| Get your StudentAid.gov
account. FAFSA applicants must create a StudentAid.gov
account, which is a username and password you'll use throughout the
financial aid process to complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid, or FAFSA, to sign student loan applications, to view
your financial aid history, and more. Accounts should be set up 3-5
days before starting the FAFSA. Visit StudentAid.gov
to create your account. |
Federal Student Aid |
| Complete the FAFSA. The
FAFSA is your first step in applying for federal and state
financial aid. Complete the FAFSA when it becomes available at FAFSA.gov. You'll need
your StudentAid.gov account to access and electronically sign the
FAFSA. If you're a dependent student, one or both of your parents
will also need to create a StudentAid.gov account. Oklahoma's Promise
students must complete the FAFSA annually in order to receive their
funding. |
FAFSA.gov |
| Look for your FAFSA Submission
Summary. After you submit the FAFSA, you'll receive a
FAFSA Submission Summary via email or postal mail. Review the
information provided on the summary for accuracy. If you find
errors, correct the data at StudentAid.gov or by contacting your college
financial aid office. |
|
| Learn about financial
aid. Research grants, work-study and student loan
information and options at StudentAid.gov and UCanGo2.org. |
Financial Aid 101 UCanGo2.org |
| Select special classes.
Consider taking Advanced Placement or concurrent enrollment courses
next year. Talk to your counselor now about your options. These
classes are worth checking out because some offer college credit,
which could save you time and money in the long run. |
Advanced Placement
Concurrent Enrollment |
| Study. Just like your
parents said, good grades matter! Stay committed and maintain your
grades. These habits will carry over to your college coursework.
Find The Perfect 10 Study Habits at UCanGo2.org. |
Course
to Take UCanGo2.org |
| Stay on track. Review
your class schedule with your counselor to make sure you're meeting
high school graduation requirements, Oklahoma's Promise course work
and GPA expectations, and college entrance requirements for the
institutions that interest you. Check out the College
Preparatory/Work Ready Curriculum Standards to see Oklahoma's
graduation requirements. |
Plan of Study Graduation Checklists |
| Finalize Oklahoma's
Promise. Students have until December 31 of the senior
year to submit an Oklahoma's Promise application. Be sure you
submit by the deadline and finalize any additional paperwork needed
as quickly as possible. |
Oklahoma's Promise |
| Learn more. Attend
college fairs in your area (use our College Fair Worksheet as your
guide), meet with college recruiters and bring an adult to a FAFSA
event at your school to get answers to your questions about
enrollment and paying for college. |
UCanGo2.org |
| Choose your top picks.
Narrow your list of potential colleges based on your research. Your
list will probably include three to five colleges; however, you can
add up to 20 institutions on your FAFSA. |
|
| Take a tour. Visit
campuses that are a good match for your abilities and career
interests. Use the tools found at UCanGo2.org such as Making the Most of Campus
Visits to ensure your visits are successful. Many colleges offer
virtual tours if you're unable to visit in person. Review our list
of Oklahoma institutions that offer virtual tours at
OKcollegestart.org. |
Virtual
Campus Tours UCanGo2.org |
| Fill it out. Submit
college admission applications to your top choices. Be aware of all
application deadlines and fees. Your high school may host a College
Application Week so ask your counselor for details. You can also
practice your college application with a sample application form on
OKcollegestart.org. |
Practice Application
Explore Postsecondary Schools |
| ACT on it. Make sure your
official ACT and/or SAT test scores are sent to the campuses to
which you're applying. Need to take the ACT or SAT again? Use the
free test prep resources on OKcollegestart.org to increase your
score. Find test locations and dates at ACT.org and SAT.org. |
Test Prep ACT SAT |
| Go for scholarship
success. Scholarships are considered FREE money and may
fill the financial gap when covering your educational expenses.
Check out our scholarship search, UCanGo2.org, and many other search engines to
find a list of trusted scholarship websites. Find Scholarships 101,
the Path to Scholarship Success, a Scholarship Tracker and
Scholarship Essay Writing Tips in UCanGo2's Scholarship Success
Guide. |
Scholarship
Search UCanGo2.org |
| Keep saving. Continue to
add money to your Oklahoma 529 college savings plan (oklahoma529.com) or other savings account. It's
generally best to keep most savings in your parent(s)'
name(s).. |
Oklahoma 529 College Savings Plan |
| Don't forget! You must
complete the FAFSA prior to graduation. |
Federal Student Aid FAFSA.gov |
| Check in. Contact the
financial aid and admission offices at the institution(s) you may
attend to make sure they've received all of your information. |
|
| Ask for it. Request that
your high school send your final transcript, ACT and SAT scores,
ICAP results, and all pertinent information to the colleges or
career technology centers you may wish to attend. |
|
| Keep an eye open. Watch
your email or mailbox for FAFSA results, otherwise known as your
FAFSA Submission Summary. If all information appears to be correct,
check for financial aid offers that will be sent to you from the
institutions listed on your FAFSA. These offers will list the
amounts and types of aid you're eligible to receive. Some campuses
send their offers electronically. |
|
| Make your choice. If
you've been accepted to multiple colleges, make a decision and
notify the campus you plan to attend as soon as possible. You may
be required to pay a nonrefundable deposit to secure your
spot. |
|
| Confirm your interest.
You may be placed on a waiting list for an opening at a particular
campus. If so, make your decision and let them know if you're still
interested. |
|
| Be ready. Participate in
any summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen. |
Explore
Schools |