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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 |
COLLEGE
&CAREERS SEPTEMBER 26, 2021
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COLLEGES & CAREERS
T2 | Sunday, September 26, 2021
Omaha World-Herald
SPONSORED FEATURE
Ready, set, code Midland University program empowers students with skills needed for in-demand Omaha jobs Special for Midland University
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s one of the many students who have gone through Midland University’s Code Academy, Connor Kennedy has altered the course of his career by learning to code. Kennedy studied political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and went to work as a database manager, where he developed an interest in coding. After doing some research, Kennedy saw an ad for Code Academy and decided it seemed like a good mix between cost and time instead of going to a traditional four-year college. Kennedy enrolled in Midland’s Code Academy during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduation, he applied for more than 20 jobs and had five virtual interviews with various companies. “It was definitely a little strange, interviews weren’t in-person, and there were fewer openings. Basically, everything was done over the phone and email,” Kennedy said. “All of the jobs I ended up interviewing for went really well. One offered me the job, and I took it immediately.” One month after graduating the program, Kennedy accepted a job offer as a software developer at Orion Advisors Solutions. “I think that Code Academy provided me with all the basic skills I needed to feel comfortable applying for jobs,” said Kennedy. “The interview prep and LinkedIn setup helped me look good to potential recruiters.” Mike Truax, director and instructor for Midland’s Code Academy, says it doesn’t matter if you have an extensive coding background or no experience at all. The Code Academy provides students of all ages, talents and experience with skills Omaha employers want. “When a company is looking for a junior developer, they’re looking for people who know two things — how to do the
MIDLAND UNIVERSITY
Connor Kennedy, a recent graduate of Midland University’s Code Academy, said the 12-week program provided him with the basic skills needed to change his career path.
job and why they’re doing the job,” Truax said. “A recurring theme across our graduates is that, more often than not, they gain employment by being able to talk through problems in an interview. While they might not end up at the right answer, showing that they can think logically and approach problems in a way that shows a fundamental understanding of programming is huge.” Truax says the real reward in
teaching comes after graduation when his students find fulfillment in a career field they might never have envisioned. Teaching the technical aspects of code is critical, but teaching them to be productive employees is of equal importance. “We don’t just teach them code; we prepare them to compete for jobs in their field,” he said. By the end of the 12-week program, students have gone through several weeks of
preparation for their job search. Midland University provides students with mock interviews, resume training, and helps students build their LinkedIn profiles. “If you’re looking to change careers, or if you’re looking to do something more rewarding, try Code Academy,” Truax said. “Code Academy will give you the ability to do something new and do something that isn’t going to go away for a very long time.”
To learn more about the Midland Code Academy, email professional.studies@midlandu.edu.
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COLLEGE & CAREEERS
Omaha World-Herald
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS EDUCATIONQUEST FOUNDATION
When it comes to the ACT and SAT college entrance exams, preparation can mean higher scores — and that means increased college admission and scholarship opportunities.
About the exams
The ACT includes test areas in English, math, reading, science, and an optional writing section. Scores for each section are averaged to create a composite score. A perfect score is 36. The SAT has four components: evidence-based reading, writing, math, and an optional essay. Scores for each section range from 200-800 points, which are added together to determine your overall score. A perfect score is 1600. Historically, Midwestern colleges prefer the ACT and coastal schools prefer the SAT; however,
most colleges will accept either. Consider taking both to see which exam suits you better. In Nebraska, you’ll take the ACT in the spring of your junior year — and you might consider taking the SAT as well. Consider retaking the exams in the fall of your senior year to potentially increase your score (you can retake them several times if you wish). Most colleges will use your highest score (or a composite score) for admission and scholarship consideration. Be aware of the last test dates colleges will accept.
How to prepare
Take challenging classes in English, math, reading, and science throughout high school. Ask your school counselor about test-prep resources that fit your budget and learning style. They may include self-
study preparation books and online resources. If you prefer a group setting, consider schoolsponsored workshops and test preparation businesses, though these often require a fee. You’ll find free test-prep products at actstudent.org or collegeboard.org. Here are some test-taking strategies from ACT: Carefully read the instructions for each section of the test. Pace yourself so you can attempt all questions on the exam. Answer the easy questions first and then tackle the more difficult ones. For difficult questions, eliminate all incorrect answers then make an educated guess among the remaining options. Answer every question because there is no penalty for guessing. Review your work.
BELLEVUE LEADER
A group of Gross Catholic High School students take the ACT on Chromebooks in 2019.
CHADRON STATE COLLEGE FOLLOW YOUR FRONTIER • A place to explore • Be yourself • Discover your potential • Rise above and see the possibilities SCHEDULE YOUR CAMPUS VISIT TODAY AT CSC.EDU • A student-guided walking tour • Chat with faculty • Learn about housing and financial aid
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T6 | Sunday, September 26, 2021
COLLEGES & CAREERS
Omaha World-Herald
REASONS ENROLLING IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAY BE A GOOD IDEA
ARIANNE COHEN
Rate.com
JOE SHEARER, THE DAILY NONPAREIL
Iowa Western Community College students Eddie Vocek, right, and Caden Manzer, both from Oakland, Iowa, carry a miniature refrigerator to their dorm room as students move in ahead of the fall semester on Aug. 13, 2021.
Community college seems like an oasis of affordable opportunity: It’s cheap! It’s nearby! And you can just see the number in your bank account ballooning with the salary boost from your new degree or certificate! But proceed with caution. Without a strategy, community college can also be a bonfire of wasted time and money. The key, says Pamela Eddy, a professor of higher education at William and Mary, is to articulate your motivations and goals, and then — this is the hard part — see if they realistically line up with a community college program near you. If you’re keen on enrolling, do so for one of these five reasons, which typically provide the most bang for your buck:
1. You want to consider future career possibilities Not sure whether you’d like nursing or pipefitting or paralegaling? Community college is the place to affordably sort that out. “We often see first-time college students that are coming directly out of high school, unsure of the area that they want to go into, so they go to a community college to experiment and take a number of different courses to figure out where that ‘fit’ is,” Eddy says.
2. You need a workplace credential or skill You can’t go wrong with a targeted plan Please see COMMUNITY COLLEGES, Page T7
whyHastings? Go Somewhere
Your transition from college to a career begins your first semester. Every class, internship, research study and extracurricular activity adds to your experience — and an intentional study abroad course will push you out of your comfort zone. You’ll become your best self, ready to go somewhere.
Accountability
We provide all required textbooks plus an iPad and Apple Pencil. Yes, this saves you $1,000 a year. But, more importantly, when everyone has the tools they need, there’s more accountability, fewer excuses and more success.
Less Stress SCAN HERE
Our block schedule. It’s a difference maker that lets you take just one or two classes at a time. The result? Students report less stress. And professors? They see improved performance.
Want to learn more? Schedule your in-person or virtual visit today!
HASTINGS.EDU/VISIT www.southeast.edu/visitscc
COLLEGES & CAREERS
Omaha World-Herald
Community Colleges From T6
to acquire a professional certificate or degree that will immediately boost your career. “These students often hop in for the short-term, gain their skill, then go along on their merry way,” Eddy says. This is one of the best reasons to enroll, though you should do your job research first. Confirm directly with local workplaces that your new credential or skill is one they want.
3. You’ve got your eye on switching to a technical, trade or health care career Many programs serve as feeders to local businesses, which sometimes partner with the community college to train students and later hire them. “A lot of times the benefit of these technical programs is that faculty have very strong ties with industry,” says Xueli Wang, a professor of educational leadership at the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Look for a program that has previously placed dozens of students in jobs you would want; and, again, check with employers that they’ll accept the training you’re getting.
4. You’ll be transferring to a four-year university “If attending a four-year institution right away isn’t an option, then a community college with good transfer pathways would be a wonderful choice,” Wang says.
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Typically this happens when students have limited financial means or need to stay close to family. Make sure to study the community college’s information web page for details like how many credits will transfer, which credits, and GPA requirements. Check with four-year schools on this, too. “If there’s barely any information, that’s a red flag,” Wang says. Know that some top state schools, like U.C. Berkeley and the University of Texas at Austin, take community college transfers.
5. Pressing ‘re-do’ after an uninspiring high school career If caring wasn’t your bailiwick in high school, this is your chance for a do-over. “It’s an opportunity for students who may not have engaged well in high school, or may not have been encouraged to even think of going to college,” Eddy says. “A good chunk of community college students are adults, and they come with a much more informed perspective, and they’re very targeted in what they want to learn.” You have permission to ignore the second-class education stigma that sometimes accompanies community college. It’s untrue. Lots of community college professors blow the socks off the lecturers you’d find at prestigious schools, and Wang says you’d be hard-pressed to find students who don’t have positive things to say about their experiences. (She would know: For a recent research project, she talked to over 1,600 of them.) Instead, put community college to its best use: grabbing an opportunity that might not otherwise fit into your day-to-day life.
Attend a
VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $500 SCHOLARSHIP!
This is where where my my passion bec ame became my major. major. my
With more than 80 areas of study, including online and face-to-face courses, discovering your career is easy at Iowa Western. Zoe, Student
October 12 November 10 December 8 Learn more and register at
eqf.org/collegefairinfo
BeYouAtIW.com / 712.325.3277
T8 | Sunday, September 26, 2021
COLLEGES & CAREERS
Omaha World-Herald
Learn more about the State College Guarantee at:
www.csc.edu 800-242-3766
www.peru.edu 800-742-4412
The State College Guarantee:
FREE Tuition for Pell-Eligible students who are new or transfer students who attend Chadron State, Peru State or Wayne State.
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.