In fall 2017, nearly 650 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students registered for Montgomery College (MC) classes through the dual enrollment program. Whether they took MC classes offered at their high school, traveled to an MC campus, or signed up for an online class, these students enrolled in classes to receive college credit while completing their high school diploma. The college credits earned toward a degree at MC may be used to transfer to another college or university. All college classes appear on the high school transcript.

In addition to a robust dual enrollment program, Montgomery College and Montgomery County Public Schools developed other innovative programs designed to help students earn a college degree while still in high school

Middle CollegeLocated at Northwest and Northwood High Schools, Middle College provides students an opportunity to earn an associate of science degree in general engineering (Northwest) and an associate of associate of arts degree in general studies (Northwood). Students simultaneously earn a high school diploma. Montgomery College professors deliver classes at the high school in tenth and eleventh grade. In twelfth grade, students take classes at an MC campus.

Pathways in Network and Information TechnologyLocated at Clarksburg High School, but open to students in the Damascus, Seneca Valley, and Watkins Mill high school clusters, this program offers students the ability to earn an associate of applied science degree in network and information technology. Students in this program also earn a high school diploma. Montgomery College professors deliver classes at Clarksburg High School in tenth and eleventh grade. In twelfth grade, students attend classes at a Montgomery College campus.

Early CollegeThe Early College program, open to all qualified MCPS high school students entering eleventh grade in the fall, enables students to complete an associate’s degree in mathematics or secondary education mathematics. In eleventh and twelfth grade, students enroll in courses on a Montgomery College campus to complete their degree as well as their high school diploma by transferring the college credits back to their home high school.

For more information on these programs, visit montgomerycollege.edu/dep or email Elena.Saenz@montgomerycollege.edu or Genevieve_L_Floyd@mcpsmd.org.

Genevieve Tan (center, holding robot) joined MC’s Swarmathon robotics competition team in twelfth grade. She will receive an associate’s degree in engineering from Montgomery College shortly before she graduates from Northwest High School in June.

A service of the Montgomery College– Montgomery County Public Schools Partnership. Rockville, MD 20850

May• Compare offers of admission and financial aid; discuss them with

family and counselors.• Attend spring college events for admitted students.• Research housing choices and meal plans at colleges.• Scholarship applications are available. Go to MDgo4it.org for

applications.

June• Ask to shadow someone whose job interests you.• Get a summer job. Your high school Career Center may have job

listings that interest you.• Sign up for the ACT test by June 15; test is administered on July 14.

July• Check out the websites of colleges that interest you—read the

admissions section, take a virtual tour, and look at the courses offered.

• Work on special submissions for college applications: portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples.

• commonapp.org provides the Common Application, which many colleges use for admission; they may also require forms of their own.

• NACACnet.org lists regional college fairs.

August• Sign up for the ACT test by in August; test is administered on Sept. 8.• Type a personal profile so your counselor can have a guide when

writing your recommendations. List your goals, academic interests, achievements, volunteer and extracurricular activities, work experience, and problems you have overcome.

• Update your resume to include summer employment and volunteer activities.

• Check out studentaid.ed.gov and MDgo4it.org for financial aid information.

• Continue planning college visits—research dates, costs, etc.

• Get organized. Make separate files for each college and scholarship program.

• Practice writing online applications: fill out rough drafts; don’t submit them.

September• Sign up for the SAT test by Sept. 7; test is administered on Oct. 6.• Sign up for the ACT test in September; test is administered on Oct. 27.• Mark the calendar with admission and financial aid deadlines. • Visit colleges—and don’t just take the tour. Schedule an admissions

interview if possible. Send thank-you notes to interviewers.• Take on leadership roles in your school or community.• Begin drafting college application essays. (Yes, really.)• Review your transcript—check for errors and make sure it shows any

high school credits you earned in middle school.

October• Sign up for the SAT by Oct. 5; test is administered on Nov. 3.• The earlier you apply to some colleges, the better your chances

might be for admission.• Should you use the Common Application? See commonapp.org

and individual colleges for details. • Keep a copy of every form you submit.• Talk with teachers and counselors about recommendations—to ask

for recommendations, discuss your interests and college choices. Give each teacher/counselor your resume along with stamped, addressed envelopes.

• Finalize portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples, or other required special submissions.

• After drafting applications, let them sit for a few days and then proofread. Proofread from a paper copy.

• Financial aid information is available from colleges; get it and check the due dates.

• Apply for scholarships.Source: mhec.state.md.us

IMPORTANT dates and deadlines 2018

Advice for Montgomery County Parents and Students on College Preparation • Spring 2018

Montgomery College

Have a question? Please contact:Dr. Elena Saenzelena.saenz@montgomerycollege.edu

Dr. Genevieve FloydGenevieve_L_Floyd@mcpsmd.org

Ea rn Yo u r D i p lo ma — and a Col lege Degree

IS BIOTECHNOLOGY IN YOUR GENES?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that business and financial operations occupations will grow 10 percent by 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 773,800 new jobs.

At nearly 3,000 students—the College’s second largest program—the Department of Business Administration prepares nearly 450 students for graduation or transfer every year. The College’s agreements with schools like the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business and many others afford students opportunities to transfer seamlessly to four-year colleges and universities. The College offers courses in accounting, business administration, business law, economics, information systems, management, marketing, and more. To meet the needs of busy students, the College offers two fully online degrees: business administration and information systems. To enhance the educational program, the College provides two competitive business programs for which students can apply.

The Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Business Institute (MBI) is a competitive collegewide program offering business students an opportunity to pursue honors coursework in

business, accounting, and economics and focus on experiential learning. Students learn business and leadership skills and provide community service. Students meet and interact with business leaders and may qualify for a business internship. Students can apply for admission into the MBI to start either the fall or spring of their freshman year. The MBI also sponsors lectures that are open to the public.

The Hillman Entrepreneurs Program is a scholarship and educational program for aspiring entrepreneurs. The program supports, develops, and graduates ethical leaders who want to energize and give back to their local communities. The three year program is open to all sophomores in transferable majors starting at Montgomery College and finishing at the University of Maryland College Park. In addition to financial support, students receive one-on-one advising and mentoring, develop entrepreneurial/leadership skills, become members of a group of aspiring entrepreneurs, have summer internship opportunities, and earn an associate’s degree from Montgomery College.

For more information, visit montgomerycollege.edu/business

The Montgomery College Raptors athletic teams will become a Division I and II (team specific) scholarship-offering program on July 1, 2018. The National Junior College Athletic Association defines an athletic scholarship as any institutional athletic aid given to any student, from any source, based on his/her athletic capabilities.

The College envisions that the change in divisional status will have a positive effect on student enrollment, retention, and completion. Likewise, it will allow the Raptors teams to build a more robust and energetic athletic program with an opportunity to attract more diverse, high-achieving, and athletically gifted students. It will also enable

the College to retain more students who reside in Montgomery County and foster more community engagement. Additionally, the divisional change in status will bring MC more in line with the majority of community colleges that are already offering athletic scholarships.

The Raptors currently field teams in women’s volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball, and track and field, as well as men’s teams in soccer, basketball, baseball, and track and field.

For more information, contact greg.enloe@montgomerycollege.edu.

Bus i n e ss Is Boo m i ngat Montgomery Col lege

Ra pto rs Change Athletic Status

MC ShuttleFor your convenience, you can ride the MC Shuttle between campuses to meet your scheduling needs. The shuttles run between the Rockville and Germantown Campuses and the Rockville and Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campuses, Monday through Friday. Time schedules vary every semester.

The shuttle buses are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and are wheelchair accessible. Each campus has pick-up and drop-off stations. You can track the shuttles’ location by using the RLS Rider Systems mobile app; desktop users can visit montgomerycollege.ridesystems.net

DID YOUKN OW

?Take a class with Dr. Lori Kelman, whose innovative student-centered teaching methods earned her the 2017 Montgomery College Professor of the Year Award.

Dr. Kelman, who has taught an array of courses during her 17-year career at the College, is one of two full-time biotechnology professors. Some of her students have family or employment commitments that interfere with their ability to attend classes. She addressed this issue by developing a livestreaming model for the delivery of her classes. Students can attend class either in the physical classroom—or remotely via Blackboard Collaborate. Students not physically present in the classroom can interact with the professor directly and in real time through the features of the collaborate software.

Moreover, Kelman is an advocate for her students’ success both during their time at the College and after they leave to pursue their career. In addition to serving as editor for the scholarly journal, BIOS, and speaking at professional conferences, she serves as an academic advisor, fosters relationships with outside agencies for the biotechnology program, and spends countless hours growing and expanding the program.

Business Student Blends Experiences For Bethany Maczka, working as a barista at MBI Café, the student-run Starbucks on the Rockville Campus, is a way to de-stress. “Order an iced caramel macchiato with extra drizzle and there’s a good chance you’ll make my day,” she says. However, coffee is not the only thing brewing at Montgomery College for the Damascus High School graduate who is finishing her second year in the Macklin Business Institute (MBI).

Maczka blended many different experiences to make the most of her time at the College. Her 3.77 grade point average earned her entry in Phi Theta Kappa, the College’s honor society. As a member of the MBI, the honors business institute at MC, she participated in Enactus (ENtrepreneurial ACTion for others creates a better world for US all), a business competition inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action. She recently posted a vlog about the competition in Philadelphia for MC Voices, a first person blog and vlog series that gives a glimpse into life at MC.

Maczka’s life outside the College included serving as a board member at the Carl Freeman Foundation, which assists nonprofit organizations throughout the Maryland and Delaware area through grants and guidance. Her service at the Freeman Foundation sparked her interest in becoming a consultant for a nonprofit after she earns her bachelor’s degree.

While she waits to hear from transfer schools like University of Maryland, Northeastern, Dickinson, Stevenson, to name a few, Maczka will prepare for the national Enactus competition and finish her time at MC.

Maczka, whose sister, Caitlin, graduated from the College in 2013 as part of the Montgomery Scholars honors program, says, “My experience at MC has been fantastic. I like to think of my fellow students at MBI as ‘family.’ We do a lot of things together.” She says she likes the small class sizes at the College because she has developed close relationships with her professors.

To view Maczka’s vlogs, visit montgomerycollege.edu/mcvoices.

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