Greeting 1 Greeting/

Announcements

1

Personal Statement 1

Spring Checklist 2

SAT Questions 2

Test Strategies 2

Personal Statement

cont.

3

College Pick 3

Scholarships 4

Inside this issue:

A Sunnyside Community Services College Readiness Program Publication

FAFSAs, CSS Profiles, TAP applications, verification forms, college

acceptances, rejection letters, waitlists, scholarship searches, final college

choices by May 1st… when will it end?!?! Soon, my dear graduating

seniors will be entering their first undergraduate year at college.

SENIORS: Be on the look out for the mailing for the Freshman

Readiness Workshop: The ultimate preparation for entering college on

Saturday, May 16th. To RSVP, please contact us at (718) 784-6173

ext.436. SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS: Get in gear! Make sure you

register for the SATs and SAT2s by April and schedule a college advise-

ment appointment. And don’t forget to contact us before spring break to

pre-register for our integral One Step Forward Summer College Readi-

ness Program. Don’t miss it: its going to be a hot one! Hahahahahahaha-

THE COLLEGE FRONT

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 2 MARCH/APRIL 2009

www.nymentor.com

www.petersons.com

www.collegeboard.com

www.kaptest.com

www.collegenet.com

www.nasfaa.com

www.fastweb.com

www.xap.com

www.efollett.com

www.aworkout.com

www.finaid.com

www.allaboutcollege.com

www.dictionary.com

www.campustours.com

www.usnews.com

www.students.gov

7:00 am. August 15, 2001. As I put on my sari to be ready for my five-year-old brother’s head-shaving ceremony, the sounds of Hindi film music filled my ears. While the women prepared roti and daal in the cramped kitchen downstairs, I peered outside the rusty window at Baruch, the small town where my mother grew up. After the generations of Shahs who were raised there, the village seemed unchanged. Immersed in Indian culture, the realization dawned on me that my heritage would become a barrier merely seven years later.

My family tree of women consists of mostly housewives, a few computer programmers, with lawyers and a teacher, sprinkled amongst them.

Most of the men’s careers have not gone beyond becoming pharmacists. My mother constantly reminds me, “The only way I was able to go to college in India was because my brother paid for me.” New York City public schools, however, have opened my eyes to immense and countless opportunities not presented within my rigid culture. The collision between American customs and my heritage has given rise to my breaking of traditions.

3:00 pm. August 15, 2008. “But you’re an Indian girl.” The samosas in my hand lost their spicy taste as anger welled up within me. My pale complexion turned deep scarlet. “What is that supposed to mean?” I

asked my neurosurgeon cousin-in-law. He stood there with a smug look on his 33-year-old face as if I were supposed to understand why I would not be able to attain my goal of becoming a surgeon. My sister and two female cousins came to my aid, honed as aspiring employment and real estate lawyers, respectively. They subsequently jumped down his throat, realizing that despite society’s predisposition towards chauvinism, my life-long ambition had the right to be fulfilled.

My dream all started in the doctor’s office where hundreds of questions filled my baffled mind. With the cold steel of the stethoscope on my heart, I deeply

Continued on page 3

College/University Preparation Timeline PAGE 2 THE COLLEGE FRONT VOLUME 6, I SSUE 2 PAGE 2

April

Congratulations! You’re almost fin-ished. By now you should have most of your decision letters. If you’ve been wait-listed, contact the admissions office to show interest. And keep in mind: most likely you will have a great time wherever you end up. Study financial aid offers; you need to decide by May 1st.

May

You’ll start receiving registration ma-terials this month. Are you going to live on campus or off? Remember that besides tuition and housing, there will be books, transportation, student fees, living expenses (and movies and pizza) to pay for while attending college classes. Look for summer employment to help supplement some of your mi-nor college costs.

March/April

With your parents or a counselor, make a list of schools to visit during spring break (or in summer and fall). If possible, it is best to go while classes are in session. Some schools even help you arrange an overnight stay in a dorm, or lunch with students in the cafeteria, if you ask in advance. Register for May and June SATs, SAT IIs and, if neces-sary, ACTs. Begin researching scholarships. Identify possible summer programs, intern-ships and volunteer opportunities for the coming months. Keep your grades up to maintain a solid GPA. Begin your student profile and prospective college list.

May

Take the AP tests if eligible; plan to take the June SAT or ACT and SAT IIs. If you have the time, find a summer job that will boost your skills or savings. Visit college cam-puses. Brainstorm topics for your per-sonal statement/college essay(s). Com-plete numerous versions of your opening paragraph. Review your ideas/drafts with

April

Talk to your guidance counselor and your parents about whether you should take summer school classes to improve your grades, fit in a needed course or delve further into a subject you like.

May

Figured out you don’t need summer school? Look around for other constructive ways to spend your time off. Find an interesting summer job, or try an academic or arts camp.

June

Take the ACT or the June SAT IIs, if ap-propriate. But remember, once you request that your SAT scores be sent to a college,

that school will see scores from every SAT II you’ve previously taken. Begin studying for the fall PSATs and create a profile with The College Board.

Answer to Last Issues’ Questions:

Math: A, Writing: B, Latin: B,

Critical Reading: B,

Chemistry: A, French: C

Physics: D, Spanish: D

Can you answer these SAT questions? See the next issue for answers.

Critical Reading

Writing

With ______ a thought for his own safety,

Gene ______ dashed back across the courtyard.

(a) even .. quickly

(b) scarcely .. nimbly

(c) barely .. cautiously

(d) seldom .. swiftly

(e) hardly .. randomly

The pump having been repaired, my cousin

could turn on the heating system once again.

(a) The pump having been repaired,

(b) Because the pump is repaired,

(c) The pump’s having been repaired,

(d) The pump has been repaired so that

(e) Having the pump repaired,

Math IIC

If matrix A has dimensions m x n and matrix B has

dimensions n x p, where m, n, and p are distinct

positive integers, which of the following statements

must be true?

I. The product BA does not exist.

II. The product AB exists and has dimensions m x p.

III. The product AB exists and has dimensions n x n.

(a) I only

(b) II only

Math

The vertices of a triangle are (3,1), (8,1), and (8,3).

What is the area of this triangle?

(a) 5 (b) 10 (c) 12

(c) III only

(d) I and II

(e) I and III

World History

The Aztec viewed the Toltec as

(a) barbarian who lacked culture

(b) Slaves, fit only for conquest

(c) The givers of civilization

(d) Heretics who practiced a forbidden religion

(e) The greatest rivals of the Aztec dominance of the

valley of Mexico

(d) 14

(e) 20

Top 10

Test Strategies

1. Know the directions cold.

2. Be careful filling out your answer sheet.

3. Know what the question is asking, and predict the answer.

4. Don’t answer the question in order.

5. Look for quick points if you’re running out of time.

6. Make educated guesses.

7. Back solve.

8. Consider your essay carefully.

9. Use the information given.

10. Keep track of time.

PAGE 3 THE COLLEGE FRONT VOLUME 6, I SSUE 2

and made a deep cut into the man’s chest cavity, allowing the crimson blood to gush out. The patient has waited for this heart transplant for two extensive years, and his life is now in my hands. Lifting the rib cage to extract the failing heart, all that I had been taught came rushing back to me. There I stood, back in the motherland to reciprocate what it has given to me.

Continued from page 1

inhaled and exhaled. “I hear a squeaking sound. Yes, it’s a heart murmur.” My cardiac muscle beat faster, or squeaked, as Dr. Miranda had assessed. Seeing the worried look on my mother’s face only made me more nervous. “This is nothing to worry about, but we will have to keep track of it every year to check for any changes,” the pediatrician stated calmly. This riveting experience triggered the spark which ignited my

Location: The 1,000-acre campus, which includes a wildlife preserve and forest, is situated on a hill overlooking

the town of Amherst, MA.

Admission: The Amherst College Admissions staff consider academic GPA, application essays, character/ per-

sonal qualities, extracurricular activities, first generation, recommendation(s), rigor of secondary school record

and standardized test scores (mean SAT scores: Critical Reading 708, Math 707, Writing 706) as very important

factors. Important factors considered include alumni/ae relation, class rank and volunteer work.

Students: 52% of Amherst’s 1,683 undergraduates are male while 48% are female. 87% are from out of state; 7%

are international students representing 39 countries. About 9% are African American, 13% are Asian, 45% are

Caucasian and 6% are Hispanic. Student to Faculty Ratio: 8:1.

Faculty: Ninety-three percent of full-time faculty holds a doctorate in their fields.

Quick Amherst Facts: Amherst is a member of the Five Colleges, a consortium with nearby Smith, Mount Holy-

oke and Hampshire Colleges and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst — substantially increases the

number and kinds of courses and programs students may enroll in. Students may attend classes at these other

schools. Classes at Amherst are exceptionally small, even by liberal arts college standards.

For more information on Amherst, visit www.amherst.edu.

Sources: www.amherst.edu, Kaplan’s The Unofficial Biased

Guide to the 331 Most Interesting Colleges 2005, Princeton

Review’s The Best 366 College 2008 Amherst College

passion for science. Why should I not be equipped with the knowledge to help others? Becoming a surgeon does not conform to the traditional expecta-tions of women in Indian culture, yet while I am painted by the bright colors America has to offer, my heritage will continue to be the propelling force be-hind my dream.

5:00 am. August 15, 2018. Scalpel. My steady hand took the sharp, stainless steel blade

Save the

Date!

For more scholarship opportunities, see

Peter or Carole in the college office.

The Zinch.com New York

Scholarship

Description: The scholarship is open to US citi-

zens who live in New York State. Applicants

must be a graduating senior planning to enroll

part or full time at a four-year college/university.

Students must fill out a zinch.com profiles. Win-

ners are chosen based on merit, student needs

and the zinch.com profile.

Deadline: May 25, 2009

Award Amount: varies $1,000-$5,000

AHPA Get Ready Scholarship

Description: The scholarship is open to high

school seniors graduating in 2009. Applicants

must write an essay between 500 to 1,000

words describing the importance of

emergency preparedness by incorporating the

themes l i s t ed on t he w eb s i t e :

www.getreadyforflu.org/scholarship.

Deadline: April 6, 2009

Award Amount: $500

Knights of Pythias Poster Contest

Description: The poster contest is open to high

school students in grades 9-12 in the United

States and Canada. Applicants must create a

poster entitled, ―Volunteer-Make A Difference In

Your Community‖. Applicants must follow the

rules and regulations on the sponsor’s website:

www.pythias.org.

Deadline: April 30, 2009

Award Amount: varies $100-$1,000

The Sir John M. Templeton

Fellowships Essay Contest

Description: The competition is open to

anyone under the age of 35 who is currently

enrolled or expecting to enroll full or part

time at a two or four year college. Applicants

must submit an essay on the topic outlined on

the website: www.independent.org/student/

essay. Student applicants may be citizens of

any country.

Deadline: May 1, 2009

Award Amount: $1,000-$2,500

Signet Classic Scholarship

Essay Contest

Description: The contest is open to high school

juniors and seniors. Applicants must submit a two

– to three–page double spaced essay answering

one of the three possible questions on a designated

novel. Entries must be submitted by a high school

English teacher. Novel and contest rules can be

found at www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/

services-academic/essayhome.html.

Deadline: April 15, 2009

Award Amount: $1,000

Holocaust Remembrance

Project Essay Contest

Description: The contest is open to high

school students who are residents of

the United States and Mexico under the age of

19. Applicants must submit an essay of no

more than 1,200 words on one of the topics

o u t l i n e d o n t h e w e b s i t e :

www.holocaust.hklaw.com.

Deadline: April 30, 2009

Award Amount: varies $2,500-$10,000

Student View Scholarship

Description: The scholarship is open to all high school seniors regardless of academic achievement or

financial need. Applicants must complete a 15-20 minute online survey about local colleges. Students

are automatically entered into a random drawing for a scholarship award: www.student-view.com.

Deadline: April 19, 2009

Award Amount: $500-$4,000