Understanding Yourself and Choosing a Career Path
As you begin to plan for your next step after graduation, understanding
your strengths and weaknesses along with your likes and dislikes is crucial. In
addition to taking time to reflect on your goals for your adult life, you should begin
planning for the type of post secondary training you will need to reach them.
Learn About Yourself
• Values--What is important to you? Do you like working with others, or do
you prefer working by yourself? Do you like working with your hands? Do
you prefer variety or a familiar routine?
• Interests--What appeals to you? What do you enjoy? Do you like solving
problems? What gets your attention?
• Aptitude--What are you good at? Are you good with words? Do you have
artistic talent? Can you fix things?
A first step in deciding what to do after high school is to talk with a school
counselor or teacher for advice. Take an aptitude test or interest inventory to
determine your strengths and weaknesses and to discover potential career
choices that are right for you.
A tool that is available for all students and parents to help in this process
is the Oklahoma Career Information System-OKCIS. This on line tool, funded by
Tulsa Technology Center, will be referred to throughout this College and Career
Planning Guide. Every student will be given a specific user name and password.
In addition, when you take the ACT, be sure and thoughtfully complete the
included Interest Inventory (UNIACT). The results of this inventory will point you
toward occupations that will be appropriate to your goals and personal
characteristics.
Learn About Career Choices
One you've narrowed your career choices, talk to people who are working in that
field or, if possible, find a part-time job in that field.
People who like their jobs (and even people who don't) are usually happy to talk
about them. It's helpful to ask questions such as: "What's good and bad about
this job?" Ask them how they learned their trade. There are many sources of
career and job outlook information available--go to your school library, public
library, or school counselor.
Consider Training
Today, some form of formal postsecondary education or training is required for
almost every well-paying job. Consider how much training you will need for the
career you've chosen. The information below is from The Department of Labor
and Statistics.
Work-related training
Work experience in a related occupation. Most of the occupations in this
category are first-line supervisors or managers of service, sales and related,
production, or other occupations; or are management occupations.
Long-term on-the-job training. Occupations in this category generally require
more than 12 months of on-the-job training or combined work experience and
formal classroom instruction for workers to develop the skills necessary to be
fully qualified in the occupation. These occupations include formal and informal
apprenticeships that may last up to 5 years. Long-term on-the-job training also
includes intensive occupation-specific, employer-sponsored programs that
workers must complete. Among such programs are those conducted by fire and
police academies and by schools for air traffic controllers and flight attendants. In
other occupations—insurance sales and securities sales, for example—trainees
take formal courses, often provided on the jobsite, to prepare for the required
licensing exams. Individuals undergoing training generally are considered to be
employed in the occupation. Also included in this category is the development of
a natural ability—such as that possessed by musicians, athletes, actors, and
other entertainers—that must be cultivated over several years, frequently in a
non-work setting.
Moderate-term on-the-job training. In this category of occupations, the skills
needed to be fully qualified in the occupation can be acquired during 1 to 12
months of combined on-the-job experience and informal training. Examples are
truckdrivers, heavy and tractor-trailer; and secretaries, except legal, medical, and
executive.
Short-term on-the-job training. In occupations in this category, the skills
needed to be fully qualified in the occupation can be acquired during a short
demonstration of job duties or during 1 month or less of on-the-job experience or
instruction. Examples of these occupations are retail salespersons; and waiters
and waitresses.
Postsecondary awards
Postsecondary vocational award. Some programs last only a few weeks,
others more than a year. Programs lead to a certificate or other award, but not a
degree. Examples are nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants; and hairdressers,
hairstylists, and cosmetologists.
Associate degree. Completion of the degree usually requires at least 2 years of
full-time academic study. Examples are paralegals and legal assistants; and
medical records and health information technicians.
Bachelor’s degree. Completion of the degree generally requires at least 4
years, but not more than 5 years, of full-time academic study. Examples are
accountants and auditors; and elementary school teachers, except special
education.
Bachelor’s or higher degree, plus work experience. Most occupations in this
category are management occupations. All require experience in a related
nonmanagement position for which a bachelor’s or higher degree is usually
required. Examples are general and operations managers; and judges,
magistrate judges, and magistrates.
Master’s degree. Completion of the degree usually requires 1 or 2 years of fulltime academic study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Examples are educational,
vocational, and school counselors; and clergy.
First professional degree. Completion of the degree usually requires at least 3
years of full-time academic study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Examples are
lawyers; and physicians and surgeons.
Doctoral degree. Completion of a Ph.D. or other doctoral degree usually
requires at least 3 years of full-time academic study beyond a bachelor’s degree.
Examples are postsecondary teachers; and medical scientists, except
epidemiologists.
Selective Service and Military Opportunities
What You Need to Know About Registering With Selective Service
Q: What is Selective Service?
A: The Selective Service is a government agency whose job is to provide
untrained manpower for the Armed Forces if there’s a national emergency.
Q: What is Selective Service Registration?
A: By registering, you add your name to a list of all the men in the nation, ages
18 through 25. The list would be used to identify men for possible military service
in case of a national emergency.
Q: What happens if there’s a draft?
A: There hasn’t been a draft since 1973. If there were an emergency sufficient for
congress to order another draft, Selective Service would conduct a birthdate
lottery to decide the order in which to call men. Those who turn 20 during that
calendar year would be called first in a sequence determined by the lottery. If
more men were needed, those 21 to 25 would be called, youngest first.
Q: Who is required to register?
A: The law says that all 18-year-old men (including U.S. citizens living abroad
and non-citizen immigrant males 18-25 residing in the U.S.) must register. The
only young men exempt from registration are non-citizen males who are in the
U.S. temporarily as tourists, diplomats and their family members or foreign
exchange students; incarcerated or institutionalized men; men on active duty in
the Armed Forces; and students at U.S. military academies.
Q: Why don’t women have to register?
A: Our nation only registers men. This has always been the case. Selective
Service law as it is presently written refers specifically to “male persons” in
stating who must register and who could be subject to a draft. Therefore,
Selective Service procedures do not apply to women. In order for women to be
required to register with Selective Service, Congress would have to change the
wording of the law.
Q: What if I don’t register?
A: You are breaking the law. If prosecuted, you could be sent to prison for up to 5
years and may be fined up to $250, 000. In addition, if you fail to register, you
cannot qualify for federal student grants or loans for college, job training benefits
and many state and federal jobs.
Q: Is registration hard?
A: No. In fact it’s never been easier. A young man can register with Selective
Service in less than 2 minutes via the Internet at www.sss.gov. You can also
register by going to your local post office and completing a registration form. It’s
as simple as filling in your name, address, telephone number, date of birth and
Social Security number. Registration forms should be available in your local
recreation or social service center, school’s guidance or registrar office, or you
may receive a form in the mail. Simply complete it and mail the form to Selective
Service.
Q: When should I register?
A: Within 30 days of your 18th birthday. If you cannot register on time because
you are hospitalized or in prison, you have 30 days in which to register after you
are released. If 30 days have already passed since your 18th birthday, register
immediately, either online or at your post office. Although Selective Service will
accept a late registration, the longer you wait, the longer you are breaking the
law and jeopardizing your future benefits.
Q: How do I prove I registered?
A: When registering via the Internet, you will receive your Selective Service
number immediately. That number is your proof of registration – for safe keeping,
jot it down. You will receive a Selective Service card by mail within 2 weeks
confirming that number. (Note: If you registered by mail, you will receive a card
confirming your registration with 60-90 days.) If you don’t get your card within 90
days, write to:
Selective Service System
Registration Information Office
P.O. Box 94638
Palatine, IL 60094-4638
Or call 1-847-688-6888
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
ARMY ROTC
A program which provides college-trained officers for the regular Army or Army
Reserve. Four-year scholarships pay tuition, lab fees, on campus educational
fees and $100 per month subsistence allowance. Minimum requirements include
SAT 850 or ACT 19. Many other characteristics are considered.
Deadline for application is December 1 of senior year. Take ACT or SAT on a
national test date no later than December. Begin application spring of junior year.
Need ACT or SAT tests early second semester of junior year.
NAVY/MARINE ROTC
These pay up to four years tuition, costs of textbooks, fees and a subsistence
allowance of $100 per month. The selection process is very competitive. Obtain
information from the CCRL or call the Navy Recruiting Command at (918) 4380380.
Deadline date is December 1 of senior year. Take the ACT or SAT before
November 18 and preferably during spring of junior year. Minimum scores are
ACT English – 22; Math – 22; SAT English – 450; Math – 500. To be competitive,
it is best to have 3.8 GPA with combined English and math on ACT of 50+ or a
combined SAT of 1150+.
AIR FORCE ROTC
These pay up to four years tuition, costs of textbooks, fees and a subsistence
allowance of $100 per month. Deadline is December 1 of senior year. Selection
is based on scores on SAT or ACT, high school academic records,
recommendation from a high school official, extra-curricular activities, personal
interview, medical exam, and acceptance into a college or university offering Air
Force ROTC. Minimum requirements are to be in top 25% of class, ACT of 24,
and SAT of 1000. Begin application in spring of junior year.
Note: Students who enroll in an ROTC class on their own in college are eligible
to apply for ROTC scholarships for the following years in college.
Military Educational Funding Programs
All branches of the military provide an educational funding program that can be
used after or during military service to pay for college or special training. Contact
recruiters from each branch to obtain the latest information:
Army – (918) 250-5159
Navy – (918) 250-5066
National Guard – (918) 250-1380
Army Reserve – (918) 744-6331
Air Force – (918) 250-5939
Marines – (918) 234-5600
Air Force Reserve – (918) 582-3400
Naval Reserve – (918) 251-2531
Military Service Academies
Because of extremely keen competition for nomination for an academy, students
are urged to apply to every nominating authority which eligibility allows (i.e.
student’s two senators, congressman, President, Vice-President, children of
deceased or disabled veterans, etc.). Students selected for an academy receive
four years college expenses including tuition, room, board, fees, and a monthly
salary, part of which must be used for some expenses. After graduation from
aan academy, a student is obligated to serve on active military duty for five
years.To begin the application process, send for Pre-Candidate Questionnaire
from the appropriate academy. To learn more, contact the following academies:
Director of Admissions
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996-1797
Telephone: (914) 938-4041
Director of Candidate Guidance
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5018
Telephone: (800) 638-9156
Director of Admissions
United States Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, Colo. 80840-5000
Telephone: (303) 472-2520
Admissions Office
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY 11024
Telephone: (800) 732-6267
Director of Admissions
United States Coast Guard Academy
New London, Connecticut 06320-4195
Telephone: (203)444-8270
EXCELerate! Concurrent Enrollment
Students have the opportunity to take excellent, academically challenging
courses for college credit while still in the supportive high school environment
where they can participate in regular school activities. Not only do they earn
college credit, but their college courses also count toward high school graduation
requirements.
Tulsa Community College professors are teaching the courses on our campus,
basically free for our students. There is not tuition for up to six credit hours per
semester. Since Union supplies the textbooks, the only charge to participants is
TCC’s minimal student fee which has been reduced to $12.75 per course for
participants of this program.
Eligible students are those with a 3.0 or higher GPA and a composite ACT score
of 19 or greater, including a 19 in reading. Depending on the course selected, a
19 is usually required in the subject area, but for College Algebra a 21 ACT score
in math is required.
Attendance and eligibility are monitored as required by the Oklahoma State
Department of Education and the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities
Association (OSSAA).
College-level course rigor requires disciplined study habits, research,
independent study, and group work.
Grades placed on the transcript are used for GPA and class ranking calculations
and are assigned a 4.0 weight on the Union weighted grading scale. College
course grades are monitored and used for determining OSSAA eligibility on a
weekly basis. TCC professors are the teachers of record, and students are
required to follow the procedures for reporting grades to the high school.
The TCC course meets on our high school campus Monday, Tuesday, and
Thursday during the school day. Students have access to a free tutoring lab
directed by a certified UHS teacher on Wednesdays and Fridays 8:15-9:10 a.m. if
additional help is needed. The UHS teacher and TCC instructor work as a team
to monitor student progress and provide a safety net for students to get extra
support while ensuring their college success.
Career Tech Cooperative Alliance Program
As part of the Cooperative Alliance Project, Oklahoma State University-IT,
Rogers State University, and Tulsa Community College, in partnership with Tulsa
Technology Center, have been approved to allow high school students to enroll
in technical programs and courses under separate admission standards. This
allows an 11th or 12th grade student enrolled in an accredited high school to be
admitted to OSU-IT, RSU, or TCC and enroll in technical courses only for
concurrent credit. Students must meet the following standards:
Option I-ACT: 19 composite without the writing component
Option 2-ACT PLAN: 15
Option 3-High School GPA: 2.5
In addition to meeting the requirements above, students must provide a letter of
support from a high school counselor and written permission from a parent or
legal guardian. All other concurrent admission policy requirements remain in
effect for technical students, including retention standards.
Once a student has qualified for admission into an Alliance program, that student
needs to only maintain the 2.0 GPA requirement to enroll for the next semester’s
classes. Students who wish to exceed the 19 hours allowed for this program
may petition the higher education institution.
Certain technology courses are OHLAP (Oklahoma Promise) approved courses.
A list is available at http://www.okcareertech.org/alliances/documents/HScurricular-requirements.pdf or the student may consult his or her counselor.
Oklahoma Promise students must have two years of the same foreign/nonEnglish language OR two years of computer science/computer technology. One
year of each will not count for Oklahoma Promise.
Graduation Requirements
All courses taken for high school credit will be included on the student transcript.
Courses taken in grades 9-12 will be considered when calculating the grade point
average (GPA).
Courses taken for high school credit in grades 7-8 will be listed on the student
transcript as a letter grade but will not be considered when calculating the grade
point average (GPA).
Union Minimum Graduation Requirements:
Language Arts/English: 4 units which include Grammar and Composition,
American Literature, World Literature and English Literature or their equivalent
Math: 3 units including Algebra I (three units in mathematics must be completed
in the ninth through twelfth grades)
Science: 3 units including Biology I
History: 3 units including 1/2 (unit or competency) OK History, 1/2 US
Government, US History and World History
Arts Competencies: 2 competencies which will be met through satisfactory
completion of World History
Electives: 9 units
Total: 24 units and/or sets of competencies
College Preparatory/Work Ready Curriculum
Language Arts/English: 4 units (which include Grammar and Composition,
American Literature, World Literature, and English Literature)
Math: 3 units (must include Algebra I)
Science: 3 units (must include Biology I)
History: 4 units (which include US Government, ½ (unit or competency)
Oklahoma History and ½ American History, US History and World History)
Arts Competencies: 2 competencies (which will be met through satisfactory
completion of World History)
Electives: 8 units
Foreign Language or non-English language: 2 units (or 2 units of computer
technology approved for college admission)
Total: 26 units and/or sets of competencies
*Students may “opt-out” of the college preparatory / work ready curriculum and
meet the district’s current minimum diploma requirements by having a
parent/guardian sign a release form.
Because of ACE (Achieving Classroom Excellence) legislation passed in 2006,
in addition to the course requirements of the current standard diploma or the
course requirements of the college preparatory / work ready curriculum all
students must meet the following testing requirements to earn a high school
diploma.
End-of-instruction exams will include the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Algebra I Required
English II Required
Algebra II Optional
Geometry Optional
English III Optional
Biology Optional
U.S. History Optional
Students must pass the two required exams plus two optional exams for a total of
four before obtaining a high school diploma.
ACE: Intervention Strategies
End-of-instruction tests will be administered at the end of each course. Students
who fail any of the four end-of-instruction tests have up to three chances to pass
per calendar year.
Many students will do well without any extra help. For those who need it, Union
has tutoring, reading and math support programs and an opportunity to take
double academic sections rather than electives to assist students.
intervention/implementation models including characteristics of the ‘school within
a school’ strategy, block scheduling, literacy strategies, development of social
capital, and reduced class sizes.
Students must pass the two required exams plus two optional exams for a total of
four before obtaining a high school diploma.
What Can Students Do?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Commit to succeed.
Attend school every single day.
Take these exams seriously by working hard in class throughout the year.
Make school and graduation a priority.
Communicate with your teachers.
Ask for help, if you need it.
Take the most challenging courses that you can handle.
Complete homework and all assignments regularly.
What Can Parents Do?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Become actively involved in your child’s education.
Make sure your child is in school every single day.
Emphasize the importance of classroom achievement.
Make school and graduating a priority over other activities.
Talk to your child about his/her class work daily.
Communicate with your child’s teachers.
If you can keep your children in the same school over a long period of
time, research shows they do better academically.
Junior Year College Timetable
AUGUST
•
Follow cccunion on Twitter. Testing dates, visiting college reps
presentations and sign ups, and scholarshp information will be regularly
posted.
SEPTEMBER
•
•
Attend College Night at Union High School (September 10th) to visit
college representatives. Check the College/Careers calendar for special
financial aid and NCAA presentations times and locations.
Register for the PSAT
OCTOBER
•
•
Take the PSAT. The scores from this year’s test will qualify you for
possible scholarships including Naitonal Merit.
Set up a portfolio on OKCIS and take all the career accessments
NOVEMBER
•
•
Check the College/Careers calendar or cccunion twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and scholarship deadlines.
Attend a College Career Center Open House
DECEMBER
•
Check the College/Careers calendar or cccunion twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and scholarship deadlines.
JANUARY
•
Sign up for the February 9th ACT by January 11th. This will ensure you
have a qualifying score in order to apply to take dual credit concurrent
classes next year as a senior.
FEBRUARY
•
Check the College/Careers calendar or cccunion twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and summer workshops.
MARCH
•
•
Check the College/Careers calendar for scholarship deadlines and testing
dates.
Check the College/Careers calendar or cccunion twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and summer workshops.
APRIL
•
•
Check the College/Careers calendar or cccunion twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and summer workshops.
Find a summer program, internship or job that you will enjoy. Colleges
want to know how you spend your time each summer.
MAY
•
•
Take Advanced Placement exams, if needed.
Check the College/Careers calendar or cccunion twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and summer workshops.
JUNE
•
Check the the College/Careers section of the Union website for testing
dates and summer workshops on applying for college, searching for
scholarships, and writing college essays to be held in the College/Careers
office.
Senior Year College Timetable
AUGUST
•
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for testing dates, visiting college reps,
sign ups to attend rep visits, and scholarship information. Periodically
students will have the opportunity to submit their names for a gift card
drawing. Be sure and check daily!
SEPTEMBER
•
•
Check with your counselor to be sure that you are enrolled in enough
credits to graduate.
Register for ACT or SAT tests if necessary. If you miss the first fall test
date, your next opportunity may be too late to submit scores to your
college choices. Test dates and deadlines are posted on
http://www.actstudent.org and http://www.collegeboard.org.
o ``
SEPTEMBER
•
•
•
•
•
Attend College Night at the UMAC from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Monday,
September 10th to visit college representatives. Check the
College/Careers calendar, Facebook or Twitter for special financial aid
and NCAA presentations times and locations.
If you have not narrowed your college choices to a few schools, do this
and locate the application on the specific college’s website.
If you have not started your college search, meet with our counselor and
start now!
If your applications require essays, get started! Choose an English teacher
to help critique your work.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for information
about visiting college representatives and scholarship deadlines.
Turn in transcript release form (with parent and student signatures) to
counseling office.
OCTOBER
•
•
•
•
•
Complete essays (if needed) and keep a copy for yourself.
Finish making college visits.
Give recommendation forms to teachers and counselors writing
recommendations for you.
Decide on early decision or early action.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for information
about college reps visiting in October, for ACT/SAT test registration dates,
and for scholarship deadlines.
•
Request financial aid information and/or applications from colleges.
NOVEMBER
•
•
•
•
Send additional ACT/SAT score reports for colleges if needed. (You may
pick up forms in the college/career office.)
Pick up financial aid forms--FAFSA--in the college/career office in late
November.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter regularly for
visiting college reps, testing dates and scholarship deadlines.
Begin gathering family income information for tax preparations and
completion of financial aid forms.
DECEMBER
•
•
•
Check to be sure your applications and recommendations, if necessary
have all been completed and mailed.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for information
about visiting college reps, testing dates, and scholarship deadlines.
Be sure you have compiled all family financial information for complete
financial aid forms.
JANUARY
•
•
•
•
•
•
Plan to attend the financial aid seminar for parents and students. Check
the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for the specific date
and time.
File the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. The earlier you file,
the greater your chances of receiving all the aid you need.
Write thank-you notes for recommendations and interviews.
Sign up for seven semester transcripts, if needed.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for information
about visiting college reps, testing dates, and scholarship deadlines.
Check with your counselor to be sure that you are meeting all graduation
requirements.
FEBRUARY
•
•
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for information
about visiting college reps, testing dates, and scholarship deadlines.
FAFSA's should be sent in by Feb. 15th.
MARCH
•
•
•
Return verification or corrected information on financial aid forms (if
requested) as soon as possible.
Check dates for Advanced Placement tests, if needed.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for information
about visiting college reps, testing dates, and scholarship deadlines.
APRIL
•
•
•
Notices of acceptance or rejection from colleges usually arrive by April 15.
Respond promptly, in writing, for action on admissions, scholarship and
financial aid applications.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for testing
dates, and scholarship deadlines.
MAY
•
•
•
•
•
•
Inform colleges (in writing) whether you will or will not attend no later than
May 1.
Take Advanced Placement exams, if needed.
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for testing
dates and scholarship deadlines.
Return all books, equipment and uniforms to school personnel and pay
any fines or clear any hold on your records or diploma.
Turn in a list of all scholarship offers to the college/career office. Include
merit and athletic scholarships and their total value if renewable.
Sign up with your high school counselor for your final (eight semester)
transcript to be mailed to the college of your choice.
JUNE
•
Check the College/Careers calendar, Facebook, or Twitter for testing
dates and scholarship deadlines.
ACT Test Dates 2012-2013
Test Date
September 8, 2012
October 27, 2012
December 8, 2012
February 9, 2013
April 13, 2013
June 8, 2013
Registration Deadline
August 17, 2012
September 21, 2012
November 2, 2012
January 11, 2013
March 8, 2013
May 3, 2013
(Late Fee Required)
August 18-24, 2012
Sept. 22-Oct. 5, 2012
November 3-16, 2012
January 12-18, 2013
March 9-22, 2013
May 4-17, 2013
http://www.actstudent.org/regist/index.html
Students should register for the ACT test online at actstudent.org, record the
username and password they create for future use, and report their scores to
Union using the code 370-475. In addition, students are encouraged to report
their scores to four colleges. They should be prepared to upload a head and
shoulder picture and use a credit card for payment. The ACT-No Writing (cost$35.00) is the recommended test unless a student knows the writing test is
required for his or her desired college.
Students on free or reduced lunch may take the ACT two times at no cost with
waivers that are issued through College/Careers located in the Student Union.
Students on free or reduced lunch are also eligible to register for one ACT
preparation workshop without cost. Students on an IEP should contact the
Special Ed department for help with registration that includes accommodations.
Why should a student take the ACT?
Students take the ACT for two primary reasons: the first to reach admission
standards for college and the second to compete for scholarships associated
with ACT scores.
When should a student take the ACT?
Sophomores who have completed Algebra II or are interested in the Tulsa
Community College concurrent program, should take the April test. This allows
students to assess their performance and possibly qualify for TCC classes.
Juniors should take the ACT once they have completed Algebra II, unless again,
they want to take TCC classes their junior year. To enroll in fall TCC classes, the
ACT must be taken by April. To enroll in spring TCC classes, the ACT must be
completed by the September test date. If juniors have no interest in TCC
classes, then they should take the ACT in April or June to evaluate their
strengths and weaknesses.
Seniors should take the ACT in the fall, preferably the September or October
test. Students test to achieve a qualifying score for college admission, but also
to contend for scholarships. In most cases, colleges will consider only the
highest ACT score. Some colleges continue to accept ACT scores for
scholarships all the way into June.
SAT Test Dates 2012-2013
October 6, 2012
SAT &
Subject Tests
September 7, 2012
September 21, 2012
November 3, 2012
SAT &
Subject Tests
October 4, 2012
October 19, 2012
December 1, 2012
SAT &
Subject Tests
November 1, 2012
November 16, 2012
January 26, 2013
SAT &
Subject Tests
December 28, 2012
January 11, 2013
March 9, 2013
SAT only
February 8, 2013
February 22, 2013
May 4, 2013
SAT &
Subject Tests
April 5, 2013
April 19, 2013
June 1, 2013
SAT &
Subject Tests
May 2, 2013
May 17, 2013
The SAT is designed to test your skill level in math, vocabulary, and reading
comprehension. The test is divided into seven sections: 3 math, 3 verbal, and 1
experimental section. The math and verbal sections each have their own distinct
question types, including quantitative comparisons, sentence completions, gridins, and more. The experimental section, used by the test developer to try out
new questions, is not scored and can be either math or verbal. You will not know
which section is experimental.
The SAT is scored on scale of 200-800 for both the math and verbal sections.
The College Board sets the average for all test takers at 500 for each. A perfect
score on the SAT is 1600. However, in recent years, fewer than 20% of all test
takers achieve a math score of 600 or better. Fewer than 10% score higher than
600 on the verbal section.
ACT and SAT Test Information
Most college-bound students know that a necessary component of an admission
application is a college entrance examination score; a university cannot process
an application without one. Most students also know that there are two exams-the ACT and the SAT--and that almost all U.S. colleges accept both.
The average student may not, however, know a great deal about the two tests
and how they differ and, therefore, may be unsure about which test would be
best for them to take--based upon their abilities, experience and needs. The
option is the student's, as colleges use the results from either in the same ways-for admission, talent identification and academic advising.
Counselors, teachers and parents are good resources in helping students
choose the test that will best demonstrate achievement. Either way, students
should remember that entrance exam scores are only one piece of information a
college considers. Class rank, grade point average, school/community activities
and work experience (if applicable) will also be factored in.
ACT
The Enhanced American College Testing Program (ACT) is administered
annually to approximately one million college-bound students. Designed to
assess each student's general educational development and ability to complete
college level work, the main use of the ACT is for college admission and
scholarship purposes. All Oklahoma colleges accept the ACT. The ACT test is
administered at Union High School. Registration forms are available in the
College and Career Center and students must register at least one month in
advance by completing the form and mailing by the registration deadline. There
is a charge for taking the test.
The ACT consists of curriculum-based subject tests in the areas of English,
mathematics, reading and science reasoning. In addition to the collection of
demographic information, students are offered assistance with educational and
career planning based upon the results of the ACT Interest Inventory--which
helps them match preferred work activities and environment with careers and
college majors. The ACT lasts approximately three hours and the fee is $35.00
without the writing component and $50.50 with the writing component.
The College and Career Center offers two 8-Night ACT Preparation Courses,
one in the fall and one in the spring and three Super Saturday Preparation
Courses. In addition, one ACT Test Taking Strategy workshop will be offerred in
the fall.
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a college entrance exam required by many colleges
outside of Oklahoma and a growing number of scholarship programs. It
measures verbal and math abilities, which the student has developed over many
years. SAT registration forms are available in the CCC. The SAT tests are
administered in several locations in Tulsa. Students must mail registration forms
by specific deadlines and there is a charge for taking this test.
The SAT is a test of standard written English, verbal skills and mathematics. It
also collects demographic information to share with colleges, takes
approximately three hours to complete, and costs $50.00.
Subject Tests are one-hour, multiple-choice tests in specific subject areas. Unlike
the SAT, which measures more general abilities, Subject Tests measure your
knowledge in a particular subject area and your ability to apply that knowledge.
Some colleges require one or more Subject Tests for admission or placement
purposes. All subject tests with the exception of the Language and Listening test
which is $23.00 are $12.00 per test.
STUDENTS WITH HANDICAPS OR DIABILITIES
Eligibility requirements and special accommodations for taking these tests are
explained in "Information for Students with Special Needs" and in other
registrations materials available in the College and Career Center.
FEE WAIVERS
ACT
High school juniors or seniors who can't afford the registration fee for the ACT
(No Writing) or ACT Plus Writing, may be eligible for an ACT Fee Waiver.
Information about the eligibility requirements and how to request a fee waiver is
sent each summer to high schools.
To be eligible, a student must meet the following requirements:
1. He or she must currently attend high school as a junior or senior in the
United States, U.S. territories, or Puerto Rico.
2. He or she must meet at least one indicator of economic need listed on the
ACT Fee Waiver form. Students should ask Mrs. Johnson or Ms. Howell
for more information.
If a student is eligible, he or she may use a maximum of two fee waivers total.
The waiver is used once the student registers, even if he or she does not test on
the requested test date.
Fee waivers cover only the basic registration fee for the student’s test option,
including up to four college choices (if the student provides valid codes when he
or she registers). Waivers do not cover the late registration fee, test date or test
center changes, stand by fee or any other services.
A student cannot request a fee waiver directly from ACT; he or she must contact
Mrs. Johnson or Ms. Howell. If a student receives an ACT Fee Waiver Form, he
or she should follow the "Student Directions" on it for the registration method (or
if requesting Special Testing).
Note: If a student registers online, and registers during the late period or request
any additional services, he or she must enter a credit card to pay those fees
before submitting the registration. http:// www.act.org
SAT
High school students in the United States or U.S. territories, including Puerto
Rico, who cannot afford to pay the test fees are eligible. If testing internationally,
only U.S. citizens are eligible for fee waivers.
What the waivers cover
• Each SAT waiver covers the registration fees for a single test date, either
for the SAT or for up to three SAT Subject Tests.
• A total of four additional flexible score reports can be ordered any time
after you register, even after you've seen your scores.
• Waivers cover either the Question-and-Answer Service or the Student
Answer Service Question (for the SAT only) when ordered during
registration.
• A discount on The Official SAT Online Course is available when ordered
during online registration.
Where to obtain a waiver
The student should contact Mrs. Johnson or Ms. Howell to request a fee waiver
since they are not available through the College Board. He or she can download
the Student’s Guide to SAT Program Fee Waivers from the College Board
website for more information.
How many?
Four total waivers are available — two for the SAT and two for the SAT Subject
Tests. SAT Subject Test fee waivers can be used any time from 9th grade
through graduation. SAT fee waivers can be used from 11th grade through
graduation.
How to register with the waiver
For online registration, the student should enter the entire 12-digit code when
prompted. If the student is registering by mail, he or she should submit the
completed fee-waiver card in the same envelope with the completed registration
form.
Restrictions
Fee waivers cannot be used for late registration except for the October test date.
Fee waivers cannot be used for standby registrations.
http://www.collegeboard.org
Waiving College Application Fees
Eligibility
You are eligible if you used SAT or SAT Subject Tests fee waivers and plan to
enter college in the fall of 2010.
How the waivers work
The Request for Waiver of College Application Fee forms notify participating
colleges that you have participated in the SAT Program Fee-Waiver Service and
request that they consider waiving their application fees.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
Phone: 405-225-9100; E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.okhighered.org
Admission Standards 2012-2013
FIRST-TIME ENTERING STUDENTS
Minimum High School Performance Criteria for Admission of First-Time-Entering Students
Option 2
Option 3
Minimum GPA1 in the
Minimum GPA and
Class Rank
15-Unit Core
Resident: 24/1090
Resident: 3.0 GPA
Resident: 3.0 GPA
AND
AND
AND
3.0 GPA or top 50%2
top 25%2
ACT 22 or SAT 10202
Nonresident: 26/1170
Nonresident: 3.5 GPA
Nonresident: 3.0 GPA
AND
AND
AND
3.0 GPA or top 50%2,3
top 25%3
ACT 22 or SAT 10204
3.0 GPA
3.0 GPA
24/1090
AND
AND
top 33%
ACT 21 or SAT 980
Option 4
ACT/SAT or High School GPA plus Cognitive Factors and Non-Cognitive Factors5
Option 1
Minimum ACT/ SAT
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University
• Students who score between current OSU admission standards and the minimum
State Regents’ standards (22 ACT/1020 SAT or un-weighted high school core
curriculum GPA of at least 3.0)
• Cognitive Factors (60 percent)
• Non-Cognitive Factors (40 percent)
University of Science and
Arts of Oklahoma
Regional Universities
Community Colleges
1
24/1090
AND
3.0 GPA or top 50%
3.0 GPA
AND
top 25%
3.0 GPA
AND
ACT 22 or SAT 1020
20/940
2.7 GPA
AND
top 50%
2.7 GPA
No minimum required
Additional weighting (1.0) will be added to GPAs of students who take Advanced Placement and higher-level International Baccalaureate courses.
Students meeting the following requirements under each admission option will be placed on a waiting list and evaluated according to stated policy:
Option 1--students with the required ACT score but less than a 3.0 GPA and lower than the top 50 percent of the high school class; Option 2--students in the top 26-30
percent of their high school class with at least a 3.0 GPA; and Option 3--all students.
3
Nonresident students not meeting these standards but otherwise meeting admission standards for resident students may be placed on a waiting list and evaluated
according to stated policy.
4
Nonresident students meeting standards in this category will be placed on a waiting list and evaluated according to stated policy.
5
Cognitive: Noted academic admission standards; quality, quantity and level of coursework throughout the entire high school program; completion of a progressively
challenging math sequence, demonstrated by performance; and class rank taken in context with academic rigor and class size of high school attended.
Non-Cognitive: Students must demonstrate strengths in non-cognitive factors such as positive self-concept, realistic self-appraisal, long –term goals, leadership
experience, community, and knowledge in an acquired field.
2
2011-2012 Estimated Costs for Full-Time Resident Undergraduate Students at Oklahoma Public Colleges and
Universities (current as of 09/09/2011)
Expenses
Research
Universities
Regional
Universities
Community
Colleges
Technical
Branches
Tuition
$4,076
$3,537
$2,206
$2,802
Mandatory Fees
$3,040
$1,155
$819
$828
Average Academic Service
Fees
$858
$292
$60
$113
Room and Board*
$6,880
$4,543
$4,437
$5,030
Books and Supplies
$1,042
$1,105
$1,230
$1,620
TOTAL
$15,896
$10,632
$8,753
$10,393
*Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. Room and board estimates are based on a student living in a traditional
dormitory with a roommate and participating in a board (meal) plan. Many institutions offer a wide variety of room and
board plans, and costs may differ from the average reported above.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
Phone: 405-225-9100; E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.okhighered.org
Admission Standards 2012-2013
RIGHT-TO-TRY OPPORTUNITIES
Special Opportunity
Admission (all tiers)
Any student who has not graduated from high school but has earned a
composite ACT score of 32 or combined verbal and mathematics SAT score
of 1410 may apply for admission at any public institution in the State System.
The college or university will determine admissibility based on
test scores, evaluation of the student’s level of maturity and ability to
function in the adult college environment, and whether the experience will
be in the best interest of students intellectually and socially.
Summer Provisional
Admission Program
(research and regional
universities)
Students who have met the State Regents’ curricular requirements for
admission but have not satisfied the ACT or high school performance
requirements may be admitted if they successfully complete summer course
work (no grade lower than a “C”). To qualify, students must have a
minimum composite ACT score of 18 for comprehensive universities
(University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University) and 17 for
regional universities OR a minimum high school GPA of 2.5. At the
University of Oklahoma, this admission opportunity is not available to
nonresidents and is available to resident applicants only if all resident
applicants on the waiting list have been admitted.
Summer Curricular
Deficiency Program
(regional universities)
Students who have met the State Regents’ performance requirements for
admission but have two or less high school course deficiencies may attain
entry by successfully completing the relative summer course work with no
grade lower than a “C.”
Alternative Admission
(research and regional
universities)
Institutions may admit up to 8 percent of freshmen or 50 freshmen
(whichever is higher) who do not meet regular admission criteria.
Adult Admission
Students 21 years of age and older or on active military duty are eligible for
admission to any college or university based on criteria established at the
campus. Non-high school graduates whose high school class has graduated
and have participated in the ACT or SAT are eligible for open admission to
any two-year college.
Out of State Colleges Comparison Chart
Out of State
Colleges
and Universities
Arkansas,
Univ. of
Fayetteville
479-575-2000
Baylor University
Waco, TX
254-710-1011
Colorado,
Univ. of
Boulder
303-492-1411
Drury College
Springfield, MO
417-873-7879
Hendrix College
Conway, AR
501-329-6811
John Brown
University
Siloam Springs,
AR
479-524-9500
Kansas, Univ. of
Lawrence, KS
785-864-2700
Missouri
Southern
Joplin, MO
417-882-2121
Missouri, Univ.
Of
Columbia, MO
573-882-2121
Rice University
Houston, TX
713-527-4036
Southern
Methodist Univ.
Dallas, TX
214-768-2000
Texas A&M
College Station,
TX
979-845-3211
Texas Christian
Univ.
Ft. Worth, TX
817-257-7000
Texas,
University Of
Austin, TX
512-471-3434
Vanderbilt Univ.
Nashville, TN
615-322-7311
Washington
Univ.
St. Louis, MO
314-935-5000
Westminster
College
Fulton, MO
573-642-3361
Years-Public/
Private
Undergrad
Enrollment
Annual
Tuition
Annual
Housing
4-Yr. Public
15, 835
$14,443
$8042
Annual Cost
Including Fees
and Books
$25,204
Financial Aid
Deadline
March 31
4-Yr. Private
12, 149
$29,996
$8331
$39,483
March 1
4-Yr. Public
27, 069
$28,000
$10,792
$42,033
March 15
4-Yr. Private
1550
$19,325
$6971
$28,225
April 1
4-Yr. Private
1456
$31, 740
$9086
$42,026
April 1
4-Yr. Private
1713
$18,844
$7186
$27,716
March 1
4-Yr. Public
21,066
$20,680
$6982
$29,320
February 1
4-Yr. Public
5639
$8580
$5220
$14,600
March 1
4-Yr Public
23,869
$19,383
$8,607
$30,193
March 1
4-Yr. Private
3,319
$33,120
$11,750
$46,369
March 15
4-Yr. Private
6,228
$33,040
$12,735
$50,765
March 1
4-Yr. Public
38,810
$19,727
$8008
$32,175
March 31
4-Yr. Private
7640
$30,000
$10,010
$41,058
May 1
4-Yr. Public
38,168
$31,218
$10,112
$42,204
Check with
Financial Aid
Office
4-Yr. Private
6,794
$38,952
$13,058
$54,332
February 1
4-Yr. Private
7,046
$39,400
$12,941
$54,610
February 15
4-Yr. Private
1,087
$18,990
$7610
$28,350
February 15
Out of State Colleges Comparison Chart
In State Colleges Comparison Chart
Oklahoma
Colleges
and Universities
Bacone
Muskogee
918-781-7340
Connors State
Warner
918-463-2931
Langston Univ.
Langston
405-466-2984
Northeastern OK
A&M-Miami
918-540-6210
Northeastern
State-Tahlequah
918-456-5511
Oklahoma
Baptist
Shawnee
405-878-2033
Oklahoma City
Okla. City
405-521-5050
Oklahoma State
Stillwater
405-744-6858
OSU-Okmulgee
Okmulgee
918-293-4678
Oral Roberts
Tulsa
918-495-6518
Rogers
Claremore
918-343-7546
Southern
NazareneBethany
405-491-6324
Southwestern
State
Weatherford
405-774-3777
Tulsa
Community
College
918-595-7834
Tulsa University
Tulsa
918-631-2307
Univ. of Central
Oklahoma
Edmond
405-974-2000
University of
Oklahoma
Norman
405-325-2151
Years-Public/
Private
Undergrad
Enrollment
Annual
Tuition
Annual
Housing
Annual Cost
Including Fees
and Books
Financial Aid
Deadline
4 year-Private
884
$10,100
$8,700
$20,500
March 31
2 year-Public
2,250
$1,984
$5,136
$7,187+
March 1
4 year-Public
2,526
$2,772
$7,625
$12,934
March 15
2 year-Public
1,899
$1,851
$3,682
$7,462
April 1
4 year-Public
8,100
$3,337
$5,164
$10,548
April 1
4 year-Private
1,709
$17,220
$5,630
$25,500
March 1
4 year-Private
2,283
$23,360
$7,950
$32,510
February 1
4 year-Public
17,849
$4,102
$8,000
$15,808
Check with
Financial Aid
Office
2 year-Public
2,329
$3,705-$3,960
$5,376
$10,226
March 15
4 year-Private
2,558
$11,970
$8,106
$21,296+
Check with
Financial Aid
Office
4 year-Public
4,154
$2,878
$6,894
$12,995
Check with
Financial Aid
Office
4 year-Private
1,628
$17,730
$7,276
$26,630
March 1
4 year-Public
4,338
$3,405
$4,424
$9,989
March 1
2 year-Public
16,632
$2,002
n/a
$3,842+
April 15
4 year-Private
3,049
$28,060
$6,980
$36,100+
April 1
4 year-Public
14,413
$3,913
$4,806
$10,460
May 31
4 year-Public
19,838
$3,678
$7,826
$15,210
Check with
Financial Aid
Office
College Visits
Considering the financial investment made in a four year college education a
campus visit should be an essential part of that decision. A campus visit can help
you decide what you are looking for and what it would be like to live on campus.
Economics may prevent you from visiting all the schools to which you have
applied, however, you should definitely visit all those that offer you admission.
Preparing for your visit:
A practical minimum for a college visit is a half day, however, an overnight visit is
ideal and most colleges can make arrangements for you to stay in a dorm with a
student. Most college admissions offices will help make arrangements for visits to
the campus. You can e-mail them, but it may be more efficient to telephone and
find out immediately what is available to you. Make arrangements to have a
guided tour of the campus, a classroom visit, and visit with a professor.
Travel directions, a campus map, a college information can be found on the
college’s website, but you may need to contact someone in admissions to get
campus parking instructions. You may also want to inquire about campus
activities scheduled during your visit and names of college students from your
hometown that you may contact.
If you have a special talent or area of interest you may want to ask to include a
visit with people in this area. Be sure to contact the admissions office well in
advance of your intended visit to avoid any scheduling problems. Be prepared for
your visit by reading the college catalogue and other materials the college may
have sent you or exploring the college’s website. It is a waste of everyone’s time
and reflects poorly on you when you ask questions that are already covered in
their printed or on-line materials.
Use the checklist on the following page to be sure you are on time and at the
correct locations for your visit.
A tour of the campus should include most of the following:
1. Financial Aid Office
2. Library
3. Housing
4. Student Dining Areas
5. Students
6. Faculty
7. Special talent or interest
8. Religious Organizations on Campus
9. Extra Curricular activities
10. Campus Atmosphere
Parents should have their most active participation in visiting with the financial
aid office. Ask about the typical aid package, how are they awarded and what
percentage of students receive financial aid. Also ask for the average amount of
financial aid per student receiving aid.
At the library the student should be concerned with quality and quantity of
research materials, but most importantly, how accessible they are. Talk to the
library staff to determine procedures and library hours.
Always talk with students. They will give you candid information and will usually
give both the good and bad they see in their own school. Approach students
anywhere on campus and ask questions about the college’s academic strengths,
social life, and what they like or don’t like about their college. Check the student
bulletin boards and school newspaper to see if their extra curricular opportunities
interest you.
Try to visit with at least one faculty member, either by appointment or stop in and
ask someone you see in their office. Don’t expect to take a lot of their time,
however, most will be willing to talk with you and your parents about the
university and especially what their department has to offer.
Learn what your housing options are and take a look at the dormitories. Plan to
eat a meal in the cafeteria and see what study facilities are available in your
dorm.
Bring a camera and take pictures to keep the different schools you visit from
blending together. Make a list of pros and cons after each visit.
If you are having an interview, make it after your tour of the campus. You will be
better prepared and probably have more knowledgeable questions to ask.
Don’t be intimidated by size. You will end up having about the same number of
close friends at a large as well as a small school. Don’t look for an ideal college,
every school will have some flaws.
Don’t pretend to be someone you are not and don’t let your parents run the visit.
Ideally parents should be part of the visit; however, this is a good chance for you
to present yourself as mature and independent. Don’t let one unusually good or
one unusually bad experience influence your choice. Look for an overall feeling
that a college is a good “match” for you, your abilities, interest and goals. Trust
your gut.
Be sure to write thank you notes to everyone who was helpful in your visit. A
thank you note is both polite and a reminder of your interest.
The College Admission Process
General and Fee Waiver Information
To prepare to apply for admission to college, students will need to take the
following steps:
•
•
•
•
•
Review their high school course preparation to determine they have met
all requirements
Take appropriate college admission tests
Determine application fees and deadlines for each college of interest
Submit application materials, including application for admission, a high
school transcript, letters of recommendation, if needed, and admission test
results
Determine scholarship requirements
The number of colleges to which a student applies depends on several factors:
educational opportunities, chances for admission and potential financial aid. For
example, if after a careful study of colleges a student finds that his or her firstchoice college fits within his or her financial resources and there is no doubt
about admission there, the student may need to apply only to that school. On the
other hand, the student may find that his or her first-choice college cannot accept
all qualified applicants, or that attendance there may depend heavily on a
financial aid offer. In this case, the student will want to apply to one or more
second-choice colleges as well.
Because every school has its own requirements, prerequisites, and levels of
selectivity, the application process at each institution is unique. The student
should determine application deadlines and fee schedules for each school, then
complete applications carefully and return to admission offices as early as
possible.
The student should contact College and Careers to arrange for the submission of
all necessary transcripts, records, test scores and applications. In addition, some
colleges may ask that the student submit personal and academic references. The
student should select people who know him or her well and can support the
application. Students should always obtain their permission to use their names
as references.
Some colleges may also request a personal interview or examples of a student’s
work in special areas such as art or music.
Fee Waiver Information
With the average college application fee now around $35, applying to several
colleges can be expensive for any student—and prohibitive for some families.
Eligibility
The SAT and the ACT program fee waiver service is available for students who
are US citizens or foreign nationals testing in the USA. Whether you are eligible
for the college application fee waiver or not is determined by your family’s income
or participation in any public assistance program solely meant for financially
disadvantaged families. If you are really in a financial crisis, you may be asked to
detail the type of your crisis and your hardship by the college admission
authority. Some colleges have their own policies involving the application fee
waive program and prefer students follow their income guidelines. Please see
Mrs. Johnson or Ms. Howell in the CCC for more information.
The College Admission Process
Tulsa Achieves
Tulsa Community College helps eliminate the financial burden of attending
college by providing additional funding to fill the "gap" between financial aid and
the cost of attending college.
For eligible students, Tulsa Achieves pays up to 100% of tuition and fees for a
maximum of 63 college credit hours. As a gap-funding program, Tulsa Achieves
pays any remaining balance after all state, federal and private aid and grant
funding have been applied. There is no cost to the student!*
Tulsa Achieves students begin their coursework the fall semester after high
school graduation and may continue in the program for 63 credit hours of three
years, whichever comes first.
*Tulsa Achieves does not cover the cost of books.
All students have to do is:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Resident of the U.S.
Live in Tulsa County
Have and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average
Enroll at TCC the fall semester after they graduate and every fall and
spring semester while attending
Provide the college with their ACT or SAT scores, four-year high school
transcripts, and Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Tulsa
Achieves Application (FAFSA)
Complete three-fourths or more of their college classes and fill out the
FAFSA every year
Complete 40 hours of community service each year
Students who have lived in Tulsa County from ninth through 12th grade will have
100 percent of their tuition and mandatory fees paid; 10th through 12th grade, 75
percent; 11th and 12th grade, 50 percent; and 12th grade, 25 percent. Mandatory
fees are those that all TCC students pay and do not include program-specific
fees, such as fees for certain classes.
Applications are available at www.tulsacc.edu, in TCC registration offices, and at
Union High School’s College and Career Center. Please make note of the
application deadline which varies slightly from year to year. Once the deadline
passes, the opportunity is over, no exceptions.
The College Admission Process
Common Application
WHAT IS THE COMMON APPLICATION?
The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that serves students and
member institutions by providing an admission application – online and in print –
that students may submit to any of the 456 members.
WHY USE IT?
Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate
Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true
of the School Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation
forms. This allows the student to spend less time on the busywork of applying for
admission, and more time on college research, visits, essay writing, and senior
year coursework.
IS IT WIDELY USED?
Millions of Common Applications are printed and accepted by the members each
year. In addition, last year almost 2 Million applications were submitted via the
Common App Online.
IS IT TREATED FAIRLY?
The college and university members have worked together over the past 35
years to develop the application. All members fully support its use, and all give
equal consideration to the Common Application and the college's own form.
Many of the members use the Common Application as their only undergraduate
admission application.
CAN ALL COLLEGES PARTICIPATE?
Membership is limited to colleges and universities that evaluate students using a
holistic selection process. A holistic process includes subjective as well as
objective criteria, including at least one recommendation form, at least one
untimed essay, and broader campus diversity considerations. The vast majority
of colleges and universities in the US use only objective criteria – grades and test
scores – and therefore are not eligible to join. If a college or university is not
listed on this website, they are not members of the consortium. Sending the
Common Application to non-members is prohibited.
WHAT IS THE COMMON APP ONLINE SCHOOL FORMS SYSTEM?
As part of the application process, schools require a variety of information to be
provided by teachers and guidance counselors who have interacted with the
student in the high school environment. Until last year, those forms were only
available as PDF files that could be printed, copied, and mailed to the
appropriate colleges. Now each teacher and counselor will have the option to
complete the forms online via the Common App Online School Forms system if
they desire. There is no cost to the student or high schools, and using the online
system is completely optional for the student’s teachers and counselor.
When a student creates an account on the Common App Online, he or she must
first indicate what high school he or she will attend. Once this information has
been saved, the student can access a 'School Forms' section of the Common
App where teachers and counselors can be identified. By adding a teacher or
counselor to the list of school officials, an email is triggered to the teacher or
counselor with information about how to log into the Online School Forms system
or how to opt for the "offline" or paper process. The student can then track the
progress of his or her various teachers and counselors via a screen within the
Common App Online.
There are now 414 Common Application members in 44 states and the District of
Columbia, as well as in Germany and Italy. They represent an enormously
diverse variety of institutions: small and large, public and private, coed and
single-sex, highly selective and relatively open enrollment. The member list can
be found at https://www.commonapp.org/commonapp/members.aspx
The College Admission Process
Transcripts
Students will need transcripts for a variety of reasons as they prepare for
attending college, trade or technical school. In some cases, scholarship
applications also require transcripts. While attending Union High School,
students get one free transcript per semester from the registrar’s office.
Additional transcripts are $1.00 apiece. Once a student has withdrawn or has
graduated from Union High School, he or she will be charged $2.00 per copy.
A Photo ID and 24 hour notice are required for obtaining a transcript.
If a student is 18 years old, a transcript can only be released to him or her.
The College Admissions Process
The College Essay/Personal Statement
Your audience: The overworked college admissions counselor who has already seen a
slew of essays before yours rises to the top of the pile or the scholarship committee
(usually volunteers) whose members’ heads could be turned by a well crafted essay.
Your goals:
1. To address the prompt—Type it at the top of your Word document in bold.
Remove it when you are finished with your essay.
2. To choose an experience that you can write about in a personal narrative format
that addresses the prompt.
3. To identify a moment in the entire span of the experience that fills you with
particularly intense feelings when you think about it.
4. To take that point in the experience that you identified above and develop it into a
personal narrative
5. To have a fairly clear line from conflict to solution in the narrative. You want to
come across as a person who can identify a problem and solve it—an active
person with good ideas, energy, resolve, and courage.
6. To have a point. By the time you’ve reached the end of the narrative, you and
your reader should have the answer to the question, Why? What’s the point of it
all? Some of the best narratives require that you spend a few moments thinking
about what it is that you’ve just read and what, in fact The Point might be.
Think of your essay like a three-act play…or a three-paragraph narrative.
Your first paragraph sets up the action and introduces the conflict.
The second paragraph plays out the action and examines the conflict.
The third paragraph finishes off the action and resolves the conflict.
Three paragraphs = narrative. Each paragraph has and fulfills its purpose.
Sources:
Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps by Alan Gelb
The College Application Essay by Sarah McGinty
The College Admissions Process
Recommendation Letter Information
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Determine if you actually need a letter of recommendation—the college or
scholarship application will let you know. Do not solicit letters for a need
you might have.
Complete the Letter of Recommendation form and make copies to offer
your recommenders. They may prefer to use their own forms, but you are
prepared nonetheless.
Ask for recommendations from teachers and others that know you well
and are likely to take the time to write thoughtful comments.
Ask for a recommendation from a teacher in the field in which you may
wish to major, preferably a teacher who is genuinely interested in your
future.
Be sure and ask for recommendations well in advance (several weeks) of
the deadline.
Check back with your recommender in about three weeks as a “friendly
reminder” in case they have forgotten about your letter.
Provide stamped envelopes that are preaddressed to the colleges or the
scholarship committee.
Thank the teacher. Writing a good letter of recommendation is time
intensive. At the very least, you should write a sincere thank you note! Be
sure and inform the teacher about the result of his or her letter (admission
or scholarship).
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Oklahoma Promise
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program
The Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) has been available to
students since 1992. The program provides resident tuition for courses needed to
complete a degree or program within five years from award.
House Bill 2728 changed the eligibility requirements for OHLAP, raising the
family income threshold from $32,000 to $50,000.
To be eligible students must:
•
•
•
•
•
•
be a resident of Oklahoma,
make commitment to the program as an 8th, 9th or 10th grader,
complete the courses required for admission to any Oklahoma college or
university plus 1 unit (these courses must include 2 units of foreign
language or technology, and 1 unit of fine arts),
graduate with a 2.5 grade point average within the previous three years,
have a family income of $50,000 or less, and
have been admitted and enrolled in an institution of higher education or
postsecondary career-tech program.
For more information, call the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education's
student information hotline at 800.858.1840, email [email protected] or
write to Oklahoma's Promise, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, PO
Box 108850, Oklahoma City, OK 73101-8850.
http://www.okhighered.org/okpromise
Financial Aid and Scholarships
FAFSA
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the application used
to apply for Federal, State, and some institutional financial aid. To be considered for
financial aid students must complete the FAFSA every year. Some colleges and
universities have a priority date for completing the FAFSA. That means students
who complete the FAFSA by the date given are considered first for some types of
limited grants and loans. Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA on the
web as soon as possible after January 1 of each year as possible.
How to Complete the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the financial aid application
form you need to apply for federal and state student grants, work-study, and loans.
Although it may seem complex, there are many free resources to help you navigate
the application process.
Where to Find the FAFSA
The FAFSA comes in two versions — electronic and paper. The electronic version is
available online at FAFSA on the Web. If you need a paper copy, call 800-4-FEDAID (433-3243).
FAFSA on the Web
You can complete, submit and track your application online. This is the easiest way
to apply for federal aid. The online program even checks your data before it is
transmitted to the processing center, so there's less chance of making an error.
Filing the FAFSA online can reduce processing time by one to two weeks.
Before You Apply
Complete Your Income Tax Return
You and your family should complete your income tax returns before filling out the
FAFSA — a lot of the information requested is the same. However, you do not have
to file your income tax return with the IRS before you fill out the FAFSA. Here is a list
of documents you need to get started.
Get a PIN
Obtain a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN) by filling
out the brief application at www.pin.ed.gov. You can get your PIN immediately by email or have it mailed to you. You can still use FAFSA on the Web without a PIN;
you just have to print out and mail in a signature page.
Source: http://www.collegeboard.com
Completing the Application
Here are some reminders and resources to help you complete the FAFSA.



January 1 is the first day you can file the FAFSA. You should try to file as
close to this date as possible; college, state and private aid deadlines may be
much earlier than federal deadlines. You should pay attention to your
colleges' priority financial aid deadlines.
If you have questions about any part of the FAFSA application, go to the
government website Completing the FAFSA. It has a detailed, question-byquestion guide to filling out the FAFSA.
Many colleges also require you to submit additional financial aid forms, such
as the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® or their own forms.
What Happens After You Apply
Once you submit the FAFSA, your family’s financial information is analyzed using
the federal need formula.
The Student Aid Report (SAR)
This form contains the data you entered on the FAFSA. The Department of
Education will send it to you either by e-mail (three to five days) or postal mail (two
to three weeks). Review the SAR carefully for errors (the form highlights items that
may need attention) and follow directions for making and submitting corrections.
Submit corrections promptly to avoid long delays in processing your application.
Make sure to keep a copy of the SAR for your records.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
At the upper right of the front page of the SAR, you'll find a figure called the
Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is a preliminary estimate of the
amount your family can contribute to college costs. The EFC is sent electronically to
your state scholarship agency, as well as to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA.
State agencies and colleges use the EFC to determine the size of your aid award.
Learn more about your EFC.
If you see an asterisk next to your EFC figure, it means that your application has
been randomly selected for verification. Your colleges will request copies of signed
tax returns or other information to verify the information reported on the FAFSA. Be
sure to furnish this information as soon as possible after you receive the request.
Help with the FAFSA
If you have questions about the application, FAFSA on the Web, or federal student
financial aid in general, call: 1-800-FED-AID (433-3243)
Source: http://www.collegeboard.com
Source: http://www.collegeboard.com
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Types of Financial Aid
In the United States, everyone has the right to a free public education, but not a
free college education. The Federal government and most colleges agree that
students and their parents are the ones most responsible for paying for college.
The philosophy behind financial aid is that everyone should pay what they can
out of income and assets (your EFC), and then financial aid, including any
outside resources, makes up the difference. The only way you can pay less than
your EFC is if you get so many outside scholarships that they exceed your
financial need. This is highly unlikely.
At many colleges a “B” average can put you in the running for merit money.
Sometimes a separate application is required; sometimes your application for
admission is enough. Don’t count yourself out by not applying; apply and let the
college decide!
Private colleges give more financial aid than public ones, but their tuition is
usually higher as well. Public colleges award less aid, but taxpayer support
keeps their tuition lower. Since a high-priced college often awards more
assistance than a low-priced one, a particular student might end up paying the
same out of pocket cost at both, or even less at the college with a higher sticker
price. That’s why you shouldn’t rule out your “dream college” as too
expensive until you find out if it wants you and what kind of financial aid
package it will give you.
Comparing Award Letters from Colleges
•
•
•
Aid package-The total amount of all financial aid being offered to a
student by a college.
Award letter-A document that a college sends to a student detailing the
financial aid package. It indicates the type and amount of each
scholarship, grant, loan or work-study opportunity being offered.
Appeal-A request that a college reconsider its financial aid package
It’s best to wait until you have the award letters from all the different colleges that
have accepted you before deciding which one to accept. If you have questions,
wait until you’ve gotten answers from all the financial aid offices involved before
you decide.
The offers in your award letters will differ. The amount and type of aid given will
vary, and the letters may also differ in format, especially in how they itemize
costs. In weighing the offers, the important thing is to compare apples to apples
not oranges to oranges.
Source: College Board Scholarship Handbook
“It’s not simply the dollar amount of the grant or scholarship that families should
focus on. They need to lay out, side by side, the full picture. What’s the cost of
attendance, including out-of-pocket expenses? What’s the family contribution?
What the elements of aid?” What’s going to happen with loans, with work?”
Don’t be dazzled by a large award. Instead, look for the bottom line: your
net cost to attend the school.
Loans vs. Grants
All other things being equal, it’s better to receive a grant or scholarship than a
loan. For that reason, a financial aid package with a high percentage of gift aid is
more attractive, on the face of it, than one with a high percentage of loans. But
there are circumstances where you might take the award that offers more loans
and less gift aid: for example, if that college is a better fit for you overall.
Do not be surprised if your award includes loans! Most aid packages contain
them. Loans are optional; you don’t have to take them out. But if offered as part
of a need-based aid package, they can be an excellent way to help finance your
education. The alternative—taking only grant aid and try to pay the costs that the
loans would cover out-of-pocket-could put your family under more financial stress
than the loan would.
It’s usually in your best interest to accept subsidized Stafford and Perkins loans
that are part of the aid package; the repayment terms are good and the
government pays the interest while you’re in school. Unsubsidized loans—such
as unsubsidized Stafford, PLUS loans, and private loans from a bank—should be
studied more carefully to make sure the terms are acceptable.
Work-study jobs are also optional, but if you’re offered one and you can manage
the time, take it. Having a job on campus brings in income, expands your social
networks, allows you to make contacts with professors and administrators, and
gives you experience that can improve your resume.
Your decision about which offer to accept should be based not just on cost
but on how well the college fits you academically, socially, and personally.
**If you are considering early-decision programs, ask each school’s financial aid
officer: How is financial aid affected if I apply early decision? The rules of early
decision allow you to turn down the college’s acceptance offer it if doesn’t offer
you enough financial aid.
Source: College Board Scholarship Handbook
There are three types or federal loans for educational expenses.
Stafford—Loan to students. May be subsidized (if student demonstrates need)
or unsubsidized. If subsidized, the government pays the interest on the loan
while the student is in college.
PLUS-A federal loan for parents to cover college costs not met by financial aid.
Not subsidized.
Perkins-Subsidized loan to students with exceptional need. Perkins-loan debt
may be forgiven if the borrower enters a career in public service.
Once you have decided which offer to accept, it’s polite to send a note declining
the offers of the colleges you’re rejecting. That way any funds they offered you
can be made available to other students. As for the offer you’re accepting, follow
whatever instructions came in the award packet. If you’re being asked for more
information, send it. Complete any forms that came with the award letter. Sign
the letter and return it by the due date.
How to Stay on Track Financially Once You Are in College
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reapply for aid every year.
Maintain your federal eligibility by staying in school the right number of
hours and avoiding illegal drugs.
Keep up your grades. Don’t let them get derailed by too much time spent
on work or other nonacademic activities.
Declare a major at a suitable time.
Make a budget and stick to it.
Be wary of credit cards.
Save for future expenses.
Keep an eye out for new sources of outside scholarships.
Remember that college is worth it!
Source: College Board Scholarship Handbook
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Award Letter Terminology
Grants
Money that does not have to be repaid.
•
Federal Pell Grant
•
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
•
ACG
•
National SMART Grant
•
Institutional grants
•
State-sponsored grants
Work-Study
Money earned by working.
•
On-campus (work for the school)
•
Off-campus (private nonprofit organization or a public agency)
Scholarships
Money that does not have to be repaid.
Any scholarships you informed the school about, as well as those the school has
to offer, will be included on your award letter.
Loans
Money borrowed that must be repaid.
•
Federal Stafford Loan (subsidized)
•
Federal Stafford Loan (unsubsidized)
•
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
•
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
•
Federal Perkins Loan
•
State loan programs
•
Private loan programs
•
Other loan programs
It’s usually in your best interest to accept subsidized Stafford and Perkins loans
that are part of the aid package; the repayment terms are good and the
government pays the interest while you’re in school. Unsubsidized loans—such
as unsubsidized Stafford, PLUS loans, and private loans from a bank—should be
studied more carefully to make sure the terms are acceptable.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Locating Scholarships
•
•
•
•
•
•
Begin with the colleges where you have applied because they provide
many of the scholarships and grants received by students. Research
scholarship opportunities in the financial aid portion of their websites.
Follow cccunion on Twitter. Scholarships will be tweeted.
Watch for scholarship announcements on the College/Careers calendar.
Watch the newspapers for scholarship announcements.
Watch for church-sponsored scholarships and for those sponsored by
other groups to which you belong.
Inquire of your parent's employers regarding company-sponsored
scholarship programs for employees' children. Some company
scholarships require national test scores.
How to Apply for Scholarships
Many colleges and universities offer merit-based scholarships for students who
have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and academic achievements.
Although these scholarships are based on merit, students will probably be
required to complete a financial needs analysis. If a college awards its own
scholarship dollars to students eligible for state or federal funds, this would
eliminate the possibility of receiving outside need-based funds. This allows
colleges to make the best use of their scholarship dollars and serve the greatest
number of students.
Students should investigate any private sources of financial aid available,
including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Parents' employers
Parents' fraternal or school organizations
Professional organizations
Contests
Department awards within the university
Business and service clubs
Churches/religious organizations
Cultural groups
Foundations
Banks
In most cases, scholarship decisions are based on a variety of criteria. These are
a few of the most often used:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grade point averages
Class rank
ACT or SAT test scores
Extracurricular activities
Leadership
Letters of recommendation
Interviews
Autobiographical statement or essay
Visit the following Web sites to learn about additional scholarship
programs:
•
OKCIS: http://okcareertech.org/cac/pages/OKCIS/okcis.htm
User Name: tulsaunionhs
Password: okcis 106
•
College Board: http://www.collegeboard.com/
•
FastWeb: http://www.fastweb.monster.com/
•
OKhighered.org: http://okcollegestart.org
•
The Princeton Review: http://www.princetonreview.com/
Good sites to find financial aid for minority students include:
•
Gates Millennium Scholars: http://www.gmsp.org/
•
Hispanic Scholarship Fund: http://www.hsf.net/
•
Japanese American Citizens League: http://www.jacl.org/
•
LULAC-League of United Latin American Citizens: http://www.inesc.org/
•
American Indian College Fund: http://www.collegefund.org/scholarships/main.html
•
United Negro College Fund: http://www.uncf.org/
•
Minority On-Line Information Service: http://www.molis.us/
•
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute: http://www.chci.org/scholarships/
Other good sites:
•
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (this site contains a section
on scholarships for specific majors or courses of study):
http://nasfaa.org/redesign/ParentsStudents.html