| Start your scholarship
search. Scholarships are called "free money" because they
don't have to be paid back! They're given to students based on
financial need, talents or life experience. Your counselor will
have information about scholarships available in your area. You can
start to apply for scholarships right now if you do some research
for eligible programs. Check out the scholarship pages on
OKcollegestart, and visit UCanGo2.org to find more scholarship links and
resources. |
Find
Scholarships Scholarship
Search |
| Study hard! Make sure you
use good study habits and keep your grades up. |
Successful Study Techniques |
| Socialize. Are you
involved in any clubs, special interest or service groups? Find a
group that sparks your talents and interests. Keep track of your
extracurricular activities and volunteer work for college
scholarship applications. |
|
| Save away. When you get
extra money for work, birthdays or holidays, stash some of it away
in your savings account for future college expenses. See OklahomaMoneyMatters.org for savings ideas and
money management tools. Sign up for a college savings account from
Oklahoma's 529 college savings plan, Oklahoma529.com, or continue to add money to an
existing account. It's generally best to keep most savings in your
parent's name. |
College Savings
Calculator |
| Make courses count. Start
thinking about the courses you'll take in 9th grade. Choose
challenging classes that will give you a head start for high school
and college. Learn more about graduation and college entrance
requirements at UCanGo2.org. |
Plan of Study |
| Visit a college campus.
Many colleges now offer virtual tours. Find a list of the Oklahoma
tours on the Explore Schools page. |
Explore
Schools |
| Stay motivated. Look into
participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops and
camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts and STEM (science,
technology, engineering and math). |
Summer STEM Academies |
| Counselors, teachers, parents and
friends are all good sources of information. Ask them any
questions you have about attending college or a career technology
center, in addition to doing research on your own. |
Postsecondary School Profiles |
Sign up. Don't miss out
on this opportunity to earn free college tuition at an Oklahoma
college or career technology center. Eligibility criteria is listed
below. Qualifying students can sign up between 8th grade and
December 31 of the senior year. (Homeschool students must be 13,
14, 15, or 16.) Talk to your school counselor or visit OKPromise.org to
learn more.
- My family meets the income requirements outlined at
OKPromise.org (special income provisions apply to certain adopted
children and children in the custody of court-appointed legal
guardians).
- I'm a resident of Oklahoma.
- I can meet the requirements of the Oklahoma's Promise program:
- I'll graduate from an Oklahoma high school or homeschool
education program.
- I'll take 15 units of specific college-prep curriculum.
- I'll achieve at least a 2.50 GPA both in the curriculum and
overall.
- I'll attend school regularly.
- I'll do my homework.
- I'll stay away from drugs and alcohol.
- I won't commit criminal or delinquent acts.
- I'll meet with a school official to go over my school work and
records on a regular basis.
- I'll apply for other financial aid during my senior year of
high school and every year I am enrolled in college by completing
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- I'll take part in Oklahoma's Promise activities that will help
me prepare for college.
If you were able to check all the statements above, be sure to
apply for Oklahoma's Promise before December 31 of your senior
year. You may also qualify if your parent or guardian is an
Oklahoma public school teacher. Check out OKPromise.org for
more information. |
Oklahoma's Promise |