College Application
Will I be accepted to a good university if I graduate from Madina Academy Upper School?
The answer to this question depends on you. Madina Academy Upper School prepares its students to be competitive applicants to universities by providing honors courses in all core subjects, the dual enrollment program, community service involvement, and opportunities to show leadership skills on campus by participating in the monthly newsletter, yearbook club, student council, etc. In addition to your GPA, universities also look at the type of courses you took, and your extracurricular activities. The Upper School provides the right set of courses and mandates that its students complete 50 hours of community service in order to graduate. All our graduates have been accepted to universities including Ivy League schools. Many students have received scholarships including full paid scholarships. It now depends on you. If you work hard, you will definitely be accepted to a good university with the will of Allah.
What is Common Application?
Who will submit my college applications?Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to colleges. At the start of grade 12, students are responsible for creating an account at www.commonapp.org and filling in their personal information. Next, they invite the individuals they would like to write recommendation letters to them for college as well as the upper school coordinator. The coordinator will be responsible for uploading the student’s transcripts. The student is responsible for making sure the recommenders have submitted their letter of recommendation. The student is also responsible for selecting the colleges to apply to, paying the college application fees and submitting the college applications online before the deadline.
What is the FAFSA? Who will submit it?
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Even if you do not expect to get money from the government, you should still fill it. It is the students’ and their parents’ responsibility to fill and submit the FAFSA application at www.fafsa.gov.
What financial aid options are available to help pay my college tuition?
Besides the FAFSA, you might be eligible for other types of grants. This online student's guide to understanding financial aid will help provide you with more information.
PSAT/SAT Tests
What is the difference between PSAT 10 and PSAT/NMSQT?
The PSAT 10 is taken in grade 10. The PSAT/NMSQT is taken in grades 10 and 11. Both tests are given at different times of the year. The PSAT/NMSQT serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students who receive a high score on this test are considered for the scholarship. If you received a high score on the PSAT 10 test, it is highly recommended that you take the PSAT/NMSQT test in grade 11.
When should I register for the SAT?
Students are allowed to take the SAT exam multiple times. However, it is not recommended more than 3 times. We suggest taking the first SAT exam at the end of grade 11 , continuing to practice during the summer and then take the exam twice in the first semester of grade 12.
Who will help me register for the SAT exam?
It is the student’s responsibility to register for the SAT exam. You need to visit www.collegeboard.org and create an account for yourself. Make sure to write down your username and password and save them in a safe place because you will need them frequently. The creation of the account will take some time and will ask several questions, so start early. After you create an account, you can view upcoming SAT test dates and search for nearby schools to take the test at. Windsor High School and Loomis Chaffee are two schools our students have taken tests at before. Pick your test date and location and pay the fee online. Changing the test date will result in a fine, so double check your availability before registering. Also, test registration has a deadline, so plan on registering more than a month in advance to avoid a late fee. The upper school coordinator will remind you to register. However, it is your responsibility to actually register, pay and arrange your transportation to the exam.
The PSAT 10 is taken in grade 10. The PSAT/NMSQT is taken in grades 10 and 11. Both tests are given at different times of the year. The PSAT/NMSQT serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students who receive a high score on this test are considered for the scholarship. If you received a high score on the PSAT 10 test, it is highly recommended that you take the PSAT/NMSQT test in grade 11.
When should I register for the SAT?
Students are allowed to take the SAT exam multiple times. However, it is not recommended more than 3 times. We suggest taking the first SAT exam at the end of grade 11 , continuing to practice during the summer and then take the exam twice in the first semester of grade 12.
Who will help me register for the SAT exam?
It is the student’s responsibility to register for the SAT exam. You need to visit www.collegeboard.org and create an account for yourself. Make sure to write down your username and password and save them in a safe place because you will need them frequently. The creation of the account will take some time and will ask several questions, so start early. After you create an account, you can view upcoming SAT test dates and search for nearby schools to take the test at. Windsor High School and Loomis Chaffee are two schools our students have taken tests at before. Pick your test date and location and pay the fee online. Changing the test date will result in a fine, so double check your availability before registering. Also, test registration has a deadline, so plan on registering more than a month in advance to avoid a late fee. The upper school coordinator will remind you to register. However, it is your responsibility to actually register, pay and arrange your transportation to the exam.
Community Service
Where can I go to volunteer and satisfy the community service requirement?
Please read the community service policy for a detailed explanation. It is recommended to start volunteering in the summer before entering grade 9. Recommended places include the town’s public library, Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation at 581 Poquonock Avenue in Windsor, Hartford Hospital, and of course Madina Academy.
Please read the community service policy for a detailed explanation. It is recommended to start volunteering in the summer before entering grade 9. Recommended places include the town’s public library, Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation at 581 Poquonock Avenue in Windsor, Hartford Hospital, and of course Madina Academy.
Dual Enrollment
How will Madina Academy know what courses I took at the community college and give me credit for them?
You are responsible to first get permission from the Upper School Coordinator before registering for any courses. After the completion of the semester and the grades are out, you need to log onto mycommnet.edu and request an official transcript to be sent to Madina Academy, PO BOX 546, Windsor CT, 06095 and Attn: Madina Academy Upper School Coordinator. Once the school receives your official transcript, the GPANetwork system will be updated with the classes you took and the grades. Please note that failure/delay to send transcripts to the school will jeopardize your graduation date.
How should I know what courses to take?
You must take courses that satisfy the Madina Academy graduation requirements. These courses can be found in the forms and documents page. You should also try to take courses that transfer to the university you are planning on attending upon graduation.
Can I apply for Financial Aid in the community colleges?
In order to apply for financial aid, you need to fill the FAFSA. However, the FAFSA requires that you have completed high school. So the answer is no, you cannot apply for financial aid. However, the colleges sometimes offer scholarships that are merit or financial need based. Check with the financial aid office at the college for any such scholarships you might be able to apply to.
Is the college tuition tax deductible?
In some cases, the tuition paid to the community colleges while you are still in high school could be tax deductible. Check the following two links for more details and check with your tax adviser.
https://www.irs.gov/Help-&-Resources/Tools-&-FAQs/FAQs-for-Individuals/Frequently-Asked-Tax-Questions-&-Answers/Childcare-Credit,-Other-Credits/Education-Credits/Education-Credits-3
https://www.eitc.irs.gov/Other-Refundable-Credits/educompchart
You are responsible to first get permission from the Upper School Coordinator before registering for any courses. After the completion of the semester and the grades are out, you need to log onto mycommnet.edu and request an official transcript to be sent to Madina Academy, PO BOX 546, Windsor CT, 06095 and Attn: Madina Academy Upper School Coordinator. Once the school receives your official transcript, the GPANetwork system will be updated with the classes you took and the grades. Please note that failure/delay to send transcripts to the school will jeopardize your graduation date.
How should I know what courses to take?
You must take courses that satisfy the Madina Academy graduation requirements. These courses can be found in the forms and documents page. You should also try to take courses that transfer to the university you are planning on attending upon graduation.
Can I apply for Financial Aid in the community colleges?
In order to apply for financial aid, you need to fill the FAFSA. However, the FAFSA requires that you have completed high school. So the answer is no, you cannot apply for financial aid. However, the colleges sometimes offer scholarships that are merit or financial need based. Check with the financial aid office at the college for any such scholarships you might be able to apply to.
Is the college tuition tax deductible?
In some cases, the tuition paid to the community colleges while you are still in high school could be tax deductible. Check the following two links for more details and check with your tax adviser.
https://www.irs.gov/Help-&-Resources/Tools-&-FAQs/FAQs-for-Individuals/Frequently-Asked-Tax-Questions-&-Answers/Childcare-Credit,-Other-Credits/Education-Credits/Education-Credits-3
https://www.eitc.irs.gov/Other-Refundable-Credits/educompchart