to medical and mental health clinicians, health educators, and registered dietitians. Part-time students and non-student spouses may elect to pay the fee to access services. Additional charges are assessed for diagnostic imaging, laboratory tests, pharmaceuticals, medical procedures, and injections. Learn more at www.shc.lsu.edu.
LSU Police Department
LSU’s online safety resource, www.lsu.edu/safety, details a range of safety issues from hurricane preparedness to bicycle safety. Students can also sign up for LSU’s emergency text messaging service to receive notifications in the event of a crisis situation.
The LSU Police Department operates 24 hours each day to enhance the safety and security of the campus. Police officers patrol the entire campus and respond in the event of complaints, accidents, fires, and other emergencies. In addition, emergency call boxes are located throughout campus. Learn more at www.lsu.edu/police.
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LSU students have the opportunity to study abroad in their sophomore and/or junior years. Pictured: LSU students explore the French Alps.
Educational Opportunities Academic Programs Abroad LSU’s Office of Academic Programs Abroad offers students more than 300 locations worldwide at which they can study and facilitates three types of programs: National Student Exchange in which students can study at other universities in the continental U.S., as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Canada; International Exchanges in which students can study at universities across the world; and summer programs which are designed by LSU faculty and take students to destinations all over the world and last from four to six weeks, with students taking six hours of credit in LSU courses. The cost of APA programs vary and TOPS and other types of financial aid usually apply.
Biology Intensive Orientation for Students Program The Biology Intensive Orientation for Students Program is a one-week intensive program designed to help incoming freshmen, particularly those planning to declare a biological sciences major, make the transition to the expectations of college prior to the start of the fall semester. During the session, participants will get a jump-start on course content, learn important study skills, and meet faculty and graduate students.
Chancellor’s Future Leaders in Research Program
Students’ sophomore and junior years of college, and the summers surrounding and between, are the ideal times for studying abroad. This is because students need 30 hours (approximately one year) of LSU credit to be eligible to study abroad and, in most cases, must spend their last 30 hours on LSU’s campus.
The Chancellor’s Future Leaders in Research (CFLR) program offers a unique opportunity to conduct research early in a student’s college career. Students have the opportunity to work side-by-side with professors in a research setting, receiving guidance and support that can expand his or her knowledge and skills. The experience gained from the program can provide life-long benefits. From co-authoring an article to conducting lab experiments and presenting findings, past students’ experiences show that CFLR provides a firm foundation on which to build future success. 19
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LSU's archways and tan stucco exteriors are part of the University's Italian Renaissance-style architecture.
Communication across the Curriculum LSU’s Communication across the Curriculum Program works with faculty to integrate writing, speaking, and visual and technological communication projects into existing courses; operates innovative support studios across campus designed to assist undergraduates with communication-based projects; and recognizes students who become highly effective communicators through the “Distinguished Communicators” program.
Service-Learning Service-learning is a method of teaching and learning in which students fulfill the learning goals of their academic courses while serving the community. Service-learning emphasizes hands-on experiences that address community needs, build students’ leadership skills, and reinforce course content. The academic context of the service enriches the experience by raising questions about real-world concerns and providing a forum for thinking critically about civic responsibility.
Contact Us Undergraduate Admissions & Student Aid 1146 Pleasant Hall Baton Rouge, LA 70803 225-578-1175 for Admissions Inquiries 225-578-3103 for Scholarship and Student Aid Inquiries Fax: 225-578-4433 E-mail: admissions@lsu.edu or financialaid@lsu.edu Web: www.lsu.edu/admissions or www.lsu.edu/financialaid
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LSU IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ACCESS UNIVERSITY Produced by the LSU Office of Communications & University Relations Printed by LSU Printing Services 10031 • 8M • 8/10