College Preparation Checklists
• Freshman Checklist
• Sophomore Checklist
• Junior Checklist
• Senior Checklist
Freshman Checklist
» Download a copy of our Freshman Checklist (PDF)
- Start talking to trusted adults about your plans for education after high school — like technology centers and colleges. You can explore colleges on OKCollegeStart.org to help you narrow down your list and plan campus visits. You can also check out UCanGo2.org for information about how to prepare, plan and pay for college.
- If you didn't apply in the 8th grade, sign up for the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program online at OKPromise.org.
- Check with your school counselor to make sure you're taking the right academic steps to be college-bound. You'll need to take the correct amount of English, math, science, history and elective classes. Use OKCollegeStart.org's High School Planner to help track your classes and grades.
- Investigate Advanced Placement (AP) and other honors-level courses to know what's available and how to enroll.
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Sophomore Checklist
» Download a copy of our Sophomore Checklist (PDF)
- Don't miss out on your last chance to sign up for the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program. You can find out more and sign up online at OKPromise.org.
- Sit down with your school counselor and make sure you're continuing to take the courses you need to be college-bound.
- Continue to investigate Advanced Placement (AP) and other honors-level courses to know what's available and how to enroll.
- Participate in extracurricular activities and do some volunteer work. College admissions offices often look for students who are active in their school and community.
- Prepare for college standardized testing by studying and taking preparatory tests. The ACT PLAN test at ACTStudent.org/Plan can help, as well as using the test prep tools on OKCollegeStart.org.
- Check into concurrent enrollment options. If you meet certain requirements, you may be able to enroll in college as a junior or senior.
- As you continue talking to trusted adults about your plans for education after high school, write down a list of pros and cons for the schools you're considering. Remember to review each school's degree programs, location, cost, etc. The Explore Colleges section of OKCollegeStart.org can help and so can UCanGo2.org.
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Junior Checklist
» Download a copy of our Junior Checklist (PDF)
- Take the core courses required to attend an Oklahoma college or university (check with your school counselor for specific course information).
- Explore opportunities to earn college credit while in high school, like concurrent enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
- Prepare for and take the PSAT/NMSQT and the ACT or SAT exams. You may take the ACT or SAT several times to improve your score. Some colleges use these scores to make admission, guidance and placement decisions. Take advantage of OKCollegeStart.org's Free Test Prep that offers personalized, online test preparation for the ACT,
SAT and even the GRE.
- Visit Oklahoma's official higher education Web site for students, OKCollegeStart.org, and check out Going2College.org to learn about the wide range of college access and preparation resources available to Oklahoma students and parents.
- Research financial aid options and application deadlines. Visit UCanGo2.org, MappingYourFuture.org and StudentAid.ed.gov.
- Investigate other sources of financial aid and scholarships at your school, work, with civic organizations, and with your parent's employer. Check out these helpful online resources too: StudentAid.ed.gov, FinAid.org, FastWeb.com and Scholarships.com.
- Use the ACT Financial Aid Need Estimator to financially plan for college.
- Attend a college fair event in your area.
- Narrow your choice of colleges, universities, technology centers or trade schools; investigate admission requirements and programs of study; and consider visiting the campuses.
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Senior Checklist
» Download a copy of our Senior Checklist (PDF)
- Continue to take the core courses required to attend an Oklahoma college or university (check with your school counselor for specific course information).
- Continue exploring opportunities to earn college credit while in high school, like concurrent enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
- Before you graduate, talk to your counselor about your goals and visit Oklahoma's official higher education Web site for students, OKCollegeStart.org or call 800.858.1840 for more information.
- Remember you may take the ACT or SAT several times to improve your score. Colleges use these scores to make admission, guidance and placement decisions. Don't forget to take advantage of OKCollegeStart.org's Free Test Prep that offers personalized, online test preparation for the ACT,
SAT and even the GRE.
- Attend a college fair event in your area and visit UCanGo2.org and MappingYourFuture.org for more helpful college and career planning information.
- Follow the six tips outlined in our Scholarship Success flyer to learn more about finding and applying for scholarships.
- Continue to investigate other sources of financial aid and scholarships at your school, work, with civic organizations and with your parent's employer. Check out these helpful online resources too: StudentAid.ed.gov, FinAid.org, FastWeb.com and Scholarships.com.
- Request a federal Personal Identification Number (PIN) at Pin.ed.gov. This PIN is used throughout the federal aid process, including for completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after Jan. 1. Apply online each year at FAFSA.gov. You'll use your PIN to access and electronically sign the FAFSA.
- Decide which college(s) you're interested in attending and submit admission and financial aid applications.
- Review your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is sent to you after you file the FAFSA, for accuracy. Any inaccurate items need to be corrected and returned for processing.
- To avoid delays, respond quickly to any requests for additional information or documentation.
- Promptly accept your financial award letter, if required. You don't have to accept all loan funds offered to you. Borrow only what you need!
- Complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN) to accept any necessary federal loan you've been offered. If you have questions, contact your educational institution or call OGSLP at 800.442.8642 (toll-free).
- Find tax tips for you and your parents about the Hope Scholarship Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit.
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