Gear Up

nygearup.syr.eduJanuary 2011

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NY GEARUP at Yonkers takes on SU

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‘Other Roads’ at ITC

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The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) is the state agency that has been designated by the Governor’s office to administer the NY

GEARUP Program. Funding for NY GEA-RUP is provided by a grant from the U.S.

Department of Education. NY GEARUP at Syracuse University re-

ceives $567,000 in funding that is matched 100 percent by in-kind services for a total

funding of $1,340,000.HESC helps people pay for college by

providing a comprehensive range of finan-cial aid services, including the Tuition Assis-tance Program, guaranteeing student loans, and administering the nationally recognized

New York’s College Savings Plan.New York State is a leader in the national financial aid community, providing more

grant money to college students than any other state.

STAFF

What is NY GEARUP?NY GEARUP is based out of Syracuse University’s School of Education. NY GEARUP works in the Syracuse City School District with the class of 2011 at Corcoran, Fowler, Henninger, ITC and Nottingham high schools.

GEARUP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. It’s a national initiative to create innovative programs with the goal of increasing college awareness for students and their families. GEARUP also helps students develop the skills necessary to pursue education after high school.

To achieve its mission, NY GEARUP organizes college visits, tutoring and mentoring, college awareness and exploration activites, and educational planning and workshops.

Interested in Writing?For those students in the NY GEA-

RUP program that are graduating in 2011 and are interested in writing for Eagle Newspaper’s NY GEARUP edi-tion, please contact Caitlin Donnelly at [email protected].

[email protected] 443.7848

Twitter: NYGEARUPFacebook: NYGEARUP@

Syracuse UniversityRadio: StepIt UP! on

Power106.9

Contact us:

Message from the

DirectorMarissa Joy Mims

Director

Caitlin DonnellyEagle Newspapers Editor

Carolyn ClarkNY GEARUP Media Editor

Ana Maria PanaiguaLatisha Lindo

Reporters

Malea Perkins NY GEARUP Office Coordinator

Luz Encarnacion Outreach Coordinator

January is the first month of Regents testing for the cohort during their senior year, and NY

GEARUP has offered tutoring for students to prepare them for these exams. There are many students who still need to pass one or more Regents in order to graduate. There will be another opportunity for students to take the Regents during the school year in June, however, with one more test date in August. It has been challeng-ing to raise a sense of urgency in students about the Regents ex-ams. We have developed a media campaign with our partner, Clear Channel, targeting both parents and students. Our message is simple: Get focused so you can pass your Regents exams, because time is running out.

Last month we had our first

“Other Roads Workshop” at the Institute of Technology. Students heard an inspirational message from Caly Givens, a 2003 gradu-ate of Corcoran High School, who participate in the On Point for College program and went on to successfully complete col-lege despite many personal chal-lenges. After Caly’s talk with the students, representatives from numerous educational and job training programs spoke with stu-dents about alternative pathways after high schools. I would like to that Nicole McDonald, guidance counselor at IT and Malea Per-kins, NY GEARUP Office Coordi-nator, for making this event such a success. We look forward to our next “Other Roads Workshop” which will be held at Nottingham High School in March.

The Step It UP! radio show is

going well. This spring, I will be giving a presentation on the col-laboration between Clear Chan-nels and NY GEARUP at the New York State GEAR UP Conference in Saratoga Springs. This part-nership has allowed us to reach a wide range of constituents. Students will also be attending the state conference and have the op-portunity to meet with their peers from across the state. This will be our final state conference for this grant cycle. I am looking forward to sharing many wonderful memo-ries of my time as directors of all the NY GEARUP projects share best practices and plan for future GEARUP programs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!MARISSA J. MIMS

PHOTOS bY CAITLIN DONNELLY

COVER: Students from the NY GEARUP at Yonkers cohort enjoy a visit to the Carmelo K. Anthony Bas-ketball Center on Saturday Dec. 4.RIGHT: Crouse College leaves Yonkers students in awe during the first official snowfall of the season.

NY GEARUP, JANUARY �011 /�

Message from the Director....................................... 2Table of contents ........................................................ 3Calendar of events...................................................... 4January 2011 Regents exams ................................... 5For the Parents..................................................... 6 & 7Achievements........................................................ 8 & 9NY GEARUP at Yonkers visits SU ................10 & 11 ‘Other Roads’ at ITC .................................. .............12The College Interview .............................. .............. 13NY GEARUP, La Liga bilingual GED program ..... 14The back Page ........................................................... 15College of the Month: SUNY Oneonta ............... 16

What’s inside


JANUARY Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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*** This is NOT a complete list of events and activites, as new events are added daily. Please visit us on Facebook (NY GEARUP @ Syracuse University) or Twitter

(NYGEARUP) for a more up-to-date schedule of events.***

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Off- Winter break

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SU Regular Decision Application due!

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OffMartin Luther King Day

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Regent’s ExamsSee page 5 for full schedule


January 2011 Regents Exams

Students must pass—with a 65or higher—Integrated Algebra, Global History and Geography, U.S. History and

Government, Comprehensive English and one science regents of their choice.

Tuesday Jan. 258:30 a.m.

Living EnvironmentRCT Global Studies *

12:30 p.m.Algebra 2/ Trigonometry

RCT in Mathematics*

Wednesday Jan. 268:30 a.m.

Comprehensive FrenchComprehensive SpanishPhysical Setting/ Earth Science

RCT in U.S. History & Government*12:30 p.m.

Integrated Algebra

Thursday Jan. 278:30 a.m.

U.S. History & GovernmentGeometry

RCT in Science*12:30 p.m.

Physical Setting/ ChemistryPhysical Setting/ Physics

RTC in Reading*

Friday Jan. 288:30 a.m.

Global History and Geography

RCT in Writing*

The Schedule

The Regents Competency Test (RCT) are exams given to special education student with individualized needs or those seeking a high school diploma, but can’t pass the standard Regents exam with a 65 or above. Students are eligible for the RCTs until they graduate or they are 21. *

Regents exams are mandatory test

designed by the board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.

Exam Day Survival Tipsbefore the test3 Eat well. Studies show that you need good nutrition to concentrate and perform your best.3 Bring the right supplies. Bring your pencils, erasers, pens, rulers, compasses, calculators and whatever else you need on test day.3 Review the whole rest of the test before you start. See how many sec-

tions and what types of questions are on the test. Determine how much time to allow for completing each section. 3 Jot down your first thoughts. During your first scan of the test, make quick notes about your thoughts. For example, you may want to outline your answers to written-response and essay questions right away.

During the test3 Read the directions. It’s important that you follow the instructions exactly. For example, some questions may have more than one correct answer.3 Answer easy questions first. Doing this can jog your memory about useful facts. You may also come across information that can help you with other questions.3 Answer every question. Unless there is a penalty for wrong answers, try to answer every question; you may be able to get partial credit for those you begin but don’t complete correctly.3 Ask questions. If a question isn’t clear, talk to your teacher. If that’s not possible, explain your answer in the margin.

3 Identify key words. This helps you focus on the main idea of challenging questions.3 Rephrase difficult questions. To understand questions better, rewrite them in your own words. Be careful not to change the meaning.3 Organize your thoughts before you write. Take time to organize your responses to short-answer and essay questions. You’ll reduce the time you need to revise.3 Write neatly. Be sure you don’t lose points on answers the teacher can’t read.3 Use all the time you’re given. If you finish early, don’t leave. Use the extra time to proofread and review your answers.

Regents diploma

Advanced Regents diploma

Requirements

Sttudents must pass Integrated Algebra, an additional math exam, Global History and Geography, U.S. History

and Government, Comprehensive English and two science regents’ and a foreign language exam.


Parents

Figuring out how to pay for col-lege may be more daunting than completing the course work it takes to graduate. If you’re a parent or grandparent, you’ve likely consid-ered the question of how to pay for your family’s education, and it’s possible that answers have not been easy to find.

Almost everyone wants to con-tribute financially to their chil-dren’s or grandchildren’s educa-tion, according to The Hartford’s fifth annual college savings survey. However, only 64 percent of respon-dents are aware of tax-efficient ways to save. With many college saving options available, determin-ing which ones are best for you and your family can be confusing.

529 plans are a great option for tax-advantaged savings. A 529 plan allows you to make investments with earnings that are tax-exempt when they are applied toward eli-gible higher education expenses.

If you are in the process of de-veloping a college savings plan for your children or grandchildren, it’s always a good idea to talk to your financial advisor. If you’re con-fused about college savings options, particularly about 529 plans, you

are not alone. The Hartford survey found that 43 percent of parents and grandparents don’t fully under-stand this investment tool. Before you talk to your advisor, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about 529 plans. How much can you contribute to a 529?

Many states allow the account owner to take a state income tax de-duction for contributions made to their plan each year. The amount of the deduction varies by state, and if you roll the funds to another 529 plan not sponsored by that state, your deduction may be subject to recapture.

Under federal gift tax rules, you can contribute up to $13,000 per year for each beneficiary of a 529 account without gift tax con-sequences. You can also make a tax-exempt contribution of $65,000, or $130,000 for married couples, per beneficiary, once every five years. If you treat the gift as being made over five years, and die before the end of the five year period, the portion of the gift allocatable to the period after your death will be included in your estate. Any ad-

ditional gifts given by you to the same Designated Beneficiary in the five year period will be subject to federal gift tax. You should consult with your tax advisor for more information. How can 529 funds be used?

In addition to tuition expenses, beneficiaries of a 529 plan can use the proceeds to pay for fees, room and board, books and any equip-ment required for classes at an edu-cational institution. The funds can be used at most two- and four-year accredited post-secondary institu-tions in the United States, includ-ing trade and vocational schools. You may also be eligible to use the funds at a foreign institution. What happens if I don’t use the funds for education expenses?

The earnings would be treated as ordinary taxable income and could be subject to a 10 percent federal income-tax penalty. Such withdraw-als may also have state income tax implications. Certain exceptions are allowed. For example, if your child earned a scholarship and didn’t need the funds to pay for col-lege, withdrawals in the amount of

the scholarship would likely come without penalty. Who can open an account?

Any adult who is a U.S. citizen or resident can open an account. There are no income restrictions. Some accounts have restrictions on the account owner’s state of residency. The Hartford manages The Hartford SMART529 plan that’s available nationwide, as well as CHET Advisor which is available to Connecticut residents. Both plans may be purchased through a finan-cial advisor. Who has control of the account?

The account owner has complete control over how contributions are invested and when withdrawals are made. Who can contribute?

Most plans allow anyone, includ-ing friends and relatives to contrib-ute. A 529 contribution is a great way to give the gift of education to a friend or relative who is planning on attending college.

- ARA

529: A tax-exempt way to pay for college

Helping Your Child Graduate on Time Can Save You MoneyWhen many families prepare for

financing a child’s college education, they base their plan on the expectation that their child can graduate in four years. However, the time to graduation may be longer. This can mean a signifi-cantly higher total cost for a college education.

The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Sta-tistics (NCES) tracked the progress of first-time students seeking a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and attending a four-year institution full-time in the 2000-01 school year. It found that only 36 percent of these students graduated from college within four years. And only 57.5 percent of under-graduates who began that year had at-

tained a degree or certificate six years later, in 2007.

Evaluate the likelihood that your child can graduate in four years. Ask yourself:

3 Is my child a good student who works hard in school and is serious about an education?

3 How clearly defined are my child’s goals?

3 Does the college offer advis-ing services for scheduling required classes, so my child can take the ones needed to graduate on time?

Then sit down to make a realistic financial plan. Try to anticipate your costs if you feel your child may need to an extra year or two to complete a degree.

What Can Families Do?There are many ways you can

help your child graduate from college on time, on schedule and on budget. Planning ahead and monitoring your child’s progress is the best way to make sure that college goes smoothly. Here are some areas to concentrate on:

Prepare your child for college, es-pecially in reading, writing and math, to avoid the need for remedial courses, which often don’t count toward a degree.

Support your child in getting col-lege credit with the Advanced Place-ment Program (AP) and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

Urge your child to register for

classes as early as possible so that your child is less likely to be shut out of required courses.

Review your child’s course load each semester to make sure it includes enough credits to stay on schedule.

Encourage your child to complete required courses and to explore inter-ests early during college years; chang-ing majors can cause delays later if basic requirements weren’t satisfied.

Confirm that your child can get transfer credits if taking courses at other institutions.

Consider a few summer classes if your child falls behind.

Courtesy of Collegeboard.com


Parents

Paying for College Is a Shared ResponsibilityWhen your child decides to at-

tend college, it’s an investment in the future. That’s why your family is expected to contribute as much as you can to pay for your child’s college education. Spending on higher education is an investment in our country, too — there is a recognized need for college gradu-ates in the workforce of the future. That’s why there are other sources of financing, both public and pri-vate, available to help families pay for college.

Your first financial resource is your family, which includes you, your child and others who may be willing to help out, such as grand-parents. Independent students, no longer supported by parents, are also expected to contribute to their own education costs.

Help can also come from the government at the federal, state and local levels. The federal gov-ernment is actually the largest financial aid provider in the U.S. In addition, you can look to the college or university your child decides to attend for scholarships and work-study opportunities. Fi-nally, private businesses provide loans and local community groups often offer scholarships to deserv-ing students.

How Can We Fund Our Child’s Education?

Many students work with a com-bination of all these resources to pay for college. Here are a number of ways your family can fund your child’s education.

Use past income: Now is the time to put your savings to good use. In addition to money you have in the bank, your family should tap into any special education accounts to help pay for college tuition and other costs. Read more about your college saving options.

Use current income: Now that it’s time to pay for college, you may be able to put aside a portion

of your paycheck each month, in addition to what you’ve already saved. You can even take advantage of college tuition tax credits once your child is in college. Also, tell your child to forget about hanging out at the mall. Summer provides a great opportunity for your child to work, and all earnings can be put toward education, since your child lives at home. Babysitting, serving food, mowing lawns or doing data entry are all good ways for your child to add to the college fund. Some high school students can also handle working part-time during the school year.

Use future income : Future income is money your child can access while in college, in the form of loans that don’t have to be paid back until after graduation. Vari-ous loans are available for students and parents. Learn more about college loan options. Students can begin the application process for loans by completing the Free Ap-plication for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).Be sure your child takes advantage of all federal options first and doesn’t borrow more money than is needed. You and your child also have the option of taking out private loans through banks or other organizations.

Control costs: Time is money; the longer it takes to complete your child’s education, the more it costs overall. Your child might be able to graduate early by earning col-lege credit through the Advanced Placement program (AP) or Col-lege Level Examination Program (CLEP), or by taking a course or two during the summer.

Another way to save is to pay less per credit. Typically, community colleges offer courses at a lower per-credit price than four-year col-leges do. Your child might consider attending a community college and then transferring to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Taking a heavier course load can also help your child fulfill requirements more quickly, often at no additional cost. Just remind your child to keep the workload manageable. If you think graduate or professional school is in your child’s future, look into acceler-ated joint-degree programs, which enable students to earn undergrad-uate and graduate degrees in less time than if they enrolled in each program separately.

Get someone else to pay for your child: There are many grants and scholarships out there that can help your child meet college costs. Learn how to find appropri-ate scholarships, including those offered by civic organizations — such as the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, or 4-H — to deserving students.

A Pell Grant is one type of fi-nancial assistance that your child is not required to repay. Additional aid can come from campus-based programs, such as Federal Perkins Loans, work-study opportunities, or Federal Supplemental Educa-tional Opportunity Grants.

Service organizations can help your child cut costs by offering

monetary awards that can be used to pay for education expenses or to pay off student loans. In return, your child must promise to work for the organization. Here are a few examples of service organiza-tions:

3 AmeriCorps programs, in-cluding Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs) and Teach for America.

3 National Health Service Corps

3 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

3 Peace Corps

Where Do We Start?Talk with your child’s school

counselor, who can help you explore your options. You can also visit theU.S. Department of Education website (www.ed.gov) to find out more about federal stu-dent aid.

CONTRIbUTED PHOTO



St. John’s GEARUP

Senior AchievementsCorcoran football in the all-star classic

The Corcoran football team was well rep-resented in the recent John Arcaro All-Star Football Classic. Trenell Boggans, Anthony Heard, Ryan Kohanski, Matt Morgan, Raquen Morris, Chao Porch, Deandre Smith 11 and Nakeem Whitlock all represented the Cougars. Senior running back, Chao Porch, was named offensive MVP in the game. Porch rushed for 200 yards and scored two touchdowns for the East squad. Safety Trenell Boggans received the US Army Warrior Award for his efforts which included three interceptions and one touchdown for the East team.

Fowler’s outstanding senior athletesFowler High School had some of their student athletes rec-ognized at the conclusion of the Fall sports season. All of the student athletes did a wonderful job this fall, but these select few were able to distinguish themselves from their peers with their effort on the soccer field, volleyball court and football field.

3 Boys Soccer: Heri Muke, a senior, made 1st Team All-League. Seniors Nelson Toe and Vincent Seruhuhgu made 2nd Team All-League.3 Girls VB: Ajia Holland, a senior, made 1st Team All-League. Brittany Robarge, a senior, made 2nd Team All-League.3 Football: Darryn Cooley, a senior, made 2nd Team All-League.3 Boys Volleyball: Malcolm Jones, a senior, made 2nd Team All-League.

Nottingham Scholars The following seniors at Notting-ham have earned these Advanced Placement awards:

National scholar: 3 Paul TraverScholar with distinction: These students have earned an average grade of at least a 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and have earned a 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

3 Ashley Barclay3 Jonah Gruber3 Vinh Ho3 Paul TraverScholar with honor: These

students have earned an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and have earned at least a 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

3 Hunter Andrews3 John Lopez3 Lahn Nguyen

Scholar: These students earned a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.

3 Joshua Feldman3 Bailey Flood3 Issac Garland 3 Colin Harvey3 Alexai Hinkelman3 Seth Navin

Henninger AP ScholarsThese seniors from Henninger have received a 3 or higher on three or more Advanced Placement exams:

3 Thomas Bardenett3 Alexander Carni3 Samantha Collier3 Emily Davies3 Daniel Nguyen3 Viet Nguyen

Corcoran All-League athletesThe following Corcoran High School stu-dent athletes were named to All-League honors for the Fall sports season: 3 Girls Volleyball: Harley Bucktooth made 1st Team All League. 3 Girls Soccer: Amber Eagan made 1st Team All League.Alexis Wilensky and Robin Kompf made 2nd Team All League. 3 Boys Soccer: Jon Boehm and Matt

Massenzio made 1st Team All League. Pat Standford made 2nd Team All League. 3 Girls Cross Country: Erin Kenney made 1st Team All League. Ayumi Stultz and Jane McCurn made 2nd Team All League. 3 Boys Cross Country: Colin O’Neill made 1st Team All League. Jordan Moore made 2nd Team All

League. 3 Golf: Mike Collier made 2nd Team All League. 3 Football: Raquen Morris, Trenell Boggans and Deandre Smith made 1st Team All-CNY. Ryan Kohanski, Anthony Heard and Nakeem Whitlock made 2nd Team All-CNY. Chao Porch, Matt Morgan and Deshawn Myers made 3rd Team All-CNY.


Check out who’s accomplishing what at Corcoran, Fowler, Henninger, ITC and Nottingham high schools

Meadowbrook Harlequins’ seniors perform in Noises Off

Wednesday Shedd, JP Kaya, Aaron Alexander performed in Noises Off, the fall production of Nottingham High School’s theater troupe,The Meadowbrook Harlequins. The play was a fun-filled look at the behind-the-scenes life of a play, and ran from Nov. 19 to 21. The production was under the direction of English teacher Ginny Fennessy, and produced by social stud-ies teacher Don Little.

NSbE Students Take Home Awards at Regional ConferenceCongratulations to all of the members of

the Syracuse City School District National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Jr. Chapter who took part in the Fall Regional Conference in Rochester, NY. Students from several schools throughout District participated in the areas of Math, Science and Robotics with many of them placing in 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their respective fields.

The regional conference includes stu-dents from Canada, Metro/Long Island, New England, New Jersey, and Upstate New York. This was the preliminary round to the final round which is held at the Na-tional Convention. This year’s National Convention is being held in St. Louis, Mis-souri from March 20th – March 27th. These students are expected to represent the

region as well as the SCSD and the City of Syracuse in these competitions. This is a wonderful challenge but one that the stu-dents have worked enormously hard for

This year’s senior winners were:Math

3 Team Highlight, 3rd place members: Barbara Grady, Corcoran; Robert Rowser, Fowler; Clinton Williams, Corcoran.Engineering

3 The Dutches, 3rd place members: Car-leigh Raeford, ITC; Sadiayyah Muhammed, ITC.

3 Team N.E.R.Z., 5th place members: Saquan Dozier, ITC.

Corcoran diver Williams makes a splashCorcoran senior diver Imani Williams is gearing up for the

Section III Championship as well as the New York State Diving Championship. The sectionals are truly a trial run for the dy-namic diver as she has already qualified for States by shattering the qualifying score of 396 with a 434 at the OHSL Champion-ships.

Imani is a uniquely talented diver who not only possesses a great deal of talent but has a passion for diving and the fearless-ness needed to exceed at the highest level. She first qualified for sectionals in the 7th grade. She accomplished this at such a young age because she was able to learn 11 dives; 2 of each group (front, back, inward, reverse, and twist) and a third from one of those groups in her first year of diving. She placed second at Sectionals as an 8th grader and has not been defeated since in Section III in season competition. Until her sophomore year when she finished in 12th place overall no diver from Section III had made it past the first round at the State Meet. Imani fol-lowed that up with a 4th place overall finish in her junior year. In addition, she has held the school record for Corcoran HS since her 9th grade year and has the potential to break the Section III record of 470 set over 10 years ago.

Conpiled from the Syracuse City School District website, syracusecityschools.com

Send us your achievements at

[email protected]

10/ NY GEARUP, JANUARY �011

NY GEARUP at Yonkers visits Syracuse University

By Caitlin Donnelly

NY GEARUP at Syracuse University welcomed students from the NY GEA-RUP at Yonkers cohort to campus on Saturday Dec.4. Forty three students from the Yonkers Public School District—which includes Gorton, Roosevelt, Riverside, Lincoln and Saunders high schools—traveled to SU as part of an overnight campus visit tour in Central New York. Other colleges on the itiner-ary included SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Cortland and SUNY Morrisville under the supervision of Gorton High School Assistant Principal, Sandra Piacente, and teacher chaperones.

Those students that made the trip plan on applying to at least one of the four colleges visited, said Piacente.

“These kids have been phenomenal,” she said. “This trip gives inner city kids the opportunity to see these schools first hand. Their chances of visiting them otherwise is very small.”

During the visit, the students were given tours by Syracuse University stu-dents, followed by a brief tour of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, and lunch in the Ernie Davis Dining Hall.

NY GEARUP, JANUARY �011 /11

PHOTOS bY CAITLIN DONNELLY

1�/ NY GEARUP, JANUARY �011

‘Other Roads’ at ITCBy Carolyn Clark

Calmesha Givens didn’t think about going to col-lege until the end of high school loomed in the near future. She started and led a gang, “911 Quickness,” and was stabbed twice in the back.

But on December 10, Givens visited ITC’s caf-eteria to share her story of success with NY GEARUP students during an “Other Roads” Workshop.

In her senior year at Corcoran High school, Givens decided that she needed to get into college. Having been raised by her grandmother while her parents were in prison, Calmesha was the first person in her family to go onto college.

ITC seniors cheered for Givens as she told her tale of running for senior class president, applying for col-lege, and getting accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology.

But throughout her sto-ry, Givens stressed to the students that they need to work hard for what they want. “Figure out what you want and get it,” she told the students. That’s exactly what Givens did for herself: FIT was too far from her family, so she transferred to Genesee Community College.

“They told me that it would take four semesters to graduate from college,” Givens said. “But I didn’t have that kind of time or money. So I did it in three.”

After her graduation, she applied and was ac-cepted to her dream school, Howard University. She packed up and headed down to D.C. to go to school. Givens said that she would take seven classes a semes-ter while working full-time to succeed.

Students also heard from Frank Fowler, the chief of police during the workshop. He talked about staying on the right track for success.

“You need to be aware of your surroundings,” Fowler said.

To demonstrate his point, he tossed a Sharpie marker to a student. The student caught it and tossed it back, but the marker land-ed on the ground. Fowler then explained that the marker represented drugs. And even though Fowler and the one student were the only ones who had pos-session of the marker, the police could potentially charge everyone in the caf-eteria with possession.

“That’s how easy it can be to lose everything,” he said.

After the speakers, stu-dents had the opportunity to walk around to differ-ent tables where career representatives of fered information and advice on options other than college for after high school. CNY Works, the Syracuse Po-lice Department, Double-tree Hotels, and Phillips Hairstyling Institute were among the represented op-tions.

PHOTOS bY MARISSA J. MIMS

NY GEARUP, JANUARY �011 /1�

The College Interview

The basicsA college interview is a chance to

show that you’re more than just test scores and grades. And it’s an exchange of information — you learn about the college and the college learns about you. Not every college requires an in-terview: it may be mandatory, optional or not offered at all.

The interview is just one of many factors in the admission decision and it is rarely the deciding one. Still, if a borderline student turns out to be impressive, the interviewer has the authority to write a letter supporting

admission.Types of Interviews

Interviews vary depending on the college, student and par-ticular situation. You could find

yourself interviewing with an admission officer, a student or an alumnus. Most of these interviews last between 30 and 60 minutes.

There are also other, less for-mal, interview situations. You may have the opportunity to par-ticipate in a group information session with admission staff members and current students. Many high schools hold col-lege fairs, where you can meet

with representatives on an individual basis.

If you intend to attend a music, drama or dance in-stitute, you should plan on performing an audition or submitting a portfolio, in addition to taking part in any necessary interview.

Why Interview?Most colleges don’t require an

interview; however, there are many benefits to meeting face-to-face with an admission officer. Interviews give you the chance to:

3 Show that you are seriously inter-ested in attending.

3 Convey what you can bring to a

campus community. 3 Learn more about a college’s

programs. 3 Explain variations in your re-

cord — for example, changes in your grades. Be Your Own Best Advocate

The admission officers learn about you from a group of documents: your transcript, test scores and application. While your essay and recommenda-tions can offer an impression of who you are, words on paper can reveal only so much. The interview is your chance to be your own advocate by talking posi-tively about your interests and enthusi-asms, to show your personality, and to boost your chance of admission.Discuss Special Circumstances

The interview is a good time to ex-plain anything unusual in your tran-script or discuss any personal circum-stances that affected your studies. Any problems that you may find difficult to write about in the application are often easier to discuss with a sympathetic admission counselor. For example:

You may not be the best math stu-dent, but it never stopped you from taking AP® Calculus — tell the inter-viewer why you persisted despite such difficulties.

During sophomore year, your par-ents divorced and your academic work took a downturn.

You have a learning disability and need to make an extra effort with every assignment. Making Your Interview a Positive Experience

You can’t pass or fail, so don’t be

nervous. As long as you’ve prepared and practiced, you can probably make a good impression. Here are some other tips:

3 Accept a college’s offer of an in-terview.

3 Be on time. 3 Go into the interview alone, with-

out your parents. 3 Be polite to everyone you meet. 3 Act naturally. 3 Respond conversationally — don’t

memorize a speech. 3 Use appropriate language and

avoid slang. 3 Be confident but not arrogant. 3 Tell the truth. 3 Express interest in the college and

its programs. 3 Ask questions not covered by the

college catalog or website. 3 Avoid eating or drinking during

the interview. 3 Dress neatly and cleanly; don’t

wear T-shirts or other casual cloth-ing. Be Sure to Ask Questions

Asking questions shows that you’re interested in the college and what the admission officer has to say. You should try to ask questions that indicate you’ve done some research about the college and know why you consider it a good fit for you. Also, asking questions can help you discover characteristics that colleges can’t convey in a catalog.

Questions to ask your interviewer3 What is unique or special about this college/

what is the most compelling reason to enroll?3 Which academic departments are the best?3 What are the most popular majors on cam-

pus?3 I’m thinking of majoring in . What can

you tell me about how that’s taught here?3 Are there any special academic programs that

you would recommend for me?3 How would you describe the majority of the

students that go here?3 What do the students like most about this

college?3 What do they complain about the most?3 What are some of the issues that concern stu-

dents on campus? How actively are they engaged in those issues?

3 What are the most popular extracurricular activities on campus?

3 What are the weekends like?

3 What are the big campus events during the year?

3 How are roommates matched up?3 Do many residents live off campus?3 Are there any big changes coming up that I

should know about?3 Are there any major construction projects

coming up in the next four years?3 What do students do when they get sick? What

are health services like?



NY GEARUP, La Liga sponsor bilingual GED program

By Ana Maria Paniagua

Contributing Writer

Did you know? NY GEARUP offers the opportunity to start the year 2011 off on the right foot. The Spanish Action League of Onondaga County, Inc. now offers a bilingual GED program in conjunction with NY GEARUP.

What is a GED program? General Educational Develop-ment (GED) is a program where students learn, grow and take an important test in order to receive their high school diploma.

Who can apply to this program? There are many GED programs, and all have different requirements. The GED program offered by NY GEARUP is dedicated to rescuing and helping students who stopped attending high school

for personal reasons. Students from the Syracuse City School District who are in the NY GEARUP cohort, and will graduate in 2011 may participate. Here you will be evaluated based on your current GPA, personal references, academic assistance programs, employment training, among other things.

The bilingual GED program sponsored by “La Liga” and NY GEARUP will offer its entrance exams January 17, 2011. Students that qualify will start their training in the pro-gram, January 24 at the Spanish Action League, 700 Oswego St. in Syracuse.

Remember: even the best cook burns the beans, the im-portant thing is to mend.

For more information about the bilingual GED program, contact the NY GEARUP office at 443-7848.

Hey boys, stay eligible for benefitsWhile young men may think

government benefits are just for their elders, in fact, they may be eligible for many federal, state and municipal benefits programs right now. It’s important, however, to make sure you stay eligible by registering with the Selective Ser-vice System.

Opportunities for Young Men Male students who need help

paying for college will find that reg-istering with the Selective Service opens up all doors to federal finan-cial aid. This includes everything from Pell Grants to College Work Study to Guaranteed Student/PLUS Loans. Plus, those who sign up with the Selective Service System are eligible for federal job training via the Workforce Investment Act, as well as numerous federal jobs. Registering is also the only path to citizenship for immigrant men ar-riving in the U.S. before their 26th birthday.

Required by LawAccording to U.S. law, virtually

all male citizens and immigrants need to register with the Selective Service System. Historically, young men have had to do this during

the 60-day window that begins 30 days before their 18th birthday and continues for 30 days afterward. This still holds true, but with Early Submission, it is now possible to submit your registration informa-tion as long as you are at least 17 years and 3 months of age.

Registration applies to all young men-even those living overseas. Those who are immigrants must likewise register, regardless of im-migration status.

Where and How to Register Online registration: Log on to

www.sss.gov and click on the regis-tration icon. It takes only a minute to complete the online form. When you submit your information, you will receive a registration number instantly.

The U.S. Postal Service: Visit any U.S. Postal Service branch to obtain a Selective Service “mail-back” registration for m. Men living overseas may register at any U.S. embassy or consular office.

By mail: Eligible men may also register by filling out a reminder mail-back card. Selective Service will send this card to any young man around the time he turns 18. Mail-back cards are also available

at some post offices. The federal student aid form:

Another easy way to register for Selective Service is by checking a box on the application form for Free Application for Federal Stu-dent Aid (FAFSA form). Checking “yes” on box 29 of this form will alert the Department of Education to provide Selective Service with the information to register you.

School: Most high schools ap-point a staff member or teacher to serve as Selective Service Reg-istrar. They help to register young men and answer questions.

For more information or to reg-ister, visit www.sss.gov.

Courtesy of NAPSM

CAITLIN DONNELLY

Students from Nottingham High School

NY GEARUP, JANUARY �011 /1�

The Back Page

VOTE!What is the most difficult part of the college application process?

The college essayFinancial aid paperworkKeeping track of deadlinesThe application itself

Check out NY GEARUP’s blog, nygearupblog.blogspot.com, or post your response on NY GEARUP’s facebook page by searching NY GEARUP @ Syracuse University, and vote! Then check back in next month’s edition to see how your fellow classmates weighed in.

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Austen, Jane- Pride and Prejudice bronte, Charlotte- Jane Eyre bronte, Emily- Wuthering Heights Camus, Albert- The Stranger Cervantes, Miguel de- Don Quixote Chekhov, Anton- The Cherry Orchard Chopin, Kate- The Awakening Conrad, Joseph- Heart of Darkness Cooper, James Fenimore- The Last of the Mohicans Crane, Stephen- The Red Badge of Courage Dante- Inferno Defoe, Daniel- Robinson Crusoe Dickens, Charles- A Tale of Two Cities Dostoyevsky, Fyodor- Crime and Punishment Dreiser, Theodore- An American Tragedy Dumas, Alexandre- The Three Musketeers Ellison, Ralph- Invisible Man Faulkner, William- As I Lay Dying Faulkner, William- The Sound and the Fury Fitzgerald, F. Scott- The Great Gatsby Ford, Ford Madox- The Good Soldier Golding, William- Lord of the Flies Hawthorne, Nathaniel- The Scarlet Letter Heller, Joseph- Catch 22 Homer- The Iliad, The Odyssey Hugo, Victor- The Hunchback of Notre Dame Hurston, Zora Neale- Their Eyes Were Watching God Huxley, Aldous- Brave New World Ibsen, Henrik- A Doll’s House James, Henry- The Portrait of a LadyJoyce, James- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Lee, Harper- To Kill a MockingbirdLewis, Sinclair- Babbitt

London, Jack- The Call of the Wild Marquez, Gabriel Garcia- One Hundred Years of Solitude Melville, Herman- Moby Dick Miller, Arthur- The Crucible Morrison, Toni- Beloved O’Connor, Flannery- A Good Man is Hard to Find O’Neill, Eugene- Long Day’s Journey i nto Night Orwell, George- Animal Farm Plath, Sylvia- The Bell Jar Poe, Edgar Allen- Selected Tales Remarque, Erich Maria- All Quiet on the Western Front Roth, Henry- Call It Sleep Salinger, J.D.- The Catcher in the Rye Shakespeare, Wm- Macbeth, A Midsum mer Night’s Dream & Romeo and Juliet Shaw, George bernard- Pygmalion Shelley, Mary- Frankenstein Sophocles- Antigone & Oedipus Rex Steinbeck, John- The Grapes of Wrath Stevenson, Robert Louis- Treasure Island Stowe, Harriet beecher- Uncle Tom’s Cabin Swift, Jonathan- Gulliver’s Travels Thackeray, William- Vanity Fair Turgenev, Ivan- Fathers and Sons Twain, Mark- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Voltaire- Candide Vonnegut, Kurt Jr.- Slaughterhouse-Five Walker, Alice- The Color Purple Wharton, Edith- The House of Mirth Whitman, Walt- Leaves of Grass Wilde, Oscar- The Picture of Dorian Gray Williams, Tennessee- The Glass Menagerie Woolf, Virginia- To the Lighthouse Wright, Richard- Native Son

books to read in 2011


be HeardThe Step It Up! staff has settled into a spectacular week-

end routine with its two-hour talk-based show about teen issues, college readiness and NY GEARUP. It’s entertaining and informative for anyone from students to parents and community members.

We’re always looking for people to interview and high school seniors to try their hand in the radio business. If interested, contact Mariel Fiedler at [email protected]

NY GEARUP @ Syracuse UniversityNYGEARUP

315.443.7848 [email protected]

CONTACT US

COLLEGE OF THE MONTHSUNY ONEONTA

SUNY Oneonta is a four-year liberal arts school founded in 1889 in Oneonta, New York. The school is medium sized with about 6,000 undergraduate students. Lib-eral arts means that students can major in many areas in the humanities from music industry to chemistry. It has been ranked by US News consistently as a top tier public

school and offers a well-sized campus with

fifteen residence halls to choose

from.T h o u g h

a mid-size level , the school still has a large Greek sys-t e m w i t h f r a t e r n i -

ties and so-r o r i t i e s . A

big event at the

school is the Big O’ Poetry Slam done by the Poetry Slam Asso-ciation. The school also has its own student-run television station, WIRE TV. They have both news reports and cov-erage of university sports. They also have WONY, the student-run radio station, which any student can become part of. The schools mascot is the red dragon, and the school competes in a number of both varsity and club sports. The school competes in Division III and is especially known for its women’s soccer team.

The school’s library has the second largest collection of any SUNY school and 80 percent of its tenured faculty have earned doctorates or the highest degree of study in their field, and another 80 percent of Oneonta students receive financial as-sistance, so it’s possible to pay your way through school!

Gear Up

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