Visit state and local resources
Help is available in your state!
Your state has free programs and resources to help you plan and pay for college:
- Connect with a mentor or tutor
- Visit a college information center to get help with the FAFSA and college applications
- Attend a financial aid/college information event
- Learn about college entrance exams
- Find out about other resources in your state
School-based mentor and tutor programs
Mentor and Tutor Programs
Schools, guaranty agencies and community organizations offer special programs to help students prepare for the academic challenges of college. These programs include TRIO, GEAR UP, and others. Below are some resources for locating the programs in your state:
TRIO Programs
The TRIO programs help low-income Americans enter college, graduate, and move on to participate more fully in America's economic and social life. TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.
Below is a link to all the Upward Bound, Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers in Oklahoma.
http://www.odsa.org/helpfullinks.htm
GEAR UP Partnerships
GEAR UP is a federal program designed to enable more young Americans to succeed in middle and secondary school, to study hard, take the right courses for college and become competitive for admission to colleges and universities. GEAR UP enables states and communities to strengthen their schools and provide better educational opportunities for low-income students. Below is a link to the Oklahoma GEAR UP Program.
http://www.okhighered.org/gearup/
Summer Bridge Programs
Summer Bridge Programs help students make a smooth transition from high school to college both academically and socially. The type of program and length vary from campus to campus, but they often are geared toward first generation, low-income and minority students. Below is a sampling of programs in Oklahoma.
Northeastern OKAMP Program
The primary goal of the OKAMP program is to increase the number of minorities enrolled and graduating in science, mathematics, engineering and technology by 15% annually, and to increase the number of graduate students in these fields. Visit http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~okamp/.
OSU - Center for Health Sciences
The objective of the Bridge program is to promote entry and retain eight (8) underrepresented medical student applicants who have been unsuccessful in gaining entry into medical school by providing a program designed to allow students to take a reduced course load, completing the first year of medical school curriculum in two years. Visit http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/student/bridge/index.cfm.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
The goal of the Summer Bridge program is to provide an intensive, four-week, enrichment experience to incoming STEM majors. It is designed to bridge the gap between high school and college by offering tools needed to succeed and graduate. Visit http://www.swosu.edu/surestep/summer-bridge.asp.
The SURE-STEP at SWOSU Program seeks to increase the number of students pursuing and receiving associates or baccalaureate degrees in established or emerging fields within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program will initiate proven strategies to encourage connecting among the students, the disciplines, and the faculty to promote critical and formal thinking within the disciplines. Visit http://www.swosu.edu/surestep/.
University of Central Oklahoma
The SURE-STEP at UCO Program seeks to increase the number of students pursuing and receiving associates or baccalaureate degrees in established or emerging fields within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program will initiate proven strategies to encourage a connection among the students, the disciplines, and the faculty and promote critical and formal thinking within the disciplines. Visit http://cms.ucok.edu/sure-step/Purpose.html.
Financial aid/college information events
Financial Aid/College Information Events:
Many high schools and colleges across the state host college day/night programs to provide students with information needed to make a college decision. Representatives from two- and four-year colleges and universities are in attendance to visit with prospective students about admissions, scholarships, financial aid, housing and areas of academic interest. College day/night programs are either in a browsing or presentation format. Browsing allows students to visit with as many representatives as they wish during the program, while a program with closed sessions usually allows a student to visit with two or three representatives by attending group presentations in separate rooms.
View a list of college day/night programs across the state. The Oklahoma College Day/Night Coordination Committee encourages you to attend one in your area, so you can obtain information about as many colleges as possible. Ask your high school counselor for more information.
Information on college entrance exams
ACT
The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks or just over four hours if you are taking the Writing Test.
- The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
- The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skills in planning and writing a short essay.
For information including test dates, access the ACT Web site at www.act.org.
SAT
Many colleges require the SAT for admissions or to award scholarships. Students earn a Critical Reading, Math, and Writing score. Each section is scored on a 200- to 800-point scale. The national average score per section is 500. The SAT includes 160 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete.
- The Critical Reading section includes sentence completion and reading comprehension. Calculator use is allowed, but not required.
- The Writing section includes grammar, usage, and word choice.
For more information including test dates, access The Princeton Review Web site at www.princetonreview.com.
The Test for English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
The TOEFL is a test for non-native English speakers to evaluate their ability to read, write, speak, and listen to English. The test is divided into four sections that integrate all four of these English language skills:
- Reading: 60 minutes, 3 passages, 12-14 questions per passage
- Listening: Up to 60 minutes, up to 72 questions
- Speaking: 6 tasks with 15-30 seconds to prepare and 45-60 seconds to speak
- Writing: 50 minutes, 2 writing tasks
For more information including test dates, access The Princeton Review Web site at www.princetonreview.com.
Additional resources in your stateAdditional Resources in Oklahoma
UCanGo2
Get information and resources about preparing, planning and paying for education after high school. For more information, call 405.234.4554 or 866.443.7420 or visit the UCanGo2 Web site at www.UCanGo2.org.
Oklahoma Higher Education - Student Center
This site is created by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and it provides information on admission requirements, college costs, degree programs, course transfer, and preparing for college. Portions of this site are available in Spanish. Visit www.okhighered.org/student-center.
Oklahoma Money Matters
Learn how to successfully manage your money, understand consumer credit issues, and plan for tomorrow. Visit www.oklahomamoneymatters.org.
Oklahoma Foundation For Excellence
The sole mission of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is “to recognize and encourage academic excellence in Oklahoma’s public schools.” The Foundation offers scholarships and mentoring programs. Visit www.ofe.org/index.htm.
University of Oklahoma - Financial Education
The Financial Education & Counseling Center (FEd) has been established to provide University of Oklahoma students free information about managing their finances and the resources they will need to graduate with as little debt as possible. The FEd has four main components that make up its C.O.R.E.: Counseling, Outreach, Research, & Employment. C.O.R.E. also has services available for high school students. Visit http://financialed.ou.edu/.
University of Oklahoma - Precollegiate Programs
Precollegiate Programs reaches 2,000 youth each year with its array of academic enrichment and leadership programs. The value of Precollegiate Programs activities has been clearly demonstrated in a recent survey that found 15 percent of the University's freshman class attended a precollegiate activity on campus that influenced their decision to attend the University of Oklahoma. Visit http://youth.ou.edu/.
Tulsa Community College - Youth & Academic Enrichment
Community College - Youth & Academic EnrichmentSummer and fall classes offered by Tulsa Community College. Visit www.tulsacc.edu/page.asp?durki=1889.
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Provides information on guidance and careers. Visit www.okcareertech.org/guidance/index.htm.
Local College Access Programs
Detailed information about the local college access programs in your state is available through the National College Access Program Directory. The Directory is a resource provided by the National College Access Network (NCAN) and Pathways to College Network (PCN).
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America offer programs and services that promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a lineup of tested and proven nationally recognized programs that address today's most pressing youth issues, teaching young people the skills they need to succeed in life.
