Current Students

In the U.S., emotional well-being is an important part of overall health care. For some international students, speaking with a professional counselor may be a new experience - especially for those from cultures in which problems are solved with the help of family members, friends or religious/spiritual leaders. Seeking counseling does not mean that there is something wrong with you or that you are "crazy." It just means that you could use some help feeling better and making the most of your time at MCC.

Your student health insurance does NOT cover dental services. If you would like to have your teeth examined and cleaned you can make an appointment at Johnson County Community College's Dental Hygiene Clinic for a small fee. The clinic is located approximately 20 minutes from MCC-Penn Valley at:

Johnson County Community College
Science Building, Room 210
12345 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66210

Schedule an appointment by calling 913.469.3808.

Dental services are provided by dental hygiene students and the first visit usually takes approximately 3 hours. The website provides information about current costs, babysitting services and directions. You must complete the online Request for Appointment form before visiting the college.

In the U.S. most illnesses are treated by a general or family doctor. The following is a list of doctors within five miles of the MCC-Penn Valley campus. If your general doctor is unable to heal you, he/she will refer you to a specialist. The International Student Office has a list of specialists within five miles of campus.

We cannot guarantee that a particular doctor will remain in your network throughout the term of your enrollment. You should always ask if your doctor participates in your plan before obtaining medical services. You can also call the customer service number on the back of your membership card to see if the doctor you have selected is a member of the network.

Primary care clinics provide outpatient services for people with little or no insurance. Cost ranges from free to an amount the family can pay based on income.

• Kansas City Care Clinic offers adult, adolescent, family, gynecology and family planning, dermatology, mental health, dentistry and HIV services. The clinic is located at:
  
  3515 Broadway
  Kansas City, MO 64111
  Phone: 816.753.5144
  
  5119 E. 24th Street
  Kansas City, MO 64127
  816.753.5144 ext. 350
• Take Care Health Centers offers no copay services to MCC international students for minor injuries, respiratory illnesses, vaccinations and skin conditions. No appointment required.
• University of Kansas JayDoc Free Clinic is a student-run clinic that provides non-emergency urgent and preventative care to the uninsured and underinsured populations of greater Kansas City. The general clinic is open Monday and Wednesday evenings and specialty clinics operate Tuesday evenings. JayDoc also provides patients with referrals to other clinics in the Safety Net system to ensure an ongoing home for medical care.
• Samuel U. Rodgers Community Health Center and Dental Clinic offers pediatric, women's health, obstetrics/gynecology, adult, geriatric medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, laboratory, adult day care, social services, behavioral health, psychiatric services, gambling addiction counseling and substance abuse treatment and counseling. The clinic is located at:
  
  825 Euclid
  Kansas City, MO 64124
  Phone: 816.474.4920
  Cost: based on income and family size
• Swope Health Services offers pediatric, women's health, obstetrics/gynecology, and adult medicine. Other services include: dentistry and oral surgery; vision services; pharmacy; laboratory; radiology; HIV/AIDS services; behavioral health including anger and stress management, parenting training, children and adolescent services, substance abuse treatment and psychotherapy. Clinic locations:
  
  3801 Blue Parkway
  Kansas City, MO 64130
  816.923.5800
  
  3526 NE Vivion Road
  Kansas City, MO 64119
  816.627.2050
  
  2726 Brown Avenue
  Kansas City, KS 66104
  913.321.2200
  
  1029 N. 32nd Street
  Kansas City, KS 66102
  816.922.7600
  Cost: based on income and family size

Other local health care resources:

• Clay County Health Department
  Liberty Clinic: 800 Haines Drive
  Phone: 816.595.4200
• Johnson County Health Department
  Olathe Clinic: 11875 S. Sunset Drive, Suite 300
  Phone: 913.894.2525
  Mission Clinic: 6000 Lamar, Suite 140
  Phone: 913.826.1200
• Jackson County Health Department Independence: 313 S. Liberty
  Phone: 816.404.6415
• Wyandotte County Health Department
  Kansas City, KS: 619 Ann Ave.
  Phone: 913.321.4803

Medical costs in the United States are very expensive. Most students could not afford to pay for the expenses related to a serious accident or illness without the help of insurance. MCC has chosen this plan based upon the benefits, costs (premium) and the reputation of the company.

What is a Scholarship? A scholarship is money awarded for academic performance that you do NOT have to pay back.

You must apply for scholarships. If you receive a scholarship, you can use the money to pay for tuition and fees.

To start your application, log into myMCCKC and select "Student Center Home", then in the left column click "Scholarship Search" under the finances section of the page. Scholarship listed are based on the response to general questions - overall grade-point average, degree interest, credit hours, financial aid eligibility and how closely you match the criteria for the specific opportunity (see attached).

This scholarship tool will auto-match students to scholarship and pull student information from MCC student records, making it easier to identify scholarships that a student might qualify for. Additional information is provided on the mcckc.edu/scholarshipsearch website.

Submit Documents: At the top of your document print your first and last name, student ID number, date of birth and the word, "Scholarship" plus the title/name of the item (ex. recommendation from counselor OR essay on why a scholarship will benefit me). There are two ways to submit document (email is preferred):

• Email attachment to metro.datacenter@mcckc.edu
• Hand it in at any campus student services office

• Obtain letters of recommendation from various individuals at your school identifying your diverse interests. For example, obtain one from an instructor, one from a guidance counselor, one from a coach or club advisor, etc. Scholarships have different criteria so being prepared to address their requests will increase your chances of being selected.
• Prepare a personal statement ahead of time. Identify your strengths and accomplishments as well as your educational goals if you know them.
• If you meet the criteria, apply. Many students do not apply because they assume another applicant will have better qualifications, sometimes resulting in unclaimed scholarships.
• Have someone else read your essays before you submit the application. It is important to proof for typos, spelling or grammatical errors and to evaluate your essays for readability, completeness and organization.
• Know your academic plans before starting. Many applications ask if you are pursuing an associate degree or a certificate or if you are completing prerequisites for a professional field (architecture, law, medicine) or the curriculum to transfer.
• If you have a double major make sure you state that in your essays since the program will only list one program of study.
• You should describe how the scholarship will aid you in completing your education. Will it help you as you support a family or yourself? Will it give you confidence to continue? Are you the first in your family to attend college? You don't need to provide many personal details, but enough to show how it would make a difference to you.
• Detail why you are attending MCC and what you hope to accomplish. Describe your long-term goals, and relate how a scholarship will help you get there. Consider a length of about 150-250 words giving specifics and details about your goals, needs and experiences for each question.
• Characterize yourself as a well-rounded student by listing your extracurricular activities. Describe one that is most meaningful to you.

Some scholarship search engines may not be legitimate. If you see sentences like the following do NOT apply for them:

"This scholarship is guaranteed"; "You can't get this information anywhere else"; "May I have your credit card or bank account number"; "We'll do all the work"; "The scholarship will cost you some money"; You've been selected by a 'national foundation' or "You're a finalist in a contest" (that you did not enter).

• Local college financial aid offices
• Website searches
• Books from public libraries and bookstores
• Churches and local organizations
• Professional associations in your field of study

Applications for an SSN must be submitted in person to the Social Security office. If you need an interpreter, you may arrange for one by either calling the Social Security office's toll free number: 1.800.772.1213 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time or by going to Social Security Administration website.

Find a convenient Social Security office
You may submit your application at any Social Security office that is convenient to you. To find the office closest to you, please go to Social Security Office Locator website.

There is no fee for applying for an SSN. However, you must present original documents to establish your identity, immigration status, eligibility to work in the U.S. and your address. Notarized photocopies are not accepted and the originals will be returned to you once they are reviewed by the interviewer.

You should bring the following documents with you:

• A birth certificate or a passport to prove your age and identity
• I-94
• F-1 status authorized for CPT must present page 3 of the I-20 where CPT is authorized
• F-1 students authorized for OPT must present and unexpired EAD
• F-1 students who will engage in on-campus employment must present a letter from a DSO confirming your employment :

You must wait at least 10 days after entry into the U.S. and 48 hours after "activation" by the international office to apply for the Social Security card.

Take some time to read and follow the SS-5 form instructions carefully. It is easy to understand. You can review the form online at the Social Security Administration website..

Complete and sign the application using BLUE or BLACK ink.

Box one: insert your name, middle initial (if you have one) and last name. This name needs to match the name your passport and your immigration documents. This will also be the name that appears on the card once it is issued. Differences in names on the application and/or your official documents can delay your process.
Box two: insert the mailing address where you want to receive the card.

Since you are not a noncitizen, the SSA must verify the documents with the Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) before issuing the card. This can take anywhere from two weeks to 45 days.

Some extra information about the SSN

• If you already have a SSN, you do not need to apply for a new one. The number is unique and is assigned to you for the rest of your life.
• If you lose your card, you can visit any Social Security office to apply for a new card.
• Social Security Numbers from a country other than the U.S. have no value in the U.S.
• An identification number that has been assigned to you by MCC does not function as a SSN.
• If your passport is less than 1 year old, we recommend carrying another form of identification (such as an I.D. card from your home country) that is older than one year to establish your identity.
• The SSA will not issue a card if your passport is about to expire.
• A SSN does not provide any type of health insurance or health care benefits.
• We recommend not visiting the office on Mondays or Tuesdays which are the busiest days.

International students should not plan to meet their educational or personal living expenses through employment. A limited number of on-campus jobs are available on a competitive basis. Salaries are set near the Missouri minimum hourly wage. Students must interview for such positions in person after arrival.

This employment does not require immigration approval. It must be on-campus (any of the MCC campuses) and the student must actively attend school. Students should contact the Employment Resources Office on the campus of their choice. Students are limited to 19.5 hours per week while school is in session.

F-1 students are not eligible for work study positions that are paid through federal financial aid.

In order to be eligible for CPT a student must have been lawfully enrolled as an F-1 student on a full-time basis for at least one academic year. The student must have an offer of employment and the course must be part of the MCC curriculum.

You will need to contact the International Student Services Office to determine if CPT is applicable to your degree and complete necessary paperwork in addition to obtaining written authorization on your SEVIS I-20.

Note: You may ONLY engage in CPT for the specific employer, location and period of time approved and recorded on your I-20. If you begin work before or continue working after the dates noted on your I-20, you will be out of status and terminated in SEVIS.

At MCC OPT is authorized only after a student has completed course requirements for a degree. In order to be eligible, the student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year. Employment should be directly related to a student's major and intended for full-time use for 12 months.

The request for OPT must be made within 90 days before completion of course requirements. Contact International Student Services for application information

The application for full-time OPT must be received by the immigration service before you complete your course of study. Please plan ahead.

Note: Authorization for employment is automatically terminated if the student transfers to another school or if a student fails to complete graduation requirements.

To be eligible for F-1 economic hardship employment a student must have been in F-1 status for one full academic year. The student must prove to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond the student's control after obtaining F-1 status. Work is limited to 19.5 hours per week during the academic term (full-time during breaks and vacations).

• Work authorization is granted in one year intervals by the immigration service and is renewable (student must reapply).
• Contact the International Student Services Office for application information.

F-1 students are only eligible for a Social Security number if they have a job offer. Speak with your employer regarding Social Security number requirements and withholding.

Income earned in the United States is usually subject to any federal, state or local income regulations that apply. Annual filing for taxes is mandated each year by April 15.

Please note that the International Student Office staff does not provide tax advice and students should refer individual questions to a specialist in international taxation.

Annual filing for taxes is mandated each year by April 15. If the student was present in the U.S. for any day during the tax year, the student must file.

Please note that the MCC staff does not provide tax advice and students should refer individual questions to a specialist in international taxation.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes a number of helpful information/instruction booklets, which are available through the IRS Tax Payer Assistance Service (toll free call 1.800.829.3676).