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WMHS ACCESS NEWSLETTER January 2018
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COLLEGETRACKS TEAM
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Program Assistant
301.284.8169
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IF YOU HAVE NOT COMPLETED YOUR FAFSA, SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY.
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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Aaron Merlos
What's the most difficult part about senior year?
Finding the time to prioritize and manage everything --- social life, school work, sports, work, college apps..
Have you gone on any college visits? What did you think of them?
I visited Wesley College, we took a campus tour and visited with people
who are pursuing
the major I am interested in. I met with one of the professors. The staff was nice, they did their best at highlighting the small community feel of the college.
What advice do you have for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors?
Focus on your school work! You may think it's not that big of a deal to get C's and D's but it does matter down the line. Also, come to CollegeTracks so they can help you from the get-go.
What activities do you want to be involved in during college?
I definitely want to continue track, media club and maybe volleyball.
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SENIORS, DO NOW!
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- Bring your college acceptance letters to CollegeTracks
- Submit your FAFSA and, if required, CSS Profile
- Apply for scholarships
- Claim your MyMC account
- Encourage your 11th grade friends to join CollegeTracks!
Schedule an appointment with CollegeTracks TODAY!
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SEARCHING & APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are
free money for you to attend college. There are tons of scholarship opportunities and you should apply for them to reduce the amount of money that you and your family will have to pay for your education.
There are two main sources of scholarships:
- Scholarships from colleges: Many colleges offer scholarships based on merit (such as a high GPA or strong test scores), financial need, or athletic ability. Check your college's financial aid websites for information on scholarship opportunities, eligibility, requirements, and applications.
- Scholarships from private or outside organizations: Private groups offer money for different reasons, including community involvement, service experience, ethnicity and location. Pick up a CollegeTracks Scholarship Packet for a list of scholarships for which you are eligible or download the list here.
Similar to college applications, scholarship applications may require that you complete application forms, write essays, ask for letters of recommendation, and submit additional materials.
Know your deadlines and plan ahead so you submit your applications on time!
COLLEGETRACKS CAN HELP YOU FIND
AND APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH US!
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Maryland State Aid
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is a board representing Maryland colleges and universities. It offers financial aid to students attending college in Maryland. There are several financial aid opportunities for students, including:
Senatorial Scholarship:
The minimum annual award is $400 and the maximum award is $11,530.
To qualify, students and their
parents must be Maryland residents; students m
ust enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university, as a full-time or
part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student or attend certain private career schools
; students
must demonstrate financial need (as determined by the FAFSA); students
must take the SAT or the ACT.
Delegate Scholarship:
The minimum annual award is $200. The maximum annual award is $11,530. To qualify, students and their parents must be Maryland residents; students must demonstrate financial need (as determined by the FAFSA); students must enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university as a full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student, or attend certain private career schools.
Guaranteed Access Grant (MGAG):
Students who complete the FAFSA and meet specific income and GPA requirements may be eligible for this need-based grant, with a maximum award amount of $18,400. Talk to CollegeTracks about this!
Educational Assistance Grant (EAG):
Students who complete the FAFSA and meet the student need requirements may be eligible for this need-based grant, with a minimum award amount of $400 and a maximum award amount of $3,000. Talk to CollegeTracks about this!
MHEC's financial aid opportunities.
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SENIORS:
CHECK YOUR MESSAGES!
YOU are expected to read your messages DAILY.
If you receive a message that you don't understand or if you need help, please show it to CollegeTracks.
We are here to help!
- Colleges, Federal Student Aid, and scholarship organizations may be sending you messages that you need to read.
- Sometimes there is critical information you need to know and items that require action.
- If you have not received decision letters, colleges may be missing documents or information from you!
REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL INBOX, YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION PORTALS, AND YOUR MAILBOX AT HOME FOR MESSAGES!
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JUNIOR SPOTLIGHT
Sam Berhanu
What are some of your hobbies?
My hobbies are playing football, lifting, hanging out with friends and family, and being a fashion trendsetter.
What career will you pursue?
I want to be a doctor so I can help people heal.
How have you prepared for college during your Junior year?
I joined CollegeTracks, also signed up for the IB Diploma, and have started to apply to scholarships.
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JUNIORS, DO NOW!
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- Sign up for FREE ACT Prep for the April & June ACT. Click here to let us know you're interested.
- Work to earn A's and B's in your classes. If you need help, talk to your teachers!
- Join CollegeTracks!
- Encourage your 11th grade friends to join CollegeTracks!
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PARENT CORNER
If you are the parent of a
Junior
, please let us know the topics you'd like to learn more about as you prepare for your child's senior year:
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$CHOLARSHIP CORNER
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Let Ms. Barclay, Mrs. E or Mr. Chappell know if you're applying for these scholarships!
NAME:
C-SPAN's StudentCam Competition
DUE DATE:
January 18, 2018
ELIGIBILITY:
Must be in grades 6-12; students may compete individually or in teams of 2-3; must produce documentary between 5-7 minutes long about "Your Message to Washington"
NAME:
Point Foundation Scholarship
DUE DATE:
January 29, 2018
AMOUNT: Varies based on financial need; average award is $10,000 per year for up to four years
ELIGIBILITY:
Must be enrolled or intending to enroll in accredited college by Fall 2017; must identify as member of LGBTQ community; must demonstrate financial need; no age limit or citizenship requirements
NAME:
Princeton Prize in Race Relations
DUE DATE:
January 31, 2018
AMOUNT: $1,000 in cash and all-expenses-paid weekend to national symposium on race at Princeton University
ELIGIBILITY:
Any student currently enrolled in grades 9-12; must have participated in volunteer activity within the last 12 months that has had positive impact on race relations in school or community
Need more scholarships to apply to?
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COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT!
McDaniel is a private, selective liberal arts and sciences college, located in Westminster, Maryland.
Students have the opportunity to create a personalized undergraduate education - The McDaniel Plan.
Students can study at the McDaniel Europe campus in Budapest, Hungary.
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Program Coordinator:
Mrs. E
What's your career background?
I've had lots of different career paths: I've worked in politics, then in college admissions, started a snowboarding company with my friends, and a meditation art studio for kids and seniors. I've also been a dance and snowboarding instructor and a crisis counselor.
What are your hobbies? I really love to snowboard, make art, travel to new countries, practice yoga, play the ukulele and snuggle my puppy Burton.
What were you like in high school?
I moved around a lot and went to 3 different high schools in 4 yrs. Academically, I had a very low GPA in 9th grade because I skipped school so much. Luckily, I found some good mentors who helped me get my grades up and I ended up raising my GPA to a 3.0+ by graduation. I also played field hockey, and was captain of the JV wrestling team. Sports helped me get focused and gave me a sense of community. I took that confidence with me to college and played Division III field hockey, tennis and lacrosse.
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SHOUT OUTS!
- Seniors - thank you for sharing your acceptance news with us!
- Shout out to the seniors and their families who have completed the CSS Profile
- Thank you to the administrators and teachers who bring students to CollegeTracks to get help!
- Huge thanks to our CollegeTracks volunteers for your continued dedication to student success!
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COME FIND COLLEGETRACKS!
We are in
Room A006
(on the ground floor, at the bottom of the steps)
We are open:
9:00am-5:00pm
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays
Closed on Wednesdays
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