ACT info

Dear Parents,

You are already familiar with the College Board's "Scholastic Aptitude Test," known as the SAT. By now you will probably also have heard of the "American College Test," or ACT, a similar standardized exam for assessing educational development and scholastic aptitude. ACT originated in the Midwest, and it has been accepted or required by colleges and universities in many areas of the country for the past 50 years.

You can read more about the ACT here

At this time, more colleges and universities are accepting and looking at the ACT, even in those places where the SAT is required.

Why? The simple fact of the matter is: admissions professionals now openly admit that too often the SAT alone does not reflect accurately a student's education, aptitude & ability, and it is therefore time to move beyond the SAT. One result of this conclusion is the College Board's implementation of the SAT IIs, or SAT subject tests. Nevertheless, ACTs have also been recommended in those situations where the SAT does not sufficiently demonstrate a student's ability. Although used for a similar purpose, ACT is a different test and most students in fact seem to perform better on this test with less advance preparation.

With this in mind, please take note of the following free program offered at Katonah Village Library:

Prepare for ACT with Alan Sheptin
Free, registration required - 914-232-3508 or katref@wlsmail.org

Nov. 14, Sat., 10-1 p.m. In this session, students will sit for an ACT practice exam.

Nov. 21, Sat. 10-12:30 p.m. In this session, students will review the test they took, and Mr Sheptin will assist them with test-taking strategies.


Yours sincerely,

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Academic Guidance

Thursday, Oct 29 confirmed

Dear Parents,

I would like you-all to know that the College Information Round-Table will take place as proposed last week: Thursday, October 29th, from 6 to 8 PM. Montfort will provide water, coffee/tea and some light refreshments. It would be helpful, too, if your son or daughter is present - it is, after all, their future we're talking about!

I look forward to an interesting and constructive conversation with those of you who can attend. Thank you to all of you who have R.S.V.P.'d so far. Keep 'em coming!

Sincerely,
John Pilsner

College Information Round-Table: Thursday, October 29th, 6-8pm

Dear Parents,

Planning for college and filling out applications may seem like a no-brainer. You (or your son or daughter) call some colleges, the colleges send you packets (and packets, and more packets) of information with applications, which you then fill out online or in hard copy. This sequence may in fact describe the general application process for many people. But it is also true that many, many opportunities and resources are overlooked routinely. Keeping an open mind may eventually shed light on a college or program you hadn't heard of before, or a scholarship you hadn't known about, or a life-circumstance which affects your financial aid forms. Paying attention to detail on the application can actually make the difference in an acceptance or a scholarship.

It may also be a little too easy for us to forget that college discernment involves young person's call to holiness and service. Whether one will continue a structured education, in what environment, and with what ends in mind necessarily raises the question, "What does God want me to do with my life?" or "How do I want to live my life for God?" High school students have a golden opportunity to begin serious reflection - perhaps for the first time - on how to employ their God-given talents, intellectual abilities, personalities, and inclinations. They can - indeed they should - begin to dream about and, where possible, to explore college majors, professions, and occupations - all in the context of a single, married, or religious life.

That said, I would like to plan a round-table discussion about colleges and college applications, on Thursday, October 29th, from 6 - 8 PM. We can discuss such practical topics as:

* Shopping colleges, majors, and careers: what are some resources?
* Different learning environments: what urban, suburban, and rural campuses have to offer
* Maintaining and strengthening a Catholic and Christian identity during the college years
* Making the application the best it can be, even the common application
* Why paying close attention to the college essay benefits the applicant
* SATs & ACTs: what can we do about it now?
* Financial aid and loans: what's out there?

We aren't limited to these topics, but they will keep us busy for a while, I guarantee!

Lastly, before we write this on the calendar with electronic ink, I would like to get a general idea how many of you are interested in getting together. Therefore, please RSVP if you would seriously consider attending an information event. Let me know too, if you are interested but the date is not available. I'll do what I can to accommodate.

Pax et bonum,

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Guidance

Reminder: College Conference is tonight!

Dear Parents,

This is a reminder about the College Fair at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, tonight, Monday, October 19th, 6:30 - 9:00 PM. Over 40 Colleges will be represented, mostly from the Northeastern United States.

I was at the County Center just this afternoon for a seminar on college financial aid. They have a nice set up. It's not every day that you can talk to people from several colleges in one shot. College fairs can save you a lot of telephone time and leg-work down the road. And there are not only colleges but also guidance consultants from ACT, The College Board, career services, and other organizations.

There is a large, County Center parking lot right off of the Bronx River Parkway (a left turn if you're coming from the north), which makes getting there a lot easier.

As I said before, this would be a great time to explore the many different kinds of colleges by speaking with admissions representatives and sampling promotional materials.

The College Fair at Yorktown High School will take place from 6:30 - 9:00 PM tomorrow night.

Westchester-Putnam College Conferences


List of Colleges Attending


John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Guidance

Post-PSAT info

Dear Parents,

We would like to congratulate our 27 students who sat for the PSAT yesterday:

Charles Bachmann
Mary Boulton
Alexandra Brady
Patrick Coffman
Anthony DiProperzio
Kayleigh Fonseca
Nicholas Hanley
Martin Jennings
Patrick Jennings
Jackie Kane
Valerie Kaplan
Krishna Magalona
Joseph Margand
Grace McNamara
Brian Melendez
Rocco Palumbo
Erica Pereira
Emily Petrillo
Jack Petrillo
Shannon Primavera
John Ragbir
Charles Rex
Benjamin Rodriguez
Janna Rae Rosenthal
Madelaine Sansone
Andrew Tilley
Roger Wright

You could feel the heat from all those brains hard at work in one place! (actually, Room 7 was sort of toasty already). The exams were signed, sealed, and delivered to the College Board. The scores will be delivered to Montfort and to students' home addresses sometime in early December.

A little study goes a long way on these exams. The next step is take a good look at the strengths and weaknesses, individually and as a whole, so that we can address where and how to concentrate our study efforts for the year to come.

Congratulations, and prayers for high scores!

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Academic Guidance

College Fair!

Dear Parents,

Westchester-Putnam College Conferences is having their annual College Fair at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, on Monday, October 19th, 6:30 - 9:00 PM. (And the Northern Westchester College Conference at Yorktown High School will be on October 20, 2009, from 6:30 – 9:00.)

Over 40 Colleges will be represented, mostly from the Northeastern United States.

This would be a great time to explore the many different kinds of colleges by speaking with admissions representatives and sampling promotional materials. Those not immediately anticipating graduation can begin acquiring information, comparing and contrasting, and building a list of colleges you might like to look further into. Those graduating in 2010 will want to talk turkey with representatives, asking about specific majors, academic programs, campus housing and other facilities, financial aid, scholarships, and application deadlines.

Don't be afraid to pop them the big question: Why should I, a student from The Montfort Academy, go to your school instead of another one?

Westchester-Putnam College Conferences


List of Colleges Attending


I will be at the one in White Plains, and I'd be happy to help out in any way I can. Please let me know if you're interested. Happy hunting!

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Guidance

PSAT

Dear Parents,

The PSAT exam will be administered this Wednesday, October 14th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. There is a fee of $15, which can be paid with a check to The Montfort Academy. The fee pays for the scoring of the exam by the College Board and for the cost of shipping. If your son or daughter plans to take the exam on Wednesday (tomorrow) and has not yet submitted a check, please have them bring one with him or her.

Thank you and best wishes to all our students on their exam.


Sincerely,

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Guidance

To Study or Not to Study for the PSAT?

Dear Montfort Parents,

To Study or Not to Study for the PSAT? This question has been raised since the practice exam.

According to the College Board, "Spending your school years taking challenging academic courses and reading widely is the best way to get ready for the PSAT/NMSQT."

That said, taking academic courses is not the only way to prepare. The College Board provides two main avenues for extended practice:

1) The booklet which comes with the PSAT practice exam. Those who took the timed practice session last Friday already have this booklet, and I will make sure those who didn't attend have one as well. It contains detailed instructions and guided demonstrations for each section.

2) A practice section on the College Board web site, where the student can read through some test tips and practice answering a few questions. See here for more.

Eager beavers can purchase additional resources, such as the Princeton Review guide.

At this preliminary stage, the first goal should be attaining a level of familiarity with the test format. Having some advance knowledge of what to expect reduces test anxiety and nurtures the kind of focus needed to answer all the questions within the time frame.

After the PSAT, the student can "graduate" to an SAT study guide, such as this one published by the College Board, or the guide prepared by the Princeton Review.


I hope this information is helpful. Have a great day!

Totus tuus,

John Pilsner

Congrats, PSAT Pioneers!

Dear Montfort Parents,

We would like to congratulate the 19 students who stayed two and a half hours late on Friday afternoon to test their skills on the practice PSAT:


Charlie Bachmann
Mary Boulton
Alexandra Brennan
Patrick Coffman
Anthony DiProperzio
Kayleigh Fonseca
Nicholas Hanley
Krishna Magalona
Joseph Margand
Grace McNamara
Rocco Palumbo
Erica Pereira
Emily Petrillo
Jack Petrillo
Shannon Primavera
Charles Rex
Benjamin Rodriguez
Janna Rosenthal
Roger Wright

What did we accomplish? Whether our students are honing their skills or sizing up the exam for the first time, all benefit from assessing the procedures and questions in each of the five sections and from exploring some of the strategies needed to answer all the questions within a limited time frame. This practice is a "psyche-up," not a "psyche-out," for the official PSAT as well as the SAT!

In order to measure their progress on future exams, I have asked each of the students to calculate his or her score, as described on the final pages of the exam booklet, and to tell me what that score is. I, in
turn, will calculate collective and class averages for verbal, math, and writing. Please encourage your son or daughter to follow through and assure them that their practice scores will not be disclosed. If there are any questions, I can help.

Thank you one and all for cooperating in this important endeavor.

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Guidance
The Montfort Academy

Monday, Oct. 5:

Dear Montfort Parents,

Katonah Library is sponsoring the following talk on Monday, Oct. 5, suitable for all high school students & parents concerned about college applications:


October 5, 2009, 7 p.m.
Navigating the Common Application - Strategies for Success with College Admissions Pro Dr. Gay Stebbins Pepper.

This workshop addresses key topics in the common application that can increase a student’s chances of being admitted. Dr. Pepper will discuss strategies:

• on how to prepare the Activity Chart (required) and the Resume (optional)
• how to write a compelling Short Answer Essay
• for the “Additional Information” section
• for completing the college supplement on why you want to attend that college
• writing personal essays that convey the your “voice”

The key to writing a winning application is understanding what colleges are really looking for as they read your application, especially the personal essay. Students will critique actual college essays, as well as brainstorm ideas about their personal essays.


ABOUT THE LECTURER

Dr. Gay Stebbins Pepper holds a B.A. with Distinction from Stanford University, a Masters from Washington University in St. Louis, and a doctorate from Columbia University. She has been a leader in college counseling for over twenty-five years.


Hope to see you there!

John Pilsner
Director of College Admissions and Guidance
The Montfort Academy