Student-Parent Connection
In an effort to spark discussion between parents and students about life as a middle school/high school
student and college, we have decided to incorporate some discussion questions into our newsletter. We
hope they provide a starting point for some great conversations!
The Connection
EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH
is located at the:
University of Wisconsin-Stout – 13 Harvey Hall – Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 232-1250
www.uwstout.edu/ets
WINTER 2012 EDITION
In our Fall edition of The Connection, we addressed the topic of technology in education. Discuss
some ways technology can make you more efficient as a student.
A Gentle Nudge in the Right Direction
Safety is important- what are some things you should remember as a student when using all of this
technology (think Twitter, blogs, Facebook and other social media, web surfing, text messaging, etc.)?
How do you think technology will have changed by the time you get to college? (The possibilities are
endless!)
If there’s one thing the TV show ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ has taught us is that
it pays to be resourceful. (Lifeline anyone?) College application time here at ETS
is always a reminder to us how important it is for students to be resourceful. A day
doesn’t go by where we don’t spend time browsing college websites for information.
During financial aid application time, calls often have to be made to answer crucial
questions or to inquire about deadlines. As adults, we know the importance of getting
questions answered in a timely fashion, and we have no hesitations at doing so. But this
can be a daunting task for a student.
ETS STAFF
Carolyn Mertz, Director
mertzc@uwstout.edu
Heather Barke, Advisor
barkeh@uwstout.edu
Karen Smolarek, Advisor
smolarekk@uwstout.edu
Sandy Moua, Advisor
mouas@uwstout.edu
Jennifer Giesking, Office
Associate
gieskingj@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout’s Educational Talent
Search is a 100% federally funded
TRiO Program serving 700+ students
annually with $296,548 awarded per
budget period.
To start, being involved in ETS is a huge step in learning to be resourceful. We aim to
provide students and parents with resources and information in a variety of ways- via
email, the ETS website, this newsletter, various mailings, and face-to-face contact. But
let’s be honest- providing a connection to these resources does not mean students are
always comfortable using them!
As a parent, you work hard to give your child the resources they need to be successful
in all areas of life. You understand that, at some point, parents need to turn the reins
over to the child. Parents can gradually do this over time by increasing the amount of
responsibility given to your student. Encourage your student to pick up the phone and
get an answer. Yes, it is likely easier for you to do this for them, but you’d be surprised
at the confidence you can build in your child with this simple task (and who says you
can’t sit next to them during the call?).
Too often we hear from college officials that students are not using campus resources.
In turn, students miss out on opportunities for assistance that are right in front of
their nose! College campuses are FULL of resources available simply by picking up
the phone, sending a quick email, or by walking a few blocks. Counseling facilities,
tutoring services, you name it- they have it!
In closing, I can tell you that I’ll never forget the response from my father when I asked
him to call my high school coach about an issue I was having. His response to my
request…”It’s not MY coach!” At the time I was rather irritated that my dad wouldn’t
solve the problem for me, but looking back I understand the lesson he was trying to
teach me. My father wanted me to use my resources, to pick up the phone when I had
a question, and to learn to navigate the world on my own. I think of these things as
part of my “life toolkit”, and I know he was teaching me this lesson to help me succeed
in life. Was I nervous to call my coach to address the issue? …you bet! But a simple
lesson proved useful in easing the transition to college, adulthood and the world of
work. It is true that some things are better handled by adults, but it is important to
give your student small opportunities along the way to grow and gain these life skills.
Happy New Year!
-Carolyn Mertz
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STOUT
W I S C O N S I N ’ S P O LY T E C H N I C U N I V E R S I T Y
University of Wisconsin-Stout
13 Harvey Hall
Menomonie, WI 54751
Educational Talent Search
1st Class Mail
US Postage Paid
Menomonie, WI
Permit No. 3
54751
Midwest Student Exchange Program: A
Great Alternative to Paying Out-of-State Tuition
What is it?
The Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) is a tuition reduction program that makes attending out-of-state
colleges and universities more affordable for non-resident
students. By enrolling in a MSEP program at a participating
institution, you will receive a reduced tuition rate—giving
you a wider range of education options for your education
dollars. Nearly one hundred colleges and universities in
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin have opened their
doors to each others’ citizens by offering reduced tuition
rates.
How does it work?
The MSEP is not a scholarship. Through the MSEP, public
institutions agree to charge students no more than 150%
of the in-state resident tuition rate for specific programs;
private institutions offer a 10% reduction on their tuition
rates. You must enroll as a non-resident student at a participating MSEP campus to receive the discount.
Simply visit http://msep.mhec.org to:
•Searchforparticipatinginstitutionsandprograms
•Learnaboutcampusenrollmentrequirements
•Findcampus-specificcontactinformation
Contact information:
Midwestern Higher Education Compact
1300 South Second Street, Suite 130
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1079
Phone: (612) 625-4368 E-mail: msep@mhec.org
http://msep.mhec.org
Mark your calendar! Take note!
Field Trip Pictures:
Seniors:
• Students should complete the FAFSA (Free
Application for Federal Student Aid) and submit
it online as soon as possible after January 1 for the
coming academic year. *We recommend everyone
complete a FAFSA. You never know what aid you may
be eligible for unless you submit. There are billions of
dollars available!
• Need help with the FAFSA? Attend College
Goal Wisconsin in February. Visit: http://www.
collegegoalwi.org for more info.
o February 18th @ NTC-Wausau, 2-4pm
o
February 19th @ CVTC- Eau Claire,
2-4pm
Juniors:
• Spring ACT Test dates include April 14th (register
by March 9) and June 9th (register by May 4). We
recommend you take the test twice. Sign up here:
http://www.actstudent.org
• Please note that ETS can provide eligible students
with a test fee waiver. You must contact your ETS
Advisor BEFORE signing up for the test. The waiver
does not cover any late registration fees. More info on
this will be distributed at the next ETS Junior meeting.
• We will announce the dates for our spring fieldtrips
soon. We hope you plan to attend at least two campus
visits with us so you can learn how to compare
schools.
Look out Albert Einstein!
…a group of science-minded students tour UW-Eau Claire
A visit to Packer-land… Lambeau Field! Who knew there were so
many career opportunities within the field of athletics?!?
Did you know…?
Record numbers of students are attending college these days. There are very interesting numbers regarding who attends
college, how much money they will make, and what kind of degrees they will receive. Check out these interesting facts:
• In fall 2011, a record 19.7 million students are expected to attend American colleges and universities
FAFSA
• At least 1.7 million students fail to file the FAFSA each year because they incorrectly believe themselves to be
ineligible for aid– because they thought they were ineligible, did not want to take on the debt, or forms were too
much work.
• About 1/3 of these students would have qualified for a Pell Grant and about a sixth for a full Pell Grant – FREE
MONEY!
(This information was adapted from the UW Help website, http://www.uwhelp.
wisconsin.edu)
2-YEAR DEGREES
Please welcome Ms. Sandy Moua to the ETS Program! Ms. Moua joins us with previous TRIO experience. She
holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from UW-La Crosse and a graduate degree in School Counseling
from UW-Stout.
• Associate degree holders earn an average of $400,000 more over a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma
Ms. Moua will be working with Menomonie High School Juniors and Seniors for the remainder of the school year.
She is here to help you navigate the college application and financial aid processes, so call or email for assistance.
No question is too small!
• The average student debt for just a bachelor’s degree is $27,204 for 2010-2011 graduates
Contact info: (715) 232-3399 or mouas@uwstout.edu
• About 6.9 million students will attend public 2-year institutions
4-YEAR DEGREES
• Some 7.7 million students are expected to attend public 4-year institutions
MASTER’S DEGREE
• The master’s degree is the fastest growing degree today; 657,000 master’s degrees were conferred in 2009, which is
more than double the amount of those earned in the 1980s.
• Two out of every 25 people over the age of 24 now have a master’s degree
OTHER INFORMATION
College Navigator
In your search for the college right for you, you’ve used WISCareers and Wisconsin Career Pathways…
now try COLLEGE NAVIGATOR!
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
• Wisconsin’s average ACT score was 22.2 this past academic year
• The academic intensity of the student’s high school curriculum counts more than anything else in pre-collegiate
history in providing momentum toward completing a bachelor’s degree. This means taking advanced courses and
foreign language.
• 50% of students who declare a major will change majors — with many doing so 2 and 3 times during their college
years.
For a list of where we collected this great information email mertzc@uwstout.edu!