MCPS SuperintendentDr. Joshua P. Starr

and Montgomery College President Dr. DeRionne P. PollardParents and students: We hope you enjoy reading this issue of PrepTalk. We are working together to help students prepare for and succeed in college and the workforce.

Learn and Earnccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,

the mean (average) earnings for someone with a bachelor’s degree is $71,552, while for those with only a high school diploma the amount is $41,288. That’s a difference of $30,264. In fact, the greater level of education people complete, the more likely they are to earn more money. Each level of edu-cational achievement provides an increase in earning power, from no high school diploma all the way through a profes-sional degree such as a master’s degree or doctoral degree. The mean income for those with professional degrees is $102,648. Also, the greater level of education people complete, the more likely they are to be gainfully employed.

Advice for Montgomery County Parents and Students on College Preparation • Spring 2013

Discover 10 tips for writing an essay on

your college application See page 4 for more.

SuccessTalk

Learn what you should consider

when taking out a loan. See page 5 for more.

MoneyTalk

Find out how the PSATNMSQT test

helps you on the SAT®.See page 3 for more.

TestTalk

Save the date for college fairs and

special events. See page 4 for more.

TickTalk

The Inside Scoop…Look for these segments throughout this newsletter to find helpful information about getting ready for col-lege. From taking tests, plan-ning academic schedules, and improving study skills, to paying for college and planning for key deadlines—you’ll find it all here.

TM

A service of the Montgomery College/Montgomery County Public Schools Partnership

A Note from…

Hear some thoughts from MC students who

attended MCPS high schools. See page 6.

StraightTalk

Save the date for college fairs and

special events.See page 2 for more.

TickTalk

2

chieving Collegiate Excel-lence and Success (ACES) is a program de-

signed to create a seamless educational pathway and support structure from high school to college completion.

The program targets those who are underrepresented in higher educa-tion, including African American, Hispanic, and low-income students, as well as those who would be the first in their family to attend college.

Three Systems CollaborateACES is a collaborative effort among Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).

The program would identify qualify-ing students by 9th grade and provide comprehensive interventions and support to help keep them on track for

ACES Stacks the Deck in Students Favorcollege enrollment and completion.

In 10th grade, students can apply to the ACES program. Those who are accepted will be assigned to academic coaches from Montgomery College, who will work with students and their families in high school to create a college-going and academic trajectory.

Coaching through CompletionACES students will continue to receive coaching and academic support services while they are enrolled at Montgomery College and work toward

their associate’s degrees. In addition, ACES coordinators at USG will pro-vide ACES students with support ser-vices and guidance as they transition to USG. They will continue to receive academic and leadership/career de-velopment services until they receive their bachelor’s degree. In addition to the programs offered at USG, students may choose to enroll in a University System of Maryland institution.

Enroll this FallThe ACES program will begin in the 2013–2014 school year at eight high schools: Montgomery Blair, Albert Ein-stein, Gaithersburg, John F. Kennedy, Northwood, Rockville, Watkins Mill, and Wheaton. Roughly 60 students will participate at each grade level, for a total of 240 students at each school.

Source: www.ACESmontgomery.org

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A newsletter for Montgomery County parents and high school students on preparing for college. Produced in partnership by Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College. Please direct queries to:

Elena Saenz at 240-567-5029; Elena.Saenz@montgomerycollege.edu;Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee St., Rockville, MD 20850, or

Genevieve Floyd at 240-453-2490; Genevieve_L_Floyd@mcpsmd.org; Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, MD 20850

Research, writing, editing, design, production, and publishing by the Montgomery College and Montgomery County Public Schools communications staffs:

Beth Homan, Director of Communications—MCDana Tofig, Director of Public Information and Web Services—MCPSDonna D’Ascenzo, Designer—MCJill Fitzgerald, Senior Editor—MC

The program targets those who are

underrepresented in higher education…

TickTalk

Countdown to CollegeDon’t miss these free 2013 college preparation and scholarship events held at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), Rockville, Maryland.

College Preparation and Scholarship FairSaturday, April 27, 2013, 1–4 p.m. Check-in time: noon–1 p.m.Open to middle and high school students and parents. Meet representatives from various career, college, universities, and scholarship organizations. Learn about financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Register for the fair at www.mcpsparentacademy.org.

College Scholarship ConferenceSaturday, October 26, 2013Cosponsored by Montgomery Col-lege, USG, and Montgomery County Public Schools, the conference features programs and universities providing scholarship information. Visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/ scholarshipconference.

MoneyTalk

Extra Pay Goes a Long WayDon’t forget about student employment [during the sum-mer or school year] as an alternative for borrowing. Although working can seem like a burden, so is struggling with loan repayments after college.

Source: www.collegeboard.org

3

Test TriumphMCPS high school students have free access to the Triumph Online Study Guide. Triumph preps students for the PSAT, SAT®, and ACT tests. Visitwww.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/hsi/testprep.shtm for the Triumph tool. You can review the structure, format, skills, and test-tak-ing tips of these tests.

Source: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org

TestTalk

Mark Your SAT® Date• Upcoming

SAT® and Subject Tests date:June 1, 2013

• SAT® and Subject Tests registration deadline: May 2, 2013

Other test dates and applications are available at your high school College and Career Center or online.

Source: www.collegeboard.org

TickTalk

Mark Your ACT Date• Upcoming

ACT test date: June 8, 2013

• ACT test registration deadline: May 3, 2013

Other test dates and applications are available at your high school College and Career Center or online.

Source: www.actstudent.org

TickTalk

Why Should You Take the PSAT/NMSQT?he PSAT/NMSQT is a test that can qualify

you for scholarships and other honors. It can also help you start thinking about and plan-ning for college, see which aca-demic skills you need to work on, and get ready for college entrance exams, such as the SAT®.

Taking the test can provide these benefits:

Scholarship OpportunitiesIf you’re a junior, your score might qualify you for scholarships and recognition through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the National Hispanic Recog-nition Program.

SAT® PracticeThe PSAT/NMSQT is great prac-tice for the SAT®. Both tests have the same types of questions, and taking the PSAT/NMSQT can help you get comfortable testing under timed conditions.

FeedbackThe test gives you personalized feedback on your skill strengths

and weaknesses so you have a better idea of what study areas you need to work on.

Information from CollegesYou can get free information from colleges and scholarship programs by opting in to Student Search Service® when you take the test.

College and Career Planning HelpBy taking the test, you get free ac-cess to My College QuickStart™, an online tool that helps you plan for college and a career. It also gives you a free, personalized SAT® study guide based on your PSAT/NMSQT results.

Even though only juniors can qualify for scholarships and academic recognition, taking the PSAT/NMSQT before your junior year is also useful. You’ll have more time to use the information you get after taking the test to boost your academic skills and start planning for college.

Source: www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org

TestTalk

What is an Accuplacer®? The purpose of theAccuplacer® tests is to provide you with useful information about your academic skills in math, English, and reading. The results of the as-sessment, in conjunction with your

academic background, goals, and interests, are used by academic advi-sors and counselors to determine your course selection at a community college or university.

You can not “pass” or “fail” the placement tests, but it is very impor-tant that you do your very best on these tests so that you will have an accurate measure of your skills.

Source: www.collegeboard.org

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MC2USG: Local Education with a Global ReputationYou can earn both an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree without leaving Montgomery County if you attend Montgomery College and transfer to the Universities at Shady Grove.

SuccessTalk

Prompt-ing ChangeThe Common Application, widely used for college admissions at nearly 500 colleges and universities, has changed its essay prompts for 2013–2014 and increased the number of words allowed for the essay from 500 to 650. One of the big changes is the decision to drop an essay prompt that allowed students to write about a topic of their choice.

Source: www.commonapp.org

TickTalk

Start College in High SchoolGet a jump on college credits by taking courses during your junior and senior year in high school. Montgomery College offers courses through Concurrent Enrollment Programs, which allow high school juniors and seniors to supplement their class schedule with college-level credit course work—and experience the independence of college-level study.

Source: www.montgomerycollege.edu/cep

SuccessTalk

he college essay can create a sense of an-guish and panic, but it

doesn’t have to. Here are some tips for writing the college essay.Start Early The more time you have, the less stress you’ll have. And you’ll have plenty of time to give the essay your best effort. Be Yourself Take a moment to think about what interests you, what you love to talk about, what makes you sit up and take notice if it’s mentioned in class or on TV. Then write about it.

Be Honest Don’t be fooled! College admission officers have read hundreds— even thousands—of essays. They are masters at discovering any form of plagiarism. Take a Risk Don’t settle for the essay that ev-eryone else is writing. Imagine an admission officer reading the 50th essay of the day —yours. Do you want that person to nod off because he or she has already read 10 essays on that topic? Keep in Focus This is your chance to tell admis-sion officers exactly why they should admit you. Unfortunately, some students try to list every sin-gle reason—their stellar academic record, their athletic prowess, their community service—all in a page or two. You don’t have to list all your achievements—that’s what the rest of the application is for.

Write and rewrite Don’t try to write a masterpiece on your first try. For your first draft, write anything that comes to mind about your topic. Don’t worry too much about grammar or spelling. When you come back to the draft, look for ways to make it more focused.Get a Second OpinionEven best-selling novelists ask other people to read their manuscripts before they’re sent to the publisher. Choose a person you respect and who knows something about writ-ing—a favorite English teacher, a par-ent, a friend who writes for the school paper. Ask them to tell you what they like best about your essay—and what you can do to improve it. Proofread Finally, you’re ready to send your essay. Not so fast! Read it over one more time, looking for those little errors that can creep in as you write or edit. If you’re using a com-puter, also run a spell-check.

Use Care When Applying OnlineApplying online is just as serious as applying “the old-fashioned way.” It may feel like you’re sending e-mail, but you’re not. The Essay Isn’t Everything The application essay is very im-portant, but it’s not the only thing that is considered. That’s because admission officers look at the whole package—your academics, extra-curricular activities, stan-dardized tests, and other factors.

Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling

10 Tips for Writing the College Essay

5

efore you take out a loan, it’s important to un-derstand that a loan is a

legal obligation that you will be respon-sible for repaying with interest. You may not have to begin repaying your

federal student loans right away, but you don’t have to wait to understand your responsibilities as a borrower.

Keep track of how much you’re borrowing. Think about how the amount of your loans will affect your future finances, and how much you can afford to repay. Your student loan payments should be only a small percentage of your salary after you graduate, so it’s important not to borrow more than you need for your school-related expenses.

Considerations When Taking Out a Loan Research starting salaries. Ask your school for starting salaries of recent graduates in your field of study to get an idea of how much you are likely to earn after you graduate. You can use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook to estimate salaries for different careers or research employment opportunities advertised in the area where you plan to live. You also can use the Depart-ment of Labor’s career search tool to research careers.

Understand your loan terms.Keep copies of your loan documents. When you sign your promissory note, you are agreeing to repay the loan ac-cording to the terms of the note even if you don’t complete your education, can’t get a job after you complete the program, or you didn’t like the educa-tion you received.

Make payments on time. You are required to make payments on time even if you don’t receive a bill, repayment notice, or a reminder. You

arent’s assets and savings can have an effect on the

family’s Expected Family Contribu-tion, which is determined with the Free Application for Federal Stu-dent Aid (FAFSA). But the impact may be small. The federal formula protects a large percentage of your assets and savings for your retirement and the support of your family. The older the parents are, the lower the contribution from savings and assets. Only about

5.6 percent of your assets that exceed what is called the “Educa-tion Savings and Asset Protection Allowance” is expected to be used for college costs. Furthermore, some of the most common assets you as a parent own are excluded from consideration in student finan-cial aid, such as retirement funds and the value of your home. Many families are not asked to provide any asset information when they complete the FAFSA on the web.

Q & A: Does saving for college affect chances for need-based financial aid?

You are required to make payments on time even if you don’t

receive a bill…

must pay the full amount required by your repayment plan, as partial pay-ments do not fulfill your obligation to repay your student loan on time.

Contact your loan servicer. Notify your loan servicer when you graduate; withdraw from school; drop below half-time status; transfer to another school; or change your name, address, or Social Security number. You also should contact your servicer if you’re having trouble mak-ing your scheduled loan payments. Your servicer has several options available to help you keep your loan in good standing.

Source: http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans

Ultimately, if you save for your child’s college education, you will benefit: whether it’s more atten-dance options for your child or re-ducing the amount of money your child has to borrow for college expenses. Undergraduate students who graduate with less debt have greater employment options and more potential for future educa-tion. This is a win-win situation for you and your child.

Source: montgomerycollege.edu/finaid

Maryland, My MarylandAlways list at least one Maryland college on your FAFSA so you can be awarded state aid.

Source: montgomerycollege.edu/finaid

MoneyTalk

6

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his publication provides information on what stu-

dents should know to ensure their success beyond high school. We hope you’ll find it useful and that you’ll share your feedback.

For additional information about the Montgomery College/Mont-gomery County Public Schools Partnership or PrepTalk, call Genevieve Floyd of MCPS at 240-453-2490 or Elena Saenz of MC at 240-567-5150.

Montgomery County Public Schools Montgomery CollegeAffirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institutions 4/13

What is the Difference Between College and High School?“You have to put in a lot of work to suc-ceed. No one is going to look after you or baby you. You get what you earn.”

Chris Sherwood High School Graduate

“College is a lot more responsibility. You can’t go to college just because your parents tell you to go. You have to have a desire for it. I wish I knew this before.

Andrew Northwest High School Graduate

StraightTalk

Spring/Summer College Planner: A ChecklistFreshmen and Sophomores

Look for a great summer op-portunity—job, internship, or volunteer position.

Check with your counselor and search online for summer college programs offered to high school students.

Start a summer reading list. Ask your teachers to recommend books.

Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.

Juniors Plan ahead for the summer and

senior year. Enrich yourself by volunteering or getting an interesting job or internship.

Prepare for college prep tests. Develop a list of 15–20 colleges

that interest you. Take campus tours; interview

with admissions counselors. Request applications from

colleges to which you’ll apply. Check important deadlines.

Seniors Compare financial aid awards

from different colleges. Visit your final college before

accepting. Make your final choice and send a deposit to the college you choose.

Ask your high school to send a final transcript to your college.

Source: www.collegeboard.org

PrepTalk Online!For more issues of PrepTalk,visit

www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/ curriculum/careercenter/resources/

preptalk.aspx.

ork experience—paid or volunteer—can teach students

discipline, responsibility, reliability, teamwork, and other skills. A summer job may be a good way to gain expe-

rience and earn money for college as well. If your student works during the school year, he or she should not work so many hours that the job interferes with school work.

Some students also participate in such community service activities as

Getting a Summer Job Can Work for Yoututoring elementary school children or volunteering in a local hospi-tal. Such activities make valuable contributions to society and also help students to identify their career interests and goals, gain workplace skills, and apply classroom learning to real world problem solving. Com-munity service is a valuable part of a student’s college application.

MCPS high school students must earn 75 hours of Student Service-Learning (SSL) to receive a high-school diploma. SSL is an unpaid ac-tivity within the curriculum, school, or outside community that provides service to an individual or group to address a school or community need.

Source: Excerpts from www.ed.gov

A summer job may be a good way to gain experience…