The University of Maryland is the state's premier center for research, advancing knowledge and providing high quality undergraduate education. A publicly supported, land-grant institution, Maryland is dedicated to educating the most promising students in the state, the nation and the world.

The University of Maryland was recently ranked 5th, its highest ranking ever, in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine's "100 Best Values in Public Colleges". Kiplinger's reviewed more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities to decide which offered the best combination of outstanding academics and an affordable price tag.

Each year, we receive more than 26,000 applications for a fall freshman class of about 4,000 and approximately 6,500 transfer applications for 2,200 transfer spaces. Our application review process is rigorous, comprehensive and individualized. Each applicant receives a complete file review. This assessment is based on achievements and potential in a broad range of academic and extracurricular categories, viewed in the context of the opportunities and challenges the applicant faced.

Let's go Terps!

For more information please visit the website and explore the endless possibilities........

http://www.umd.edu/

We concluded the week on "Will you change by" with focusing on making changes because of a crisis and or circumstances. We sometimes think of this as a negative, but actually maybe because of the unsual circumstance this change is needed and can work for our good.

It can be easy to think that God is obligated to make life easy for us and to remove all of our difficult circumstances. But, the truth is that during hard times God is preparing us for greater things. If He removed the difficult circumstances in our lives, we would probably never mature.

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." In other words, rejoice in "trials of many kinds", because they test your faith, which causes you to grow closer to God. Indeed, God assures us that something beneficial can come from the hard times in life.

It is during times of testing that such people developed the strength and character for which we respect them. Therefore, don't always beg God to change your circumstances. Instead, view each as an opportunity for God to change you, making you "mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Hello All,

Just a reminder, we will visit the University of Maryland, College Park on November 29th.......

It's time to think outside the shell. March to your own drum. And grab hold of your destiny. It's time to discover the University of Maryland.

Let's go Terps!

Jaime insisted that training for the race by riding his bike over a _______ neighborhood course would get him in great shape for the competition.

a)   frigid
b)    sedentary
c)     boring
d)    senescent
e)     tortuous

Q.Be honest: Do you really read all the essays submitted? Or, do you read only for the borderline cases?
- Vinod

A. Mr. Brenzel of Yale: We look at every essay from every applicant, and for students who reach the level of serious consideration, essays may end up being read multiple times.

Q.It has long been understood that there are five main facets of an application: transcript, recommendations, standardized test scores, extracurriculars and essays. If a student’s transcript is in the weaker half of the applicant pool, but the remaining four facets are quite exemplary, will an elite college be willing to take a chance?
-Jonah

A

Mr. Poch of Pomona: The more selective the institution, the more likely the decision for admission may turn on things not so easily quantified. If the application suggests strong basic competence academically, the other qualities of a candidate become interesting and often determine the outcome. I am interested in both where a student is at the current moment as well as making a guess about where they may be in a year or two or three. Perfect records in high school don’t always suggest perfect students in college. A student who had a bump along the way may know more about how and why they learn than one who has been grinding along without a second thought. Glowing references, strong tested ability, leadership strength and a terrific interview can sometimes outweigh a transcript with a glitch or two but in highly selective environments are not likely to override a real mess of a record.

Mr. Brenzel of Yale: Weaker transcripts face tough sledding in a highly selective college environment. They don’t automatically disqualify a candidate for us, but you have to remember that we have many thousands of applicants with extremely strong transcripts who are also just as exemplary in the other ways that count.

The least stressful part of a college application is your personal information -- name, address, phone number, and, of course, your email address. Most colleges will want to communicate with you via email thanks to its convenience, speed, and low cost. Your email address will be placed on admissions distribution lists, and it will be front and center in your admissions file. If you are accepted, it will go to your first-year academic advisor and be entered into the college's software for financial aid, registration, housing, and so on.

So, a simple word of advice: if you don't have a professional-sounding email user name, get one before you apply to college. That email address is one of the first things that anyone at the college will see. Make sure it doesn't make a bad impression. Consider the following:

•wastedjeff@hostname
•skankyho@hostname
•iluvbieber@hostname
•sleepmaster@hostname
•yousuck@hostname
 

All of these addresses may have seemed funny among a close circle of high school friends, but think about the impression they will make in a college admissions office. Each one of these addresses could raise concerns in the mind of an admissions officer. Do you have an alcohol problem? Are you lazy? Are you rude?

Shoot for a user name that is simple and straight-forward:

•allen.grove@hostname
•grove846@hostname

There's no shortage of free email providers, so take a few minutes to clean up your electronic image before applying.

                  If you see something, do you SAY something?

This week our theme at Princeton Day  Academy is....."Will you change by choice, chance, or circumstance"?

As the story goes, some people make things happen, some have things happen to them and others just say 'What happened?'.

But when things happen, changes follow If you think about it, there are probably three main drivers behind most of the changes we face in business, and in much of life: Choice, Chance and Crisis.

Choice:
Some people choose to change in a way and at a time of their own making. They have prepared for the change, explored all their options and probably even created a specific climate in which their intended change is most likely to be successful. They choose to change.

Chance:
For others, luck has more to do with their decision to change something. Perhaps an unusual event, a chance meeting, or a decision by someone else, has created the circumstances which encouraged a change. An opportunity has fallen in their lap, but at least they recognised it and capitalised on it.

Circumstance/crisis:
For a third group, an impending crisis is the only thing which will cause any change. Their experience of change is rarely positive because of their reluctance to recognise risks or opportunities early enough to prepare and make the best of a situation. By the time this group considers change, they have little choice and few options.

How do you approach change? Think about whether you tend to change through choice, chance or circumstances. Are you waiting for a crisis before you make inevitable changes? Are you actively looking for opportunities? Are you exploring all your options, and planning and preparing to change by choice?

                                                                    “Life is a sum of all your choices.”

Location: University of Maryland, College Park - Reckord Armory

Expo: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Seminars: 10:30 am - 3:00 pm
Presented By Freshman 101 "Why Attend an HBCU"
"Hot Careers"
"Finding Money for College/Scholarships"
"The 411 for the Student Athlete"
"Black Male Summit"
"Real Talk"
"College is Cool" hosted by 93.9 WKYS air personality Angie Ang

Step Show at 3pm hosted by Celebrity Actor/Comedian Kel Mitchell
TV/Film-Nickelodeon "All That", "Good Burger", "Dance Fu"

Step Show and Entertainment: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Admission Cost: $10.00
Online Purchase: $8.00
Groups: $7.00
(Groups 15 or more)

Ages 11 & under are free

“The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. “Dorothy Nevill

We are still focusing on the weekly topic "What do you bring to the table". Today we focused on "words" to build up or tear down?

From the very beginning when the first words were uttered, the ability to communicate has played an important role in our world.

Whether within our own thoughts, spoken or written, words have the power to transform the world we live in.

Love, laughter, heroism, friendship, and virtually every emotion we feel as human beings can be inspired by words. Unfortunately, fear, anger, and hatred, can also be invoked by words.

Language is at its best when used to inspire others to find the best in themselves.

Answer this question........"The words I speak bring ____________to the table."

“Speak when you are angry– and you will make the best speech you’ll ever regret.”
Laurence J. Peter (1919 – 1988)
Educator, author of The Peter Principle

Nearly 93%

African Americans say college is part of their future plans

43 Percent of 2011 College-Bound Seniors Met SAT College and Career Readiness Benchmark

Nearly 1.65 Million Students Take SAT; 2011 SAT Takers Largest and Most Diverse Class in History

Happy Monday!

This week our theme at Princeton day is' What do I bring to the table"? 

Everyone has a "certain something" they bring to the table. The table I am speaking about is a metaphor for "what value do you add" to an organzation, school, and/or relationship. Like each part of the body has a function, who you are and your unique qualities, gifts and talents have a function.  In order for any relationship to work and to grow, we must operate in that "something"  When you try and be someone else or operate outside of your true gifts and talents this can cause a malfunction. As we embark upon this journey this week. Take time to think about what you bring, what makes you stand out and what can you add to PDA that will take us to the next level! 

Who are you? What will you bring if given an opportunity?

Good Morning Scholars,

This is a friendly reminder. If you have any missing assignments, there is still time! You have until Novemver 5, 11:59 pm to upload any missing assignments. 

It has been a great 1st quarter and let's keep up the good work, keep on task, remain focus and continue to build on the solid foundation you have established!

Continued success as we enter into the 2nd quarter!

 Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow!

The educator must believe in the potential power of his pupil, and he must employ all his art in seeking to bring his pupil to experience this power.

Each week a Princeton Day we select a theme to focus on, this week our theme is "Unleasing your potential".

Potential "what is to be", or shall we say the "possibility". Potential describes the possibilities of average people, to accomplish extraordinary results, in whatever they choose to pursue. Within each person lies potenial, there are talents and gifts you have not even touched, as you continue on your journey of life, the potential that is within each of you will begin to reveal itself layer by layer........

We all have amazing potential, but not everyone has figured out how to bring that potential to the surface. And, that really is the key. The difference between someone who is moving in the right direction and someone who seems to always be off course is not the presence of ability and potential, but the understanding of how to appropriately utilize their abilities and tap into their potential.

It can seem too good to be true … but, it’s not. We convince ourselves we have to be realistic with what we seek to accomplish… but, why?

Think about those amazing people who were able to get their limiting beliefs out of the way and tap into their potential … writers, musicians, athletes, scientists, entrepreneurs, doctors, actors, the list goes on and on.
 

While we each have our path and something unique we can accomplish and contribute to the world, the process for being able to accomplish our dreams is the same for everyone and the first thing we must do is find our way to the truth that we do have amazing potential!

To Discover Your True Potential, Is To Soar As An Eagle, and Beyond.
 

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.”

'It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts... it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and always to think for themselves.' --- Robert Hutchins

"Teach a child how to think, not what to think."

The weekly Princeton Day Academy's  theme: Uncovering/unleasing your Potential

Potential comes from the root words "potency" and "potent" and refers to all the things you can be successful at if you develop and use your gifts, talents and natural abilities.

Many people use the word potential yet few realize that your potential defines who you are, what you can excel at, and what is possible for you to become.

All of us have within us the seeds of greatness.

REMINDER.........

Scholars please check thinkwave....A project was due on Friday, October 28th! It is now LATE.........

The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do. — Thomas Edison

This week our theme was Possibilities, we explored the limitless possibilities that are before us, when we plan and excute that plan. We create our possibilities by thinking outside the box and by believing that it is possible. Just because it has not been done does not mean it's not possible, it means it was never tried your way. Nothing beats a failure better then a try!

As I reflect on last weeks theme, a Bible verse comes to mind, Matthew 19:26, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”.  Here is a thought, if all the inventors in the world thought that their ideas were not possible we would not have the common products, devices and or everyday items we use daily. I believe that our faith allows us to believe anything is possible!  It first begins with you, YOU must first believe it is possible. Believe that change is possible!  You must believe that you can have better grades and a better outlook on life, YOU must believe that your goals will and can be meet! YOU must believe that a negative situation will turn out for a positive for YOU!

Everyday that you wake up,  you have before you 24 hours of endless possibilities. Take this day and discover Today's possibilities which are limitless!

"Life has no limitations, except the ones you make"

                                                *Next week's theme-"Uncovering your potential"

Limitless Possibilities!

Our weekly theme is "possibilites"........

I always say, and truly believe that "anything is possible, as long as your desire is compelling and you believe it can happen." When I think of possibilities I see a huge expanse of limitless experiences and opportunities in front of me. People and places yet to discover, things yet to try, potential yet to reach. Beyond what my eyes can see and often beyond what my mind can even imagine. It's almost like a playground of excitement and aliveness that surrounds me, constantly expanding and welcoming me.

Possibilities play an important role in taking us out of our comfort zones, especially since they often fall in the realm of the unknown and tap into our greater potential. To fully embrace possibilities we have to let go of the "need to know" all the details and all the steps along the way. We have to be open to letting things unfold in their due time, to having patience and trust that they will.

Give some strong thought to the following questions.......

1. What possibilities are right in front of you? Which will you embrace?
    
2. What possibilities might be in your future? Are you ready to walk toward them?

“Your mistake does not define who you are...you are your possibilities”

How Do You Use Facebook?

Research shows that for students, specific ways of using Facebook – not use of it in general – correlate with some real-life behaviors like participating in extracurricular activities and even with academic achievement. How do you tend to use Facebook, if at all? Do you think the ways you use it are reflected in other areas of your life?

What book do you read again and again because it inspires you?

“It’s possible.”

Those two small words, liberally applied, could change your life. When you come from a perspective of possibility, you see options and you see potential. Obstacles exist, but like whitewater rushing over and around a stone, you don’t let them define your path.

If you want your life to be packed with possibility, you first have to see it. Prime the pump by asking yourself one simple question every day: “What’s possible?”

You might apply that question to specific goals. Or you might apply it to different areas of your life.

Asking what’s possible is useful as a point of departure for brainstorming. But more than that, asking it consistently is a way to develop your mind’s possibility muscles. When your possibility muscles are strong, an expansive perspective comes more naturally and you’re less likely to cage yourself in by limiting thinking. Don’t let obstacles control your world!

Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities -- always see them, for they're always there.

- Norman Vincent Peale

Some call them dreamers. I call them possibility-thinkers. They are problem solving, solution oriented people, who refuse to settle for the way things are. They seem to have endless possibilities.

What about human beings flying? "Not possible," everyone argued, "besides, we don't have wings." But just enough solution oriented people continued to pursue the idea. As big and heavy as it is, it can still get off the ground, climb to 35,000 feet, and cruise at around 600 miles an hour. Years ago someone had a dream, a vision, and focused on looking for solutions. And today, we just go online and book a flight.

All through history men and women have dared to dream, dared to think outside of the box. These determined people believed that there was another way, a better way, or in some cases, a brand new way.

If we really believe that we are God's children and that He is our Father, why not look to Him for solutions and possibilities? One key in shifting to that kind of thinking is to stop asking, "why?" and start asking, "how?"

Ask God how to overcome the situations you are faced with. Then keep looking for solutions. What may look impossible to you is never impossible for God.

God promised us to give us the desires of our heart. He also promised to light our path. When one is discouraged and sitting by the road, there is no path to illuminate.

So, look up, get up, and start moving forward. You don't have wings, but you can still fly. What else can you dare to do? With God, you have endless possibilities.

Every new day begins with possibilities. Ronald Reagan

This week's theme:

"Possibilities"

• the state or fact of being possible
• something possible

"Life takes on meaning when you become motivated, set goals and charge after them in an unstoppable manner

"This week at Princeton Day our theme was "motivation", or shall I say  "whats YOUR motivation"?. Each day I shared with our scholars motivational thoughts and quotes, our scholars were asked the question, "what's your motivation"? Their answers ranged from their future , family, self and helping others, some shared that their past is a strong motivator.  I too, begin to think  "what's my motivation"?, what drives me to do and make the choices I make each day  While many things, people, and sayings come to mind, some are personal and some not so much, but what drives me everyday is God's word. God's promises are true and real. His words give me life, strength, and a peace the surpasses all human understanding. I am inspired and driven to live the life that God planned for me to live!  Encourging others, setting goals and reaching them are motivators in my life as well, and even when I fall short as I do,  I am still motivated to try again!

What is the worst that could happen if we motivate ourselves, that we gain wisdom, that we become excited and inspired, or that we actually grow an become the man and or women God intended us to be.  Self-motivation is motivator, sometimes we must be our own cheerleader. How can one motivate others if you can not inspire or motivate yourself!

As the week comes to an end, my pray is that something was gain,  that you had an "aha moment, but above all I pray that you are motivated! I would like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes.....

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

PDA scholars and family! BE MOTIVATED!

Would you rather be the most popular kid in school or the smartest kid in school?