College Bound

2S SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010 THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COMCOLLEGE BOUND

Why is college for me?It’s a good question, and research and

experience can find good answers.Here are the top reasons, from “Prepar-

ing Your Child For College” experts.A college degree can provide your child

with many opportunities in life. A college education can mean:

Greater knowledgeA college education will increase your

child’s ability to understand develop-ments in science and in society, to thinkabstractly and critically.

More moneyA person who attends college generally

earns more than a person who does not.For example, in 1997, a person with a col-lege degree from a four-year collegeearned about $18,000 more in that yearthan a person who did not. Someone witha two-year college associate degree tendsto earn more than a high school graduate.

Greater potentialA college education can help increase

your child’s understanding of the com-munity, the nation and the world — as heor she explores varying interests, discov-ers new areas of knowledge, considersgoals, and becomes a responsible citizen.

More job opportunitiesThe world is changing rapidly. Many

jobs rely on new technology and requiremore brain power than muscle power. Inyour child’s working life, more jobs will

require education beyond high school.With a college education, your child willhave more job opportunities.

Help with the decisionSome of these benefits of college may

not be obvious to your child. Even thoughhe or she has to make the final decision toattend college, you can help in the deci-sion-making process by learning aboutaspects of college and sharing what youlearn.

THE BASICS

What are benefits of higher education?FROM STAFF REPORTS

This list of terms fromthe Oklahoma State Re-gents for Higher Educa-tion is designed to helpparents and students navi-gate through their highereducation choices.

ACADEMIC ADVISERThe person at a college

or university who helpsstudents decide whatclasses to take, what majorto pursue, etc.

ADMISSIONREQUIREMENTS

Students who want toattend a college or univer-sity must meet require-ments, such as a specifiedACT or SAT score, a com-bination of high schoolgrade point average andrank in class.

ASSOCIATE DEGREEDegree given upon com-

pletion of two years of full-time study or the equiva-lent. Most associate de-grees are awarded by two-year colleges. Some asso-ciate degrees transfer tofour-year universities.

BACHELOR’S DEGREEDegree given upon com-

pletion of four years offull-time study or theequivalent.

JUNIOR COLLEGEA higher education in-

stitution that generally of-fers two-year degrees, butdoes not offer bachelor’sor graduate-level pro-grams.

COLLEGE CATALOGA booklet published by a

college or university thatcontains detailed descrip-tions of course and degreeofferings, fees, academicpolicies and requirementsfor graduation.

COMPREHENSIVEUNIVERSITY

A university that grantsbachelor’s, graduate andprofessional degrees andoffers a wide variety ofcourses and degree pro-grams. Comprehensive in-stitutions also focus on re-search, extension andpublic service.

CREDIT HOURA unit used by colleges

and universities for count-ing and recording workcompleted by a student.Usually one credit hourrepresents one hour of in-class instruction per weekfor 16 weeks in a specificsubject.

FULL-TIME STUDENTAn undergraduate stu-

dent enrolled in at least 12credit hours or a graduatestudent enrolled in at leastnine credit hours, or theequivalent, in one semes-ter or academic term.

HIGH SCHOOLGRADE POINTAVERAGE (GPA)

Average of all gradesearned in the ninththrough 12th grades.

HIGHER EDUCATIONCENTER

Institutions with flexi-ble admission standardsthat provide higher educa-tion opportunities to resi-dents in the areas sur-rounding the centers.

INDEPENDENT(PRIVATE) COLLEGESAND UNIVERSITIES:

Accredited colleges anduniversities that offer as-sociate, bachelor’s and/orgraduate degrees. Privatecolleges and universitiesare not supported by statetaxes and are not for profit.

They receive the bulk oftheir revenues from tui-tion, donations and grants.

MAJORA subject area in which

students take many cours-es to earn a degree.

MINORA subject area studied at

the same time as a major. Itrequires fewer courses.

REGIONALUNIVERSITY

A university that offersbachelor’s and master’sdegrees, and, in some in-stances, associate or pro-fessional degrees. Whileregional universities focusprimarily on instruction,they also are responsiblefor extension and publicservice.

RESIDENTIALCOLLEGE

A college at which stu-dents may live in campusdormitories or apart-ments.

SEMESTERCalendar system used

by colleges and universi-ties. Classes are dividedinto two periods in thespring and fall, each last-ing about 16 weeks, andone period in the summer,usually lasting eightweeks.

STANDARDIZEDTEST (ACT or SAT)

Tests used by collegesand universities to evaluateapplicants’ academic skillsand abilities.

TUITIONPayment that students

make to cover costs of theirclasses at state and privatecolleges and universities.Other fees may also be re-quired.

UNDERGRADUATESTUDENT

A student working to-ward an associate or abachelor’s degree or a cer-tificate.

UNIVERSITYA higher education in-

stitution that usually of-fers four-year degrees, aswell as degrees beyond thebaccalaureate level such asgraduate and professionaldegrees. They also may of-fer two-year degrees.

CollegetermsFROM STAFF REPORTS

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education released a list of terms to help students and parents navigate through education choices. PHOTOS PROVIDED

A major is a subject area in which students takemany courses to earn a degree. A minor subject areacan be studied at the same time, but it requires fewercourses.

COLLEGE BOUND

DIRECTOR, CUSTOMPUBLISHING ANDPRESENTATION

Yvette Walker

SECTION COORDINATORMelissa Howell

SECTION DESIGNERRonisha Carpenter

REPORTERSDarla SlipkeSusan Simpson

COPY EDITORErica Smith

ADVERTISING COORDINATORSharon Bycko

3SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010THE OKLAHOMAN NEWSOK.COM


It’s never too early to start taking steps toward a college education. Students can usethis comprehensive timeline to help make sure they’re accomplishing everything theyneed to on time:

Ninth grade› Begin talking with

your counselor about col-leges and careers.

› Enroll in college-pre-paratory or tech-prepcourses.

› Work on those grades.Grades you earn in ninthgrade will be included inyour final high school GPAand class rank. Grades re-ally do count toward col-lege admission and schol-arships.

› Explore your interestsand possible careers; takeadvantage of Career Dayopportunities.

› Get involved in extra-curricular activities (bothschool- and nonschool-sponsored).

› Talk to your parentsabout planning for collegeexpenses.

› Look at the college in-formation available in yourcounselor’s office, as wellas school and public li-braries. Use the Internet tocheck out college websites.

› Tour a nearby college,if possible.

› Investigate summerenrichment programs.

10th gradeFall

› In October, take thePreliminary SAT/NationalMerit Scholarship Quali-fying Test for practice.When you fill out your testsheet, check the box thatreleases your name to col-leges so you can start re-ceiving brochures fromthem.

› Ask your guidancecounselor about theAmerican College Testingprogram’s PLAN assess-ment program that helpsdetermine your study hab-its and academic progressand interests.

› Become familiar withgeneral college entrancerequirements.

› Participate in yourschool’s or state’s careerdevelopment activities. Winter

› Discuss your PSATscore with your counselor.

› The people who readcollege applications aren’tjust looking for grades. Getinvolved in activities out-side school.

› Read, read, read — asmany books as possiblefrom a comprehensivereading list.

› Work on your writingskills — you’ll need themno matter what you do.

Spring

› Keep your grades up.You want the highest gradepoint average and classrank possible.

› Ask your counselorabout postsecondary en-rollment options and Ad-vanced Placement cours-es.

› Begin zeroing in on thetype of college you wouldprefer (two-year or four-year, small or large, rural orurban).

› If you are interested inattending a military acad-emy, now is the time tostart planning and gettinginformation.

› Write to colleges andask for their academic re-quirements for admission.

› Visit a few more col-lege campuses. Attendcollege fairs.

› Keep putting moneyaway for college. Get asummer job.

› Consider taking SAT IISubject Tests in the cours-es you took this year whilethe material is still fresh inyour mind. These tests areoffered in May and June.

11th gradeFall

› Check your class rank. › If you didn’t do so in

10th grade, sign up for andtake the PSAT/NMSQT.

› Make a list of collegesthat meet your most im-portant criteria.

› If you want to partici-pate in Division I or Divi-sion II sports in college,start the certificationprocess. Check with yourcounselor to make sureyou are taking a core curri-culum that meets NCAA

requirements. › If you are interested in

one of the military acade-mies, talk to your guidancecounselor about startingthe application processnow. Winter

› Collect informationabout college applicationprocedures, entrance re-quirements, tuition andfees, room and boardcosts, student activities,course offerings, facultycomposition, accredita-tion, and financial aid.

› Begin narrowing downyour college choices. Findout if the colleges you areinterested in require theSAT I, ACT Assessment, orSAT II Subject Tests foradmission.

› Register for the ACTAssessment, which is usu-ally taken in April or June.

› Begin preparing forthe tests you’ve decided totake.

Spring

› Meet with your coun-selor to review senior-yearcourse selection and grad-uation requirements.

› Register to take theACT Assessment and/orSAT I again if you’d like totry to improve your score.

› Discuss the college es-say with your guidancecounselor or Englishteacher.

› Inquire about personalinterviews at your favoritecolleges.

› See your counselor toapply for on-campussummer programs for highschool students. Apply fora summer job or intern-ship.

› Request applicationsfrom schools you’re inter-ested in. Summer

› Visit the campuses ofyour top-five collegechoices.

› After each college in-terview, send a thank-youletter to the interviewer.

› Complete the final ap-plication forms or applyonline.

› Compose rough draftsof your college essays.Have a teacher read anddiscuss them with you.Prepare final drafts andproofread them at leastthree times.

12th gradeFall

› Make sure you havetaken the courses neces-sary to graduate.

› To male students: youmust register for SelectiveService on your 18th birth-day to be eligible for feder-al and state financial aid.

› Make a calendarshowing application dead-lines for admission, finan-cial aid, and scholarships.

› Check resource books,computer programs, andyour guidance office forscholarship and grant in-formation. Ask collegesabout scholarships forwhich you may qualify.

› Give recommendationforms to teachers you have

chosen, along withstamped, self-addressedenvelopes so they can sendthem directly to the col-leges. Talk to recommen-dation writers about yourgoals and ambitions.

› Give School Reportforms to your school’sguidance office. Verifywith your guidance coun-selor the schools to whichtranscripts, test scores andletters are to be sent. Giveyour counselor any neces-sary forms at least twoweeks before they are dueor whenever your counsel-or’s deadline is, whicheveris earlier.

› Be sure you have re-quested that your testscores be sent to the col-leges of your choice.

› Mail or send electron-ically any college applica-tions for early-decisionadmission by Nov. 1.

› If possible, visit col-leges while classes are insession. Winter

› Send midyear gradereports to colleges.

› Fill out the Free Appli-cation for Federal StudentAid and, if necessary, Fi-nancial Aid PROFILE.

› Mail or send electron-ically any remaining appli-cations and financial aidforms before winter break.

› Follow up to make surethat the colleges have re-ceived all application in-formation.

Spring

› Watch your mail be-tween March 1 and April 1for acceptance notifica-tions from colleges.

› Watch your mail fornotification of financial aidawards between April 1andMay 1.

› Make your finalchoice, and notify allschools of your intent byMay 1. Send your nonre-fundable deposit to yourchosen school by May 1 aswell. Request that yourguidance counselor send afinal transcript to the col-lege in June.

› Be sure that you havereceived a FAFSA ac-knowledgment.

› If you applied for a PellGrant (on the FAFSA), youwill receive the StudentAid Report statement. Re-view this Pell notice, andforward it to the collegeyou plan to attend.

› Complete follow-uppaperwork for the collegeof your choice (scheduling,orientation session, hous-ing arrangements, andother necessary forms). Summer

› If applicable, apply fora Stafford Loan through alender.

› Receive the orienta-tion schedule and resi-dence hall assignmentfrom your college.

› Obtain course sched-uling and cost informationfrom your college.

SOURCE: AMERICAN EDUCATIONSERVICES

THE COUNTDOWNThe following list of courses from the American Council on Education provides only

a general guideline of courses. School graduation and college entrance requirementsvary by institution. Students and parents should consult their school guidance coun-selor and college admissions office for a more complete list.

SUBJECT MINIMUM TIME TYPES OF CLASSES

English Four years

CompositionAmerican LiteratureEnglish LiteratureWorld Literature

Mathematics Three to four years

Algebra I (if not completed in 8th grade)GeometryAlgebra IITrigonometryPre-calculusCalculus

History and geography Two to three years

GeographyU.S. HistoryU.S. GovernmentWorld HistoryWorld CulturesCivics

Laboratory science Two to three years

BiologyEarth Science ChemistryPhysics

Foreign language Two to three years

FrenchSpanishGermanLatinRussianJapanese

Visual and performing arts

One yearArtDramaDance

Electives One to three years

EconomicsPsychologyStatisticsComputer ScienceCommunications

Preparing for collegebegins in high school

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010 5SCOLLEGE BOUND

Here, from “PreparingYour Child For College,”are some recommenda-tions about testing:

SAT and ACTMany of the courses

recommended for college-bound students (such asgeometry and rigorousEnglish courses) also areessential preparation forthe college entrance exam-inations — the SAT or theACT Assessment.

Students applying tocolleges in the East andWest usually take the SATexam. Students applyingto schools in the South andMidwest often take theACT; however, studentsshould check the admis-sion requirements at eachschool to which they areapplying.

Usually, the tests are of-fered in the junior and se-nior years of high schooland can be taken more thanonce if a student wishes totry to improve his or herscore. Students can getbooks at libraries or book-stores to help them to pre-pare for any of the tests.Some private organizationsand companies offercourses that help studentsprepare for these exams.

PSAT/NMSQTMany schools offer the

Preliminary Scholastic As-sessment Test/NationalMerit Scholarship Qualify-ing Test, or PSAT/NMSQTto their students. Thispractice test helps studentsprepare for the SAT. ThePSAT is usually adminis-tered to 10th- or 11th-gradestudents. A student whodoes well on this test andwho meets many other

academic performancecriteria may qualify for theNational Merit ScholarshipProgram.

You and your child canfind out more about thePSAT/NMSQT and theNational Merit Scholar-ship Program by talking toyour child’s guidancecounselor or by calling orwriting to the number oraddress provided in thelast section of this guide.

SAT subject testSome colleges also re-

quire that an applicant takeone or more SAT subjecttests in major areas ofstudy. These tests also areknown as SAT II tests. SATII subject tests are offeredin many areas of study in-cluding English, mathe-matics, many sciences, his-tory and foreign languages.

A subject test measuresthe extent of a student’sknowledge of a particularsubject. It is a good idea fora student to consult aguidance counselor aboutthis early in high school;often the best time to takean SAT subject test is rightafter the student has taken

a course in that subject.For example, many stu-

dents take the SAT biologytest right after they havecompleted a course inbiology. This could meanthat your child would takehis or her first SAT subjecttest as a freshman or soph-omore in high school.

CautionKnowing what will be

required for college is im-portant; by taking the rightcourses and examinationsfrom the beginning of highschool, your child mayavoid admission problemslater on.

In addition, studentswho do not prepare wellenough academically inhigh school, if admitted tocollege, may be required totake remedial courses. Mostcolleges do not offer creditfor these courses, and stu-dents may have to pay forthese extra courses andspend extra time in collegeto earn their degrees.

Studies also have shownthat students who takemore rigorous courses inhigh school are more likelyto complete college.

Know which testsyou need to take

Students applying to schools in the Midwest oftentake the ACT. PHOTO PROVIDED

FROM STAFF REPORTS

5. Super: Super meansabove or beyond. Exam-ples: superior, supernatu-ral, supersonic.

6. Contra: Contra meansagainst, so many wordsbeginning with this sug-gest conflict or disagree-ment. Examples: contrary,contradict, contravene,contraflow.

7. Anti: Anti also meansagainst and often is used inscientific terms to mean“acting against” or “theopposite of.” Examples:antihistamine, antide-pressant, anticyclone.

8. Ante: The words inthe previous entry are notto be confused with ante,with an e, which meansbefore. Examples: antece-dent, antediluvian (beforethe flood = very old in-deed), ante meridiem(a.m. = before noon, in themorning).

9. Multi: Multi meansmuch or many. Examples:multiple, multifarious,multilingual, multimillio-naire, multitude

10. Mono: Mono meansone. Examples: monopoly,monogamy, monotheism,monoxide.

It also can be useful toknow that bi- and di- bothmean two. Examples: big-amy, bilateral, dimor-phous, dioxide.

And that hemi-, demi-and semi- all mean a half.Examples: hemisphere,demigod, semicircle.

11. Cent: Cent meansone hundred. Examples:percent (ten percentequals ten in everyhundred), century, centu-rion.

12. -vore: In Latin, voremeans “to eat greedily.” Inmany words that contain–vore, for example herb-ivore and carnivore, the-vore is concerned witheating. Examples: herb-

A solid understanding ofvocabulary is essential toboosting your score inboth the Critical Readingand the Writing sections ofthe SAT. At the core ofmany words are roots, andmany of the roots thatmake up the myriad ofwords in the English lan-guage come from Latin.

Caroline Taggart, au-thor of “The Classics: Ev-erything You Need toKnow, From Zeus’s Throneto the Fall of Rome,” saysthat even without an offi-cial course in Latin, there’sa core list of roots everytest taker should have ather fingertips. Here’s theessential list:

1. Lux: Lux and its gen-itive form lucis both mean“light,” so words contain-ing luc often have to dowith making things clearer(“shedding light” onthem). Examples: lucid,elucidate.

2. Vertere: Verteremeans “to turn” and is theroot of many words aboutturning, in either a literalor a figurative sense. Ex-amples: vertigo, subvert,advertisement.

3. Intra/Inter: Intrameans “within” and intermeans “between,” whichexplains the difference be-tween the Internet, whichis a link between variousnetworks, and an intranet,which is confined to an in-dividual company. Exam-ples: intravenous, intram-ural; interagency, interac-tive.

4. Pre/Post: Anythingbeginning with pre- has agood chance of meaning“before”; post- is likely tomean “after.” Examples:prefix, precaution, precede,preadolescent; postscript,post mortem, posterity.

ivore, carnivore, omnivo-rous.

13. –cracy: meaning“rule,” often to do withgovernment. So when youencounter a word contain-ing –cracy, you simplyneed to find out what thefirst part of the wordmeans to know who’s incharge. Examples: democ-racy, plutocracy, merito-cracy , aristocracy , theoc-racy.

14. Bio-: Bio means “ofor relating to life”. Exam-ples: biology, biohazard,bioterrorism, biography.

15. Pan-: The prefix pan-means “all.” Examples:panorama, pandemic,pandemonium.

16. Mater/pater: Materand pater mean “mother”and “father,” so that’s aclue to the meaning ofanything beginning withmatri- or patri-. Exam-ples: patricide, patrimony,matriarch, matrimony,matrilineal.

17. Logia: Logia literallymeans study. So wordsending in –ology mean thestudy of. Examples: geol-ogy, astrology, sociology,theology, etc.

18. Geo: Geo means theearth. Examples: geology,geography, geothermal,geophysics.

19. Demo-: Demos wasthe Greek word for people,so words beginning withdemo- or dema- often areto do with the people, asopposed to the aristocracyor the government. Exam-ples: democracy, dema-gog, demography.

20. Anthro: Anthroposwas the Greek word for ahuman. Examples: an-thropoid, anthropomor-phic, misanthropy, an-thropology. More specifi-cally, gynos was a woman:Examples: misogynist, gy-necology.

List of Latin root wordscould help test takersFROM STAFF REPORTS

Oklahoma colleges and universities

18. East CentralUniversity› Ada › Type of institution:Four-year University › Emphasis: Liberal artsand sciences › Contact: (877) 310-5628or (580) 559-5628,www.ecok.edu

19. Murray StateCollege› Tishomingo › Type of institution:Two-year College › Emphasis: Transferprograms and technical/occupational programs › Contact: (800) 342-0698, ext. 155,www.mscok.edu

20. SoutheasternOklahoma StateUniversity› Durant › Type of institution:Four-year University › Emphasis: Business,liberal arts and sciences,teacher education andaviation sciences › Contact: (580) 745-2060 or (800) 435-1327,www.sosu.edu

21. Connors StateCollege› Warner; branch inMuskogee › Type of institution:Two-year College › Emphasis: Generalstudies, occupational,transfer › Contact: (918) 463-2931,www.connorsstate.edu

22. Eastern OklahomaState College› Wilburton; branches in

McAlester, Idabel, andAntlers › Type of institution:Two-year College › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: (918) 465-1811,www.eosc.edu

23. Carl Albert StateCollege› Poteau; branches inSallisaw and Idabel › Type of institution:Two-year College › Emphasis: Generalstudies, vocational andcompensatory › Contact: (918) 647-1452,www.carlalbert.edu

24. SoutheasternOklahoma StateUniversity —McCurtain County Campus› Idabel › Type of institution:Branch campus › Emphasis: Lifelonglearning › Contact: (580) 286-9431or (580) 584-3932,www.se.edu/mccurtain/

25. Wayland BaptistUniversity› Altus › Type of institution:4-year University › Emphasis: Business,occupational education › Contact: (580) 481-5243

TulsaOklahoma StateUniversity — Tulsa› Type of institution:OSU branch offering un-

dergraduate and graduatedegrees › Emphasis: business,engineering, liberal arts,education, aviation, earlychildhood development,elementary education,journalism and broad-casting, health and hu-man performance. com-puter science › Contact: (918) 594-8355or (918) 594-8000,www.osu-tulsa.okstate.edu

Tulsa CommunityCollege› Type of institution:Two-year College › Emphasis: Programsdesigned to transfer andwork force developmentprograms › Contact: (918) 595-7834, www.tulsacc.edu

Oral RobertsUniversity› Type of institution:Four-year University › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: (918) 495-6518or (800) 678-8876,www.oru.edu

Spartan College ofAeronautics andTechnology› Type of institution:Technical college offeringdiplomas and associate ofapplied science degreesand bachelor’s degree. › Emphasis: Aviation andrelated technical training › Contact: (800) 331-1204,www.spartan.edu

SEE MORE COLLEGESON PAGE 7S

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE

1. OklahomaPanhandle StateUniversity› Goodwell › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Agricultureand education › Contact: High Schooland Community Rela-tions, (580) 349-1310 or(800) 664- 6778, ext.1310, www.opsu.edu

2. NorthwesternOklahoma StateUniversity› Alva; branches in Enidand Woodward › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal artsand sciences, Master ofEducation and Master ofCounseling Psychology › Contact: Office ofRecruitment, (580) 327-8546, www.nwosu.edu

3. Northern OklahomaCollege› Tonkawa; branches inEnid, Stillwater › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: Associatedegrees in art, scienceand applied science › Contact: Coordinator,High School & CollegeRelations, Tonkawa, (580)628-6668, or Enid, (580)548-2353, or associatevice president of Still-water Campus, (405)744-2246, www.north-ok.edu

4. Oklahoma StateUniversity› Stillwater › Type of institution:Four-year comprehensiveresearch university › Emphasis: Agriculture,arts and sciences, busi-ness administration, edu-cation, engineering, ar-chitecture and technol-ogy, human environ-mental sciences,veterinary medicine › Contact: OSU Office ofUndergraduate Admis-sions, (405) 744-5358 or(800) 233-5019, ext. 1,www.okstate.edu

5. University Center atPonca City› Ponca City › Type of institution:Two-year, four-year andcomprehensive university,degree programs deliveredthrough distance educa-tion › Emphasis: Course workfor associate, bachelor’s,master’s and doctoralprograms in a variety orsubjects from multipleinstitutions › Contact: (580) 762-2856, www.ucponcacity.com

6. OklahomaWesleyan University› Bartlesville › Type of institution:Four-year University › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: EnrollmentServices, (918) 335-6219,www.okwu.edu

7. NortheasternOklahoma A&MCollege› Miami; branches inGrove, Vinita and Jay › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: General edu-cation, technical/occupa-tional technical, terminaland transfer programs › Contact: RecruitmentOffice, (918) 540-6291 or(888) 464-6636 (gogo-neo), www.neo.edu

8. Rogers StateUniversity› Claremore; branches inBartlesville and Pryor › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Businessadministration, businessinformation technology,liberal arts, social andbehavioral sciences, ap-plied technology, nursing,game development › Contact: RSU Clar-emore, (918) 343-7777;RSU Bartlesville, (918)338-8000; RSU Pryor,(918) 825-6117,www.rsu.edu

9. Northeastern StateUniversity› Tahlequah; branches inBroken Arrow and Musk-ogee › Type of institution:Four-year University › Emphasis: Business,technology, social sci-ences, math, sciences,optometry, education,language and the arts › Contact: director ofOffice of High School andCollege Relations, (918)458-2130 or (800) 722-9614, www.nsuok.edu

10. Oklahoma StateUniversity —Okmulgee› Okmulgee › Type of institution:Two-year technical col-lege › Emphasis: Technical › Contact: AdmissionsOffice, (918) 293-4680 or(800) 722-4471,www.osuit.edu

11. Bacone College› Muskogee › Type of institution:Four-year College › Emphasis: Professionalprograms and liberal arts › Contact: Office of Ad-missions, (918) 781-7353or (918) 683-4581,www.bacone.edu

12. Western OklahomaState College› Altus › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: Technicaleducation and academictransfer programs › Contact: Office of Ad-missions, (580) 477-2000, www.wosc.edu

13. SouthwesternOklahoma StateUniversity› Weatherford; branch inSayre › Type of institution:Four-year university,Master’s, Pharmacy Doc-toral › Emphasis: Professional/liberal arts › Contact: (580) 774-3782, www.swosu.edu

14. CameronUniversity› Lawton; branch in Dun-can › Type of institution:Four-year University › Emphasis: Business,education/behavioralsciences, graduate stud-ies, liberal arts and sci-ence/technology › Contact: (580) 581-2289or (888) 454-7600,www.cameron.edu

15. University ofScience and Arts ofOklahoma› Chickasha › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: (405) 574-1357or (800) 933-8726,www.usao.edu

16. Ardmore HigherEducation Center› Ardmore › Type of institution:Off-campus consortiumof colleges and universi-ties › Emphasis: General edu-cation, business, educa-tion and liberal arts › Contact: (580) 223-1441,www.ahec.osrhe.edu

17. Seminole StateCollege› Seminole › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: Two-yearundergraduate college › Contact: (405) 382-9950, www.sscok.edu



Phillips TheologicalSeminary› Type of institution:Graduate › Emphasis: Theologicaleducation › Contact: (918) 610-8303,www.ptstulsa.edu

University of Tulsa› Type of institution:Four-year comprehensiveuniversity › Emphasis: Preprofes-sional and professionalpreparation › Contact: (918) 631-2307or (800) 331-3050,www.utulsa.edu

OKCareaDowntown CollegeConsortium› Oklahoma City › Type of institution:Consortium of two yearand regional institutions › Emphasis: General stud-ies › Contact: 232-3382,www.downtowncollege.com

Oklahoma StateUniversity —Oklahoma City› Type of institution:Two-year technicalbranch › Emphasis: Associate ofscience, associate in ap-plied science and certifi-cate programs › Contact: ProspectiveStudent Services, 945-9150 or (800) 560-4099,www.osuokc.edu

DeVry University› Oklahoma City › Type of institution:Four-year university,bachelor’s and graduateprograms › Emphasis: Technologicalfields, business, techono-gy › Contact: 767-9516,www.devry.edu/loca-tions/campuses/loc_oklahomacity.jsp

Langston University› Langston — Branches inOklahoma City and Tulsa › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: 466-2980,www.lunet.edu

Rose State College› Midwest City › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: Associate inarts, science or appliedscience and one-year cer-tificates › Contact: Prospectivestudent services, 733-7372, www.rose.edu

Southwestern College› Midwest City › Type of institution: Pri-vate college. Bachelor’sdegree completion and

master’s degree programs › Adult programs, onlineand onground programs › Emphasis: Graduate,undergraduate, and certif-icate programs, business,leadership, management,security, ministry › Contact: 733-3301 or(866) 342-3301,www.southwesterncollege.org

Oklahoma CityCommunity College› Oklahoma City › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: Transfer andtechnical/occupational › Contact: Recruitmentand Admissions, 682-7580, www.occc.edu

Redlands CommunityCollege› El Reno › Type of institution:Two-year college › Emphasis: General,transfer and technical › Contact: Student Ser-vices, 262-2552 or (866)415-6367, www.red landscc.edu

University of CentralOklahoma› Edmond › Type of institution:Four-year university andmaster’s programs › Emphasis: Arts, mediaand design, business ad-ministration, education,liberal arts, mathematicsand science, graduatestudies and research › Contact: UCO Prospec-tive Student Services/Scholarships, 974-2727,www.ucok.edu

University ofOklahoma› Norman › Type of institution:Comprehensive four-yearresearch university › Emphasis: Comprehen-sive › Contact: 325-2151 or

(800) 234-6868,www.go2.ou.edu

OU Health SciencesCenter› Oklahoma City and Tul-sa › Type of institution: Pro-fessional, graduate andupper level undergraduate › Emphasis: Medicine andhealth careers › Contact: HSC studentservices, 271-2416,www.ouhsc.edu

Hillsdale Free WillBaptist College› Moore › Type of institution:Christian institution pro-viding courses of studyleading to associate orbachelor’s degrees andmaster of arts and ministrydegree › Emphasis: Arts and sci-ences, Christian vocation-al studies › Contact: Admissions,912-9007 or 912-9000,www.hc.edu

Mid-America ChristianUniversity› Oklahoma City › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Ministry andliberal arts › Contact: Office of Ad-missions, 691-3800,www.macu.edu

Oklahoma BaptistUniversity› Shawnee › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: Admissions of-fice, 878-2033 or (800)654-3285, www.okbu.edu/admissions

Oklahoma ChristianUniversity› Oklahoma City › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: Oklahoma

Christian University Ad-missions, 425-5050 or(800) 877- 5010, www. oc.edu

Oklahoma CityUniversity› Oklahoma City › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Comprehen-sive; liberal arts core curri-culum› Contact: Admissions,208-5340 or (800) 633-7242, www.okcu.edu

St. Gregory’sUniversity› Shawnee › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: Office of Ad-missions, 878-5444 or(888) 784-7347,www.stgregorys.edu

Southern NazareneUniversity› Bethany; branch in Tulsa › Type of institution:Four-year university › Emphasis: Liberal arts › Contact: 491-6324 or(800) 648-9899,www.snu.edu

SouthwesternChristian University› Bethany › Type of institution:Four-year college › Emphasis: Bible/theolo-gy and professional minis-try › Contact: AdmissionsOffice, 789-7661, ext.3420, www.swcu.edu

Embry-RiddleAeronauticalUniversity› Oklahoma City, Altus,Vance Air Force Base › Type of institution:

classroom and distancelearning center › Emphasis: Aeronautics,education, technology,management, operations,safety, human factors › Contact: Admissions,Oklahoma City, 739-0397;Altus, (580) 481-5991;Vance, (580) 213-7320,www.erau.edu

University of Phoenix› Oklahoma City, Normanand Tulsa › Type of institution: Fasttrack degree program › Emphasis: Bachelor’s,master’s and doctoral;professional certificates › Contact: Admissions,842-8007 or (918) 622-4877 www.phoenix.edu

FROM PAGE 6S

Finding, selecting andapplying for the right col-lege or university is an im-portant and sometimestough assignment thatmany high school studentsand their parents have toface. It involves letterwriting, telephoning, re-search, weighing alterna-tives and plain hard think-ing. But with planning anda step-by-step approach,the chances of making agood decision are high.

ObjectivesSelecting a college has

lasting effects: what stu-dents become four yearslater is influenced by whichcollege they choose, andhow they go about gettinginto it once they have se-lected it. No two collegesare exactly alike, and someare very different.

A good beginning in se-lecting a college is to makea list of objectives, botheducational and personal.High school courses needto be planned early with

college entrance require-ments in mind. The pur-pose is not to make deci-sions about a course ofstudy that may turn out tobe premature, but to keepthe options open untilsuch decisions can bemade. The areas of educa-tional and personal inter-est that students most fre-quently cite as importantin selecting a college in-clude the following:

› Location › Religious affiliation› Enrollment size› Academic calendar › Campus environment › Majors or course of-

ferings › Housing (on-campus,

off-campus) › Cost › Financial aid › Student activities › Athletics › Academic reputation› Social life Obviously, not all of

these items will be of highpriority, but using them asa checklist helps to specifythe range of choices. Al-though students may wantto make changes or mod-

ifications in the list as theyreview colleges, it is im-portant not to eliminateany of these areas untilstudents know which areessential and which arenot. Even then, it is quitepossible that no collegewill meet all of an individ-ual’s needs.

Acquiring informationAfter drawing up a list of

preferred colleges, stu-dents are ready to gatherinformation and exploretheir choices in depth. Themore information they ac-quire, the more likely theywill make a good decision.Making a file on each col-lege and keeping copies ofcorrespondence, applica-tions, personal notes, fi-nancial aid information,and names of personalcontacts and conversa-tions with people on cam-pus can serve as excellentsources for making the fi-nal choice.

The primary sources forgathering information oncolleges include collegewebsites and catalogs,representatives, campus

visits, college students andalumni, high school coun-selors, parents, friends andcollege fairs.

Campus visits are one ofthe most effective meansto determine if the collegeis the right one. Many col-leges provide campustours and programs whichgive an excellent opportu-nity to get a feeling of sizeand atmosphere. Collegefairs are particularly help-ful to those who have nothad the opportunity tovisit many college cam-puses or talk with collegerepresentatives. Thesefairs provide an excellentopportunity to talk tomany college representa-tives and gather informa-tion the same day.

Application processThe procedures for ap-

plying for admission varyfrom one college to anoth-er, but usually the first stepis to obtain an applicationform from the college.This should be done asearly as possible in the se-nior year, or at the end ofthe junior year if seeking

early admission. Studentsapplying for financial aidalso may be required tomeet early deadlines.

Filling out the applica-tion completely and care-fully is very important. Inaddition, many collegesrequire a recommendationfrom the secondary schoolcounselor, administrator,or teacher. It is the individ-ual student’s responsibilityto file the completed appli-cation on time, meet dead-line dates for submittingtest scores, and file finan-cial aid applications. Theschool counselor is the keyresource for informationon test scores, financial aidforms, deadline dates, andother particulars.

› Application fee: Mostcharge an application fee,usually not refundableeven if the application isrejected.

› Academic records:The counselor submits asecondary school tran-script or college transferrecord of student courses,final grades, and testscores.

› Admission test

scores: For many stu-dents, the college selectionprocess begins with thePreliminary ScholasticAptitude Test (PSAT),which is taken in the fall ofthe junior year. Highschool counselors advisestudents which of the col-lege entrance tests to takeand when to take them.

› Letters of recom-mendation: Some collegesrequire one or more lettersof recommendation from ateacher, counselor, clergy,alumnus, or adult memberof the community.

› Essay: A personal es-say or autobiographicalstatement is required bysome institutions, partic-ularly four-year, privatecolleges.

AcceptanceOnce students have

heard from all the collegesto which they have ap-plied, it is their responsi-bility to send a letter of ac-ceptance or rejection ofadmission offers.

SOURCE: EDUCATIONAL RESOURCEINFORMATION CENTER

(U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION)

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE

Utilize resources during college searchFROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS


College expenses vary, depend-ing on the type of college or uni-versity, the number of courses astudent takes, the student’s major,and his or her personal lifestyle,among other factors. However, asignificant expense for most col-lege students is the cost of classes.Students pay tuition to cover costssuch as professors’ salaries, class-room and laboratory equipment,classroom maintenance and util-ity costs. Tuition at Oklahomastate colleges and universities isconsiderably lower than averagetuition at similar institutions inother states.

Students also pay special fees inaddition to tuition. Special feesinclude library fees, computer usefees, student activity fees and as-sessment fees. Some academic

courses also charge fees for the useof equipment and facilities, pri-vate instruction, remedial in-struction and testing and clinicalservices.

The estimated cost of attendingOklahoma colleges and universi-ties is calculated at right for full-time resident undergraduate stu-dents enrolled in 30 semestercredit hours during the 2010-2011academic year. Costs for room andboard and books and supplies arebased on Fiscal Year 2011 estimat-ed costs and may be rounded tothe nearest dollar. The data is cur-rent as of Sept. 9.

Room and board estimates arebased on a student living in a tra-ditional dormitory with a room-mate and participating in a board(meal) plan. Many institutions of-fer a wide variety of room and

board plans, and costs may differfrom the average reported above.

Independent colleges and uni-versities are not included in the

above information. Please checkwith the institution you wish toattend for an estimate of costs.

Research universities› Tuition: $3,890› Mandatory fees: $2,891› Average academic service

fees: $795› Room and board: $6,763› Books and supplies: $1,030Total: $15,369

Regional universities› Tuition: $3,313› Mandatory fees: $1,087› Average academic service


Community colleges› Tuition: $2,051› Mandatory fees: $790› Average academic service


Technical branches› Tuition: $2,617› Mandatory fees: $798› Average academic service


SOURCE: OKCOLLEGESTART.ORG

SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND LOANS

How much does college cost?FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

AT A GLANCE

FINANCIALTERMSAccrual dateThe day interestcharges on an edu-cation loan begin.

CapitalizationThe process of add-ing unpaid interestto the principal bal-ance of an educationloan.

DefaultFailure of a borrowerto repay the loan.

DefermentAn authorized periodof time during whicha borrower maypostpone principal orprincipal and interestpayments.

DisbursementThe release of loanfunds to the schoolfor delivery to theborrower.

Federal FamilyEducation LoanProgramEducation loansprovided by privatelenders and guaran-teed by the federalgovernment.

Financial needThe difference be-tween the cost ofattending a partic-ular school and thecalculated familycontribution, minusother aid.

ForbearanceAn authorized periodduring which thelender agrees topostpone a borrow-er’s principal repay-ment obligation.

Grace periodThe period betweenthe time borrowersleave school or dropbelow half-timestudy and the timethey are obligated tobegin repaying theirloans — usually sixmonths.

HolderThe institution withlegal title to a loan.

InterestA fee charged forthe use of borrowedmoney.

Origination feeA fee charged by thefederal governmentto offset adminis-trative costspartially.

Principal The amountborrowed.

Promissory noteThe legal documentborrowers sign toget education loans.

OKLAHOMA REGENTS FORHIGHER EDUCATION

ONLINE

MOREINFORMATIONFor more informa-tion, go to www.okhighered.org.

Here are examples ofscholarships available tostudents attending Okla-homa colleges and univer-sities:

Oklahoma TuitionScholarship Program

The Oklahoma TuitionScholarship Programawards scholarships tostudents who meet certainacademic requirementsand whose family incomeis less than $70,000.

Students must be stateresidents for two years be-fore high school gradua-tion, must have graduatedfrom an accredited Okla-homa high school and havebeen awarded a standarddiploma.

Students must applywithin three years of highschool graduation, have aminimum score of 26 onthe ACT, have a minimum3.25 grade point averageand be in the top 15 percentof their class. Applicantsalso must apply for stateand federal financial aid.

For more information,contact the OklahomaState Regents for HigherEducation at 225-9239 inthe Oklahoma City area,(800) 858-1840, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Academic ScholarsProgram

The Academic ScholarsProgram awards scholar-ships to students with highacademic performancewho plan to attend anOklahoma public or pri-vate college or university.The amounts vary bywhich type of institution astudent attends. The an-nual scholarship amount is$5,500 for students whoattend the University ofOklahoma, OklahomaState University or theUniversity of Tulsa;$4,000 for students whoattend any other Okla-homa four-year public orprivate college or universi-ty; and $3,500 for studentswho attend Oklahomatwo-year colleges. Stu-dents who enroll at publicinstitutions are eligible fora tuition waiver.

The scholarship will beawarded for up to eight se-mesters of attendance atan Oklahoma institutionfor higher education in ac-cordance with the contin-uing eligibility require-

ments. Oklahoma resi-dents automatically quali-fy by scoring within the99.5 to 100 percentile lev-els on the ACT or SAT asadministered within thestate.


Oklahoma HigherLearning AccessProgram

The Oklahoma HigherLearning Access Programawards full tuition schol-arships at Oklahoma pub-lic colleges and universi-ties to students whosefamilies earn no more than$50,000 a year and dem-onstrate a commitment toacademic success in highschool. Students mustsign up between the eighthand 10th grades. Require-ments include a 2.5 gradepoint average, regular classattendance and homeworkcompletion, staying out oftrouble and avoiding drugsand alcohol.

For more information,contact the OklahomaState Regents for HigherEducation at 225-9239 inthe Oklahoma City area,(800) 858-1840, or by e-mail at [email protected]

Oklahoma Tuition AidGrant Program

The Oklahoma TuitionAid Grant Program awardsneed-based grants toOklahoma students to helpmeet part of the cost of at-tending college. The maxi-mum amount of aid is 75percent of enrollmentcosts or $1,000, whicheveris less. The deadline forapplying is June 30, butbecause the program usu-ally receives more appli-cants than can be awarded,applicants are encouragedto apply by April 30 forbest consideration.

For more information,contact the OklahomaTuition Aid Grant Programat 225-9456 in the Okla-homa City area, (877) 662-6231, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Regional UniversityBaccalaureateScholarships

Regional University

Baccalaureate Scholar-ships are based on aca-demic merit and given toOklahoma residents whoplan to attend an Okla-homa regional university.

The scholarships coverup to four years of tuitionat the state’s 11 participat-ing regional public univer-sities: the University ofCentral Oklahoma, EastCentral University, North-eastern State University,Northwestern OklahomaState University, South-eastern Oklahoma StateUniversity, SouthwesternOklahoma State Universi-ty, Cameron University,Langston University, Rog-ers State University, Okla-homa Panhandle StateUniversity, and the Uni-versity of Science and Artsof Oklahoma.

Applicants must beOklahoma residents, havean ACT composite score ofat least 30 and an excep-tional grade point averageand class rank, or be a Na-

tional Merit Semifinalist orCommended Student.

The annual award is$3,000, and each recipientwill receive a resident tui-tion waiver from the insti-tution. The scholarshipcovers up to eight semes-ters of study in a baccalau-reate program at a regionaluniversity, or until the stu-dent is granted a degree.

The scholarship must beused at the universitymaking the award, and ap-plication is made directlythrough the school thestudent plans to attend.


Student loansFor more information on

student loans, contact theOklahoma GuaranteedStudent Loan Program at234-4340 in the Okla-homa City area, (800)442-8642, or go towww.ogslp.org

State scholarships

There are several scholarships available to students attending Oklahoma collegesand universities. PHOTO PROVIDED


To be a successful col-lege student, sometimesOklahoma City Universitysophomore Emma Velezhas to turn down a dinnerinvitation from friends soshe can work on a paper.

Other times, a movienight or “Glee” marathonis just what she needs.

Students encountermany challenges and newresponsibilities when theyenter college. One of thebiggest is finding a balancebetween school work andother activities.

Velez, a philosophy andpolitical science studentfrom Little Axe, makesschool work a top priority,but she still finds time forfriends and social outings.She encourages new stu-dents to do the same.

“Don’t be so overcom-mitted in your academicsthat you neglect thosetimes going out withfriends,” Velez said.

Finding a balance can bedifficult for students whoare not used to the freedomand responsibilities of col-lege life. Learning to prior-itize and developing timemanagement skills can help,said Lee Hall, assistant di-rector of student life atOklahoma City University.

Adjusting to life with aroommate also can be dif-ficult, but learning to getalong and solve disputesare important skills stu-dents will use throughouttheir lives, Hall said. Sheencouraged students to beflexible and to have the

courage to talk about whatdoesn’t work.

“Most of it really comesdown to being a goodcommunicator and notbeing afraid to say whatyou need,” Hall said.

Many students whohave trouble adjusting orgo through a rough patchthink they are alone, buthelp is always available,Hall said. Students justneed to ask.

Hall said getting involvedwith the campus or com-munity can help studentsbuild meaningful relation-ships, which often contrib-ute to academic success.Hall encourages students toget to know their professorsoutside the classroom.

Getting enough sleepand practicing healthy life-style habits like eatingright and exercising are

important for student suc-cess, Hall said.

College is a time for stu-dents to become inde-pendent thinkers and learnwho they are, Hall said.She encourages studentsto explore other cultures

and perspectives.Velez said she was al-

ways good at time man-agement, but she had tohone her skills to keep upwith the rigors of college.This semester, she is en-rolled in 17 credit hours,

participating in studentgovernment, advising afreshmen leadership classand organizing a Relay forLife event on campus,among other activities.

Velez said getting herfirst taste of “freedom”

was challenging. No onewas around to wake her ifshe missed her alarm foran 8 a.m. history class.

“Freshman year is aboutfeeling your way throughand making those mis-takes,” Velez said.

MAKING IT THROUGH FRESHMAN YEAR

Getting involved can ease transitionBY DARLA SLIPKEStaff [email protected]

Students eat lunch in the basement of a chapel at Oklahoma City University on aWednesday afternoon in October. Students participated in a free lunch and otheractivities during “Wednesday at the Wesley.” PHOTOS BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN

Junior Nathan Oney plays ping pong in the basementof the chapel at Oklahoma City University during"Wednesday at the Wesley."

Senior Lisa Ward and junior Brittany Delgado eatlunch in the basement of the chapel.

Junior Nathan Oney plays pingpong against AndyNelms, pictured with his back to the camera.

The annual collegeshopping trip is almostupon us. And while it’s funto stock up on posters,shower caddies and desklamps, experts say you alsoshould consider how you’llkeep yourself, and yourstuff, safe on campus.

Common sense is thebest defense, says ChrisMcGoey, who runs a secu-rity business in Los An-geles and consults on cam-pus safety.

“It’s all about access. Inmost incidents, victimswere careless, unawareand too trusting,” he says.

In dorm suites and hall-ways, there may be visitorsyou don’t know. Manyfreshmen like to adopt an“open-door” policy whenthey get moved intodorms. But that’s an invi-tation to would-bethieves.

“If you have a computer,laptop or other electronicequipment, tether it tosomething solid using asecurity cable,” advise the“college life” editors at theschool-advice site sparknotes.com.

Laptop locksThere also are motion-

sensor locks for laptops.And Orbicule’s Undercov-er is a monitoring devicefor your Mac, iPhone oriPad; for a student price of$39, the downloadablesoftware will snap a photoof the person who tookyour Mac and track the IPaddress anywhere in the

world. This informationcan be given to police. Inthe meantime, lockoutfeatures prevent the thieffrom accessing anythingon the computer.

Security and safesAs for smaller valuables,

some students suggestkeeping them in a trunk —“the kind you take to sum-mer camp” with a combi-nation lock. Trunks alsomake handy nightstands.

Jeff Gawronski ofDormCo.com, an onlineretailer that sells dorm se-curity items, says his big-gest seller is a room safe.Safes these days have beenscaled down to look lessintimidating in a dormroom.

Diversion safes are con-tainers that look like ev-eryday items like cleansercans, for example. Theidea’s clever, so long as no-body accidentally throwsthe safe out.

Locked doorsIf your roommate has

lost a key, don’t leave thedoor unlocked. Instead,offer to help find the resi-dent assistant to get a newlock and keys.

In general, familiarizeyourself with the school’ssecurity systems and dormenvironment. Locate fireextinguishers, and keep asmall one on hand if youhave appliances.

DormCo.com stocks aKevlar fire blanket tosmother flames.

Female students mayfeel safer at night with a

small pepper spray canis-ter, if the school allows it.Collegestudentsafety.comeven sells jogging handweights with a small vialhidden in the grip. A light-ed keychain with an alarmmay offer peace of mind.

Identity protectionStudents are at particu-

lar risk for identity theft,according to a survey byImpulse Research for theChubb Group InsuranceCos. Some simple stepscan reduce the risk:

Don’t give out bank,credit card or Social Secu-rity information over thephone or online. Shredsensitive documents, oruse an identity blockerstamp that obscures per-sonal info.

Be careful about reply-ing to solicitations, andcheck bank balancesfrequently.

If your wallet or purse isstolen, let your bank, theschool and the police knowimmediately.

If you do suspect identi-ty theft, go to onguardonline.gov for help.

It has information fromthe federal governmentand the tech industry onhow to safeguard identityonline.

“Parents can’t assumetheir son/daughter knowsnot to readily give out theirpersonal information,”says Gawronski.

“This should be a dis-cussion for all parents tohave with their childrenbefore they head off to col-lege.”

Once you’re in college, youshould keep safety in mindBY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Enter to win a backpack andschool supplies worth $250FROM STAFF REPORTS


College students may be inclass only a few hours each day,but studying for those courses isa full-time job, according to Col-lege Board, the organization thatissues the SAT.

For most students, simplycramming for exams won’t resultin good grades. Student shouldspend about 40 hours each weekin class, at labs or meetings, instudy groups or doinghomework.

Being organized is the key tosucceeding academically.

Students should make a planof when and where they’ll study.It’s best to avoid late nights whenyou are so tired you’ll forgetmuch of the material. The beststudy spots have good light andgood desk space.

Here are some tips:› Decide in advance what

you’ll study, choosing reasona-ble and specific goals that youcan accomplish.

› Do things that are harder orrequire more intense thoughtearlier in the day.

› Take breaks so that you stayfresh and don’t waste timelooking at material but not ab-

sorbing it.› Make use of spare time right

before and after class and inbreaks between other activities.

› Get to know students whomyou respect and can study withor call and ask questions.

› Read assigned materials be-fore class so that you’ll be able toask questions about and have acontext for understanding them.

› Take notes on the readinginstead of highlighting the text.It’s a more active form oflearning.

SOURCE: “HOW TO GET A’S IN COLLEGE,” BYHUNDREDS OF HEADS BOOKS

MAKING IT THROUGH FRESHMAN YEAR

Study plans will help students learnBY SUSAN SIMPSONStaff [email protected]

AT A GLANCE

MISTAKES MADE IN LARGE LECTURE CLASSES:

› Not going to class.› Sitting in the back.› Not buying the textbook.› Enjoying the anonymity or not interacting with professors.› Eating in class, which is distracting to others.

THREE TIPS FOR DEALING WITH TEST ANXIETY:

› Breathe!› Avoid cramming all night.› Do the easy questions first to build confidence.

As soon as the residenceassignments are sent out,some college students areeager to feather their newdorm nest. But don’t gooverboard.

Leave the blender, grillor popcorn maker athome, advises LauraJeanne Hammond, pub-lisher and editor-in-chiefof Next Step magazine,which is aimed at highschool students planninglife after graduation.

“How many fresh-fruitsmoothies will you reallybe making in your dormroom?” she asks.

She also nixes the coffeemaker. “Going out for cof-fee is a great way to makefriends; drinking it alonein your dorm room is not.”

Next Step’s suggestedgift list for new freshmenincludes fun items like acheat sheet on clotheswashing, stick-up touchlights, and even a smallplant or aquarium.

Some experts suggestholding off on purchasesuntil you’ve spent a fewdays at school. In thatcase, friends and familymight consider giving giftcards to stores in the col-lege area.

Many colleges also havechecklists of recommend-ed items on their residencewebsites. Make sure youknow what the schoolwon’t let you bring; it va-ries widely. And get intouch with upperclassmento glean insider tips.

An informal survey ofsome recent freshmen of-fers these tips on what’struly worth taking:

Many students say someversion of a tool kit is es-sential: a couple of screw-drivers, a small hammer,duct tape, hex wrenches,rechargeable batteries,flashlight, pliers, picturehanging items. There’s of-ten something that needsfixing after the parentsleave.

Unless a loft-style bedawaits, bed-frame raisersget a nod; attached to eachleg, they provide addedstorage space.

With the likelihood thatroommates will bring a lotof the same stuff, a perma-nent marker helps identifypersonal items.

A large magnetized dryerase board is necessaryfor keeping track of sched-ules and leaving messages.

Some like collapsibleclothes hampers. Manysuggested packing a bigduffel bag with stuff, thenusing it to store dirty laun-dry.

DVDs and something toplay them on appeared onmost lists, as a great way tobreak the social ice. Noise-canceling headphoneskeep welcome sound in,unwelcome sound out.

Fans, for both cool com-fort and sleep-inducingwhite noise.

Depending on whereyour campus is, a foldingcamp chair is useful foroutdoor concerts or tripsto the beach.

David Ladetto, a recentUniversity of Massachu-setts at Amherst grad, puta shower curtain at the topof his list. “It was one ofthe most useful items Ibrought with me,” he ex-plained. “It’s an easy roomdivider, closet cover andprivacy protector. I have toapologize to my mother for

this one, because she wasright. I ended up using ashower curtain for so manythings my entire four yearsin college.”

Some kind of basic filingsystem ranked high: You’llbe keeping track of a lot offorms and important pa-pers on your own now, andeven a simple paper accor-dion file will do the trick.

Several rising sopho-mores bemoaned the gen-eral lack of dorm cleanli-ness. While you might notbe able to get your roomieon the same hygiene page,you can stock up on mildair freshener (check on al-lergies first, or opt for achemical-free air cleaner),some paper towels and anall-purpose cleaner.

Toilet paper, if you wantsomething softer thanwhat colleges typicallyprovide.

And for stepping intoresidence showers, flip-flops were a nearly unani-mous choice.

Allison Kramer, a stu-dent at Kenyon College inOhio, advised stocking upon vitamin C. “Unfortu-

nately, you spend a fairamount of time at collegebeing sick,” she said.

A nice throw rug and“your favorite lamp fromhome” can help offset adorm room’s institutionalfeel. Because for all the funand freedom to be found ina tiny dorm room, there’sstill space for homesick-ness. Pictures of high

school friends alsocan becomforting, some said.

For Trevor Ezell, anoth-er Kenyon student, it washis record player that pro-vided solace. “Listening toa long-forgotten album, Ifound myself unable toforget my family. Perhapsmore than anything else,my records helped me re-turn home.”

Bring what you really need to your dorm room

This is a a “Say What Door Sign” by PB Teen. Students can leave notes for their dorm mates with this dry erase door sign that includeshook to hang over your door and a dry erase pen with eraser. AP PHOTOS

This PB Teen product is a Daily Dot Calendar -- magnetic disks attach to the walls with D rings and can be written on with dry erase mark-ers.

This product by Home Goods is a Bohemian-style block reversible double sizequilt. It is available in pink or blue.

This PB Teen product is Hi Light Task Lamps, whichcome in a variety of colors.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

12 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2010 NEWSOK.COMTHE OKLAHOMAN

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College Bound