Potential Magazine winter 2012 | Page 18

CAMPUS CONNECTION university of mississippi “Are you ready?” This opening line for the University of Mississippi’s standard cheer invites high school students to come check out the school and see if they’re “ready for Ole Miss.” t he University of Mississippi has been an institution in Oxford since 1844 when it was founded and became the first college in the state. Affectionately called “Ole Miss” by its students and alumni, it has a long history of “firsts” including being first in nation to admit women (1882), first to hire a female faculty member (1885) and the first college in the nation to offer an engineering education (1854). A popular saying among University of Mississippi alumni is: “You graduate from the university, but you never leave Ole Miss.” It’s a sentiment that most Ole Miss grads feel holds true and is a reflection of the school’s close-knit atmosphere and the devotion it inspires in its students. noteworthy • Ranked as the safest college campus in the SEC and in the top 10 nationally in 2012 (by CollegeSafe.com). • Forbes ranks Ole Miss No. 20 on its annual list of America’s Best College Buys. • More than 80 percent of Ole Miss students receive some form of financial aid, including academic scholarships, need-based scholarships, grants and student loans. scholarships for non-residents Images courtesy of university of mississippi communications The current freshman class at Ole Miss is made up of almost 50 percent out-of-state students. The school admission policy does not waive the out-of-state fee. However, students can receive scholarships to cover a part or all of the out-of-state fee. Partial scholarships are available for admitted students who receive some Academic Excellence Scholarships; service scholarships from the chorus and orchestra; and for students who receive departmental scholarships to major in art, music and theatre. Children of Ole Miss graduates who are living out of state receive up to $3,000 a year toward out-of-state tuition. good to know The University of Mississippi has launched an aggressive initiative to increase the number of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields (STEM) in the state. A chief focus of the initiative will be to increase access to STEM education through undergraduate and graduate scholarships for first-generation college students and traditionally under-represented groups in STEM, including minorities, women and persons with disabilities. 18 living history Ventress Hall and the Confederate Monument in front of it are just two examples that highlight the rich past of the campus and the town of Oxford. www.potentialmagazine.com