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Deep South College Road Trip: Millsaps College

By U.S. News & World Report

Grace McWatters didn’t intend to apply to Millsaps College, but she forgot to cross the school off her list when she was filling out The Common Application. The Washington state native wanted to go to a small school that offered creative writing, economics and an opportunity to act, but she didn’t have any desire to be in the South.

Then she was offered a theater scholarship and experienced the school’s Southern hospitality on a campus visit. “Everyone really cares about you,” says McWatters, an economics major now in her final year.

The private liberal arts college sits in the heart of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi and its largest city. A large bell tower overlooks the easily walkable 100-acre campus.

[Discover other colleges and universities in Mississippi.]

At its center, students gather and relax underneath the trees in the open space known as the Bowl. The school’s enrollment is small, too: about 750 undergraduates, a little more than half of whom are out-of-state students. The average class size is 14, and the student-faculty ratio is 9-to-1.

Millsaps offers 34 degree programs, including an accelerated MBA that can be started senior year and completed 12 months after graduation. No matter what your major is, writing is a significant part of the curriculum. All students are required to complete a writing portfolio that includes six papers by the end of sophomore year and a reflection on their growth as writers and thinkers during their senior seminar.

Among the study abroad options are programs in Yucatán, Mexico, where the college owns a nonprofit organization that operates a 4,000-acre tropical forest biocultural reserve. Students live there and take courses or conduct research in such disciplines as archaeology, ecology, geology and business. For students who prefer studying poetry and art in Paris, there’s an option for that too.

Students say the small size and close-knit community make it easy for them to find their niche and nurture their interests. “You don’t feel cloistered as long as you’re doing what you should be doing, which is trying to be involved,” says 2016 graduate Zachary Smith, an English literature and communications studies major from Madison, Mississippi. Millsaps boasts 75-plus organizations, from mock trial to acting groups, and more than 20 percent of students participate in intercollegiate sports on the 18 Division III sports teams.

[Check out five reasons to get involved in college.]

But “you’re not going to be just a football player,” says Kendra Williams, a sophomore political science major from Houston. “You’re going to be a football player who participates in Major Havoc (an improvisation group), and is in a frat and goes to support LGBTQ. You’re usually not just doing one thing.”

Students like the fact that Jackson has a small-town feel but plenty of city amenities — museums, restaurants, shopping centers, live music and bars — within a 20-minute drive of campus. Freshmen who want to get involved in community service in the city can apply to participate in the Wellspring Living and Learning Community; they live with other first-years who are interested in service and volunteer at local schools and other organizations in the Midtown area.

Millsaps is “very deliberate” in making sure grads enter the workforce with the skills to be competitive, says Daniel Kees, a 2016 graduate in political science and economics from Vicksburg, Mississippi, who thinks his strong foundation in writing, critical thinking and teamwork will help him “stand out.” Next up: He’s been awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English in Mexico.

Deep South College Road Trip:

— Xavier University of Louisiana — Tulane University
— University of Mississippi

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News “Best Colleges 2017” guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.

More from U.S. News

Deep South College Road Trip: Tulane University

Deep South College Road Trip: University of Mississippi

Deep South College Road Trip: Xavier University of Louisiana

Deep South College Road Trip: Millsaps College originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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