College & Careers: Spring Edition by Omaha World-Herald

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COLLEGE & CAREERS Omaha World-Herald • April 22, 2018

A dorm room can be a tiny home away from home. Students share their decorating tips and ideas.

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

• Sunday, April 22, 2018

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Visit the college fair next Sunday at UNO College-bound students can get face time with representatives from about 110 colleges during the Omaha Area College Fair. It’s Sunday, April 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Sapp Fieldhouse, 60th and Dodge Streets. Admission is free. The college fair is sponsored by the EducationQuest Foundation in partnership with Omaha-area school counselors and the Nebraska Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers. Here are three tips to “ace” the college fair experience: » Visit NebraskaCollegeFairs.org to register for a barcode you can print or download to your phone and take to the fair. College reps will scan the barcode so you won’t have to complete information cards. » Arrive early so you have time to visit all of your top colleges. » Prepare some questions. Ask about deadlines for admission, scholarships and financial aid applications. For more information, contact Joan Jurek at EducationQuest, 888-357-6300, or go to www.educationquest. org.

Visiting a college fair can help you narrow the list of schools you plan to visit. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKALINCOLN

Colleges at the fair

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Metropolitan Community College Midland University Nebraska Christian College of Hope International Nebraska Methodist College Nebraska Wesleyan University Northeast Community College Peru State College Purdue University Global (formerly Kaplan University) Southeast Community College-Beatrice, Lincoln, Milford Union College Universal College of Healing Arts University of Nebraska at Kearney University of Nebraska at Omaha University of Nebraska at Omaha, Air Force ROTC University of Nebraska Medical Center

University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture University of NebraskaLincoln University of NebraskaLincoln, Air Force ROTC Wayne State College Xenon Academy York College ARIZONA Grand Canyon University COLORADO Regis University GEORGIA Savannah College of Art and Design ILLINOIS Augustana College INDIANA University of Notre Dame IOWA Briar Cliff University Buena Vista University Cornell College

Dordt College Drake University Graceland University Iowa State University Iowa Western Community College Loras College Luther College Morningside College Northwestern College Simpson College University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa Waldorf University Wartburg College Western Iowa Tech Community College

University of Kansas University of St. Mary Washburn University Wichita State University

KANSAS Baker University Benedictine College Kansas State University Kansas Wesleyan University MidAmerica Nazarene University North Central Kansas Technical College

MISSOURI Columbia College Cottey College Drury University Maryville University Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri Western State University

MASSACHUSETTS Wellesley College MICHIGAN Hillsdale College MINNESOTA College of St. Benedict St. John’s University Southwest Minnesota State University St. Olaf College University of MinnesotaRochester

Northwest Missouri State University Park University Rockhurst University Stephens College Truman State University University of Central Missouri University of MissouriColumbia University of MissouriKansas City University of Missouri-St. Louis Washington University William Jewell College NEW JERSEY Seton Hall University NEW YORK Colgate University U.S. Military Academy Vassar College NORTH DAKOTA North Dakota State University OKLAHOMA University of Tulsa

SOUTH DAKOTA Augustana University Black Hills State University Dakota State University Dakota Wesleyan University Mount Mary College Northern State University South Dakota School of Mines South Dakota State University University of Sioux Falls University of South Dakota TEXAS Texas Christian University WISCONSIN Lawrence University WYOMING Laramie County Community College University of Wyoming •

NEBRASKA Air National Guard of Nebraska Bellevue University Bryan College of Health Sciences Capitol School of Hairstyling & Esthetics Central Community College-Columbus, Grand Island, Hastings Chadron State College CHI Health School of Radiologic Technology Clarkson College College of St. Mary Concordia University Creative Center, College of Art & Design Creighton University Creighton University Army ROTC Crown College Doane University Hastings College Joseph’s College of Cosmetology La’ James International College

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

3W •

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Creighton alumni are highly engaged with their communities:

50% thriving in community well-being (37% nationally) 86% agree they had professors who cared about them as a person

(65% nationally)

The latest data, from a 2016 survey of recent alumni (degrees attained between 2006 and 2016)

Survey Says Creighton Graduates Find Success

Creighton provides a transformative education for its students. Results from Gallup surveys with alumni who attained degrees within the past 10 years report Creighton graduates enjoying professional and personal success. #ChooseCreighton 2090932-01

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• Sunday, April 22, 2018

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Learning communities help students feel like they belong By Melinda Keenan WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

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C R A I G C H A N D L E R / U N I V E R S I T Y C O M M U N I C AT I O N S

University of Nebraska-Lincoln learning community students match off in a game of rock-paper-scissors tag at an all-learning communities welcome event. In learning communities, students can do activities together and meet with mentors. The common thread, says Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education, is that students live on the same residence hall floor, take at least one shared class and participate in three out-of-classroom events or opportunities a semester. “The pre-med learning community went to see the movie ‘Concussion’ and then met with a brain researcher to talk about concussions,’’ Goodburn said. “The pre-vet learning community went to the zoo and learned animal care. Sports media gets a tour of HuskerVision and learns what it takes to put on a football game.’’ All 26 learning communities have the opportunity to participate in a shared trip that combines professional and social activities. This semester, about 150 students traveled to Chicago. Creighton University’s learning communities mostly focus on students entering the health professions. EDGE Learning Communities provide undergrads with opportunities for mentoring and shadowing

in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant work, occupational therapy, physical therapy and pharmacy. There’s also a pre-law EDGE Community. EDGE students work with other preprofessional students, faculty and alumni to prepare themselves for professional school and careers. The Cortina Community at Creighton attracts students looking to live and learn together through service and faith examination. Freshman through senior students pursue goals through service and experiential learning aimed at promoting justice. The Freshman Leadership Program at Creighton is also a living and learning community for first-year students looking to develop their leadership styles through community service projects and weekly seminars. For incoming freshmen transitioning from the comforts of high school to UNO — a campus of 12,536 undergraduates — college can be overwhelming. Learning communities help students make connections,

not just with other students but also with professors, creating a sense of belonging. About half of UNO’s 2,000 freshmen join one of the school’s 12 learning communities, Smith-Howell said. “Knowing you matter makes all the difference in the world,” she said. While going to Bellevue East, Sandy Griffin, a sophomore political science major, took AP and honors classes. So joining the honors community seemed like a good way to transition to college. The community helped her meet people in her residence hall and in class. “I was around people who shared my classes,” she said. If she needed to borrow notes or just to talk, “it was super easy to reach out.” In Gibney’s engineering learning community, studying with fellow students helped alleviate stress and boost grades, he said. Some students excelled in math, others physics. “We’d help each other based on individual strengths.” Peer mentoring is an intentional strategy •

For Gage Gibney, the idea of joining a learning community at college was such a good one that he joined two. The sophomore engineering student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha was invited to join the University Honors Learning Community because of his excellent grades at North Bend Central High School. He joined the engineering learning community because that’s his major. The honors community is about cohorts — placing high-achieving students from all majors in the same general education classes for study, discussion, research and projects, he said. This helped him make friends easily. The engineering community placed him in the Scott Village residential hall with other engineering majors so they can do homework together and meet with mentors. “I think it’s great,” he said of learning communities. It’s so great, in fact, that almost every U.S. college and university, public and private, uses learning communities, according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities. It’s a century-old concept of teaching that experienced a resurgence more than 20 years ago and quickly became a national movement. The reason? Schools found that learning communities help retain students and make them excel. “We create an environment that positions students for success,” said Deborah Smith-Howell, UNO assistant vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies. Smith-Howell said she remembers her own freshman year, the frustrations she experienced and the mistakes she made because she didn’t have the support and resources she needed. The “sink or swim” concept of college instruction is out. “That’s not a very good model for higher education, and a lot of students leave,” she said. But students in learning communities tend to stay. At UNO, the retention rate of all freshmen returning for sophomore year was 77.9 percent in 2014-15, the latest year statistics are available. Compare that to retention rates for students in some of UNO’s learning communities: 89.3 percent in the honors community, 89 percent in the Thompson Scholarship community, 94.6 percent for the Goodrich Scholarship community and 87.8 percent for the TRIO Project Achieve community. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has 26 learning communities, in all fields. The majority are for first-year students, but some are for second-year students and transfer students.

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

Learning Communities at UNO

of learning communities, said Cathy Pettid, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs. It reinforces good study habits. Freshmen learn to set aside hours for studying and how to apply new academic skills, such as taking classes online or using more critical thinking. UNO sophomore Maggie Bockart said work on an Honors Learning Community project, called “Coming to America,” broadened her perspective on the world. Her group, which took English, gerontology and geography classes together, worked with Luther-

an Family Services to tell the stories of elderly immigrants. Her introduction to a man from Afghanistan led to research about his country, the writing of his life story and a discovery of challenges and hardships that the elderly face. “My high school was primarily upperclass white girls,” said Bockart, a graduate of Omaha’s all-girls Duchesne Academy. “Getting to talk to someone who grew up in Afghanistan and India … it’s an experience. It would have been a stretch to gain it anywhere else.”

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classes. Scholarships available. Also provides an optional on-campus living community. Air Force ROTC: Members of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, an educational program designed to give students the opportunity to become Air Force officers while completing their degrees. Also provides an optional on-campus living community. Success Academy: Started in 2016. Targets academically at-risk students who need additional levels of support. Admitted by review. Newest learning community, established in 2016. Scott Scholars: Recipients of the Walter Scott Jr. scholarship. Students reside in Scott Residence Hall and pursue a degree through the Peter Kiewit Institute, taught by the College of Engineering or College of Information Science & Technology. UNL College of Engineering: First-year students pursuing a degree in the University of NebraskaLincoln College of Engineering on UNO’s Scott Campus. The Engineering the Leader in You community focuses on leadership and career development. Students are housed in Scott Village. Global Themed Living Community: Students who want to learn about different cultures can live with someone from a different country in the University Village residence complex. This community is a partnership with the International Studies Office. CBA Scholars: High-achieving students pursuing a degree in business administration. Scholarships available.

YO U R F U T U R E I S I N Y O U R H A N D S

Hands-on learning is a big deal at UNK. We focus on helping students develop the skills and conﬁdence needed to get hired. You can learn and grow through active and engaging opportunities. Quality University of Nebraska degree Skill development through hands-on learning

Internships & field experiences Personalized guidance from faculty mentors

Visit unk.edu/video and discover more reasons to choose UNK. The University of Nebraska at Kearney does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political afﬁliation in its programs, activities or employment. UNK Communications & Marketing. 2018

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

University of Nebraska at Omaha students Maggie Bockart, left, and Lauren Deetz presented their “Coming to America” project at the 2017 Upper Midwest Honors Conference in Brookings, South Dakota.

Goodrich: Recipients of the Goodrich scholarship. Students come from underrepresented populations. Many are the first in their families to attend college. Oldest learning community, established in 1972. Young Scholars: Recipients of the Jim and Shirley Young Scholarship, which supports firstgeneration students. Thompson: Recipients of the Susan T. Buffett Foundation Scholarship. Students are Nebraska residents who graduated or earned a GED in Nebraska. Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of financial need, academic merit, personal essay and strength of recommendations. Also provides an optional oncampus living community. Entrepreneurial Living: Freshmen of any major who are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship. Students are housed in Scott Village and receive a $2,500 scholarship over two years. Offered through the College of Business Administration. TRIO Project Achieve: Made up of firstgeneration students, students who meet income guidelines, and students with disabilities. This federally funded program serves students who have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education. University Honors: Students are highly able and/ or exceptionally motivated undergraduates from all majors. Accepts incoming freshmen, transfer students and current UNO students. College GPA of 3.5. The program offers honors-level university

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â&#x20AC;˘ Sunday, April 22, 2018

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

When it comes to picking a major, your first choice might not be your last By Nikoel Hytrek WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

As you head to college there are two things everyone wants to know: where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going and what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re studying. If the thought of making your career choice as a teenager is intimidating, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry. You have plenty of time to figure it out â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and to change your mind. And you might find out you knew what you wanted from the start.

YOUR FUTURE BEGINS AT PERU STATE. We provide the personalized, relevant, flexible, student-centered education that should be expected from higher education. Best of all, we do it for one of the most affordable price tags in the country! Your Personalized, Relevant Education You will engage in relevant coursework right from the start that can be applied directly to your career interests. OUR FLEXIBLE, STUDENTďż˝CENTERED LEARNING On-campus, online and hybrid options are available to help you complete your degree on your time in a place convenient for you.

MAYA LINN PEIRCE

JAIMES CORNELIO

High school: David City High School College: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Major: theatre (film and new media) It was never really a question of what to major in but where. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to be a writer since I was 9, and I found screenwriting when I was just entering high school. As I fell in love with the craft, I was highly encouraged by my mentors to learn the full scope of filmmaking. I chose film and new media because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such an immersive track and it constantly pushes you to make new work and improve your skills. A lot of my choice to go into filmmaking was because I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know all that much about it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m learning something new and honing my skills each time I work with my classmates on projects.

High school: Grand Island Senior High College: UNL Major: broadcasting I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really know what I wanted to do or major in, so I took an intro to mass media class. I realized that journalism sounded like a major I would really like. I then realized that it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something I was very good at ... I was told by one of my professors that I should consider broadcasting ... and I just jumped into it my sophomore year. Now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing something that I really enjoy and that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m actually good at.

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High school: Batavia, Illinois College: University of Nebraska at Kearney Major: math education 7-12 There were two main factors that went into choosing this major â&#x20AC;&#x201D; first and foremost being my love of math. Math has always been my favorite subject because I am good at it. The second factor was the enjoyment that I got out of being a teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant while in high school. When helping kids work on math problems, I really enjoyed the reaction when each kid understood what I was trying to teach them. The feeling of satisfaction knowing you helped someone else learn something is indescribable.

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ALYSSA OLVERA High school: Omaha South High School College: UNL Major: journalism I chose my major pretty early on in high school â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it was either freshman or sophomore year. My mom took my cousin and me to an event the university was hosting at CenturyLink Center Omaha. As I walked around learning about the various colleges and majors offered, I came across the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. A student at the time asked if I had any interest in the college and, not knowing anything about the college, I said â&#x20AC;&#x153;sure.â&#x20AC;? She talked about the journalism program, the professors, the classes and her experience. Ever since that day I knew I wanted to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln because of its journalism program. I will be graduating in May with a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in journalism.

2090226-01 â&#x20AC;˘

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

MURIEL GLYNN High school: VintonShellsburg, Vinton, Iowa College: Kirkwood Community College, transferring to University of Northern Iowa Major: music When I started college, I was a chemistry major. I had a knack for it, and it seemed practical because I could get a good job after I graduated. I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happy, though. I had always loved music, and between lab times and my job, there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any time for me to make any music. I was so wrapped up in my studies that I hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made friends, and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even get along with any of the people in my program. It was like we spoke different languages; no one shared any interests with me. So after a year I went to an adviser and changed my major to music, and now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m preparing for recitals and getting ready to transfer to a school of music. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made dozens of the most amazing friends, and I honestly couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happier. It was a hard decision to take a chance on following a childhood dream, but so far, everything is even better than I could have possibly hoped.

EFREN CORTEZ High school: Omaha North High School College: UNL Major: journalism When I started college, I was a computer science major because I wanted to be a programmer. That didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last long as I was having difficulty understanding course material, and I did not enjoy being around my classmates and professors. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also bad with computers and math, which my high school transcript shows. At the end of my freshman year of college, I switched my major to journalism, my backup choice. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always loved to write, share stories, talk with others to learn about their lives and experiences, do research ... I should have realized this sooner. In high school, I regretted not taking journalism classes or writing for the school paper. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned a lot from UNLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, to where I feel like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a proficient journalist. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m happier and more comfortable with journalism than I was with computer science.

KAREN RICHARDS High school: West Point Central Catholic College: UNL Major: theater performance When the time came to make a choice, I was advised to do music education because at the end of the day I can perform with an education degree, but I could not teach with a performance degree. After being in school for half a semester, something didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel right. One weekend, my friend

Sunday, April 22, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘

asked me if I was interested in going to a show he had to see for class. After the show, I realized how I missed the world of theater. About a week later, I got an email asking if I was interested in singing alongside Kristin Chenoweth! I said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;yes!â&#x20AC;? and my life was changed. I spoke to faculty about the idea (of changing my major). I was told the theater program was very selective, but I should audition. A faculty member had me do so that day! As I sat in my last class of the day, I was nervous that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get in, but within a half-hour I got an email which started with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congratulations!â&#x20AC;? I changed my major to theater performance, and I never looked back.

MADISON COMBS High school: Millard North High School College: Wayne State College Major: human service counseling I chose this major because I enjoy helping people sort through their problems, no matter if solving is by a conversation or physical help. I chose Wayne State because it is one of the only schools in the Midwest that offers that major. The transition from a big high school with over 2,500 students to a small college of 5,000 was easier than expected. A smaller college was for me.

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JACQUELINE NISSEN High school: Woodbury Central High School College: Wayne State Major: elementary education I chose education because I want to make an impact on studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives and teach them skills they will use the rest of their lives. I have always enjoyed working with children and building relationships. In high school, I did tutoring, and it was such a good feeling when the child understood the lessons. That is when I decided I wanted to pursue an education major.

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High school: Woodbury Central, Moville, Iowa College: Morningside College Major: nursing I have always had an interest in the medical field ... I have a passion for helping people and comforting them at the time they need it most. The adrenaline rush of critical care nursing keeps me going and makes me excited for my future. At the end of the day, if I know that I have personally helped someone, I have succeeded in my job of being a future nurse.

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• Sunday, April 22, 2018

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

Express yourself with your dorm décor Story and photos by Elizabeth Bauman // Word-Herald correspondent With new friends, classes and routines, there’s not much in a college freshman’s control. For many, a dorm room is that one place that can be totally and fully theirs (even with roommates). Whether it’s a clean sanctuary perfect for sipping coffee while doing homework, or a Friday night hangout for video games and pizza, a dorm room is a home away from home. Here’s some advice, student to student.

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Hannah Knaust

Mitchell Greiner

University of Nebraska at Omaha In an average suite in Maverick Village at UNO, freshman aviation major Hannah Knaust flips dorm decorating on its head. “A lot of this is because of my mom,” she said. “She is super into interior design, so I just told her that I wanted something elegant.” She has exactly that in curtains, a cream rug, a burgundy satin chair cover and a corner shelving unit inspired by Pinterest. Knaust did a lot of her decorative shopping at Marshalls, Target and online. “I could not seem to stop buying throw pillows,” she admitted. Although she knew she wanted her room to be elegant, she also knew it needed to be practical. A glamorous curtain conceals most of the storage underneath Knaust’s elevated bed. Because she spends most of her time in her dorm, clothes, makeup, study space, little reminders of home and other necessities are easily accessible and-or visible. “I wanted to be comfortable and feel like I was at home.” Knaust started shopping and collecting items early into her senior year. She knew she wanted light pink and gray as a color scheme, but it wasn’t until she saw her light pink roses, silver lamp and sparkly pillows together that she knew her design was headed in the right direction. “I definitely could have brought less wall stuff because I forgot that I would continue to hang things up once I got here,” Knaust said. However, because she’s originally from the Kansas City area, she doesn’t regret bringing “too many” clothes. It’s much easier, she has found, to take things home after arriving than it is to worry about not having everything.

University of Nebraska at Omaha “Where am I going to put my TV?” Greiner asked himself as an incoming freshman. The biology major from Columbus, Nebraska, wanted a space that fostered productivity. Comfort was his main goal. “I like my room to be any way that helps me be productive. Even if that means it’s going to be a little messy, that’s OK,” he said. Accessibility is imporant. When things are tucked away simply for the purpose of “cleanliness and organization,” there’s no way he’s going to feel like he’s being as productive as possible. A $15 tapestry from Amazon.com hangs above his bed; his guitar sits nearby. Although the tapestry adds color and a nice element of design to the room, Greiner wasn’t inclined to invest a lot of money in it or any decorative element for a room that was temporary. He recommends Command strips for hanging things, but advises incoming freshmen to leave behind outside furniture unless it’s a side table and small shelves. “If you play an instrument, even if it’s a keyboard, I’d recommend bringing it. There will be times that you get bored and plus, you’ll want to stay good at playing it.” Whether it’s playing a new video game with friends or studying hard for his next test, Greiner’s goal is always to make his suite-style dorm feel as comfortable as possible. Continued on Page 10

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• Sunday, April 22, 2018

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

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Hannah Knaust

Mitchell Greiner

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10W

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• Sunday, April 22, 2018

COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Ashley Everheart

Clara Severn

Creighton University Being prepared, organized and great at utilizing space helped freshman journalism major Ashley Everheart. The Paola, Kansas, native thought a lot about how her room was going to be organized and decorated. She knew that space in her traditional-style dorm was going to be limited, so she set limits for herself. For one, whatever she brought had to have meaning and be pretty. “I probably took about half of the stuff from my room at home and brought it to school. I wouldn’t call it style, more like bits and pieces of memories,” Everheart said. The focal point of the room is a picture display, arranged similarly to what she had at home. “I laid my decorations on my floor at home and knew exactly where they were going to go in my dorm. I drew a picture so I knew how to decorate when I moved in,” Everheart said. Her self-edit: “I wouldn’t bring as many books; you never get the time to read for fun.” Even her TV felt excessive; Everheart and her roommate didn’t plug it in until the second semester was in progress. “You think you need so many things, but you really don’t.” She recommends Bed, Bath and Beyond, which offers an online dorm registry. Everheart wanted a little bit of everything. From desk organizers to bedding, her dorm reminds her of home.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln The UNL freshman was excited about having a room to decorate. A double major in fashion merchandising and business administration, she began collecting items immediately after finding out where she would be living. “I thought, ‘I need to get everything right away.’” Her traditional-style dorm room is filled with keepsakes: a pillow she picked out with her grandma, letters and gifts from her Chi Omega sisters, an NU banner that once hung in her dad’s room. “I feel very at peace here, and I love it,” she said. “Your dorm room is truly the only place on the entire campus that’s yours.” A tapestry made from a photo is a focal point of the room. “I took that picture while I was hiking in Oregon,” she offered, pointing to the artwork. “It combines my love for photography, traveling and hiking.” Sunflower photos are a reminder of her hometown, Lawrence, Kansas. Dried wildflowers in a vase are from a Lawrence farmer’s market. “Everything is a reflection of who I am and where I’m from, all that’s made me who I am.” Severn’s advice to incoming freshmen: Collect things little by little because it’s too stressful trying to get it all at once. Her favorite places to shop are Hobby Lobby, Target, TJ Maxx and dollar stores. “Look for things that inspire you, and bring lots of Command strips.” Also, resist the urge to bring an abundance of T-shirts, clothes and coffee mugs. “You won’t need them.”

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

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Karli Sugar and Johanne Brown Creighton University Karli Sugar (seated at left) and Johanne Brown didn’t know each other before college, but they were fast friends by the time they moved in their freshman year. Sugar, a business pre-med student from the Denver area, wanted a country chic theme. “Because country chic was the theme of my high school graduation party, I brought a lot of stuff from home to decorate. I really wanted my focal point to be family pictures on a design wall, which is why I’m glad Johanne and I both wanted our beds to be down instead of lofted,” Sugar said. Approaching things a bit differently, Brown, a Bellevue native in the business law program, didn’t have a set design theme for their traditional-style dorm. She started with a colorful elephant tapestry from Target. “I just bought a whole bunch of things that worked together,” Brown admitted. Before moving in, Brown and Sugar decided that one of them would bring a microwave and the other would bring a mini-fridge. “It’s important to communicate, but also just bring your own style,” Sugar said. “Our sides are different but work together,” Brown said. Her roommate agreed. “They are uniquely different, yet distinctly together.” String lights help bridge their decorating approaches. Both girls still laugh over the first few months of the year when they couldn’t figure out how to arrange the rugs. “We rotated our rugs … a lot,” Brown said. The Creighton freshmen recommend keeping an open mind and not shutting down each other’s ideas. Sugar added, “Only once in your life can you hang lights in your room and have it be acceptable, and that’s college.” •

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• Sunday, April 22, 2018

SPONSORED FEATURE: NEBRASKA METHODIST COLLEGE

You don’t have to leave the state for an ‘IV’ league education Nebraska Methodist College is Nebraska’s premier nursing and allied health institution, with dozens of undergraduate and graduate degrees designed from the ground up to meet the demands of the modern healthcare field. With associate and bachelor’s degree programs in nursing, sonography, surgical technology, respiratory care, radiologic technology and more, NMC provides a number of two- and four-year options that enable students to immediately enter the healthcare profession. Many programs, including the area’s longest continuously running nursing program, feature clinical opportunities in the first year, providing you with a hands-on patient experience sooner than almost any other institution. Less than a year after your senior prom, you could be interacting with patients in a hospital or other healthcare setting. What distinguishes NMC from other schools in the area is its education based on compassion. Rather than focus exclusively on the technical aspects of the job, professors at NMC emphasize the importance of seeing the person behind the patient. This holistic approach to patient care provides the basis for everything we do, setting you up to lead a rich, rewarding career where you’ll make a real difference on an individual and community level.

TRADITIONAL CAMPUS – EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE Nebraska Methodist College – the Josie Harper campus provides a traditional college experience in the heart of Omaha. Josie’s Village

features apartment-style housing that’s less than a minute’s walk from class. Grab a bite to eat at the Deja Brew coffee bar, hang out at the state-of-the-art Student Engagement Center, take a swim in the nearby pool and work out at the on-site fitness facility. At NMC, you get to enjoy all the benefits of the traditional campus experience with none of the drawbacks. No required meal plan. No cement-block dorms. Instead, tailor your college experience to be exactly what you need. Take part in an associate degree program and leave with an in-demand career in just two years. Or, pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree program then continue your education in one of our many online master’s and doctoral programs.

HEALTHCARE IS ALL WE DO Every program provides you with an education that lets you make a difference in the healthcare world. Whether that’s through direct pa-

tient interaction, providing hospital and physician support, overseeing critical administrative tasks or leading the country’s top health systems and institutions into an ever-evolving healthcare world, you’ll find an education that suits your interests. Visit methodistcollege.edu to

learn more about us. View some of the stories of our current and former students, and sign up for one of our many NMC Preview Days to see what we’re all about. Nebraska Methodist College has been teaching The Meaning of Care for over 125 years. Come be a part of the next 125.

720 N. 87th St., Omaha, NE 68114 • Phone 402-354-7200 or 1-800-335-5510 Website methodistcollege.edu • Email admissions@methodistcollege.edu • Social Media @NMCOmaha •

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

ABOUT NEBRASKA METHODIST COLLEGE • Accredited, private, not-forprofit nursing and healthcare college offering certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs to prepare students to be successful healthcare professionals and educated citizens for a changing future. • Affiliate of Nebraska Methodist Health System, one of the largest health systems in Nebraska. • Student population of more than 1,100. • 90% of our instructors have advanced or terminal degrees and certifications within their fields of expertise. • 47 certificate and degree programs offered on campus and online in nursing, allied health and health leadership. • Clinical experience, including community and service learning opportunities with underserved populations, beginning in the first year. • 10 fully equipped, state-of-art laboratories for nursing and allied health programs. • Support services and advisors to help students define and achieve educational and personal goals. • TRIO Student Support Services specifically for first-generation college students seeking a bachelor’s degree. • Campus activities planned throughout the year according to student interests, including sports, musical, social and educational events • Apartment-style housing next to campus with secured access, laundry facilities, wireless Internet access and swimming pool. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: • Nebraska Top 5 Nursing School for Outstanding NCLEX-RN Pass Rates • Nebraska Best Value School • Nebraska Best Online College Top 10 • Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation • Military-Friendly School •

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Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

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Don’t let test anxiety doom your score Prep courses can help you clear the hurdle By Todd von Kampen WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

OMAHA MERCY HIGH SCHOOL

Mercy High School senior Annabella Glatte works with Mercy counselor Georgina Morse. Glatte, who suffered from test anxiety when she first took the ACT, raised her composite score by five points with the help of the Lincoln-based On To College ACT testprep course. throughout one’s school years remains the foundation for entrance-exam success, they said, but high schoolers also have many tools to prepare for testing success. “If you’re anxious, it’s going to compromise your performance,” said Baylor, who offers test-prep courses for both the ACT and SAT. “But to me, the best approach is to prepare well and make a student genuinely confident, and then the anxiety goes away.”

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The pressure was on as Mercy High School student Annabella Glatte prepared for her first ACT exam in September 2016. Her older sister, Tessa, had done well enough on the popular college entrance exam to receive a Regents Scholarship to the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her divorced parents had limited means to help Annabella realize her college dreams, she said. The stress showed. Her first ACT composite score was 23 of a possible 36. “I had a lot of test anxiety and was really stressed the night before,” said Annabella, now a senior at the all-girls Omaha Catholic school. “I feel like it really had an effect on my score.” What could she do? Her father, David Glatte, signed her up for one of several “test-prep” programs available online or in person in the Omaha area. They chose the Lincoln-based On To College course founded by John Baylor, known to many Nebraskans as the radio “voice” of Cornhusker volleyball since 1994. It paid off. Annabella took the ACT twice in 2017 — first in April, then in September — and received a composite score of 28 both times. She now is choosing from among three colleges in Nebraska and one in another state, all offering both academic and need-based scholarships. Annabella, who hopes to be a lawyer, is grateful for her dad’s help. “It was a lot of money to set aside for the program, but my dad had made the decision that it was something we needed to do,” she said. Her story is far from unusual, Baylor and longtime Mercy guidance counselor Georgina Morse said. Hard work

Baylor, a Boston-area high school graduate and Stanford University alumnus, started tutoring students in California before returning to his native Lincoln. On To College — which he launched part time when he started covering Husker sports — offers online courses as well as in-person courses, consisting of five two-hour sessions, in Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney. Many Nebraska schools, public and private, offer free online test-prep services for their students. But thanks to a donation from American National Bank, Baylor is offering his in-person course for free to all Mercy students for the first time this school year. That’s a benefit worth nearly $400 per student, said school spokeswoman Deb Daley. Students don’t have to master thick books on test knowledge and techniques to succeed, added Baylor, who scored 31 and 32 himself as a 1980s high schooler. As they work through his course materials — which total only about eight pages — “suddenly they realize, ‘I can do this. I can do well.’ ” On test day, he said, students should take five to eight seconds to “quick-check” each answer to minimize careless errors. They should answer every question, even if they’re not sure of the answer, because blank answers are counted as wrong answers and “there’s no penalty for guessing.” “We preach intensity,” Baylor added. “You lean forward; your pencil is never more than a half-inch off the page. This is a race.” Some students with test anxiety also have diagnosed learning challenges, Morse said, so they and their parents should be sure to apply for test-taking accommodations. Both ACT Inc. and the College Board, which administers the SAT, offer such students extra time and alternate test settings to complete their respective exams. Above all, Morse and Baylor said, students should remember their first ACT or SAT score doesn’t have to be the last word. “With preparation,” Baylor said, “you’re going to improve (your score) every doggone time.”

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD

Junior year is critical time for researching colleges By Todd von Kampen

WORLD-HERALD CORRESPONDENT

o, high school juniors don’t have to settle on a college or a career before summer vacation. But they need to be seriously thinking about such things, counselors and college officials say. Juniors in Nebraska’s public high schools were reminded of the ticking clock on April 3, when

they took the ACT college-admissions exam for free as the State of Nebraska’s required assessment of their academic progress. Though parochial- and private-school juniors don’t face that requirement, most soon will take the ACT or SAT for the first time, if they haven’t already. Whether or when to take the test again — and what can be done to raise their scores — will be one of many decisions this spring’s juniors will face as they approach and begin their senior

year. “I consider junior year just as critical as senior year, because it really is the research year” in narrowing down one’s college choices and career possibilities, said Joan Jurek, director of college planning for the EducationQuest Foundation of Lincoln. Here’s a checklist of key matters juniors should already have in mind:

Financial strategy

Taking/retaking entrance exams

College visits

More than ever, students and their parents need a plan for how to survive the college years without straining parents’ finances or saddling students with daunting levels of debt. John Baylor, founder of the Lincoln-based On To College test-preparation program, said he emphasizes an “11K Paves the Way” approach. In addition to finding scholarships, students should limit their loans to $5,000 a year and make and save no less than $3,500 a year from summer and vacation jobs. Parents supporting their children can qualify for a federal American Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2,500 a year, he said.

The ACT and the SAT are offered multiple times a year. Counselors recommend taking either test several times, since colleges will look only at a student’s best score for admissions and scholarships. “I can tell you that 60 to 65 percent of the students improve (scores) just by taking it the second time,” said Georgina Morse, who is in her 25th year as guidance counselor at Mercy High School in Omaha. Juniors who qualify for free or reducedprice lunches, Baylor added, can have their ACT registration fee waived once — meaning they can take the test twice for free if they’re in a public Nebraska high school.

Don’t be afraid to visit several schools large and small — and both inside and outside your state — to find the right “fit.” If you grow unhappy and decide to transfer, it usually takes more time and money to graduate. It’s best to visit, counselors say, during the regular school year when most students are on campus.

FAFSA

Senior-year classes

Whether for scholarships or student loans, most parents will have to fill out the federal government’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (fafsa.ed.gov). The opening date for 2019-20 FAFSA applications will be Oct. 1, 2018, because next year’s aid eligibility now will be based on parents’ tax returns for 2017 rather than 2018.

Beware the temptation to coast through your last year, warns Lina Stover, interim director of admissions at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Slumping senior grades might drag down GPAs far enough that even public colleges and universities may be forced to change their minds and deny admission, she said.

Dual-credit classes

Admission and scholarship applications Deadlines for both will loom quickly once juniors become seniors in the fall. “A good thing for juniors to do,” Stover said, “is to get a calendar and ask seniors, ‘What deadlines did you miss?’” Admission and scholarship applications often require letters of recommendation, so juniors already should be thinking of teachers at their high school or employers and leaders in their community to ask to write letters for them, counselors said. EducationQuest offers free tools for all aspects of the college search at www. educationquest.org, and Mercy is among area schools that give their students free access to the Naviance college- and careerreadiness program, Morse said.

More high schools than ever are offering the chance to earn high school and college credits for certain classes, either through Advanced Placement classes or dual credit. Students have to pay tuition for dual-credit classes, officials say, but it’s usually cheaper than taking them on campus. Best of all, students can knock off some of their preferred college’s required “general education” courses and get their degrees sooner.

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COLLEGE & CAREERS

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Sunday, April 22, 2018 •

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By Darci Swisher

C T W F E AT U R E S

Social superstar How to show off your best self to a potential employer on social media

CTW FEATURES

ooking for a job? Consider being less social, and more savvy, on your social media accounts, and doing some light housekeeping before interviewing. “A smart thing for a job seeker to do is to be very aware of the fact that they’re going to be looked at by potential employers and to be strategic about it,” says Jodi Wehling, managing consultant of People Matters, a Lansing, Michigan-based human resources consulting firm. A recent survey of hiring managers and human resource professionals revealed that 70 percent of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring them, up from 60 percent in 2016 – and 11 percent in 2006. Just over half of employers – 54 percent – decided not to hire a candidate because of content they found on social media, the 2017 survey by Harris Poll for CareerBuilder found. Topping those reasons: provocative or inappropriate photos and videos; information about drinking or using drugs; discriminatory comments related to race, gender, religion; and bad-mouthing of a previous company or fellow employee. Not all social media is bad – it can give potential employers a better sense of a candidate, Wehling says. “When we interview folks, we See Social: Page 16

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Social: Clean up content, present your best self

College & Careers

Continued from Page 15

Project managers Shelley Larsen 402-444-1143 shelley.larsen@owh.com

know we’re not seeing the whole person, we’re seeing the person trying to present themselves a certain way,” she explains. “To some degree, it’s nice to have some stuff out there about who you are.” According to the CareerBuilder survey, 44 percent of employers have found content on social media that led them to hire a candidate. For this reason, Wehling recommends cleaning up a Facebook page rather than making it private, or deleting the account altogether. “It’s good to do kind of a self-audit,” she says. The goal: to present your true self but also your best self, somebody that you would want to hire if you were looking for an employee. That entails going through your Facebook timeline post by post to adjust the privacy settings, as well as photos albums and photos that others may have tagged you in, too. Also, ensure the details in the “about” section match your resume, she says. Twitter users are especially vulnerable, since most have their accounts open for all to see, says Kiki

Weingarten, a New York City-based career and executive coach specializing in career transitions. “I definitely caution people, ‘Clean up your account before you start looking,’” she says. The immediacy of Twitter often leads people to tweet — and retweet, perhaps with comments — without first considering the consequences, Weingarten says. “So it’s out there,” she adds. On Twitter, that may include highly politicized views contrary to a potential employer’s, although Weingarten notes that isn’t always a bad thing. “There are some issues that for people would be, ‘Anyone who does not feel this way, is not someone I can work with anyway,’ ” she explains. “There are a few things you have to know about yourself. You have to have your line in the sand.” Essentially, she says, you need to be able to say: “I don’t want to work for a company that has X, Y or Z policy, so I’m not losing anything.” Still, she adds, “Be very careful, unless it’s a hill you’re ready to die on, it’s an issue that for you is a deal breaker.” Weingarten recommends taking ad-

vantage of Twitter’s archiving option, which yields a downloadable file of every tweet since the account was established, then choosing a date in the notso-recent past and deleting any tweets before it from view. One social media platform to beef up, instead of trim down, is LinkedIn. “It really starts to paint a picture of you as a professional in your career as opposed to Twitter and Facebook,” says Brendan Hagman, co-founder of Global Talent Recruiting in Holland, Michigan. “I bet 99.9 percent of recruiters use LinkedIn.” The more complete your LinkedIn profile, the better, he adds. Always include both the months and years for work experiences, residency or work authorization if unclear, accreditations and degrees, GPA and volunteer and extra-curricular activities, he advises. Most important, be sure to update your contact information, Hagman says. “There are too many people that still have their college email address that we see, and then we’re trying to contact them about some great opportunities and it just goes off into never never-land.”

A special section produced by the news division of the Omaha World-Herald.

Chris Christen 402-444-1094 chris.christen@owh.com Designer Kiley Cruse Copy editor Marjie Ducey Contributors Elizabeth Bauman, Nikoel Hytrek, Melinda Keenan, Todd von Kampen Cover photo Creighton University freshmen Karli Sugar, left, and Johanne Brown share a dorm room. Photo by Elizabeth Bauman. Special sections advertising manager Dan Matuella 402-444-1485 dan.matuella@owh.com

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