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You are collegematerialYOUR GUIDE TO COLLEGEADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIPSGet2College counselors can provide you with personalized adviceon how to do everything outlined in this booklet. Just call one ofour Centers listed on the back cover or chat with us live atget2college.org.

Colleges come indifferent kindsCOMMUNITY COLLEGESSometimes called junior or technical colleges,PRIVATE COLLEGES ANDUNIVERSITIEScommunity colleges are typically schools thatAs the name implies, private colleges andoffer students two-year associate degrees,universities are privately funded (notcertificates, or workforce training. Programsstate-funded) schools. In Mississippi, thereare geared toward either providing specific jobare seven private schools. All offer bachelor’straining or preparing students to transfer to adegrees, and some offer graduate degrees.four-year institution. There are 15 communityPrivate colleges tend to be smaller, but notcolleges in Mississippi, and many have multiplealways.campuses.PUBLIC UNIVERSITIESMississippi has eight public universities. All offerbachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in avariety of subjects. They range in size from 2,300to 17,000 undergraduates.YOU ARE COLLEGE MATERIAL2

Degrees vary by.well, degree!UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES:GRADUATE DEGREES:Certificate ProgramsMaster’s DegreeCertificate programs offer credentials relatedAfter receiving a bachelor’s degree, manyto a specific occupation. Programs typicallystudents decide to continue their studies withlast less than one year and provide practicala master’s degree program. Master’s degreesjob training skills. Certificate programs mayrequire at least one year of study beyond thebe required to qualify for a certain career orbachelor’s degree. The most common degreesspecialty within that career.awarded are Master of Arts (MA) and Masterof Science (MS). The Master of BusinessAssociate’s DegreeAdministration (MBA) is popular too.An associate’s degree is a two-year degreeawarded by community colleges, junior colleges,Doctoral Degreebusiness colleges, and some four-year collegesFollowing a master’s degree, students may earnand universities. It is generally equivalent to thetheir doctorate by completing one to three yearsfirst two years of a four-year college degree.of study, a comprehensive test or series of tests,a written thesis or dissertation, and often anBachelor’s Degreeoral presentation and exam. Doctoral degreesAlso called a baccalaureate degree, this degreeare most commonly awarded to those seekingis awarded to students who successfullya career in research or university-level teaching.complete a college’s undergraduate curriculumThe most common doctorate is the Doctor of– typically four years of coursework. Bachelor ofPhilosophy (Ph.D.).Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) are thetwo most common examples.Professional DegreeCertain careers, such as medicine, law, anddentistry, require a professional degree.Depending on the field of study, professionaldegrees can be awarded on the bachelor,master, or doctoral level. Some occupations havemore than one level of professional degrees.GET2COLLEGE.ORG3

Requirements forcollege admissionFOUR WAYS TO GAIN ADMISSION TO A MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC UNIVERSITY1Complete the CollegeComplete the CollegePreparatory CurriculumPreparatory Curriculum2(CPC) with a minimum3.2 high school gradepoint average (GPA) onthe CPC; or(CPC) with a minimum2.50 high school GPA onthe CPC or a class rank inthe top 50% and a score of16 or higher on the ACT*(Composite); or3Complete the CollegeSatisfy the NCAAPreparatory Curriculumstandards for student(CPC) with a minimum2.00 high school GPA onthe CPC and a score of4athletes who are “fullqualifiers” under DivisionI guidelines.18 or higher on the ACT*(Composite); orWHAT IF YOU DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA?Students who do not meet the above criteria are nonetheless eligible for admission. Such students mustparticipate, however, in an on-campus placement process at the university of their choice. The process willdetermine whether the student may be enrolled in regular freshman-level courses or be required to enrollin the summer semester with mandatory participation in the Summer Developmental Program. Successfulcompletion of the summer semester entitles the student to continued enrollment in the fall semester at theuniversity of his or her choice.*In lieu of ACT scores, students may submit equivalent SAT scores.YOU ARE COLLEGE MATERIAL4

FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIVERSITY SYSTEMINSTITUTIONS (COLLEGE PREPARATORY CURRICULUM)16½CarnegieunitsThe minimum required CPC for fulladmission into a Mississippi publicuniversity is as follows:19½CarnegieunitsThe minimum recommended CPC forfull admission into a Mississippi publicuniversity is as follows:ENGLISH: 4 Carnegie units All must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading,writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading andWriting may not be included.ENGLISH: 4 Carnegie units All must require substantial communication skills (i.e., reading,writing, listening, and speaking). Compensatory Reading andWriting may not be included.MATHEMATICS: 3 Carnegie units Algebra I or its equivalent Math higher than Algebra I (2 units)MATHEMATICS: 4 Carnegie units Algebra I or its equivalent Math higher than Algebra I (3 units)SCIENCE: 3 Carnegie units Biology I or its equivalent Science higher than Biology I (2 units)SCIENCE: 4 Carnegie units Biology I or its equivalent Science higher than Biology I (3 units)SOCIAL STUDIES: 3 Carnegie units U.S. History World History U.S. Government (½ unit) Economics (½ unit) or Introduction to World Geography (½ unit)SOCIAL STUDIES: 4 Carnegie units U.S. History World History U.S. Government (½ unit) Economics (½ unit) Introduction to World Geography (½ unit) Mississippi Studies (or state/local government course inany other state)ARTS: 1 Carnegie unit Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two ½ units) of visual andperforming arts course(s) meeting the requirements for highschool graduation.ADVANCED ELECTIVES: 2 Carnegie units Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II Option 2: Foreign Language I and Advanced WorldGeography Option 3: Any combination of English, Mathematics higherthan Algebra I, Science higher than Biology I, AdvancedElective category, any AP course, any IB courseTECHNOLOGY: ½ Carnegie unit A course that emphasizes the use of technology as aproductivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing variousforms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, andpublish information. The application of technology as aproductivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/orsoftware packages should be the focus of the course.ARTS: 1 Carnegie unit Includes any one Carnegie unit (or two ½ units) of visual andperforming arts course(s) meeting the requirements for highschool graduation.ADVANCED ELECTIVES: 2 Carnegie units Option 1: Foreign Language I and Foreign Language II Option 2: Foreign Language I and Advanced World Geography Option 3: Any combination of English, Mathematics higher thanAlgebra I, Science higher than Biology I, Advanced Electivecategory, any AP course, any IB courseNOTES:TECHNOLOGY: ½ Carnegie unit A course that emphasizes the use of technology as aproductivity tool. Instruction should include utilizing variousforms of technology to create, collaborate, organize, andpublish information. The application of technology as aproductivity tool, rather than specific hardware and/orsoftware packages should be the focus of the course. P re-High School units: Courses taken prior to high schoolwill be accepted for admission provided the course earnsCarnegie credit and the content is the same as the highschool course. Substitutions: Advanced Placement (AP) and InternationalBaccalaureate (IB) courses can be substituted for eachrequirement in the College Preparatory Curriculum. C ourse Acceptance: A course may not be used to satisfymore than one requirement. The Required and Recommended College PreparatoryCurricula (CPC) are approved by the IHL Board of Trustees,and the IHL Office of Academic and Student Affairs maintainsa complete list of courses that can be used to satisfy the CPCrequirements. See www.mississippi.edu/admissions/.GET2COLLEGE.ORG5

The 5Psof collegeadmissionThe “Five Ps” are widely recognized as the key elements of importance in the college admissionprocess. They will serve as touchstones for admission and scholarship decision-makers. It isimperative that you clearly understand these criteria upon which you will be evaluated.PROGRAM:44 High school profile1 Curriculum Classes completed compared towhat is availablePERSONALITY:PERFORMANCE: Essays Grades Recommendations* interviews25 Class rankPARTICIPATION:POTENTIAL: A difference the Test scores - ACT,student made inhis or her school43SAT, AP, IBor communityYOU ARE COLLEGE MATERIAL6

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIESPUBLIC UNIVERSITIESAlcorn State Universitywww.alcorn.eduNORTHWESTMS CCNORTHEASTRUSTMS CCCOLLEGEDelta State Universitywww.deltastate.eduBLUE MOUNTAINCOLLEGECOAHOMAOLE MISSCCITAWAMBACCJackson State Universitywww.jsums.eduDSUMississippi State Universitywww.msstate.eduMUWMVSUMS DELTAMSUCCMississippi University for Womenwww.muw.eduEAST MSCCMississippi Valley State Universitywww.mvsu.eduHOLMESCCCCUniversity of Mississippiwww.olemiss.eduUniversity of Southern Mississippiwww.usm.eduEAST CENTRALMERIDIANBELHAVEN, HINDS CC,CCJSU, MILLSAPS,MS COLLEGE, TOUGALOOALCORN STATEJONES COUNTYCO-LINJUNIOR COLLEGECCPRIVATE UNIVERSITIESSOUTHWESTMS CCUSM,WILLIAM CAREYBelhaven Universitywww.belhaven.eduPEARLL RIVERCCBlue Mountain Collegewww.bmc.eduMS GULF COASTCCMillsaps Collegewww.millsaps.eduMississippi Collegewww.mc.eduRust Collegewww.rustcollege.eduTougaloo Collegewww.tougaloo.eduWilliam Carey Universitywww.wmcarey.eduCOMMUNITY & JUNIOR COLLEGESCoahoma CC - www.coahomacc.eduMeridian CC - www.meridiancc.eduCopiah-Lincoln CC - www.colin.eduMS Delta CC - www.msdelta.eduEast Central CC - www.eccc.eduMS Gulf Coast CC - www.mgccc.eduEast MS CC - www.eastms.eduNortheast MS CC - www.nemcc.eduHinds CC - www.hindscc.eduNorthwest MS CC - www.northwestms.eduHolmes CC - www.holmescc.eduPearl River CC - www.prcc.eduItawamba CC - www.iccms.eduSouthwest MS CC - www.smcc.eduJones County JC - www.jcjc.eduGET2COLLEGE.ORG7

Make sureyou visityour favoritecollegesYOU ARE COLLEGE MATERIAL8

The best visit may include meeting your admissioncounselor, taking a campus tour, sitting in on a class,having lunch with current students, and meeting facultyor staff who teach or work in your interest areas.DURING YOUR VISIT: Listen to the college radio station. Read the student newspaper and other student publications. Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like.QUESTIONS FOR YOUR TOUR GUIDE OR STUDENTS YOU MEET ON CAMPUS: Why did you choose this college? What is it like to go from high school to college? What do you do in your free time and on the weekends? What do you love about this college? What would you have changed about your college search?OTHER GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK DURING YOUR VISIT: What forms are required for admission, and what are the deadlines? Are there any advantages toapplying early? What special programs are available such as honors programs, study abroad, learning communities,freshman experience, or internship opportunities? What percentage of the campus is wireless? Do the faculty and students rely on network-sharing forassignments? How do I apply for financial aid? What forms are required, and when are the deadlines? What percentage of your students pursue graduate or professional degrees? What type of careerservices do you offer? What types of support services are available to students on campus such as tutoring programs andwriting centers?GET2COLLEGE.ORG9