ACES Scholars will work one-on-one with an ACES Student Success Coordinators on being successful in high school, completing college admission applications, working through the scholarship and financial aid process, and transitioning from high school to college. In addition, ACES Scholars can participate in weekly activities, group meetings, and college visits.
There is NO cost. All program expenses are paid by a partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove.
Parents/Guardians will be invited to attend select workshops, such as completing financial aid paperwork and applying for scholarships. Parents/Guardians also may be asked to attend special activities and events.
Apply online at www.ACESmontgomery.org. Complete the online application, and submit the Application Consent Form to your ACES Coordinator. This form may be printed and scanned in return, sent by text message to the ACES Coordinator, or electronically filled out.
An application is reviewed by a committee of dedicated ACES staff members, as limited spaces are available to join. It takes between 1-2 months for the Review Committee to check all applications across the 14 high schools. You may hear back on your status by April. At that point, you will receive a letter from ACES indicating if you were accepted, denied, or waitlisted.
The tasks provided in ACES are not graded, but important to complete on time if you want to be on our target timeline (and more importantly, not get too stressed due to procrastination!). You will need to commit to your own academic success. You will be expected to participate in planned activities and meet with your ACES Coordinator on a regular basis.
ACES Coordinators mentor, advocate for, and advise ACES Scholars. They spend four days a week in a high school with ACES Scholars and oversee college/career readiness activities. They will help you attain the goal of academic, professional, and personal success.
ACES Scholars receive ongoing academic coaching, participate in college readiness activities, and benefit from support services that will assist with the college application process. If students choose to attend Montgomery College and the Universities at Shady Grove, they will receive continued support from an ACES Coordinator at these institutions.
Possibly! The criteria for scholarships and financial aid are defined by donors and/or federal regulations. ACES Scholars are coached on the opportunities that best fit their major and individual situation.
No problem. The goal of the ACES Program is for each ACES Scholar to complete a four-year degree. When you have selected the colleges you want to apply to, your ACES Coordinator will help guide you through the application process.