Stanley Crouch, Syndicated Writer for NY Daily Post

Stanley Crouch of the New York Daily News promoted my blog in his syndicated column for NY Daily News on today, September 14, 2006. For someone of his stature to feel that my blog on College Preparation ( http://www.ctherd.blogspot.com) should be read or use as a college resource is beyond words that I can't express. I will always be grateful that he felt that information is worthy of this type of exposure. Also one of Mr. Couch goal is to educate African Americans and other Minorities on how to get information on how to prepare for college or get scholarships, etc. I am currently getting hits from the New York area and hopefully many will be hitting the site from all over the country.

The URL to the article is listed below:

New York Daily News Article

Brief Bio on Stanley Couch:

Stanley Crouch is a columnist, novelist, essayist, critic and television commentator. He has served since 1987 as an artistic consultant at Lincoln Center and is a co-founder of the department known as Jazz at Lincoln Center. In 1993, he received both the Jean Stein Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a MacArthur Foundation grant. He is now working on a biography of Charlie Parker.

Overview of NY Daily News:

The Daily News of New York City is the 7th largest daily newspaper in the United States with a circulation of 795,000.[1] The paper, the first U.S. daily printed in tabloid form, first rolled off the printing presses in 1919. It is owned and run by Mortimer Zuckerman.

Overall, what I am trying to say each of you is: If someone such as Stanley Couch could go to my College Prep blog and see how it can make a differences in many African Americans and other Minorities lives, then you too could circulate the information to your friends, email buddies, church members, add to your youth links, etc. The information on the blog is priceless. It only require you to read and make use of. The sad thing is many African American don't know how to get on the College Preparation Timelines and they rely on others to say "do it now" and when they don't have that link to others, they get left behind. Let us stop relying on others, but in turn rely on ourselves. I know my blog works and I have results from my children and alot of other students/parents, so let us use it. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

College Prep Timeline

High School Freshman

Fall

Map out the classes you’ll need to take for the next four years in preparation for college admissions.
Take the most challenging course of study available.
Join clubs and activities in your area of interest.
Meet with your school’s guidance counselor to discuss courses and extracurricular activities.
Start building relationships with teachers, counselors and activity supervisors. This will help you obtain recommendations for college later.
Select a volunteer organization you'd like to get involved with.
Become familiar with the standardized tests you need to take.
Begin to discuss college costs parents/guardians.
Meet with your school's guidance counselor to discuss plans for summer and next fall.
Apply for summer jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities.

High School Sophomores

Fall

Begin taking on leadership roles in clubs and activities.
Begin thinking about potential colleges to attend.
Sign up for FastWeb’s College Search to find the right school for you.
Register with http://www.fastweb.com/to find scholarship money.
Make an appointment to talk with your guidance counselor.
Strengthen relationships with teachers, counselors and activity advisors. This will help you obtain recommendations for college later.
Become familiar with the standardized tests you need to take.
Attend college fairs and speak to on-campus college representatives.
Research summer programs for college prep.

Spring

Begin to discuss college costs with parents/guardians.
Meet with your school's guidance counselor to discuss plans for summer and next fall.

High School Juniors

Fall

Take the most challenging academic schedule you can.
It shows admissions officers that you're ready for a competitive college environment.
Research prospective colleges. Sign up for FastWeb’s College Search to find the right school for you.
Attend college fairs and speak to on-campus college representatives.
Register, prepare for and take the PSAT/NMSQT.
Begin studying for the SAT or ACT.
Register with http://www.fastweb.com/to find scholarship money.
Take leadership roles in clubs, activities and volunteer organizations.
Begin to consider which teachers, advisors or employers you might use for college recommendations.
Explore financial aid options with your parents/guardians.

February-March

Apply for scholarships.
Visit prospective colleges during spring break.
SAT is offered in March. Get all current school year test dates.
Continue discussing college costs and options with your parents/guardians.
Put together your resume including academic record, extracurricular activities, honors and volunteer work.

April-May

Check academic requirements for your prospective schools. Summer is the best time to fill any gaps.
ACT is offered in April. Get all current school year test dates.
SAT is offered in May. Get all current school year test dates.

June-August

College visits to prospective colleges.
Be sure to talk with current students about the school.
Athletes should register with the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse at the end of the academic year.
Request applications and brochures from your top colleges.
Get started on college application essays writing sample drafts.
Take some time out to prepare for your standardized tests.

High School Seniors

June – August (after Junior Year)

Need to tour the colleges you are interested in attending.
Use following URL to perform college searches:
http://click.collegeboard.com/8315050.18487.10831166.420
You may also go to US News Best College at:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cohome.htm

September

Request applications and brochures from your target colleges.
Sign up for FastWeb's. The website is http://www.fastweb.com/ .
Don’t forget to get the application from your local college.
Create a folders and a filing system for your target schools.
Make a list of application requirements (essays, transcripts, ect).
Note the application deadline on each file folder.
Record the local and/or 800 number for each school.
Schedule college interviews with prospective schools.
Set up a budget for college application costs – they can add up.
Check to see if you can get waivers on your application fees.
Request letters of recommendation with a 2-week notice.
Make sure that the letters are grammatically correct.
Make sure letters are positive.
Work on application essays.
Make sure that you are unique and different.
Create your business cards to be handout.
Make sure that you include your college choices on your ACT/SAT.
Find and apply for as many scholarships as you can.

October

Talk to your parents about college cost.
Decide how much you can afford.
Explore your options for funding.
Request transcripts sent to your target schools.
SAT is offered in October. ACT is offered in October.
ACT URL/website is:
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html
SAT URL/website info is:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html

November

If you're applying Early Action or Early Decision, get your application in
this month.
Keep copies of all applications and forms sent to colleges.
Request test scores sent to colleges.
Make sure that everything that is required in the application/scholarship
packet has been done and sent off.

December

Work on college applications!
SAT is offered in December. ACT is offered in December.

January

File or apply for FAFSA after January 1.
Check with your prospective colleges about additional financial aid
application forms and requirements.
Send mid-year reports to colleges, if necessary.
Verify that colleges have received your applications.
Send thank-you notes to your recommendation sources.

February

Review the SAR (Student Aid Report) to make sure it is
correct.

March-April

Check the mail for admissions letters and financial aid awards.
Compare your admissions offers. Ask your guidance counselor to help
you weigh your options.
Contact financial aid office if you have any special financial aid
circumstances.
If waitlisted, notify the admissions office if you're still interested.
Plan your summer internship, job or program.

May

Notify (in writing) the schools you have decided not to attend.
Make sure you've received the necessary forms for housing, health
insurance, financial aid, etc.
Pursue additional student loan options.
Notify colleges of any private scholarship awards.

June-August

Have your final transcripts sent to your new school.
Research banking options near your college.
Double-check any final deadlines for housing, financial aid, etc.
Set up a projected first-year college budget.

Preparing for the ACT/SAT Exams

I am often reminded of the students that I and others have assisted or guided in workshops or through advice. Some of the students that stand out are those students that didn’t have a mentor, had low self-esteem or didn’t think that they could pass the exam or could even attend college.

I am especially pleased with Julian’s story. A student that wanted to attend college, but didn’t believe he could. At the time, Julian had just graduated with the “Class of 2008”, but during August of 2008, he had never applied for college or taken the ACT. But in my meeting with him, I felt he had a fire and desire to want to achieve and had the ability to do so. I advise him how to prepare for the ACT and to utilize the links on my blog, Planning and Preparing for College (Scholarships, Internships, Etc) located at http://www.ctherd.blogspot.com/ . He took the advice and took the ACT exam and scored a 21 on his first try which allowed him to be eligible for the TN Lottery and get assistance to attend college.

The reason the workshops were successful is because it taught students’ methods, techniques and to utilize practice exams to build up their test skills and speed. In the end, knowledge is powerful, if used properly.

Below are two technique documents (Math and Science) to be used as tips along with suggested websites to practice the ACT/SAT with:

Tips for Math and Science:

Math Problems

Scientific Methods

Go to Practice Links section on the right side of the blog.

Below are the next scheduled ACT and SAT dates:

ACT Exam Dates Schedule:

Also visit http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html for additional registration dates.


SAT Exam Dates Schedule:

Also visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html for additional registration dates.