Taking Classes Independently
Are you interested in getting a jump start on your college degree by taking classes on your own? Through our Kickstart Online and CollegeNOW programs, you can do just that!
Why Take Classes Independently?
Associate's Degree
Students can start working towards their Associate's Degree in high school. Some students graduate high school with an Associate's Degree.
Bachelor's Degree
Are you planning to attend a 4-year college after high school? Students can get a jump-start on your general education requirements.
Explore Careers
Not sure what you want to do after high school? You can explore different careers through MCC's Career Academy programs.
CollegeNOW
CollegeNOW classes are offered during MCC's regular quarter schedule. Classes through the CollegeNOW program are taken for college credit and have in-person, online, and remote options. Classes are offered at MCC's South Omaha Campus, Fort Omaha Campus, Elkhorn Vally Campus, and Sarpy Center.
Preparing for Your Class
preparation is key to your success
Login to Canvas and Download the App
Understand Tutoring Services Available to You
Logging into Your MCC Account
for first time students
To login to your account for the first time, visit Self Service. You should have received your username and MCC ID number in an email from MCC's IT Department. If you are unable to find your username and ID number, complete the form below, and your Dual Enrollment Navigator will email them to you.
Once you have your username and your MCC ID, go to MCC's Self Service and login. Your first-time password will be the capitalized first letter of your first name, lowercase first letter of your last name, and your MCC ID number. For example, if Jane Doe's MCC ID number is 1234567, her first time password would be Jd1234567.
If this password does not work, call MCC's IT Helpdesk at 531-622-2900. Give them your MCC ID number and let them know you are having trouble logging into your account for the first time.
You should see a screen asking you to complete Multifactor Authentication (MFA). This tool is to make sure you are the one logging into your account. If you want to receive a text code when you login, click "Set up" under the SMS Authentication option. You only need to choose one option. Once you've set up the option of your choice, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Finish."
You will use this same username and password to login to all of your MCC student applications, so save it somewhere you can access regularly.
Find Your Schedule and Books
find your account details
Navigate to the Self Service page and login. First, click on your account profile and double check the information is up-to-date and correct.
To update your profile information, click on the menu button located in the upper left corner of your screen. Then, click "User Options" and "User Profile."
​
Here, you can see the mailing address, phone number, and email address MCC has on file for you. If anything has changed, update your information.
locate your schedule
To confirm your current schedule, click on the "Home" button. Then, click the "Student Planning" option.
Then, choose the second option titled "Plan Your Degree & Register for Classes." This should take you to your current MCC schedule. If you are unable to view the screen or if an error message appears, contact your Dual Enrollment Navigator. Be sure to send a screenshot of the error message.
If you cannot see your classes on the current screen, click the arrow right button to view the next quarter. If anything in your schedule looks incorrect, contact your Dual Enrollment Navigator right away. We do not recommend that you drop or add any classes to this screen. Instead, contact your Dual Enrollment Navigator about making changes to your schedule.
Purchase Your Books & Tools
find your required materials
On your class schedule screen, click on the underlined title of your class. Two new tabs should open. If only one opens, unblock all pop-ups on your browser and click the title of your class again.
The second link that opens will be from MCC's bookstore. Note that some classes have REQUIRED materials and RECOMMENDED materials, so make note of the difference. We recommend that you not purchase any recommended books and materials until the first day of class.
compare textbook prices
If your class requires a specific text book, copy the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) from the book information; it should look like a long string of numbers. An ISBN is a unique identifier for your textbook. All books have an ISBN.
You can use the ISBN for your textbook to compare pricing across multiple sites. TextSurf is a great tool to use to compare prices across multiple sites at once. You can also Google your ISBN. If you are purchasing your textbook from outside the MCC Books, double check that you are purchasing the correct edition, and if it is a rental, make sure the rental will last through the last day of the course.
Using a Planner
find a planning tool that works for you
Planning is the key to success when taking college classes independently. College classes are different from high school classes in many respects. One of the main differences is the schedule and make-up work. Students are not allowed to make-up classwork in the same way you might be allowed to at your high school. It is imperative that you turn in all your homework and assignments on time and keep up with any assigned readings, lectures, and project work.
​
A planner or homework tool can help you succeed in your college classes. Many students prefer to start with a physical paper planner until they find a tool that works well for them. If you do not already have a planner, you can receive a free one from MCC.
setting up your study schedule
Once you've signed up for your class, complete a weekly schedule of what an average week will look like for you. Set aside enough time to study and complete your homework. A general rule to follow is to set aside credit hours per class x 2 for weekly study time. For example, if you are taking a Pre-calculus Algebra class online, which is 4.5 credit hours, you should set aside 9 hours of weekly study time. Note that this is for an average week. Some weeks, you might spend more than 9 hours studying, and some weeks, you might spend less time studying.