100 BMC College Scholarship Fair

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History

100 Black Men Of America

100 Black Men Of Chicago

he idea for 100 Black Men of America began in New York in 1963 when a group of concerned African-American men began to explore ways of improving conditions in their communities. These men were successful African-American business and industry leaders from various walks of life. The group eventually adopted the name, “100 Black Men, Inc.” The primary goal was to ensure the growth and future of their communities by providing resources toward youth development.

The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. (100BMC), serves as the Chicago Chapter of the organization and was formed in November of 1994 and incorporated in December of 1995. We share a common goal of providing Chicago youth with educational and mentoring opportunities, with a particular emphasis on young African-American males. Our membership is made up of a dynamic, diverse, and dedicated group of professional men who tirelessly volunteer their time and resources because they share a common desire to “give back” to and “build-up” Chicago’s youth. Their efforts improve the lives of thousands of young people through various programs addressing four fundamental pillars: Mentoring, Education, Health and Wellness, and Economic Empowerment.

T

Today, this national organization has 116 chapters consisting of more than 25,000 men who continue to strive to improve the quality of life in the communities they serve, while enhancing the educational and economic opportunities for the more than 125,000 youth who participate in the Mentoring and Youth Development Programs.

The College Scholarship Fair The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. has hosted an annual College Scholarship Fair (CSF) since 2003. It has become one of the premiere college fairs in our community. Now hosting nearly 200 colleges and universities while interacting with nearly 5,000 students and parents, the College Scholarship Fair has generated millions of dollars in scholarships!

Additionally, we host a private Honors Student Reception at the Fair. This invitation-only event allows very high achieving students to meet with some of the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities. Representatives are on hand and are prepared to offer full scholarships to qualifying students. The College Scholarship Fair is one our most successful endeavors and allows 100BMC to fulfill its mission to help improve the quality of life and enhance educational opportunities for youth throughout the Greater Chicago area.

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Scholarship / Admissions Disclaimer

• Colleges and Universities have been encouraged to make every effort to provide any possible consideration for admissions or scholarships to students who they meet and believe would be good additions to their respective school’s student body.

• None of the schools participating in the College Scholarship Fair are required to provide admissions and/or scholarships during the fair.

• Many schools have processes in place that prevent the commitment of providing admissions and/ or scholarships outside of their standard process.

100BMC again asked participating Colleges to make every effort to offer financial support to those students meeting or exceeding their admissions standards.

• Students should work to make the best impressions they can on recruiters taking full advantage of the opportunity that can develop from connections made with the recruiters at the fair...especially Sophomore or Junior.

Please Note: Parent(s), Guardian(s), and Student acknowledge that the College Scholarship Fair (CSF) is an activity designed to bring together institutions of higher education and prospective student candidates. The 100 Black Men of Chicago, Inc. in no way guarantees students attending the CSF will be offered admission to any institution in attendance, or a scholarship award. All offers of admittance and scholarship awards will be the sole decision of those institutions deeming a student candidate both qualified and worthy. Thank you.

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Workshop Schedule Time

Workshop Room A

Worskhop Room B

Workshop Room C

10:00am - 10:45am

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Selective College Admissions But Were Afraid To Ask

Where’s Waldo? The Search for the Perfect Application Essay.

Scholarships 101: A Better Life = A College Degree with Less Debt

10:45am - 11:05am

Break

Break

Break

11:05am -11:50am

Financial Aid: Effectively Navigating the Process

Positioning for Admissions & Scholarships

Think HBCU

11:50am -12:10pm

Break

Break

Break

12:10pm - 12:55pm

Admissions Process and The Common Application

ACT Preparation

Write Your Way to Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money

12:55pm - 1:15pm

Break

Break

Break

1:15pm - 2:00pm

Power in the American Community College

How To Compete and Win Scholarships For Financially Rewarding Careers

Workshop Descriptions

Presenter

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Selective College Admissions But Were Afraid To Ask

This workshop will address numerous topics related to getting into very selective colleges and universities. Demonstrated interest, holistic application review, hooks, strongly recommended anything, academic reading, demonstrated financial need, non-cognitive factors, personal qualities, and distinguishing characteristics are terms that many selective schools use during application reviews.

What do the terms mean and how does understanding and applying them increase your chances of getting into some of America’s top colleges?

Marylyn Scott Bucknell University

Where’s Waldo? The Search for the Perfect Application Essay

The University of Chicago has long been known for its provocative essay questions, and performance on these essays weighs heavily in the admissions decision process. During this session we’ll talk about the common mistakes students make and how students can craft an essay that allows their unique personalities to shine through. Sample essays from years past will be read during the session.

Veronica Hauad University of Chicago

Scholarships 101: A Better Life = A College Degree with Less Debt

This workshop will focus on helping students and parents research creative ways to identify and apply for scholarships and other methods of paying for college without strong reliance on student loan debt. We will cover traditional and non-traditional scholarship programs, scholarship granting organizations, Federal and State grant aid and scholarship programs, great scholarship websites, and free web-based tools that will help students and parent identify scholarship opportunities.

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Marcia Boyd

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Workshop Descriptions

Presenter

Financial Aid: Effectively Navigating the Process

Prospective students/families will receive an overview of the financial aid process and highlights of the federal/state/local financial aid programs available to assist college bound students. We will cover how to get an early estimation of financial aid eligibility from federal and institutional sources, how to apply for financial aid, fill out the FAFSA and other required forms, how colleges determine a student’s financial need, and student/parent responsibilities before, during, and after the financial aid process. You will be introduced to financial resources for college, tips on how to lower cost and get the most from available funding, and have the chance to ask questions about financial aid pertaining specifically to you and your household.

Onjila Odeneal University of Michigan

Positioning for Admissions & Scholarships

Are you ready for college? Do you know the process of selecting the right school, seeking scholarships, and preparing for the college entrance exams? If not, come learn the important factors that you should consider when preparing for college.

This session will provide guidance in selecting a school that is a good fit. Some vital factors will be discussed that can assist you with choosing a college such as: costs, majors, campus environment, admission overview, scholarships, act/sat prep, the importance of networking, and meeting deadlines. Don’t get left behind! Be determined and find out how to make the right choice for your future.

Karen Staten

Think HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)

Did you ThinkHBCU(sm) during your college search? Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are a jewel in the cap of American higher education. The contributions these schools make to the fabric of American life are indisputable. These institutions are models of persevering hard work, quality instruction and service to their communities. This workshop will be presented by members of Theta Omega Chapter/AKArama Foundation Inc. of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., (founded on Howard University’s campus in 1908) to highlight the importance of HBCUs and promote awareness of the numerous educational programs and services these schools offer. Through education, engagement and advocacy, HBCUs will be showcased as a critical venue for moving students to and through college.

Bertina Power AKA Sorority Inc.

Admissions Process and the Common Application

Are you ready for college? Do you know the process of selecting the right school, seeking scholarships, and preparing for the college entrance exams? If not, come learn the important factors that you should consider when preparing for college.

This session will provide guidance in selecting a school that is a good fit. Some vital factors will be discussed that can assist you with choosing a college such as: costs, majors, campus environment, admission overview, scholarships, act/sat prep, the importance of networking, and meeting deadlines. Don’t get left behind! Be determined and find out how to make the right choice for your future.

Alice Pennamon Northeastern Univesity

ACT Preparation

How should you prepare for the ACT ? Should you take a course offered by private companies? When should you start to prepare? How man times should you take the exam? Which exam should one take? What are the schools score expectations?

These are some of the questions this workshop will address. In addition to providing resources to help inform and prepare the student and his/her family for ACT testing.

Revolution Prep

Write Your Way to Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money!!

(Creative Education Funding - Your Range of Choices): Presented by FreeRidetoCollege.com

What if I told you I have $200,000 in scholarship money sitting in a bank ready to give out to a qualified student, and all you have to do is present a compelling argument as to why I should give it to you and not the next student? Are you ready to take full advantage of this scholarship opportunity? What would you show or say to get the money? That is exactly what is being offered to you right now! Millions of dollars in scholarship money is up for grabs. You should be getting your share of that money. What are scholarship committees looking for? What will make your application stand out? In this workshop, “Write Your Way to Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money”! Norma Richards, author of the book, “Free Ride to College: A Guide to Grooming Your Kids For a Full Academic Scholarship,” will show you how to write a competitive essay that wins you scholarship money!

Norma Richards

Power in the American Community College

During this thought provoking, real talk session, we will explore the value of post-secondary education available at community colleges. We will look at the increasing relevancy of student success provided at 2 year institutions and their offerings: from associate degrees, occupational certificates, employment, 3 plus 1 degree programs to full and partial scholarships and more.

We will also examine how diversity in community colleges is shaping new progressive programs that foster social awareness, cultural understanding and a sense of belonging that is developing holistic leaders for our societies.

David A. Swope Sr.

How To Compete and Win Scholarships For Financially Rewarding Careers

Being identified as smart and well-rounded does not guarantee that your student will win scholarships to college. Scholarships are competitive and your student can win them by effectively demonstrating unique, innovative qualities and background.

In addition, your student must be prepared to enter a workforce in fields that are in high demand! In this workshop, Norma Richards outlines the three essential keys to obtaining a Free Ride to College and teaches you how to develop a Competitive Student Profile that positions your student to earn a free ride in a technology driven society!

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Norma Richards

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TABLE ASSIGNMENTS

A

B

C

G10

100 Black Men of Chicago

G9 H5 A9 A15 A16

A17 A18

ACT Test Prep Air Force ROTC Alcorn State University Amherst College Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago Art Institutes Augustana College

A19 Baldwin Wallace University A20 Ball State University A21 Bates College A22 Berklee College of Music A23 Bethune-Cookman University A24 Bowdoin College B5 Bowling Green State University B6 Bradley University B7 Brown University B8 Bryant University B9 Bucknell University B10 Butler University B11 Carleton College B12 Carnegie Mellon University C4 Case Western Reserve University C5 Cedarville University C6 Central Michigan University C7 Central State C8 City Colleges of Chicago C9 Colgate University C11 College of DuPage C10 College of the Holy Cross D7 Colorado College D8 Columbia College Chicago D9 Concordia University Chicago D10 Cornell University E18 E15 E16 F23 E19 E20 E21

Dartmouth College Denison University DePaul University DePauw University Dillard University Dominican University Drake University

E22 E23 F21 F22

Eastern Illinois University Elmhurst College Elon University Eureka College

F

E17 F24 G8

Fisk University Florida A & M University Free Ride to College

G

D3 D4 D5 D6

Governors State University Grambling State University Grand Valley State University Grinnell College

D

E

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A1 D20 A13

Hampton University Harris-Stowe State University Howard University

D21 D22 D23 E24 D24 E1 E2 G7

E3

Illinois College Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois State University Illinois Wesleyan Indiana State University Indiana University Indiana University South Bend International Association of Black Actuaries Iowa State University

J

H12

Johns Hopkins University

K

E4 E5 E6

Kent State University Kenyon College Knox College

L

E7 E8 E9

Lehigh University Lincoln University of Missouri Luther College

H

I

M

F7 F8 F9 F10

Northeastern Illinois University Northern Illinois University Northern Michigan University Northwestern University

O

F11 F12

Oberlin College Ohio University

P

F13 H2 H1 G11 F14 F15 G5 G4

Penn State Univeristy Philander Smith College Pitzer College PNC Bank Pomona College Princeton University Purdue University Pursue Scholars

G3 G2 G1 H3

Rice University Ripon College Roosevelt University Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology

S

U

E10 Marquette University E11 Michigan State University F2 Middlebury College F3 Milwaukee School of Engineering F4 Monmouth College F5 Morgan State University F6 Mount Holyoke College

N

R

T

H4 Saint Louis University C14 Saint Xavier University C15 Smith College C16 Southern Illinois University Carbondale C17 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville C18 Southern Methodist University E12 Spelman College C19 Stanford University G12, G13 State Farm C20 Syracuse University

V

W

C13 C21 C22 C23 D2 C24

Talladega College Taylor University The University of Kansas Trinity College Tufts University Tuskegee University

H6 United States Air Force Academy H9 United States Military Academy D14 University of Alabama at Birmingham D13 University of Chicago D1 University of Dayton D15 University of Evansville C1, C2 University of Illinois at Chicago B24 University of Illinois at

Springfield D11, D12 University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign D16 University of Indianapolis D17 University of Iowa D18 University of Kentucky D19 University of Miami E13 University of Michigan F16 University of Minnesota

Twin Cities F17 University of Missouri F18 University of Missouri-St. Louis F19 University of Nebraska-Lincoln F20 University of Notre Dame B13 University of Pittsburgh B14 University of Richmond B15 University of San Diego B16 University of Toledo B17 University of Virginia B18 University of WI -Milwaukee C3 University of Wisconsin- Madison B19 B20 B21 B22

Valparaiso University Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University

B23 Wabash College G6 Walgreens Expressions Challenge C11 Wartburg College A3 Washington and Lee University A4 Washington Univeristy in

St. Louis A5 Webster University A6 Wellesley College A7 Wesleyan University A8 Western Illinois University A10 Western Michigan University A11 Wheaton College H11 Wilberforce University A12 Williams College B3 Wittenberg University B2 Worcester Polytechnic

Institute

X

B1

Xavier Univ. of Louisiana

Y

B4

Yale University

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UIC Pavillion

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Types of Colleges and Universities to Consider Community and Junior Colleges: These colleges offer the first two years of a liberal arts education, as well as career or vocational training. Successful completion of a community or junior college curriculum earns graduates an Associate’s Degree. Many students continue on to a four-year institution after completing a community or junior college program.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU): These colleges originated when African American students were legally denied access to most other institutions of higher education.

Now, these colleges celebrate African American culture and empowerment, and give Black students the chance to experience an educational community in which they are finally part of the majority.

Universities: Universities are generally very large and include a liberal arts college, as well as colleges focused on preparation for a specific career, like law, nursing or education.

Universities offer a greater range of academic choices than liberal arts colleges, but often have classes that are very large. It can be more difficult to get to know your professors at a university than at a liberal arts college, but this is not always the case.

Liberal Arts Colleges: These colleges focus on the education of undergraduate students (students who are earning a Bachelor’s Degree). Classes are generally taught by professors who see teaching as their primary responsibility.

Because most liberal arts colleges are smaller than universities, classes tend to be smaller and more personal attention is available.

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Instead of preparing for a specific career path, students who attend liberal arts colleges are exposed to a broad sampling of classes. In addition, they select at least one area of indepth study that is their college “major.” Many employers look for graduates of liberal arts programs.

Women’s Colleges: These colleges offer women the opportunity to enjoy a learning community where they are in the majority. Additionally, these colleges have a much larger population of female faculty and administrators. Women’s colleges graduate a high number of science majors, as well as students who continue on to graduate school or professional studies.

Tribal Colleges: Like HBCUs or women’s colleges, these colleges focus on the needs and education of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in higher education. In this case, these colleges focus on the education and empowerment of Native American students while celebrating a specific tribe’s unique culture and accomplishments.

Technical Institutes and Professional Schools: These colleges or institutes enroll students who have made a specific choice about their career path. The curriculum at these colleges focuses solely on preparing students for these specific careers. Most of the career options offered at these colleges are in music, fine arts, engineering, or technical sciences.

Source: National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

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Asking the Right Questions to Help Determine the Right College for You Curriculum:

ASK YOURSELF if the school offers the right courses and has the right facilities for the kinds of studies you want to undertake. If you’re not sure, you can look for a school with a broad-based liberal arts program. If you want science, make sure they have up-to-date labs, computers and other facilities.

Academic Standards:

ASK about the average class standing, grade point average and admission test scores for students accepted at the colleges of your choice.

Cost:

ASK about the tuition, fees, room and board charges at the schools in which you’re interested. Every college is required to provide a net price calculator to help students estimate how much the total amount of fees to be incurred. Check each college’s web site for the net price calculator!

classroom size gets smaller and you get to know the students in your major area of study.

ASK about the size of the faculty, the studentto-faculty ratio, and what is the total population of the school?

Diversity:

ASK about diversity. What is the geographic, racial, and religious make-up of the student body at each college? Find out how each community might offer an opportunity to learn more about the world.

Religious Affiliation:

ASK YOURSELF if a religious orientation is important to you? Find out what types of campus based religious activities and places of worship are available in the area.

Location:

ASK YOURSELF where you want to go to college. If you need to live at home or just want to be close to home, limit your scope to that area.

Does a big city with all its attractions interest you, or do you prefer easy access to the outdoors or the serenity of a small town?

Size:

ASK YOURSELF if you think you can handle a large university setting, or if you are better suited for a midsize to small college environment? Remember, even at a larger school, after your first couple of years,

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Myths & Truths

Myth: Freshman year grades in high school don’t count toward college admission Truth: Every year counts toward the students overall GPA Myth: The ACT/SAT test taken in the winter is easier than any of the other tests Truth: A statistical process called “equating” makes sure that a score for tests taken on one date is equivalent to a score for tests on another date. No test date is easier than another.

Myth: The more activities I have on my resume the better I will look.

Truth: Colleges are looking to round out their student body with passionate, focused individuals who have delved deeply into one or two areas of genuine interest and shown leadership in those areas.

Myth: My classmate got in and he/she had worse grades/profile than I did, so I’ll definitely get in!

Fact: You don’t have all the information, even if you saw their application, read the essays and transcripts, and sat in on their interview. You don’t know what that college was looking for in a given year and who else was applying/competing for admission spots. Every year is different, and every candidate is different.

Myth: You can start preparing for college in 12th grade.

Truth: Everything from ninth grade through twelfth grade counts, including summers. Students need a four-year plan to chart their academic coursework, meaningful activities, service and leadership, to compile their application packages.

Myth: Colleges won’t care if I’m a few days late submitting my application.

Truth: Don’t count on it! Though some colleges may accept your application, many colleges reject applications that were sent late.

Be mindful of deadlines and aim to get your essays done over the summer so you can submit applications on time.

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Advice Related to the Search Process

B

e aware that just as students are researching colleges, colleges are also researching students!

When registering for the ACT or the SAT, you may indicate whether or not you want to take part in Student Search or Educational Opportunity Service. If you agree to participate, you can expect to receive information from many colleges, even some in which you may not ultimately be interested.

When you start receiving materials from these colleges, please take the time to read very carefully and thoroughly. You may want to set up a system in a notebook, use index cards, or even set up a college information file on your computer.

When admissions representatives from colleges visit your school, take every advantage of the opportunity.

Keep your counselor and parents informed and keep your eyes open for upcoming visits from schools.

When you have a chance to have a conversation with the recruiter or representative, take that opportunity very seriously and ask questions - this person may sit on the admissions committee which reviews your very application for admission!

Of course, the best way to assess a school is to visit it in person, if possible.

As you begin your senior year, you will want to request applications from colleges and universities in which you have developed an interest.

Pay very close attention to deadlines! You will want to complete your application well in advance of the deadline. Also, be aware that financial aid application deadlines are often different from admissions deadlines.

You have now set the stage for one of the most exciting opportunities and experiences in your life! Your senior year in high school is filled with fun, some anxiety, and tons of timetables and deadlines. While it is a critical juncture in your life, enjoy the process and have a good time. In the grand scheme, this process is relatively quick and short. But, it will have a profound impact on your life.

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