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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Picture Yourself He e
Affordable Rates $7,656 per semester* Includes Tuition, Fees, Room and Board
23 Countries Represented 2,407 Student Population 42 States Represented
49 Undergraduate Programs Graduate Programs 8 Student-to-Faculty Ratio 15:1
Average Class Size 14
First Generation 46%
FLEXIBILITY Classes available in 8 and 16 week sessions *4 week sessions during the summer
Apply Now csc.edu/apply
*Numbers based on the 2020-2021 academic year’s cost of attendance. In addition to these fixed costs, there are variable costs. Students will need to plan for expenses such as books, supplies, transportation and personal expenses. The total amount of these variable costs will depend upon individual taste and lifestyles. All costs are subject to change without notice by the Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees.
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MPCC ranks in Top 10 best community colleges in the nation
Mid-Plains Community College is one of the Top 10 communi- ty colleges in the nation. That’s according to a new report from SmartAsset, a company that uses financial modeling to provide ad- vice on major financial decisions. The organization used 2018-19 school year data from the Inte- grated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for its re- port. More than 800 U.S. commu- nity colleges were analyzed across three metrics: graduation and transfer rates, student-to-faculty ratio and tuition and fees. MPCC ranked seventh and was
the only Nebraska community college to make the list. Mid-Plains currently has the highest graduation and transfer rates of any community college in the state. About 70 percent of first-time, degree-seeking stu- dents graduate or transfer to an- other postsecondary institution after MPCC, according to the college’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning. The student-to-faculty ratio at MPCC is 11 to 1, making it an ex- cellent choice for students seek- ing individualized instruction.
Smart Asset’s assessment of cost was based on in-state tuition and fees for students completing two semesters of coursework. MPCC came in at $3,210 for two se- mesters during the time period studied. The national average for 2018-19 was $3,660, and the av- erage tuition and fees for private nonprofit four-year colleges was $35,830. “This ranking by SmartAsset val- idates that we are meeting our mission of providing exception- al learning opportunities for in- dividual student success,” said MPCC President Ryan Purdy. “Our board of governors was de-
liberate in including ‘individual’ in our mission, and we work hard to provide opportunities that al- low our students to achieve their educational goals.” Tad Pfeifer, MPCC’s area director of Institutional Effectiveness, said the college provides a first choice experience with the personal at- tention from faculty afforded by small class sizes and the student support that results in high suc- cess rates. “We have a local constituency that believes in access to high- er education, which results in a commitment to keep costs low continued on page 4
We are top ten in the nation . We are first choice . We are MPCC .
McCook · North Platte · Broken Bow · Imperial · Ogallala · Valentine | 800-658-4308 DISCOVERWHY TODAY WWW.MPCC.EDU
Mi d-P l a i ns Commun i t y Co l l ege does not d i sc r imi nate based upon any protected status . P l ease see www.mpcc . edu/about -mpcc/gene ra l - i n format i on/non-d i sc r imi nat i on-po l i cy
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Stay on top of those scholarship deadlines!
By EducationQuest Foundation Seniors, listen up!
MPCC continued from page 3 for those seeking to better themselves, regardless of background,” said Pfeifer. “Not only do we have constituency financial support, but we have leaders at every level of the institution working hard to keep op- erational costs down. I believe that there isn’t another college in Ne- braska, or maybe even beyond, that makes every dollar stretch and at the same time has a commitment to helping all of our students suc- ceed.” More information about the study can be found at: https://smartasset. com/checking-account/best-community-colleges-in-america-2020. More information about MPCC and the programs and resources it offers can be found online at www.mpcc.edu. • Essay prompts that are similar in nature may be requested by differ- ent scholarships. Therefore, you can take content you’ve already writ- ten for one scholarship and tailor it specifically to the next scholarship. • Each essay should make the reader feel like they just personally met you and learned something about you. A written story with detail and meaning will outperform a laundry list of activities. Get feedback from someone with strong writing skills. Make the next draft better. • Resumes are a brief overview of your experiences, involvement, and awards/honors. Once created, it can be used for different scholarship applications. Take time to format and spell things correctly. Visit Ac- tivities Resume to create and continually update your resume. • Letters of Recommendation are from your teachers, mentors, coach- es, and employers (not your friends or family members). It is good to have a list of at least three adults you can turn to for recommendation letters, with at least one strong academic and one strong professional/ work ethic recommender. • Give each recommender plenty of time to write your letter, and pro- vide a copy of your resume and a short written personal statement that highlights your goals. Find a scholarship buddy and keep each other accountable Chances are your friends are hoping to apply for many scholarships, too. If you can stay on task and hold each other accountable, then there is power in having a scholarship partner or small group. Exchange pro- ductivity tips with one another, or new scholarship opportunities you may discover. Brainstorm essay responses and ask for open and honest feedback. Proofread each other’s essay responses to ensure clarity. And of course, use this process as an excuse to spring for some pizza.
Finding the money to pay for college is not an easy task. It takes time and effort, and it can seem overwhelming. There are lots of deadlines, essays, applications, etc. Applying for scholarships isn’t fun, but schol- arships are important, especially if they can minimize the need for student loans. The key is to take this stuff seriously. Very seriously. Over the past few years, in working with many high school seniors, I’ve picked up on many tips and strategies to help you reduce your stress level while maximizing your productivity. Let’s dive right in. Time is never found, it is made You’re busy. I get that. However, students who are successful in find- ing scholarships are the ones who actively block time in their sched- ules for this stuff. Some students utilize study hall time or the “College Clubs” at their high school. Other students create a “scholarship work schedule” for themselves for after school (one hour on Tuesday and Thursday) where they set the alarms on their phones and focus entire- ly on scholarships for that one hour. No distractions. Create a “must-apply” list There is no one-stop-shop for all the scholarships that are relevant to you; you will need to spend time and energy searching for each one. Talk with the admissions representatives from the colleges that inter- est you. Meet with your school counselor to discuss local scholarships. Use online resources such as ScholarshipQuest. As you learn about more scholarships, start creating a list of “must-apply-for awards” – the ones that you will for sure submit. Organize yourself and your materials Since this is a time-sensitive process with deadlines, it is helpful to get organized. Know your top-priority (must-apply scholarships) and their deadlines. Spreadsheets, marker boards, giant calendars, sticky notes… whatever system helps you visualize which scholarships you should be targeting during a given time of the year. As you save and store files of essays and other requirements, be sure to back up your files. Also, be detailed in how you label your files (such as Scholarship- Name_Draft#_Date). Identify common requirements: Essays, Resume, Recommendations The more you dive into the scholarship process, the more similar in- formation they will ask from you.
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COLLEGE BOUND How to stay on track to college
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
By EducationQuest Foundation Seniors, you’re in the home stretch of your high school career! Here is a list of tasks that you can be working on now to make your transition from high school to college as smooth as possible. Continue to apply for scholarships Hopefully you’ve beencompleting and submitting scholarship applications. Continue to search for scholarship opportunities through the end of your senior year, this summer and even while you are attending college! Make sure to meet the deadlines and attach quality letters of
recommendation when required. Free money can’t be beat!! Complete the Financial Aid Process If you haven’t filed your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), do so now! The FAFSA determines any federal, state and college-based aid you are eligible to receive. Once you’ve submitted your FAFSA, watch for correspondence from the college financial aid office. If you’re selected for verification, complete any forms sent to you and submit all requested documentation as soon as possible. When you receive
your award letter, compare offers and accept or decline what you are being offered. If you haven’t made your final college decision, accept offers from each college until you know where you’ll be attending for sure. Check your email and student portal often Colleges will communicate with students via these two avenues and will send a variety of important information to you, so you want to read and reply in a timely manner! This may seem simple, but with the pandemic, so many things are looking differently, so it is imperative that you read all communication from
the college thoroughly! Register for New-Student Orientation Although it might be virtual this year, be sure to attend student orientation as this is your opportunity to ask questions and register for your fall classes. The college will send you specific information on how your student orientation will work, so make sure you read it carefully for details. Don’t skip out on orientation as it’s an important process in acclimating from high school to college!
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Your Senior Year at a Glance
Your senior year is jam-packed with activities and deadlines. Follow this timeline to stay on track to college: FALL • Attend a Financial Aid Program to prepare for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). • Create an FSA ID as fsaid.ed.gov (one for you and one for a parent). You’ll need them for the FAFSA. • Complete and submit the FAFSA on or after October 1 to apply for financial aid. • Retake the ACT and/or SAT college entrance exams. Colleges use your best score for admission and scholarship consideration. • Apply to your top 3-4 colleges. • Search for scholarships. Resources include your prospective colleges, your school counselor, local organizations, and free sites such as ScholarshipQuest. WINTER • Watch for acceptance letters from the colleges you applied to. • Expect a Student Aid Report (SAR) acknowledging that your FAFSA was processed. • Expect financial aid award notifications from the college(s) you listed on your FAFSA. • Update your Activities Resume at EducationQuest.org. SPRING • Continue to apply for scholarships. • Make your final college decision. Notify the other schools and decline their financial aid award packages. • Submit your campus housing registration fee and deposit. • Register for new-student orientation at your college.
VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR
Visit college booths and watch experts discuss college-prep topics. SEPTEMBER 27-30
eqf.org/collegefair Register to participate
VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR IS SEPT. 27-30 by EducationQuest Foundation
Attend the EducationQuest Virtual College Fair September 27-30 to visit with college representatives from across the state, region, and nation and to hear from college-prep experts. Register for the free event at eqf.org/collegefair. College representatives will be available during these times, but you can visit college booths any time.
Sunday, September 27 – 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. CT Monday, September 28 – 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. CT Tuesday, September 29 – 1:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. CT Wednesday, September 30 – 1:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. CT
Live presentations will be held September 27 and will be recorded for later viewing. Topics include college admission, selecting a major, campus visit, scholarship tips, and paying for college. To learn more, visit EducationQuest.org.
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