COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM NEWSLETTER
March 2017
CollegeTracks MM/DD/YY
 
    Ms. Jenni Adams
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN BOOK YOUR CHECK INS WITH YOUR COACH:

1) Look at your schedule to see when you're available for a 1-hour check in.

2) Go to your coach's youcanbook.me link (below).

3) Choose an appropriate time slot and fill out the necessary information. Note where your coach will be that day.

4) Book it! A confirmation will be sent to your email. Now, put that check in on your calendar and set your reminder.
 
Ms. Jenni:

Ms. Lindsey:

Ms. Nneka:

Ms. Rachel:
COACH Q & A:
This month, we asked each of the Success Coaches to think of a time they asked for help and how it led to achieving their goals. Here's what they had to say:

Ms. Jenni
"I ask my friends and family for help all the time! I know that to succeed, I need support from people who care about me. Sometimes they offer ideas or perspectives I don't think of. Sometimes they help me achieve my goals by actually giving me something I need in the moment, or when things get tough, they remind me that my hard work and efforts have paid off in the past."

Ms. Nneka

"I nearly cringe every time I ask for help because it is not an easy thing for me to do. However, I have asked coaches Danny and Rachel to help babysit my 5-yr-old daughter. I always think in retrospect what I would have done if I had not asked. This usually leads me to think of how time-consuming and expensive the end result wold have been. In essence, it never hurts to ask for help. There are a lot of people who genuinely want to help you."

Ms. Rachel

"I have asked the other coaches for help SO MANY times and they have helped me do my job SO MUCH better. For example, Ms. Nneka helped me to understand the New Futures scholarship so that I could help students who wanted to apply for it." 

Ms. Lindsey

"I have been trying to keep in the habit of exercising several times a week, but I needed some accountability. I asked my sister if she would help me stay motivated. Now each time I work out I send her a hilarious workout selfie! She always replies with something positive and it helps me feel like someone else is invested in me staying on track."

Mr. Danny

"I took organic chemistry in college and it was unlike any subject I had seen before. So I tried to work on it alone, but literally got nowhere. My first exam resulted in a D, and so I decided I would try new methods: I formed a study group and I went to see the chemistry tutors for my section on my own. I also found old exams and problem sets to work on with the tutor. By the end of the semester I passed with a B+ and knew that it was because I didn't do it on my own, I had asked for help along the way." 
COACHES ON CAMPUS

Please check with your coach to find out exactly where your check in meeting will take place. 



WHERE TO CHECK IN?
ROCKVILLE CAMPUS

Coaches are located in the
  SCIENCE BUILDING
(on the 1st floor , near the entrance closest to the bus stops )

If crowded, coaches may move to the 2nd or 3rd floor in the same corner of the Science Building.


CollegeTracks Success Coaches are excited to give shoutouts to the following scholars in this month's issue of our newsletter.

Congrats to current MC student Olyad Begna who will be enrolling in Howard University's  School of Pharmacy.

Also congrats to Yanna de Castro who recently got accepted into Howard Community College's Sonography program.

Recently Jordy Diaz was elected to the MC Rockville Student Senate. Congrats!

Congrats to Megan Thompson for receiving the Silver Spring Women's Club, Inc. Scholarship through the MC Foundation.

A huge shoutout to Ju'Vohn Roberson who is a first-year student at UMES and recently became an RA for Spring 2017.

Let's hear it for Vanny Stepney who began her educational journey at MC, transferred to UMD, and was just accepted into Columbia University's Masters of Sociology program. Congrats!

Shoutout to Luiza Reis Mendoca who was admitted to the BFA Theater program at Hofstra University.

Congrats to Danny Valerio who was admitted to the Renaissance Scholars Program at MC.

  
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It's MARCH! And the semester has already taken off. Spring Break is almost here (for some in a week, for others in a couple weeks). Most have already had their first papers or exams and usually that first round is "testing the water" for the class--you don't really know how well you are doing until you get your first results. We understand, but we want to point out that no matter the outcome of that first round, there is always a lesson to be learned. 

In this issue of the newsletter we talk about how to make the most of your tutoring session, shoutouts, scholar spotlight, and more. Enjoy!.

~CollegeTracks College Success Team

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST 
OF A TUTORING SESSION


Whether you are meeting with a tutor one-on-one or in a group, once in a while or every week, you want to BE PREPARED. Yes, the tutor is more knowledgeable in the subject and is ready to help --but you are in charge of knowing HOW the tutor can help you. That means:
  1. Plan ahead. Use your syllabus to keep track of when quizzes, tests, or big assignments are due so you don't wait to schedule your tutoring meeting at the last minute.
  2. Have your materials ready. Bring any assignments, syllabi, readings, or instructor's feedback that will help you and the tutor plan and work together.
  3. Be ready to talk. Your tutor will ask you questions about what you're learning in class, what your skills and strengths are, and what you need help with.
  4. Come with specific questions, and ask away!
  5. Be honest. If you don't understand something during your session, ask for clarification or simply say "I didn't get that - can you please explain that again?"
  6. Be ready to work independently. Your tutor might ask you to complete some work during your session, either so they can observe how you work or help you get extra practice.
  7. Practice what you learn and review between tutoring sessions.
  8. Respect your tutor's time. Show up on time, don't cancel at the last minute, and be sure to thank them for their help. 
Adapted from Montgomery College's Writing, Readying, & Language Center Website:
https://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/EDU/Department.aspx?id=28705


Scholar Spotlight

Meet Jordy Diaz who is a first-year student at Montgomery College studying Business. Jordy was a graduate of BCC High School's class of 2016. As a scholar in CollegeTracks' Success Program, Jordy participated in our CollegeTracks Scholar Institute (CSI) during the summer before starting his first year. Recently, Jordy was elected to be a member of the Student Senate at Montgomery College. The Success team was able to catch up with Jordy and ask him some questions about his experience as a Success Scholar thus far. Read on!

Why did you join the CollegeTracks Success Program?
"I joined the Success Program because CollegeTracks helped me a lot with my college application process and I knew it would be a very good decision to stick with them throughout college as well. One of the most helpful things that the Success Program provides is a success coach that I can ask any questions to and that wants to be there at every step of the way."
You recently got elected to be on the MC Student Senate. Tell us more about that.
"The Senate's primary job is to represent the student body to the college administration. We also organize activities and events for students that enhance their academic and social experiences on campus. I wanted to join because I am very interested in politics and I want to create meaningful change with other people who want to help out fellow students like I do. From the Senate I hope I am able to fortify my leadership skills and create long-lasting relationships."
Any advice for your fellow scholars who may be thinking about joining a student government?
"I would suggest going ahead and giving it a shot. The application process might look hard, but the reason why it looks that way is so we can make sure that the students who are applying are very interested in joining and want to work hard for the student body. The current Senators are very laid back and helpful; they really want you to learn everything about the Senate and have fun because most of the veteran senators are leaving after each semester. This gives everyone a great opportunity to show their own skills and to grow as a leader."
Think of a time when you needed help with something--what did you learn from that experience?
"I was writing an English paper last semester and I had a question on the format the professor wanted. I went online and searched for the format type on my own. In the end, I had the wrong style and got points taken away. I realized that if I had just asked my professor it would have been much easier to get the correct answer. I learned this the hard way, but it taught me the importance of asking questions even if the questions may seem small or unimportant."
What are your plans after you complete your studies at Montgomery College?
"I plan to go to the University of  Maryland and getting my graduate degree in business management. After that I want to pursue a government job that will be in the business management field which will help me get into politics in the long run."
At this point in your life, what are you most proud of?
"I am very proud of completing my first semester at Montgomery College and getting accepted into the student senate. This makes me very proud because I am not only doing this for myself, but also for my family and I can see how proud they are of me after achieving these goals."
Tell us a fun fact that most people don't know about you.
"I am a huge fan of Star Wars; I own all the movies and watched the new movie, Rogue One, four times in a row when it came out. I also have a pet rabbit named Po. His name is Po because he is black and white like the panda from the Kung Fu Panda movies. I love reading; my favorite type of books to read are on alternative history."
  Don't miss out! Scholarships are a great way to help pay for your school, books, transportation, etc. And best of all, you don't have to pay them back!

NAME: Horatio Alger National Career & Technical Scholarship
DUE DATE: Opens in March 2017
AMOUNT: $2,500
ELIGIBILITY: College Student, US Citizen, demonstrated financial need, community service, pursuing a technical degree/certificate.

NAME: Society of Women Engineers Scholarship
DUE DATE: March 1, 2017 - May 1, 2017
AMOUNT: Varies
ELIGIBILITY: Have 3.0 GPA, full-time student, enrolled in an engineering or computer science degree program, US Citizen, financial need.

NAME: Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund Scholarship
DUE DATE: March 27, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,000 - $5,000
ELIGIBILITY: Children of part-time or full-time federal civilian or postal worker.

NAME: Casey Family Scholars Program
DUE DATE: March 31, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,500 - $6,000
ELIGIBILITY: College Student, under age 25, been in foster care or orphaned, US citizenship not required.

NAME: Superpower Scholarship
DUE DATE: March 31, 2017
AMOUNT: $2,500
ELIGIBILITY: Be enrolled in college, submit 250-word or less essay on: Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?

NAME : MC Transfer Scholarships (For current MC students planning to transfer in fall)
DUE DATE Varies
AMOUNT : Varies
ELIGIBILITY : Varies,  check individual scholarship requirements (links below)

NAME: Central Scholarship Bureau
DUE DATE: Jan. 1-April 1, 2017
AMOUNT: Up to $10,000/yr
ELIGIBILITY: Student from MD, GPA 2.8 or better, family income below $90K, US citizen or permanent resident.

NAME: Undergraduate Public Service Scholarship (for female students)
DUE DATE: Mar. 29, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,500/month (4 weeks)
ELIGIBILITY: Rising junior or senior or recently completed undergraduate degree, applied or accepted to an internship in the Washington DC metro area (DMV) in public service (government, non-profit, women's rights), starts on May 1st or after and ends in Sept., must be at least 30 hours per week.

NAME: CU College Scholarship
DUE DATE: Mar. 31, 2017
AMOUNT:  $1,000
ELIGIBILITY: Applicant must be a member of the participating credit unions in DC/MD area. Can enter at least one: essay, video, or photo topics. Applicants must be entering their freshman through senior year of college or trade school.

NAME: LendEdu Scholarship
DUE DATE: April. 15, 2017
AMOUNT: $1,000
ELIGIBILITY: Full-time College Student, US Residents, 2.5 GPA.

 * MC SPECIFIC INFORMATION *

Complete MC's Financial Aid Paperwork ASAP!
If you are eligible for the FAFSA and have renewed for 2017-2018, you also need to complete MC's financial aid paperwork. MC's paperwork was due on 3/1/17, but even if you missed the deadline you should still complete this ASAP!

The only place to find MC's financial aid paperwork is through your MyMC:
  1. Log in to your MyMC and go to the "Financial Aid" page.
  2. Scroll down to the "Financial Aid Requirements" checklist section and click on "Select Another Aid Year" drop-down menu; change the aid year to "2017-2018", 
  3. If you see any forms there that need to be completed like the "Montgomery College Financial Aid Application 2017-2018", "Reservation Form 2017-2018", or anything that doesn't have a green check mark next to it, these are forms you must complete.
  4. Print out the forms and complete them in blue or black ink, or fill them out on the computer and then print and sign them.
  5. After the forms are complete, bring them to the Financial Aid office (in person).
Register Now for USG's Spring Undergraduate Open House!
Interested in learning more about the Universities at Shady Grove? The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) offers 40 undergraduate degree programs from nine top Maryland universities, all on one convenient campus in Rockville. Save money by taking your classes close to home while still earning your degree from the university offering your major.
Open House Details:
Saturday, April 22
8:30am Check-In / 9:00am Welcome
9:30am-12:00pm Sessions & Info Fair

MC Tutoring Resources
Between their three campuses, MC offers free, in-person tutoring in almost every subject including social sciences; science; math; writing, reading, and language; business; health sciences; and world languages. Click   here to see a list of tutoring options at each campus and the subjects offered. They also offer virtual tutoring and digital learning resources. ( http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/learningcenters/)
Most of MC's in-person tutoring is offered through their Learning Centers. One example, the Ackerman Learning Center (also called the Math & Science Center), offers tutoring in math, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and geosciences on a walk-in basis during scheduled hours. Each tutoring station in this center has a sign-in sheet and you can sign up to work with a faculty member, MC staff member, or an outstanding student to get some help. Some classes even offer weekly help sessions through the Learning Center. All sessions are free and there is no registration required.
Other Learning Centers, like the Writing, Reading, and Language Center (WRLC) at MC Rockville, require students to create an online account so they can sign up for tutoring by appointment, which means you can choose the time that works best for you and know you have a tutor waiting to help. Walk-in hours are also available if you prefer to drop by before or after class, and all of their tutoring is free.
CollegeTracks is also offering free group tutoring sessions this semester. To learn more, get in touch with your Coach!

THANK YOU FOR READING THE SUCCESS PROGRAM'S E-NEWSLETTER!

CollegeTracks College Success Program Team:
MS. JENNI ADAMS
MS. LINDSEY REED
MS. NNEKA ONYILOFOR
MS. RACHEL LOSTUMBO
MR. DANNY KHOTSOMBATH