College & Careers Fall 2016

COLLEGE & CAREERS

INSIDE • Make the most of a college fair

• The best jobs ranked • A major dilemma

A supplement of Suburban Newspapers Inc.

• Keep college costs low • Find and get scholarships

September 14, 2016

OMAHA AREA COLLEGE FAIR Oct. 16, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE REPS

Sapp Fieldhouse, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St.

Admissions & Financial Aid

Admission, free

» Does the school offer academic programs that meet my interests?

Follow these tips to make the most of your college fair visit:

» What are admission requirements and deadlines? » What is the cost of tuition, fees and room and board?

» Before you attend, visit NebraskaCollegeFairs.org to register for a barcode to print and take to the college fair. College reps will scan the barcode to retrieve your demographic information so you won’t have to complete information cards.

» What is the deadline for applying for financial aid? » How do I apply for college-based scholarships?

Housing & Campus Life » What are the housing options? » How many years are students required to live on campus?

» Determine which college you want to visit (find a list of participants at EducationQuest.org). Arrive early so you have time to visit your top colleges.

» How would you describe the neighborhood surrounding the college? » How safe is campus? What security features are in place? » What are the options for eating on campus (cafeteria, grills, sandwich shops, etc.)?

» Prepare questions to ask the college representatives. Ask about deadlines for admission, scholarship and financial aid applications. » Attend a financial aid program at the College Fair to learn about types of aid and how to apply.

For more information, visit EducationQuest.org

about this section

» Can freshmen bring cars to campus? What are the parking fees?

E d u ca t io n Q u e s t

Visit NebraskaCollegeFair.org to register before attending the Omaha Area College Fair on Oct. 16. Students and parents will have the opportunity to talk with representatives from a number of colleges.

College & Careers is a semi-annual publication of Suburban Newspapers Inc. For advertising information, contact Paul Swanson, 402-444-1248.

College Facts » How many students attend the school? » What makes your college unique? Are there any campus traditions?

— EducationQuest Foundation

Art contest will boost college saving plans Artists in kindergarten through eighth grade, can enter the fifth annual “Draw Your Dreams” contest Twelve winners will each receive a $1,000 contribution to a NEST 529 College Savings Plan account.

Entries must be a 9-by12-inch landscape artpiece depicting what they would like to be when they grow up. Entries must be created in pencil, crayon, paint, watercolor or paper collage.

Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30.

Scanned or photographed copies of the original artwork can be submitted with a parent or guardian’s help at planartsnetwork.org.

Copies of the art can also be mailed to First National Bank of Omaha, attn: Draw Your Dreams Scholarship, 1620 Dodge St., Stop 1105, Omaha, NE 68197-1105.

All entries must include entrant’s information as explained in the official rules at www.NEST529.com.

Under the Grow tab, select Scholarships & Rewards.

Project editor and designer: Tom Knox Project coordinator: Paul Swanson • Cover image: Metro Creative Connection

Choose more than a major.

Chase your dream.

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top jobs

What’s the best career path for you?

There are many things to consider when looking at your college major and career path.

Do you want a job that isn’t excessively stressful but that is challenging?

Do you need something that lets you be creative?

A job that pays well would be nice.

Something that has job growth would be great, too.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the 100 best jobs for 2016.

The top 10 here are highlighted here.

For the full list go to usnews.com.

Pediatrician is among the top career paths to consider, according to U.S. News & World Report.

THE TOP 10 1. Orthodontist

7. Psychiatrist

Median salary, $187,899. Creating picture-perfect smiles.

Median salary, $181,880. Mental health physicians who diagnose and treat mental illnesses.

2. Dentist Median salary, $149,540. Treating mouth, teeth and gum issues.

3. Computer Systems Analyst Median salary, $82,710.

Design computer systems and processes.

4. Nurse Anesthetist Median salary, $153,780. Working with patients regarding anesthetic treatment before, during and after surgery.

5. Physician’s Assistant Median salary, $95,820.

Working with doctors to care for the sick and injured.

me t ro crea t i v e co n n ec t io n

8. Pediatrician Median salary, $163,350. Doctors who diagnose and treat medical issues specific to infants, children, teenagers and young adults.

9. Anesthesiologist Median salary, $187,199. Administer drugs before, during and after surgery, and in other medically necessary situations.

10. Obstetrician and Gynecologist

6. Nurse Practitioner

Median salary, $187,199. Offer care related to childbirth and female reproductive health.

Median salary, $95,350.

Performs similar duties to physicians.

Source: U.S. News & World Report. Median salaries are from 2014.

Employer perspective: 15 hot degrees A 2015 study commissioned by the National Association of Colleges and Employers asked 201 employers, including companies like Aetna, Macy’s and Procter & Gamble, which degrees were most in demand, even distinguishing between the most in demand bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates. Here’s what the NACE study revealed.

— Metro Creative Connection MOST IN-DEMAND BACHELOR’S DEGREES: 1. Accounting 2. Computer Science 3. Finance 4. Business Administration/Management 5. Mechanical Engineering MOST IN-DEMAND MASTER’S DEGREES: 1. Computer Science 2. Electrical Engineering 3. Mechanical Engineering 4. Information Sciences & Systems 5. Business Administration MOST IN-DEMAND DOCTORATE DEGREES: 1. Electrical Engineering 2. Computer Science 3. Software Engineering 4. Computer Engineering 5. Mechanical Engineering

Tips for choosing the ‘right’ major Choosing a major is an important decision for college students. The right major can set students on a path to a rewarding and successful career, which can lead to a more fulfilling life.

The gravity of such a decision is one reason many college students delay choosing their majors until after they enter college. Students often find this affords them the opportunity to explore various courses of study without committing to any particular field. Though that approach can work while students are underclassmen, many advisors recommend students choose a major before their third year of college. The following tips can help students ensure they make the right decision.

• Visit your school’s career center. College career centers are a great resource for college students as they narrow down their options concerning a major. Many career centers have programs in place designed to match students’ interests and personalities with courses of study. Utilize these programs if you are having trouble matching an interest with a major.

• Take action. Classrooms can be great places to discover your passion for a particular field of study, but lectures or entry-level courses are not always enough to spark interest. If particular fields of study interest you, find extracurricular clubs associated with those majors. Such clubs may host speakers or seminars that can give you greater insight into the field than you might glean from the classroom.

Attend such events when possible to learn as much as you can.

• Speak to upperclassmen. Underclassmen may make up the majority of students in entry-level courses, but you may encounter some upperclassmen who have already chosen their majors.

Such students can be valuable resources for greater insight into courses of study.

Ask about particular classes and professors who are particularly engaging and encouraging.

• Pursue an internship. The hands-on experience provided by an internship is a great way for students to learn if a specific line of work is for them. Internships can provide an insider’s look into particular professions and industries.

While internships might once have been designated for older students, many businesses now have more relaxed eligibility requirements regarding their internship programs, making it possible for students at all grade levels to gain some practical professional experience while still in school.

Choosing a major is one of the most important decisions young students will make. Taking a careful and thoughtful approach to such a decision can help students select majors that lead to rewarding careers.

— Metro Creative Connection

me t ro crea t i v e co n n ec t io n

There's no better time to be a

MAVERICK

When you become a part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), you make the deliberate choice to be a Maverick and to embrace all the possibilities the name implies. We invite you to get to know the O at our signature open house event!

JOIN US FOR OUR BE A MAV DAYS

OCTOBER 8, 14, or 21, 2016

Milo Bail Student Center | 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182

REGISTER AT BEAMAV.COM/MAVDAY

0180ADUGA0916

Your Journey to College Begins with Us

Our free resources will help you get there.

EducationQuest.org 888.357.6300

College costs whittled, one expense at a time Education is an expensive investment, costing many people as much as their homes and far more than their vehicles.

And the cost of a college education only continues to rise.

Few students are able to fund their schooling outright, which means they must seek ways to finance their educations. Here are a handful of strategies to curtail college costs.

• Investigate scholarship programs.

Colleges and universities offer scholarships to incoming students based on various criteria. Start by speaking with a school guidance counselor about available scholarships. Consult directly with the schools where you plan to apply for admission. You may find that they offer scholarships based on academic merit, extracurricular activities or athletics.

You also can do a search online. Scholarships.com, for example, enables you to find available money to pay for college.

• Explore academic grants. Unlike scholarships, which are awarded based on merit, grants are not tied to a specific list of criteria. Financial need is often given greater weight than academic performance. Public and private organizations, professional associations, the government, and even schools sponsor various types of grants.

• Sign up for work-study programs.

When part of a work-study program,

students work part-time to offset their college expenses. Jobs may be available on-campus or off-campus, though ones on-campus may be more amenable to your class schedule.

• Stick closer to home. Many students dream of attending college away from home and immersing themselves in a new environment. However, attending school close to home can drastically reduce the cost of pursuing a degree.

At public universities, tuition costs for in-state students are typically a lot less than the costs for out-of-state students.

Room and board costs, which out-of-state students who can’t commute to school must pay, can cost several thousand dollars per year. If you can find a school close to home and commute to school, you can save a substantial amount of money.

• Be frugal with food. Food costs can quickly add up if you frequently dine out. College towns have a number of attractions and eateries, and it’s easy to succumb to the draw and convenience of takeout or sit-down meals at restaurants.

Limit dining out to special occasions and try to stick to dining halls or meals you prepare yourself to reduce food costs.

— Metro Creative Connection

Visit Campus.

NOW.

Call 800.432.5852 to schedule a campus visit. Your future begins NOW at Iowa Western.

iwcc.edu

Master the scholarship hunt The high cost of education compels many students to find ways to finance their education. For many, that means exploring available scholarships.

While academic or athletic skills are the first criteria associated with scholarships, they are not the only avenues by which students can pursue scholarships. They may be offered to students of certain ethnic groups; children of employees at particular companies; or to students who live in particular states.

Local branches of organizations like the Rotary Club or Kiwanis also may give out scholarships.

To improve the odds of getting a scholarship, consider the following tips.

• Get involved with the community.

Many scholarship sponsors seek individuals who are committed to volunteering.

Doing so for various groups puts students on the path of information about scholarships from these organizations.

• Use scholarship search engines.

Scholarships.com, CollegeBoard.com and FastWeb.com are examples.

• Check your local newspaper.

Community news sections and advertisements often feature scholarship announcements. Watch for application notices in print and online.

• Use networking contacts. Students should ask anyone they know if they are aware of any scholarship opportunities.

Students who develop a rapport with guidance counselors or the financial aid department at their prospective colleges or universities may learn about schol-

by the numbers Average cost of tuition and fees for the 20152016 school year. $32,405, private colleges $9,410, state residents at public colleges $23,893, out-of-state residents at public universities

Get a degree at MCC

Source: The College Board

arship opportunities that are not highly publicized. These people may have the inside track on scholarship information.

• Apply for all available scholarships.

Now is not the time for students to become lazy. Students should apply for as many scholarships for which they meet the eligibility requirements.

Scholarships can help students offset the rising costs of a college education.

Those who are willing to put in the research, time and effort to apply may find a wealth of scholarship opportunities at their disposal.

— Metro Creative Connection

Career or transfer, part-time or full-time, on-site or online, we’re here to help you get your degree..

Wayne State’s undergraduate majors prepare you for a future in health professions, criminal justice, sport management, business, education, counseling, graphic design, and industrial technology, among many other careers.

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