Question 1

How can I apply?

Accepted Answer

You can apply by completing the online application.(http://metp.olemiss.edu/apply/) Those interested in the program should first apply for admission at the institution as well as any financial aid for which he or she qualifies.
 
You can also apply if you are not an incoming freshman using the Transfer/Off-Cycle Application.(http://metp.olemiss.edu/apply/transfer/)

Question 2

Do I need a certain GPA or test score for admission?

Accepted Answer

Competitive applicants are expected to have an ACT composite score of 28 or SAT score of 1320 and a high school GPA of at least 3.5. We also consider passion and dedication to the teaching profession through essays on the application and finalist interviews, as well as course difficulty, among other things.

Question 3

What can I do to make my application stand out?

Accepted Answer

We review all applications holistically. We do consider college admission test scores; grade point averages; rigor of schedule or completed coursework; evidence of leadership, community service, and/or work ethic as presented in a résumé; and passion and dedication to the teaching profession as evidenced in application essays. We also carefully review letters of recommendation for nuance.
 
Perceived deficiencies in some categories may be outweighed by strengths in others.

Question 4

Is there an interview?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All finalists for our program will be interviewed by a faculty committee using Zoom or other videoconferencing platform to screen for passion and dedication to the education profession.

Question 5

Do I have to declare a specific major?

Accepted Answer

Students must major in at least one of the following: Elementary Education; Special Education; and/or Secondary English, Math, or Science Education. Students may add any additional certifications within their education program and/or any additional majors across campus.
 
Applicants indicate which major they intend to pursue on our application. Interview questions are based on this selection should an applicant be selected as a finalist.

Question 6

I'd like to dual major. Is that possible?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Students who choose to dual major must fulfill the requirements of both majors. Some majors share a great deal of coursework, while others are more difficult to balance with the obligations of an education major. If this is something that interests you, please contact us for more detailed information.

Question 7

Can I participate in other Special Programs at the university?

Accepted Answer

Yes, so long as at least one major a student is pursuing is one of our five accepted education majors, they may add any additional major or program. We have had numerous Honors College (http://honors.olemiss.edu)students, a number of Public Policy Leadership (https://leadership.olemiss.edu/)students, and a Chinese Flagship (https://chinese.olemiss.edu/)student among others. We also have students pursuing other majors such as those offered by the College of Liberal Arts.
 
It is really up to the student to balance their time and obligations, and every student is different.

Question 8

Do I need to apply to the Honors College separately?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All METP candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College using the Special Programs and Scholarship Application.

Question 9

What does METP cover?

Accepted Answer

The scholarship portion of METP covers up to the full Cost of Attendance (http://finaid.olemiss.edu/cost-of-attendance/)after all other aid has been exhausted. We also fund all costs related to numerous field experiences offered through METP such as collaborative professional development events, cultural and educational trips both domestically and abroad, national or regional conference attendance, and more.

Question 10

What does METP not cover?

Accepted Answer

METP covers the gap between all other aid a student receives and the full Cost of Attendance as published annually on the Ole Miss website.(https://finaid.olemiss.edu/cost-of-attendance/) This includes any non-resident fees if applicable.
 
METP does not cover items absent from the Cost of Attendance determination although students may use any excess funds after costs have been deducted from their Bursar account to cover these items. Some examples are parking permits, traffic citations, library fines, additional studies abroad, and admission to sporting and cultural events on campus, among other things.

Question 11

Should I apply for financial aid?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All applicants must apply for available financial aid.(http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/financial_aid/) Final amounts of awarded tuition monies will be determined by other available aid.

Question 12

What if I don't have any financial need due to other aid? Can I still be a part of the program?

Accepted Answer

Yes, asbolutely! We offer much more than tuition and other funding related to attending the university. We also offer early education exposure, the cohort model, professional development events, trips to explore education in the U.S. and abroad, and conference attendance among other things.

Question 13

Can I apply to METP at both Ole Miss and MSU?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You may apply for admission into the program at both universities. If accepted to both, you will be asked to choose an institution.

Question 14

Can I apply if I did not apply as an incoming freshman?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! Because of our mission, we will consider any application at any time so long as we have space in a given cohort. Around 8.5% of accepted students transferred from other institutions or changed their majors to Education while at Ole Miss. Students may also re-apply if they were not initially selected for admission.
 
Our selection committee voted some time ago to only consider applicants with fewer than 61 graded hours of college coursework (60 or below, the technical junior level). Again though, we will consider any application so please contact us to discuss your situation in detail.(javascript:void(0)) Note that AP and Dual Enrollment credits do not count toward the 60-hour threshold.
 
Please use our Transfer/Off-Cycle Application (http://metp.olemiss.edu/apply/transfer/)if you are not applying as an incoming freshman. These applications are reviewed on a rolling basis for admission the following term.

Question 15

What documents do I need to sign if I'm accepted?

Accepted Answer

The Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program is designed as a loan forgiveness scholarship program with a service agreement. If you fulfill the five-year teaching commitment, you will never have to pay any money for tuition or fees. However, legally you must sign loan documentation to acknowledge that if you don’t fulfill the service agreement, you agree to repay only the funds you have used as noted in the agreement.
 
Program participants must sign and resubmit our paperwork annually.

Question 16

Are there requirements to remain in the program after admission?

Accepted Answer

Yes. An METP Fellow is expected to perform at the highest levels both academically and as a representative of the university and program. Fellows must maintain a 3.0 resident GPA and satisfy all obligations such as completing METP professional development events, METP-specific courses, and classroom observations related to METP coursework.

Question 17

If I am accepted, can I change my major and remain in the program?

Accepted Answer

Yes, so long as the change is to one of our five accepted majors (Elementary Education; Special Education; or Secondary English, Math, or Science Education).
 
We accept students partially based on what their intended major is balanced with the needs of the state of Mississippi. However, we understand that students' interests and passions may evolve or fully change particularly as they enter college and are exposed to different age groups and content areas in our coursework. Therefore, METP has a graduated process for changes of major in the freshman and sophomore years. We strongly advise against major changes after sophomore year if a student wishes to remain in METP.

Question 18

I plan to attend one of the university's satellite campuses (Booneville, DeSoto, Grenada, Rankin, or Tupelo). Can I still participate in the program?

Accepted Answer

For a number of reasons, all METP participants must complete their coursework on the Oxford (main) campus of the University of Mississippi. In addition, we arrange all field experience (classroom observations and stufent teaching) specifically for METP students in Oxford area school districts.

Question 19

What if I change majors to something not covered by METP?

Accepted Answer

Upon leaving the program to pursue another field, awarded scholarships will be converted into loans and any funds used must be repaid within a set amount of time. However, as long as a student’s primary major is Secondary English, Secondary Mathematics, Secondary Science, Special Education, or Elementary Education, they may choose to add another major or degree.

Question 20

What if I take longer than four years to graduate?

Accepted Answer

METP only funds eight regular semesters of Fall/Spring terms. Students must fund any extension beyond eight regular semesters for any reason such as completing a second major's requirements.

Question 21

Do I have to teach in Mississippi after graduation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upon joining our program, students make a commitment to teach in any Mississippi public school for five years after graduation. Students must teach for one full year in a school each year of the requirement, but can change schools or districts each of the five years to find a good fit if they choose. They may also remain in one school or district for the entire service agreement.

Question 22

What's the program's service requirement?

Accepted Answer

Our program requires all graduates to teach for five years in any Mississippi public school. Those who cannot complete this commitment must repay a proportional amount of scholarship monies received.
 
Graduates choose the district and school in which to serve and receive whatever salary they have negotiated with a district during the duration of the five-year service agreement. Graduates may change schools or districts each year if they so choose.

Question 23

Does the program choose the school that I teach in?

Accepted Answer

No. You must teach in a Mississippi public school to fulfill the teaching commitment, but there are no restrictions on which districts or schools METP graduates serve.

Question 24

How is employment verified during the service agreement?

Accepted Answer

METP graduates must submit a form annually to the university's Office of the Bursar verifying employment for the previous year and intentions to complete the upcoming academic year as a full-time teacher in a Mississippi public K–12 school. The form must also include a letter from the school or district confirming employment or your actual employment contract with the district.

Question 25

What's the interest rate if I change programs and have to repay the loan?

Accepted Answer

3% fixed.

Question 26

Can I go to graduate school after graduation?

Accepted Answer

Of course! While our program currently does not offer funding for graduate education, students may elect to defer their five-year service agreement to pursue a master’s degree if they choose. This deferment may be requested at any time during the service agreement.
 
Students may also choose to pursue graduate studies while they are completing their service agreement.

Question 27

If I pause the service agreement after graduation to attend graduate school, must I major in education?

Accepted Answer

Our wish is that all of our graduates will continue any graduate studies in the field of education and hopefully become a lifelong educator. However, students may choose any program of study in graduate school if they choose to either pause the service agreement, or, complete graduate studies while teaching.

Question 28

How many graduates have completed all five years of the service agreement?

Accepted Answer

Our program is relatively young having been founded 13 years ago. As a result, only our first four cohorts have had the opportunity to complete the full five year service agreement. Currently, 84% of those students fully completed their agreed upon service.

Question 29

How does the technology stipend work?

Accepted Answer

The tech stipend works as an increase to a student's Cost of Attendance, and is a direct reimbursement for the cost of the technology of a student's choice up to $1000. It can be claimed one time, any time during a student's undergraduate career.
 
Students must purchase the technology first, complete a form to increase your Cost of Attendance by the price of the device (https://finaid.olemiss.edu/pj_computerpurchase/)with a receipt attached, submit that form to the Office of Financial Aid, and will then be reimbursed through their Bursar account when financial aid is distributed throughout regular semesters.

Question 30

Since METP covers housing and meals, can I live off campus?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and the vast majority of our students do so after living on campus freshman year!
 
If a student does not reduce our award, we will cover all items on 
the official Cost of Attendance determination as published on the Ole Miss website(https://finaid.olemiss.edu/cost-of-attendance/)
after all other aid has been awarded. If you do not register for campus housing or meal plans, the funds earmarked for those expenses will flow through your Bursar account and into a bank account you have set up with the university for use as you see fit.

Question 31

Do I need to submit receipts for books/supplies each semester?

Accepted Answer

No, there is no need to submit receipts for books or supply purchases. If you do not charge books/supplies to your Bursar account, the funds will be deposited directly into your bank account for use at any vendor you choose. You may also use any excess funds for any other purpose you see fit.
 
The only receipt you need to submit is for the technology stipend, along with a form, to the Office of Financial Aid. We also require receipts for meal, baggage, and taxi reimbursements while on METP-sponsored trips if METP does not pay those costs outright.

Question 32

Can I speak with your current students? How about a campus visit?

Accepted Answer

We believe our students are our best voices, and we would be thrilled for you to connect with them! They would likewise be happy to answer any questions you have from a student's perspective.
 
We can also arrange a unique campus visit based on your interests and availability. During your visit, you can shadow our students to actual college classes, have breakfast or lunch with them on or off campus (which we will cover), and interact with faculty and staff. We can also coordinate a traditional Ole Miss visit around this so you can tour campus and student housing as well as hear more about Ole Miss in general.
 
Contact us today to create a meaningful and fun experience!(javascript:void(0))

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

study abroad