College & Careers 2020: Focusing on the Future

COLLEGE & CAREERS FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE • High school to-do’s • Life skills to succeed • ACT prepping • Virtual campus visits

Sunday, March 29, 2020

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

• Sunday, March 29, 2020

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

A YEAR-BY-YEAR COLLEGE-PREP GUIDE Expert tips to help parents and students survive with minimal emotional scarring

campus or somewhere in between? College is more than just a place to go to school — it will be their home for at least four years.

Most importantly, check the net price calculator on the financial aid page of colleges’ websites to see whether the schools will be feasible for your family.

You can save everyone heartbreak later by being honest and transparent about the colleges you can afford. Begin having family financial conversations in 10th grade, before your child has a chance to set his or her heart on one particular (and potentially $70,000 a year) college.

One aspect that sophomores do not need to worry about: standardized test prep. “For freshmen and sophomores, ‘prep’ should consist of paying attention in your classes, developing solid study skills, and reading books and articles of your choosing outside of school,” said Jed Applerouth, founder and president of Applerouth Tutoring. “If you build your reading skills and master the material covered in your high school classes, you will be well-positioned to achieve strong scores on the SAT and ACT.”

By Allison Slater Tate THE WASHINGTON POST

My friends and I like to bore our kids with stories about how we applied to college back in the Gen-X heyday: We had to pull forms off the back of college brochures, type all our information and essay responses on an actual typewriter, and mail them at the post office. After that we held our breath and hoped for fat envelopes in April.

For students today, one thing is certain: This is not their mothers’ process. In many ways it’s easier, with online applications, virtual campus tours and email. But it’s still tedious.

And though the stakes seem higher and the outcomes more uncertain, the reality is that 80% of U.S. colleges and universities accept more than half their applicants, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s 2017 State of College Admission report.

Those should be reassuring odds.

Nonetheless, if you’re the parent of a teenager with college aspirations, you’ve probably wished for a CliffsNotes guide to the application process to help you both survive the experience with minimal emotional scarring. Here’s a primer, based on input from parents, college-counseling experts and test-prep gurus:

Freshman year The best goal for college-bound students throughout high school is to choose a course load that will challenge them, but not crush them, beginning freshman year.

The rigor of a high school transcript is one of the most important standards in college admissions. Too often, however, students believe that means they should take advanced classes, even when such classes are inappropriate for them.

Encourage your child to push boundaries, but within reason.

Freshman year is also a great time for students to explore clubs, sports and activities as they figure out what they enjoy most and want to commit to for the next few years. Admissions Revolution’s Sara Harberson, an independent college

COLLEGE & CAREERS A special section produced by the news division of the Omaha World-Herald

Junior year JOE DEJKA/THE WORLD-HERALD

The best goal for college-bound students throughout high school is to choose a course load that will challenge them but not crush them, beginning freshman year. counselor and former college admissions dean, encourages students to think outside the box when it comes to their extracurriculars.

“The vast majority of high school students are all doing very similar activities either at their high school or in their community,” Harberson said. “When students have the courage to do something that’s a little bit different, they can really chart their own path and create incredible opportunities for themselves.”

Teens should feel free to try rock climbing instead of baseball, or take hula lessons instead of ballet. And by starting to explore activities in ninth grade, Harberson said, they’ll have plenty of time to “develop that independent interest.”

Sophomore year Once students feel they are on stable ground, the real work (and, ideally, fun) of high school begins.

Sophomores will want to narrow down

Project manager Chris Christen 402-444-1094 chris.christen@owh.com

their extracurricular activities to a few meaningful interests that might include a job, team, club or service opportunity.

Colleges value true engagement and longterm commitment to whatever students choose to pursue, Harberson said.

Harberson also suggested sophomores begin engaging with teachers more and start considering them as potential mentors — and, later, recommendation writers. “The best letters of recommendation for college come from core academic teachers who have been able to interact with students beyond the traditional classroom,” she said.

Tenth grade is not a bad time to start college visits, even if only casually. College tours can help students determine what they like (or don’t) about campuses or programs. Encourage them to think about basic preferences: Do they love big football games, or would they prefer less emphasis on sports? How do they feel about living somewhere with long winters? Are they more comfortable on a rural campus, urban

Designer: Kiley Cruse Copy editors: Shelley Larsen, Pam Richter, Kate Smith

In junior year, students begin to feel ownership of their high school experience.

This is when they can focus on making a personal impact in any area they choose — whether it’s by helping plan their school’s homecoming week, raising their math grades, volunteering in the community, or completing other goals or projects.

It is also the ideal time to start studying for and taking standardized tests. Whether they prep with a tutor or on their own, Applerouth encourages students to take their time. “You cannot rush this,” he said.

“Students need time to review concepts, to hone their strategy and to practice under controlled, timed conditions.”

Whether they take the SAT or ACT, Applerouth advises that students plan to sit for three official test administrations. “The majority of our students peak on the third and final official test,” he said.

If your teen’s standardized test scores don’t accurately represent their academic potential, all is not lost. More than 1,000 schools in the country have testoptional applications, including renowned institutions such as Wake Forest University, the University of Chicago and George Washington University.

Contributors: Dan McCann, Maggie O’Brien Cover photo: adobestock

See Calendar: Page 4

Special sections advertising manager: Dan Matuella, 402-444-1485, dan.matuella@ owh.com

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, March 29, 2020 •

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SPONSORED FEATURE

Scholarships allow UNK students to pursue dreams, enjoy college life Ocampo said of his professors in the College of Education.

Special for University of Nebraska at Kearney Daniel Ocampo wants to make his parents proud.

That’s why he’s attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where the freshman from Omaha is studying 7-12 English education.

His father Domingo and mother Miriam never had the opportunity to attend college, but they taught him an important lesson about education.

“Success is Daniel determined by the Ocampo impact you make on future generations,” Ocampo said.

“For me, coming to college shows my parents they’ve done that.”

A graduate of Burke High School, Ocampo was also inspired by the teachers in his life. They supported him during tough times and helped him apply for the scholarships that made college a possibility.

“We’re not the richest family, and I probably wouldn’t have come to college if it weren’t for scholarships,” Ocampo said.

He received tuition assistance through a scholarship from the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and his room and board are covered for four years by a Maestros del Futuro: Bilingual Educators Scholarship awarded through UNK’s Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion.

“That was kind of the selling point for me coming to Kearney,” Ocampo said of the UNK scholarship available to bilingual students who are committed to pursuing a teaching career. “It took a lot of financial pressure off me.”

MILLIONS AWARDED ANNUALLY UNK awarded nearly $11 million in scholarships and grants to more than 2,300 students in 2017-18, excluding scholarships directly tied to athletic programs. When external sources such as the University of Nebraska Foundation and state and federal aid are added, the dollar

GAINING INDEPENDENCE

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E B R A S K A AT K E A R N E Y

By focusing on academics, Lopers are more likely to graduate on time and be involved on campus, says Mary Sommers, director of financial aid at UNK.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E B R A S K A AT K E A R N E Y

Nearly 80% of freshmen at the University of Nebraska at Kearney receive financial assistance through scholarships or grants, with the average annual award totaling $9,154 in 2017-18.

amount for scholarships and grants supporting UNK students grows to more than $26 million.

Nearly 80% of UNK freshmen receive financial assistance through scholarships or grants, with the average annual award totaling $9,154 in 2017-18.

Mary Sommers, director of financial aid, said this support allows students to attend UNK while borrowing less money and working fewer hours. By focusing on academics first, Lopers are more likely to graduate on time and be involved on campus through

student organizations and other extracurricular activities that enrich their college experience.

For Ocampo, attending UNK opened the door to a variety of opportunities. He’s president of a student organization and part of a close-knit campus community that has introduced him to many new friends.

“If I wasn’t living on campus, I don’t think I would have that experience. And I don’t think I would have met the people I’ve met,” said Ocampo, who’s “always busy” with UNK events and activities.

Through the College of Education, he has already visited high schools in Grand Island, Holdrege and Gibbon to learn from educators there, building what he calls “a strong foundation for success.”

“They truly care about me being able to succeed not only in college, but outside of college, as well,”

Logan Prater, a communication disorders major from Colorado Springs, Colorado, also had financial factors to consider when she made the decision to attend UNK. She receives the Advantage Scholarship, which allows UNK undergraduate students from Colorado and Kansas to pay Logan Prater in-state tuition rates. For Colorado residents, the total tuition savings is more than $28,000 over four years, based on a course load of 15 credit hours per semester.

“If I didn’t have that scholarship, I probably would have stayed in Colorado,” said Prater, one of nearly 120 Advantage Scholarship recipients currently attending UNK. Prater, who receives additional financial assistance through UNK and the U.S. Department of Education, said that security has allowed her to focus on academics while remaining active on campus and enjoying college life.

“That’s extremely important, especially when I’m so busy with everything I’m doing,” she said. “It’s nice knowing I don’t have to work 40 hours a week because I have that scholarship.”

The UNK senior serves as a resident assistant, success coach, campus visit assistant and New Student Enrollment leader, and she’s a member of the women’s track and field team and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“Coming to UNK gave me the independence and social aspect I really wanted in college,” said Prater, who plans to be a speech therapist.

She’ll attend graduate school at UNK after earning her bachelor’s degree in May. Learn more about UNK scholarships by visiting unk.edu/ scholarships.

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• Sunday, March 29, 2020

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

College visits can help students determine what they like (or don’t) about campuses or programs.

Calendar: A high school planning guide Continued from Page 2

It’s easier than you think.

This year is also prime college-touring time. Some colleges will plan open houses or preview days specifically for high school juniors. Check the admissions section of college websites to register.

MCC can help you get the training, credentials and education to switch careers or further an existing career without missing a beat.

Senior year Senior year is go time — in every way.

By early fall of senior year, students should have a college list that includes “reach” schools, for which admission is unlikely; “targets,” where the student’s academic profile matches the institution and admission is a good possibility; and “likelies,” or colleges where the student is very confident in their chances of admission.

For the most stress-free college application process, include at least one college or university that your teen genuinely loves, that is likely to accept them and that your family can afford.

Once seniors have decided where they are applying, they can determine when and how. They should apply with a binding early-decision option if — and only if — it is their first choice, they are committed to attending and they can afford the costs.

For most students, a nonbinding, earlyaction application might work better. Both options will have deadlines between midOctober and mid-November.

Otherwise, seniors will need to check the deadlines for regular decision applications, which can vary from November to as late as May for some colleges with rolling admissions. All of these applications might include recommendation letters from counselors and teachers as well as personal

To enroll or learn more, visit mccneb.edu or call 531-MCC-2400.

Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

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essays and supplemental questions from each university.

Parents have a deadline, too: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form becomes available Oct. 1, and parents should complete it as soon as possible for maximum aid possibilities.

Even if your family does not qualify for need-based aid, many colleges require a completed FAFSA to consider applicants for merit-based aid.

For many students, the essay can be the most difficult part of the application process; they simply have no idea what to write about.

“I really like to challenge smart, selfaware students to write their essays about something that doesn’t show up anywhere else on their application,” Harberson said.

“It’s the little things that all of us do in our everyday life that exemplify who we are when no one is looking and keeping track.

If students are willing to be vulnerable and share feelings and emotions when they write about themselves, those admissions officers will melt.”

Once the essay is written and the application sent, there’s nothing to do but wait — typically for online notifications, not fat envelopes.

Although the process doesn’t much resemble what some parents went through, one thing is still true: The most important result is a child who is healthy emotionally, mentally and physically.

So the CliffsNotes version is this: Encourage your teen to strive to be the best version of themselves throughout high school. They are enough; they don’t have to be perfect. They will find the right place.

Repeat this early and often, and the rest is details.

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

COLLEGE & CAREERS

Sunday, March 29, 2020 •

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See more of Creighton’s rankings and recognitions at: creighton.edu/bigcity

Named one of the Top 10 big-city colleges in the Midwest –Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2020 Creighton’s longstanding prominence in education and research across its undergraduate, graduate and professional programs has earned greater national attention.

Newly named a top-ranked National University by U.S. News & World Report, Creighton is committed to academic excellence and preparing students of diverse identities, backgrounds and experiences for success in Omaha and around the world.

#ChooseCreighton

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

• Sunday, March 29, 2020

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

KILEY CRUSE/THE WORLD-HERALD

The idea of eating alone in the dining halls can be daunting for some incoming freshmen.

Conquering your college fears It’s totally normal to be nervous as an incoming freshman; but soon enough, you’ll settle in Compiled by Jeannine Phelan EDUCATIONQUEST

High school students spend years preparing academically and financially for college but seldom talk about their hidden fears about fitting in, meeting new people and excelling in school. EducationQuest bloggers open up about their college days and the fears that they overcame to make college their second home.

Q. What scared you the most about college?

Dressing the part: Jeannine Phelan My sparse closet caused me the most anxiety when I started college. We wore uniforms at my high school so my casual (and dressy) clothes were sorely lacking.

I have nine siblings, so we did not have much to spend on extras. I recall buying a few tops and splurging on designer jeans to get me through the first semester. Thank goodness dressing preppy was in style, because you could buy a few button-down shirts and chino pants for a song. That allowed me to fit in, at least until I stopped caring what everyone else thought and just focused on my studies.

Meeting new people: Allison Ourada I had always been very shy, so the idea of making a whole new set of friends and living with a stranger caused a lot of anxiety for me. I was lucky that I had one friend from high school who went to the same college as me, but I was also lucky that this forced me to make new friends.

I didn’t create very close relationships with my roommate or with the girls on my floor (although I liked all of them), but I did find a close group of friends, through extracurricular activities and my on-campus job, that I am still friends with

today. The first semester was tough, but in the end, my college town became my second home.

Living away from home: Wynter Davis I was scared about moving to a different state and living away from my family. I attended a junior college in Iowa to play volleyball with the hopes of transferring to a Division I college. The town was only 3½ hours from Omaha, but it seemed like a million miles away. After the first week, my fears melted away, and with the help of my teammates, Iowa felt like a place I could call home. That experience helped when I made a bigger move to South Carolina, where my monthly visits home shortened to just twice a year — Christmas and summer break.

Eating alone in the cafeteria: Kristin Ageton There were two times a day I particularly dreaded: lunch and dinner — because I didn’t know where to sit in the cafeteria.

I had to be very intentional about leaving my room and going to events around campus and striking up a conversation with strangers. Finding friends in the first few months of college was really difficult, but eventually, I found “my people” — as a result of getting involved in clubs on campus.

Being the “new” kid on campus: RJ Vega When I left my hometown to attend college, I was worried that I wouldn’t know anyone or have any friends. I soon learned that all freshmen are starting brand new and don’t really know anybody! Those first few weeks of freshman year were great because I met all kinds of people from all over campus, and I started new friendships that lasted beyond college into adulthood.

I attended a lot of the welcome activities, like barbecues and pancake feeds, and it was a great way to meet tons of people.

Since I lived on campus, I got to know my floor residents really well, too. Oh, to relive those first few weeks again!

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, March 29, 2020 •

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ACTIVITIES RESUMES Free tool tracks extracurricular activities, honors and awards

By Chris Christen WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

An increasing number of colleges ask for activities resumes as part of the admissions process. That’s because after test scores and grades, admissions officers look for how students spend their time outside the classroom.

A resume filled with school and community activities says a lot about a prospective student’s ambition and interests.

Students who are just entering high school are encouraged by admissions people to push themselves to get involved outside the classroom. Doing so is a chance to: • Explore career interests. Want to work in the medical profession?

Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home.

Interested in politics? Run for student council. You get the idea …

• Qualify for more scholarships.

Many are based on community service and extracurricular activities such as school clubs, band, sports and drama.

• Work with adults who can help shape their life.

• Develop organization and timemanagement skills.

• Gain insights about a field of study and career direction.

EducationQuest offers a free Activities Resume tool to track extracurricular activities, honors and awards throughout high school. Users can choose from five resume templates and save or send a resume as a Word document or PDF. Once complete, the resume also will come in handy for scholarship applications and special program applications, such as Girls’ and Boys’ State, research or volunteer internships, and even summer job applications.

For more information on building an activities resume, watch the video “Do It. Track It. Earn It.” at educationquest. org.

Sample resumes can be found at admissionpossible.com.

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• Sunday, March 29, 2020

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LIFE SKILLS

Three things college-bound freshmen should master — from their professors’ point of view

By Margaret Dwyer THE WASHINGTON POST

The Facebook posts appear every summer of parents getting ready to send kids off to college for the first time. The posts brim with nostalgia, accompanied by pictures of kindergarten pageants, middle school science fairs and high school dances, all starring the newly minted adult who will be leaving in a few short

weeks. The theme is the difficulty parents have letting go of children who are children no more.

I don’t join in the nostalgia, because as parents let go of their collegebound children, I await them in their new role as adult college freshmen. I teach primarily freshman courses at a small university.

I have found that most parents have spent the high school years working with their kids to help them

prepare academically, while focusing secondarily on the extracurricular activities that go on the college application. And many parents make sure that their kids know how to do their laundry, how to make their beds and how to keep their space neat.

But in more than a decade of teaching college students, I have found some important life skills lacking: both “soft” skills that involve direct communication and the routines

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Sunday, March 29, 2020 •

introduce students to the overall area. Once school begins, they can find classmates who are local or commuters: Riding along with someone who rides every day is a fast, and safer, way to learn about public transport than riding alone.

that establish independence. These are the skills that will allow for more successful learning in the classroom and a greater sense of belonging on campus and in the greater world.

Addressing others respectfully Email is a common form of written communication between professors and students, and every year I have to instruct my classes that when they send me an email, they should begin with “Dear Professor” and not “Hey.” Labor Department statistics indicate that the number of teenage workers has been declining for years. Incoming freshmen often have very limited interaction, electronically or otherwise, with adults who are not their high school teachers or friends of their parents.

Part of the anxiety I see in those students stems from being unsure how to address and interact with older people and authority figures. This is not about saying “yes, sir”; this is about maintaining eye contact and controlling body movement.

Like most professors, I encourage students to speak to me directly after class or in my office. But many students don’t do it. Why? Those who do visit admit to being anxious about talking one-on-one with a professor because interacting with someone older or “in charge” is not something they did without their parents being present.

They are often palpably relieved that doing it “right” isn’t that tough, as long as they choose their words more carefully than when talking to their friends (no dropping F-bombs), and don’t swing their keys or try to put their feet up. They realize they simply need to stay calm and get to the point.

They are often following the directions that parents have given them for good behavior; they just had few chances to try it on their own.

Managing their own schedules My school offers scheduling software (as most do), and I see the telltale colorcoding on the screens of my students. Over the years, I’ve asked students whether it’s helpful. Most respond in the affirmative.

But they admit it gets harder and harder to follow as the term moves on and the workload increases.

For those students for whom selfregulation is new, having the tools doesn’t

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How would your child fare if college started today?

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If a student won’t have a car at college, it’s essential to understand public transportaion. guarantee success. Those who have organized their own schedules in the past — getting themselves to school or practice, showing up for events or simply getting home for dinner on time — know that things don’t always go according to plan.

They make better use of the tools, but they know sticking to a schedule is harder than planning one.

How to help? Let them learn by doing, by managing their own schedules. And if you run into trouble? One parent kept track of the minutes spent waiting for her constantly late son, and deducted those minutes, times five, from his weekly screen time. When he had a good (not perfect) week, he got bonus minutes. Screen time, game time, play time — whatever is valued can be used to teach this lesson.

Our student life professionals shared another story about a mother of a freshman who called the school to ask whether someone could wake up her son, “for just the first week or two,” because she had trouble getting him up. Our staffer responded nicely but firmly that the student would need to do that for himself. The good news? He did learn to get up on his own, and most students seem to manage to do so, often within the first few weeks. But it takes some longer than others.

UR FUTURE

Getting around, especially on public transportation How many high school students manage their own transportation, whether it’s driving themselves or knowing the schedules of public transport or asking for rides? We’re an urban school, and getting anywhere off-campus, on a student budget, often requires riding the bus. But year after year when I check in with students, they tell me they’ve never ridden public transportation. Most don’t want to try, especially alone.

It’s not surprising that suburban kids don’t know much about public transport. But if they know they will have no car at college, addressing this should be on the to-do list while in high school.

Obviously, your home community will determine how much exposure to public transportation is possible during the high school years. But talking to your children about investigating buses and subways will at least give them permission to try it out when they move to campus.

Most schools have bus schedule information, and grabbing a few paper schedules while on a campus tour and studying them at home is a good way to

No matter how smart your kid is, no matter how much they hustled to get into college, no matter how much you love them, if they are trying to learn life skills at the same time they are taking on the load and pressure of college, they will be at a disadvantage.

When students are not able to get to class because they can’t get up or don’t manage their time well, when they miss assignments or take late penalties because they don’t know how to prioritize, when they are not paying attention or are just rude to their instructors or to their classmates because they are distracted by hunger or uncertain how to act, all of those things affect their grades and a teacher’s assessment of them.

Parents with kids in high school need to ask themselves: How well would my child fare if college started today? If the answer makes you uneasy, you’ve got time to change that. Let your teens organize their own afterschool time, maybe just one day a week. Let them find out the consequences of spending all their time on a phone instead of getting work done. Let them organize their own transportation for one element of their lives.

Maybe you are saying to yourself, “My kid may not have all the life skills mentioned here, but I know my child. My kid is smart.

My kid is nice. My kid will figure it out.”

You know your child better than anyone. But when a student misses class or assignments and gets a lower grade, it’s hard to feel smart. When a student gets feedback from a professor that indicates lack of effort, or negative peer assessment for missing meetings or not completing tasks, or just not getting along, it’s hard to feel nice.

Every young adult will find his or her own way; every parent will let go in his or her own way. But moving forward is easier for everyone — parent, student and teacher — when life skills are passed on before they are needed.

The author is a veteran instructor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a STEM-focused university in the heart of downtown Milwaukee.

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

VIRTUAL VISITS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Interactive campus tours, real-time chats help prospective students through college selection ritual

By Dan McCann WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Mary Chase and her teenage son spent a few days earlier this month doing what thousands of parents and prospective college students typically do this time of year: walk campuses, interact with faculty and explore the span of academic and extracurricular offerings.

Just days after the Chases’ visits to Northwestern University and Iowa State University, a first torrent of campus closings were announced — a nationwide precaution triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was extremely interesting how my son received the experience of visiting a campus during what will be a historic time in the United States and the world,” Chase said.

She knows all about the value of the college campus visit.

In addition to being the mother of a high school junior, she’s also Creighton University’s vice provost for enrollment management and chair of a Jesuit University Enrollment Managers group comprised of 27 Jesuit institutions.

“By and large, all of us are in the same boat. We have moved to a standpoint here on campus where we are not receiving visitors,” Chase said.

Out of caution due to the spread of COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, Creighton University has moved all campus visits to a virtual experience, at least, through April 13. (Campus officials will re-evaluate in early April.) It’s a similar story at schools across the Midwest and the nation — no in-person campus visits in favor of, in many cases, virtual alternatives.

“During that virtual time, our prospective students and their families will have the opportunity to meet — using Zoom, Skype, Facetime, whatever they prefer — with an admissions counselor one-on-one. They will also have opportunities to meet virtually with faculty and other academic advisers about their academic opportunities here,” Chase said.

Creighton’s virtual visits will include an interactive campus tour with current students commenting over video and taking individual questions. Beyond that, Chase said, the admissions team is working hard to find ways to convey Creighton’s largest draw — its sense of community.

“That’s probably our biggest challenge,” she said. “You lose a lot of that by not walking around our campus because you can see it and feel it.”

Joan Jurek, director of college planning for EducationQuest Foundation, said high school seniors, optimally, have already visited their top school choices in-person and were planning to use the spring for return visits.

“For high school juniors, springtime is when we encourage them to start the process of looking at colleges,” Jurek said.

With so much information online and admissions staff at the ready, Jurek said juniors and seniors — even eager sophomores — can easily get questions answered about a college’s scholarship deadlines, processes and criteria; ACT and GPA requirements for admission; academic programs, and ways to get engaged on campus.

“These virtual opportunities are very informational,” she said.

EducationQuest Foundation also offers a full slate of tools and resources on educationquest.org, to help navigate the admissions, financial aid and scholarship process.

How other colleges and universities are adjusting campus visits in light of the coronavirus:

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln UNL has canceled all large prospective student events until May 8, at least.

The university recently posted, “We will continue to offer our Husker Weekday daily campus visit programs with limited capacity, and are making adjustments to agendas and locations to support good social distancing practices. In addition, we plan to offer several online information sessions in the coming weeks. We will list all opportunities to connect with us digitally at admissions.unl.edu/visit.” Updates can be found at covid19.unl.edu/prospective-students.

Prospective students and parents are encouraged to reach out to admissions@unl.edu or 402-472-2023 with questions or concerns.

• University of Nebraska at Omaha The University of Nebraska at Omaha has canceled all events for prospective and admitted students through the end of the spring 2020 semester. For the time being, registration for summer campus visits and group visits are also on hold, according to information posted at www.unomaha.edu/admissions/visit.

Those looking for an alternative way to visit campus are encouraged to utilize UNO’s free digital tour via the UNOmaha app. Those with questions or concerns can reach admissions staff at nsfp@unomaha.edu or 402-554-6281.

• College of St. Mary College of St. Mary suspended all campus visits as of March 16. Prospective students are encouraged to

watch the “full virtual tour,” which can be accessed at www.csm.edu/admissions/campus-visit-days-explorecollege-saint-mary

• Wayne State College All campus visits are paused at Wayne State College. Prospective students can check out videos, information and an interactive campus map at www. explorewaynestatecollege.com.

• Creighton University Creighton’s Mary Chase said, “Many of the seniors are accepting the opportunity to engage with us in a virtual manner knowing that they’re going to make their decision in the next 60 or 90 days. Many of the juniors are opting to reschedule.”

Find the latest information about campus at https:// admissions.creighton.edu/contact-us/visit.

One key theme for students and their families — colleges understand this is an extraordinary time and they’re ready to help.

“I think colleges are certainly willing to work with students who are impacted by the virus either directly or indirectly,” Jurek said.

May 1 is a National Candidate Reply Date. Creighton is one of the first institutions to extend that college acceptance deadline to June 1.

“We’ve been asked by families, ‘What happens if we don’t finish the school year?’ No problem,” Chase said.

“We’ll work with you.”

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

COLLEGE & CAREERS

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Check out the State Colleges at...

www.csc.edu 800-242-3766

$13,012 The average net price after scholarships and financial aid to attend Chadron State, Peru State, or Wayne State College per year.

www.peru.edu 800-742-4412

www.wsc.edu 866-972-2287

Nebraska State College System | www.nscs.edu | 402.471.2505 The Nebraska State Colleges are equal opportunity institutions. Please see nscs.edu/information-for/employees/eeo for details.

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

• Sunday, March 29, 2020

ACT prep

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

The pressure is on. Here’s what juniors (and their parents) need to know about test scores, doing their best.

By Dan McCann WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

T

he way John Baylor sees it, working for a solid ACT score is the best-paying job a high school student can have.

“College can be transformative and affordable. A higher ACT score makes the degree more likely and significant debt less likely,” says Baylor, president of OnToCollege with John Baylor.

When high school students take the assessment for the first time — it’s a requirement for juniors in Nebraska public schools (though the coronavirus has impacted this year’s test) — they know the pressure is on to perform. The better the ACT score the broader their range of college admission and scholarship opportunities.

So, here’s question No. 1: What do students (and their parents) need to know to be as prepared as possible for the ACT? Baylor and Les Monroe, director of college planning at EducationQuest Foundation, offered expert answers.

1. Earnest, focused preparation can increase scores.

“When students prepare for the assessment by taking practice tests, they get a better idea where their weaknesses are going to be. If they’re preparing far enough in advance, they can find a tutor or study guides,” Monroe says.

The ACT covers reading, English, math and science with an optional writing section, which is part of state-mandated testing for juniors. Monroe says good preparation and practice test options can be found at www.

ACT.org, www.Number2.com and www.March2Success.com.

(While you’re at ACT.org, be sure to read up on ACT Academy, a free online learning tool and test practice program.)

For its part, OnToCollege offers in-person and online ACT prep courses, solutions and

KENT SIEVERS/THE WORLD-HERALD

Papillion-La Vista High School teacher Mary Jillson helps students in a chemistry class prepare for the ACT. videos, and tailored strategies for all types of students, including specific strategies for students at risk of scoring below a 20 on any section.

2. Prepare for test day by getting back to basics.

To ensure optimal sharpness on test day, Monroe encourages students to: • Be well-rested.

• Dress comfortably.

• Know your calculator.

“Learning how your calculator functions during the test is not the best use of time,” Monroe says. Only certain types of calculators are allowed during testing. Check the ACT website for restrictions.

• Bring a watch to keep track of time. Using a cellphone as

a “watch” isn’t going to work.

Cellphones are not allowed in the testing room.

• Bring snacks to eat during breaks.

• Answer easy questions first.

Student have about 30 to 60 seconds to answer each question.

“I always tell students, ‘Answer all the questions that don’t take a second thought. Then, allot your time based on how many questions are left and how much time you have remaining. If you have 10 questions and 10 minutes left, each question gets one minute. If you can’t figure out a question within the time allotment, guess.’ ” (With the ACT, you earn one point for every correct answer and zero points for incorrect or blank answers. Guessing, at least, makes it possible to earn a point.)

3. You can (and should) re-take the test.

Baylor suggests students take the ACT four times “because colleges only care about that highest score, and doing something four times typically yields results that approximate maximum potential. If the score goes down on that fourth test, no one finds out. But if it goes up, it could be life-changing.”

The test is about $53, but beginning this fall, Baylor says, free- and reduced-lunch students will be able to take four ACTs for free.

Even a one- or two-point increase can have a significant impact on admission and scholarship opportunities. At the University of Nebraska at

Omaha, for example, an ACT of 28-29 is required for a $3,000/year Chancellor’s Scholarship, while an ACT of 30 opens the door to a possible Regents Scholarship, which covers undergraduate resident tuition.

“Jumping just one point, from a 20 to a 21, means half tuition or $2,723 in savings per year for four years at Wayne, Peru or Chadron State,” Baylor says.

Before retaking the test, look at your individual sub-scores and, again, focus on areas of weakness.

EducationQuest Foundation recommends asking your school counselor about test-prep resources that fit your budget and learning style. Be aware, though, of the last test dates colleges will accept.

“ACT tells us, on a national average, you’ll do two points better by retaking the test,” Monroe says. “That’s because you’re more comfortable with it; you know the flow.”

To help boost those scores and alleviate jitters even more, ACT offers one final point: “As you get started, take a few deep breaths to calm yourself. Keep a positive attitude.”

COVID-19’s impact on ACT testing this year Nebraska Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt announced March 16 that he had suspended annual statewide academic testing this spring, including the ACT for high school juniors. The ACT organization says on its website, www.ACT. org, that it has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the United States in response to concerns about the coronavirus. All students registered for the April 4 test date were to receive an email from ACT informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date.

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, March 29, 2020 •

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COLLEGE PREPARATION STRATEGIES Test scores Take the ACT and/or SAT four times to get the highest score possible. Prepare each time. Colleges only consider your highest composite score or sub-scores.

Apply Create more competition for yourself and earn more generous scholarships by applying to at least seven schools. If you are only considering two-year colleges, apply to at least two schools.

Finish strong Maintain a high GPA and class rank: most academic schlarships consider both GPA and test scores. Excel in at least one extracurricular activity. (In addition to triggering scholarships, these experiences may give you topics for personal statements and essays.)

Source: On To College

SARAH HOFFMAN/THE WORLD-HERALD

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

• Sunday, March 29, 2020

Net price calculator

College total cost

What’s your net college expense? Use this basic equation for a ballpark estimate. The examples here were calculated assuming the student is a Nebraska resident, living in the dorms with a meal plan, taking 15 credits per semester and has an estimated family contribution of $6,000.

Tuition & fees Room & board Books & supplies Personal & transportation

—

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Scholarships & grants Merit-based (grades and test scores) Need-based (FAFSA) Talent Extracurricular Athletic Departmental (based on major) External (from outside sources) Other gift aid that does not have to be repaid, such as Pell grants

=

Estimated net cost Can be covered by parents, student, federal loans, work study, etc.

Examples using estimated costs for 2019-20 University of Nebraska at Kearney

—

$22,928 Tuition & fees $7,270 Room & board $10,210 Books & supplies $952 Personal & transportation $4,496

$4,310 Average grant & scholarship assistance

=

University of Nebraska-Lincoln $25,626

$18,618

Tuition & fees $9,432 Room & board $11,830 Books & supplies $1,044 Personal & transportation $3,320

Estimated net cost

—

$7,000 Average grant & scholarship assistance

=

$18,626 Estimated net cost

Sources: unl.edu; unk.edu

GREAT

The visit that begins your future in health care.

START HERE

ClarksonCollege.edu/visit

New Student Housing

$

Affordable Tuition/Fees 94% Graduate Employment/Transfer Rate Schedule a campus tour today or visit during one of our campus Discovery Days!

402.471.3333 www.Southeast.edu/DiscoverSCC Beatrice | Lincoln | Milford

0000062814-01

Clarkson College complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws relating to discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, national origin, ethnicity, sex, veteran’s status or marital status in the administration of its educational programs and policies, financial aid, activities or other school administered programs.

View the full Notice of Non-Discrimination at ClarksonCollege.edu.

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OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

COLLEGE & CAREERS

ADOBESTOCK

American parents increasingly expect kids to help pay for college But campus choices aren’t necessarily being limited based on costs, study finds

By Luke McGrath BLOOMBERG

When parents take their children out to dinner, more often than not it’s expected that Mom or Dad will pick up the tab; when it comes to college, it’s a trickier question.

A survey of U.S. parents with collegebound students by Discover Student Loans found that 38% expect their child to pay for most of higher education, a 7% increase from 2018. Just 28% are willing and able to cover the entire cost of college, a 6% slide from last year.

U.S. student debt hit $1.6 trillion in the first quarter of 2019, according to the Federal Reserve. As of September 2018, more than 11% of student debt was more

than 90 days delinquent or in default.

In the final quarter of 2017, more than 44.5 million Americans had some form of outstanding student loans and almost 8 million Americans had a balance of $50,000 or more, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Paying for college is a worry for most parents. Three-quarters of those surveyed are at least somewhat concerned about how their child’s education costs will affect their own financial situation. Almost one-third said they’ll have to delay retirement to pay for it, the survey found.

Despite those concerns, 70% of parents said they will not limit their child’s college choice based on price. More than half said they’re planning to rely on scholarships and grants to help cover the cost.

The survey of about 1,500 parents of college-bound students (ages 16 to 18) was carried out online in June 2019 with a 2.5 percentage point margin of error.

Sunday, March 29, 2020 •

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First two years at mcc can save you thousands.

Take your general education requirements at MCC, then transfer to a four-year institution.

Why are your first two years at MCC a smart move?

• MCC tuition is, on average, 1/3 the cost of a four-year institution • Financial aid and scholarships are available • Most credits accepted by four-year institutions • On-campus or online classes

To enroll or learn more, visit mccneb.edu or call 531-MCC-2400.

Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

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