1. Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Colleen Plasek, M.Ed.
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska

3. Where Do I Start?!
Thinking about going to school can seem overwhelming. So much so, that just getting started seems daunting.
Did you graduate high school or complete a GED?
If yes, continue to the next slide to learn about types of institutions.
If no, completing a GED or High School Equivalency Diploma will be the first step.
For information about Nebraska ‘s GED process, visit
For information about Iowa’s High School Equivalency Diploma process, visit
Information about the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s GED Incentive Program

4. Types of Institutions Colleges and Universities 4 Year Institutions
Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees
Community Colleges
2 Year Institutions
Certificates, Diplomas, and Associate’s degrees
Private Career Schools
For-Profit Institutions
Specific fields including cosmetology, business, and technology
Most certificates and diplomas. There are some institutions that offer Bachelor’s degrees

5. Review the information you gathered about the careers you are considering.
What type of education does each career require?
At what kind of school can you earn that degree?
Are you overwhelmed by the idea of going to college?
Here are some resources to help:
Glossary of higher education related words:

6. Researching Programs & Institutions
Here are resources to assist with researching institutions.
List of Nebraska colleges:
List of Iowa colleges:
Review the college’s website and schedule a time to visit the campus. Be sure to get all your questions answered.

7. How Can I Afford to Go to College?
There are many funding sources available to assist you.
Start by watching this video:
Scroll down the page as there are several other videos about the FAFSA including one on how to complete it
Visit to learn about the different types of aid available
FAFSA website:

8. EducationQuest provides resources for college preparation for individuals. www.educationquest.org
FAFSA
ScholarshipQuest
College Funding Estimator
Links to many other related sites

9. The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska provides funding for higher education.
Visit
Go to the Education Department
Go to the Financial Aid page to learn about the requirements and how to apply.
This page also has a linked list of external scholarships.