Thursday, November 16, 2017

SAT/ ACT Practice

College Board and ACT offer a number of ways to prepare for the SAT and ACT.

Download the SAT Question of the Day by clicking: 
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/daily-practice-app?affiliateId=/official-sat-question-of-the-day-app?affiliateId=defaultsatrotato&bannerId=qotdapplp&bannerId=qotdapplp

From there, you can subscribe to receive a daily SAT question in your email, answer practice questions, even try your hand at a free practice test and much more. Unsure what your study plan should be? Yeah, there's an app for that too! College Board also offers a number of study/preparation materials for a cost on this site as well. Once students have created an account and taken the PSAT, there is even more targeted help. 

Visit ACT's website for online prep by clicking: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/act-online-prep.html. 
Here you will find the only test preparation designed exclusively by ACT. ACT also has practice tests and daily questions online. 

Another Question of the Day resource for the SAT/ACT can be found at: https://www.number2.com/exams/sat/companion/index.cfm?s=0

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Scholarships

Mecklenburg County residents should also be aware of this great local database for scholarships. 

Kohls's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program
Recognizes and awards kids ages 6-18 who make their communities a better place.
www.kohlskidswhocare.com
 
DuPont Challenge
Awards $50-$5,000 to students in grades 7-12 who write an essay analyzing a pressing technological or scientific issue. Due in January.
www.glcomm.com/dupont

National Peace Essay Contest
Awards $1,000-$10,000 to students in grades 9-12 who write a foreign policy essay (topics change each year; see website for details).
www.usip.org/ed/npec.htm

Voice of Democracy
Awards $1,000-$25,000 to students in grades 9-12 who write a 3-5 minute speech on a patriotic topic and record themselves giving the speech. Speech topics change each year.
www.vfw.org

College Financial Aid Workshop

January 9, 2018 - 6:30 p.m.

Recommended for parents and prospective college students. Workshop will include:

What are current options to pay for College?
What is the FAFSA and should we do it ?
How do colleges make financial offers?
When do we begin financial paperwork?
Scholarship Search Ideas

Presented by a representative from the College Foundation of North Carolina.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Need a Scholarship?

Access over 1.5 million scholarships
to help you pay for college.


https://www.fastweb.com/


Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Montreat College/Cyber Defense Education

NSA Designates Montreat College a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education

Montreat College announced today that it has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Montreat College is the first member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) to receive this designation and just the 4th four-year school in North Carolina.

According to the notification from the NSA and DHS, "[Montreat College's] ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure... Like all nations, the United States has a compelling interest in defending its vital national assets, as well as our core principles and values, and we are committed to defending against those who would attempt to impede our ability to do so. Education is the key to promoting these ideals."

Montreat College has become a regional leader in Cybersecurity education in recent years. The college offers both seated and online undergraduate programs, and hosts the annual RETR3AT Cybersecurity Conference on its campus each fall. This year's RETR3AT event will take place on October 27 and feature U.S. Department of Energy Chief Information Officer Max Everett as the keynote speaker. Montreat College teaches its students in a Cybersecurity Operations Teaching Lab, patterned after industry and government security operations centers. The lab was made possible by a group of donors, led by Mission Health, who has teamed with Montreat College to develop cybersecurity professionals who have both technical expertise and the ethical framework necessary to become leaders in the cybersecurity field.

"We are pleased with this national recognition of Montreat College's leadership in cybersecurity education," said Montreat College President Paul J. Maurer. "Cybersecurity is the national security threat of our age. Montreat has focused on not only building a strong technical program, but we are advocating at a national level what we believe is a significant gap in cyber education. At its core, cybersecurity is a people problem more than a technical problem. Therefore, it is essential that cyber education places a strong emphasis on the character and ethics of the nation's cyber leaders and operators. We look forward to working with the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security to bring solutions to one of the major national crises of our time."

National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education certificates will be presented during a designation ceremony at the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Conference on November 7-8, 2017, in Dayton, Ohio.

Montreat College




Montreat College was recently named one of America's "Best Colleges for Your Money 2017" by Money magazine. Only 23 of North Carolina's 48 colleges and universities made Money's list, and Montreat College was ranked 8th among those schools, which included several impressive public universities. And just 44 schools from the 117 in the Council of Christian Colleges & Universities made the list, and Montreat College was ranked 18th among those schools.

Money magazine ranks colleges based on 27 measures of educational quality, affordability, and alumni success. The rankings also take into account how many low-income students each school has propelled into the middle class, a measure which, according to the magazine, points to "colleges that help students achieve the American dream."

"I am pleased by the growing national recognition of the quality of a Montreat College education," said Montreat College President Paul J. Maurer. "Montreat College provides strong vocational outcomes for its graduates, while educating the whole person-through intellectual inquiry, spiritual formation, and preparation for calling and career. Providing strong job options and providing an environment for transformational personal growth is the best of both worlds. We are pleased we can offer the combination."

In 2015, The Economist magazine also ranked Montreat College an impressive 5th among North Carolina-based schools and 9th among schools included from the Council of Christian Colleges & Universities in overall value.

Money magazine's complete college rankings can be viewed at http://time.com/money/best-colleges/rankings/best-colleges/.

Here are the scholarship opportunities for students to consider if they apply to Montreat College:

Here also is the link to register to visit the campus:

Monday, November 6, 2017

ACT Student Champion Award





Applications are open for the ACT Student Champion Award! The ACT Student Champion Award recognizes one student in each state who is tenacious and persistent, no matter the challenge, and is prepared for life after high school with a goal in mind and plan in place.

ACT Student Champions receive a $500 non-renewable scholarship, certificate, plaque, and state-level recognition.

Please encourage students in the graduating class of 2018 who have taken the ACT who fit the following criteria to apply:
  • A student who has overcome challenges and can articulate education and career actions
  • Students must have a composite ACT score of a 22 on a single test date or a 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale
  • Preference will be given to underrepresented and/or first-generation college students.
Applications can be found at www.act.org/readinesschampions. Applications are due December 31, 2017, and champions will be notified on or before April 2, 2018. If applicants are under the age of 18, they must complete this form in addition to the application.

All questions may be directed to ccrc@act.org.

Best of luck!

Suzanne Conquest
Sr. Director, ACT State Organizations 

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Spelman College is Coming to Charlotte!

The Spelman College Office of Admissions cordially invites you, your parents and a friend to our Charlotte Informational Preview Session.

Meet your admissions counselor Ms. Jasmine Jones, and learn more about the admissions process, financial aid, scholarships, student life and more!

Please join us on Thursday, November 9, 2017 from 6:30PM - 8:30PM at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Charlotte Uptown located at 311 E 5th St Charlotte, NC 28202.

To register, go to https://apply.spelman.edu/register/CharlottePreview