Register now for the PSAT

Dear Parents,

First, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all new Montfort parents and students. I look forward to meeting all of you and sharing with you the journey of secondary education, national testing, and college preparation!

Believe it or not, the deadline is fast approaching for ordering the Preliminary SAT (PSAT), to be administered Wednesday, October 13, 2010. This test mirrors the SAT in its format, but with content suited to a second-year high school student. All rising sophomores are asked to participate in this test, which is a crucial step toward preparing for the SAT. Not only is the PSAT an essential practice tool, helpful in understanding individual strengths and deficiencies, but handsome scholarships are also offered to sophomores who score exceptionally well (that is, a fraction of the top one percent).

We also invite rising juniors and incoming freshmen to take the PSAT. For juniors, it provides a structured environment in anticipation of their first SAT trial; for freshmen, it provides a preliminary glimpse into the world of aptitude test-taking and helps them to assess the skills needed to succeed. Since the scores are not sent to prospective colleges and are not recorded on the student transcript, it is truly a low-stakes test.

The cost is a modest $15, which covers both scoring the test and mailing. Payment will be collected in September.

At this point, we need a show of participation. Would you like your daughter or son to take the PSAT? Please send an email confirmation to me by Tuesday, June 1st so that we can order enough copies of the test.

Thank you for your reply. We wish all our students the blessings of memory, intellectual acuity, and inspiration as they study for final exams and regents!


Yours sincerely in Christ,

John Pilsner
Testing Coordinator
Academic Guidance Counselor
Director of College Admissions

Ivy Insiders Test Prep

Dear Parents of Juniors and Sophomores,

Caitlyn Sommers, Branch Manager for Ivy Insiders and a U. Penn junior, will be teaching a three-week preparation course for a select group of students (limited to about 10) here at Montfort, from July 19th to August 9th. Classes will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9am to 1pm on Mondays and from 9am to 12pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. It is best to start early, before the temperature climbs to the hottest part of the day. Attached you will find impressive promotional literature from Ivy Insiders and a class calendar for Montfort. Caitlyn will visit Montfort before the year's end, so that parents and students can meet the teacher. You can also view Caitlyn's profile here.

Preparation is a must for juniors, and sophomores have a golden opportunity to overcome SAT jitters and get on the straight and narrow path to higher scores. This year once again it is evident that students with good SAT scores are offered more substantial merit scholarships - as much as several thousand dollars more per year - and are able to gain entry to colleges and universities with reputations for a higher standard of education. Surely this is an investment with a quick return!

The cost for the course is $599 ($100 less than last year), payable on the web site or by check. Click here to enroll on Caitlyn's Instructor page.

Here is also a link to the course schedule offered at Montfort.

I would happy to discuss this course or any other options with you. Whatever you do, please form a clear and definitive plan.

Sincerely,
John Pilsner

College Money Matters

Dear Parents,

If you are looking for some practical strategies of this nature, please see the "free," practical advice published by Simple Tuition, a partner of the Princeton Review (it's only 5 pages). Most of the ideas seem to me smart and sensible.

Yours in Christ,
John Pilsner

Go to
Get The Complete Guide to a Better Financial Aid Offer and click on the green "download" button on the lower left.

SAT insider info:

Dear Parents of Juniors and Sophomores,

Congratulations on the juniors' first expedition into the world of official SAT testing! Now they know the test is not a push-over. It requires specific academic skills and lots of practice. These skills are not simply test-related but are useful for life, ordinary and professional.

At many college institutions, SATs are weighted equally (or nearly equally) with academic average in the scholarship formulas. Therefore a good score will improve a student's chances for merit-based scholarships significantly.

The juniors learned that they will have to work harder if they want to improve their scores. This means we must act in a determined and concerted way to do better. When it comes to college scholarships, SAT preparation is one of the wisest investments you can make.

And so I propose that each and every junior (and ambitious sophomores too!) enroll in the SAT preparation course which will be offered at Montfort this summer by Caitlyn Sommers, a current junior at the University of Pennsylvania and branch manager for "Ivy Insiders," a top-tier SAT/ACT preparation service staffed by Ivy League students. (See Caitlyn's profile here).

Caitlyn, herself a high-achiever on the SAT, knows the ropes of the test and will be able to show our students how to get there step-by-step. We will make the course as affordable as possible for the students, well below the current rates for Kaplan and similar courses - and more effective at the same time.


ACTs

Juniors must also think seriously about taking the ACTs, a nationally recognized alternative to the SATs. Many students from our area have found that they can score better on the ACTs than the SATs. I myself have seen this work. When your ACT score reaches a higher national percentile than your SATs - bingo! - you make it into a better scholarship category, even though the college has both scores. (Admissions counselors do not "average" the two scores.)


SUBJECT TESTS

Next, we have to talk about SAT subject tests. There are several reasons to take them. First, they are required for applications to the better colleges. Second, they show your achievement in an areas not covered by the SAT general test. You should take two or more subject tests in the areas where you do best. Third, SAT subject tests demonstrate to a college that you are developing special interests, and they like that. It tells them more about you. It also gives you a chance to "show off." Even if your score is not off the charts, chances are your ability will shine through. Subjects tests are offered in: Literature, Biology E/M, Chemistry, Physics, U.S. History, World History, Mathematics (level 1 and 2), Italian, and Latin.


REGISTRATION

I have already encouraged juniors to enroll in subject tests for May 1st. Another opportunity is coming soon after, June 5th. Although this is Montfort's graduation day, you should not miss a valuable opportunity to show what you have learned this year, especially in Literature and US History, two courses with AP-approved curricula. You can register on the College Board web site.

Juniors: Don't wait, act now! Sophomores: Get ready to spring into action!
It's your future...and God has big plans for you!!!

Sincerely,
John Pilsner

Well done, Montfort senior John Kret!

Below is Montfort senior John Kret's acceptance letter into the Merchant Marine Academy. Click on the letter for a larger view. Click here to read about the prestigious Merchant Marine Academy. And congrats to you, John!

SAT Prep Reminder:

Dear Parents,

Tomorrow, which is Tuesday, February 9th, Mr. Antonios will host our second SAT preparation session in mathematics. This class is especially critical for all juniors, whose first SAT general test is fast approaching (March 13th). Kudos to several sophomores who are benefiting as well, looking ahead to next year's challenges. In this class, please be prepared to:

*
Correct remaining problems from previous practice test and/or hand out solutions
*
Go over some important strategies and recommendations
*
Review a few basic Algebra concepts
*
Hand out a practice section as a homework

Those who attended the previous class in mathematics should bring the homework. Attendance will be taken.

From the class which I conducted last Tuesday in vocabulary and semantics ("Sentence Completion"), it is clear that a few basic strategies often yield immediate results. Therefore we can't afford to miss out on these opportunities to work together and achieve better results!

Yours sincerely in Christ,
John Pilsner

SAT Registration Deadline!

Dear Parents of Juniors,

I am sending this message separately to call your attention to the urgent deadline approaching. We are encouraging registration for the SAT on March 13th for very practical reasons. The only other testing date for the general SAT before the end of the school year is June 5th, which conflicts with Montfort's Graduation.

It is also critical that students have adequate time to study for the SAT II exams, to be taken on May 1st. Taking the SAT IIs in Literature and History at this time corresponds to the Advanced Placement curricula they have been following this year.

So please register within the next couple of days: here.

Both the SAT I and the SAT IIs should be taken again in the fall, after a summer of more intense preparation.

Thank you, and God bless!
John Pilsner