2014 College Bound by OPUBCO Communications Group

OPUBCO COMMUNICATIONS GROUP | THE OKLAHOMAN | SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

COLLEGE BOUND W

hether the decision has been made already or is still years away, help is available to guide you toward planning a college career and beyond. Planning for college, as early as the fifth grade, will improve your chances of getting accepted and it will make it easier to apply when the time comes.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

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COLLEGE BOUND

Making the grade When you apply for admission to an Oklahoma state college or university, the institution will look at either your score on a national test — ACT or SAT — your high school grade point average and where your average ranks within your high school class, or your GPA in the 15 high school core courses required for college entry. GETTY IMAGES

Requirements for college admission in Oklahoma

4 3 3 3 +2 15

English: grammar, composition and literature

Math: Algebra I, Algebra II, geometry, math analysis, trigonometry, pre-calculus (must have completed geometry and Algebra II), calculus and Advanced Placement statistics Laboratory science: biology, chemistry, physics or any lab science certified by school district; general science courses don’t qualify

History and citizenship skills: must include one unit of American history and two units from the subjects of history, economics, geography, government, civics and/or non-Western culture Other: 2 units from any of the subjects listed above or from computer science or foreign language

Oklahoma colleges and universities require students to have taken certain courses for admission.

Admission standards for fall 2014 RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES •Oklahoma State University — Score a 24 ACT or 1090 SAT OR have a 3.0 GPA and rank in the top 33 percent of your class OR have a 3.0 GPA in the 15-unit core and a 21 ACT or 980 SAT OR score a 22 ACT or 1020 SAT or have an unweighted high school core curriculum GPA of 3.0 plus undergo review of cognitive and noncognitive factors. •University of Oklahoma (resident ) — Score a 24 ACT or 1090 SAT and have a 3.0 GPA or rank in the top 50 percent of your class OR have a 3.0 GPA and rank in the top 25 percent of your class. •University of Oklahoma (nonresident) — Nonresident students will be considered for admission using holistic review and selection considering several factors that predict academic success (high school GPA, high school course rigor, academic engagement, writing ability, leadership and ACT/SAT scores).

PUBLIC LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY •University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma — Score a 24 ACT or 1090 SAT and have a 3.0 GPA or rank in the top 50 percent of your class OR have a 3.0 GPA and rank in the top 25 percent of your class OR have a 3.0 GPA in the 15-unit core and an 22 ACT or 1020 SAT.

REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES Score a 20 ACT or 940 SAT OR have a 2.7 GPA and rank in the top 50 percent of your class OR have a 2.7 GPA in the 15-unit core.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES You don’t need to make certain scores, but you should fulfill these requirements: take required high school classes AND graduate from an accredited high school or have a GED AND take the ACT exam. Note: If you want to go to a state university, but you don’t meet the course and grade requirements, ask your counselor about right-to-try provisions. For more information, go online to OKcollegestart.org SOURCE: OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Total units

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COLLEGE BOUND

PLAN EARLY

FOR COLLEGE

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If you’re thinking about college, follow this timeline to plan for success

9TH GRADE Now that you’re in 9th grade, it’s time to get serious about your college plans. By starting early, you’ll be better prepared. Study hard. Build good study habits to keep your grades in tip-top shape. Save money. Sign up for a college savings account from Oklahoma’s 529 college savings plan (OK4Saving.org) or continue to add money to an existing account. It’s generally best to keep most savings in your parents’ name. Apply for Oklahoma’s Promise! If you didn’t apply in eighth grade, go to www. okhighered.org/okpromise/ to sign up for this scholarship program. Talk it up. Discuss your future plans with your guidance counselor, teachers, family members, or other trusted adults. Take the right classes. To be college bound, your class schedule should contain at least four college-preparatory classes per year, including: I 4 units of English I 3 units of math (at or above Algebra 1) I 3 units of laboratory science I 3 units of history/citizenship skills I 2 units of electives from the areas above or foreign language or computer science Some schools recommend you take an extra unit in math, an additional unit in lab science and two units in speech or fine arts (music, art, or drama). Invite your counselor to work with you on a plan of study. Check it out. Find out about college entrance requirements for the schools you’re interested in. Track it. Create a file of the following documents and notes: report cards, lists of awards and honors, school and community activities, and volunteer work.

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Start thinking about the colleges you want to attend. Find out about AP and other honors-level courses. Continue to get involved in campus and community activities. Take the ACT EXPLORE test if you didn’t take it last year, to evaluate your skills in English, math, reading and science reasoning. It’s good practice and your scores won’t count towards your college application.

10TH GRADE Keep those grades up! Stay focused on your schoolwork and be actively involved in high school. Last chance to apply for Oklahoma’s Promise! If you didn’t apply in eighth or ninth grade, go to www.okhighered.org/ okpromise/ to sign up for this scholarship program. Sign up for a college savings account at Oklahoma’s 529 college saving plan (OK4Saving.org). If you have an existing account, remember to continue to add money. Talk to your parents about financial aid options. It’s never too early to start planning how you’re going to pay for college. Continue planning. Talk to counselors, teachers, family members or trusted adults about your plans for college. Continue to challenge yourself. Find out about AP and other honors-level courses for junior year. Update your college planning file — or start one, if you haven’t already. Be active. Continue extracurricular activities. Remember, many admissions officers look for well-rounded students who participate in the world around them. If you have room in your schedule, consider a part-time job or volunteer position. Know what you need. Review what courses you’ll need to take to satisfy the requirements of the school you’re interested in attending.

Stay motivated. Look into participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts and sciences. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education offers free summer academies. These are great opportunities to get experience in a field of interest and to build on your academic resume. Take the PLAN test. This is a valuable test to help you prepare for the ACT, which you can take next year. The Oklahoma State Regents pays for every sophomore in Oklahoma to take it. Ask your counselor for more information. If you plan to take the SAT, take the PSAT in October. The scores will not count for National Merit Scholar consideration this year, but it is good practice for taking the PSAT in your junior year (when the scores will count). It’s not too early to start studying for standardized tests like the ACT and SAT. Investigate concurrent enrollment for next year. This allows juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses if they meet certain requirements. Make a list. Explore reasons why you like different colleges and universities — programs, location, cost and so on. Start thinking about what factors are important to you in choosing a college: size, location, availability of extracurricular activities, for example. Keep reading! Expanding your vocabulary and learning new things will help with many things over the next few years.

College life can be a big change — you’re on your own! Try taking some small steps towards independence this year, perhaps with more responsibility around your house. How are you spending your summer? Volunteering and educational programs can help give you a better idea about what kind of training or career would be right for you. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education offers free summer academies. These are great opportunities to get experience in a field of interest and to build on your academic resume.

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COLLEGE BOUND

11th GRADE Maintaining your grades during your junior year is important. Be sure that every course you take helps prepare you for college. Colleges will look at courses you take and expect rigor (challenging work) in your choices. Advanced Placement (AP) and honors courses help prepare a student for college.

Fall semester

your guidance counselor, teachers, family members or other trusted adults about your plans after high school. Talk with family and friends about their educational choices. Stay involved in school and community activities. This looks good on your resume for scholarships and college applications.

Do a thorough review career and college research. Ask for a copy of your transcript and evaluate yourself. Look at your class rank and GPA. Look for any gaps or low points and seek advice from your counselor on ways to improve these areas.

Talk to your guidance counselor (or teachers, if you don’t have access to a guidance counselor) about the following: I Availability of and enrollment in AP classes I Concurrent enrollment opportunities: taking college-level courses before you graduate from high school I Schedules and important deadlines/dates for the PSAT, ACT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams, SAT I and II. Ask which of these exams would be the best fit for your future — and sign up for those tests. Remember, you can always change your mind.

Keep talking. Continue your conversations with

Review your academic record with your coun-

If you are an Oklahoma’s Promise student be sure you are taking the proper coursework to qualify and that you are maintaining a good GPA. Make sure you’re challenging yourself academically. Colleges will consider how difficult your courses are.

selor and talk about ways to improve. Find out the admission requirements for the colleges you’re interested in. Do your research, and be sure to find out about any additional requirements besides GPA and test scores.

AUGUST I Obtain schedules and forms for the ACT and Advanced Placement (AP) exams and or SAT I, SAT II.

SEPTEMBER I Register for the PSAT exam offered in October. I Remember that when you take the PSAT in your junior year, the scores will count towards the National Achievement Program (and it is good practice for the SAT I). I Start a file for college catalogs and other admissions information. I Keep an eye out for college nights at schools in your area.

OCTOBER I Take the PSAT. I Visit colleges, talk to recruiters, and learn about

programs offered. Narrow your list of colleges to include a few colleges with requirements at your current GPA, a few with requirements above your current GPA, and at least one with requirements below your GPA. I Begin scheduling interviews with admissions counselors. I Try to schedule tours of campus the same day.

DECEMBER I You will receive your scores from the October PSAT if you took it that month. Depending on the results, you may want to consider signing up for free online SAT prep.

Spring semester I If you’re choosing your senior year classes, look for classes that will give you a strong transcript. I Consider looking for a summer job or internship.

JANUARY I Continue with your campus tours online or in person. I You want to be narrowing down your list of

potential colleges.

JUNE

FEBRUARY

I Add any new report cards, test scores, honors or awards from the year to your file. I Take the ACT tests, and SAT I, SAT II if you’re registered. If there is one subject area you need to improve on, focus on studying for that area.

I Register for the March SAT and/or the April ACT. I Research the requirements of the colleges you’re interested in to learn about admission deadlines.

MARCH I Take the March SAT I exam if you registered to take it this month. I If possible, schedule tours of campuses on the same days. I Your family may want to visit the colleges and universities during spring break and summer vacation so you don’t have to miss school.

APRIL I Take the April ACT.

MAY I Take the AP, SAT I and SAT II exams. I Talk to teachers about writing letters of recommendation for you. Think about what you would like to include in these and politely ask your teachers if they can help.

Summer I Continue with college visits. Call ahead for appointments with the financial aid, admissions and academic advisers. I Find opportunities to enhance your college and scholarship resume. I Continue to work on your application essays and review the application procedures for the colleges you plan to apply to. I Decide if you are going to apply under any early decision or early action programs. This requires you to submit your applications early, typically between October and December of your senior year. I Read your college mail and send reply cards to your schools of interest.

12th GRADE Make senior year count. You will want to avoid “senioritis.” Take courses that will prepare you for college.

Fall semester Stay on track. Review courses with your counselor to make sure you’re meeting high school graduation requirements, Oklahoma’s Promise course work and GPA expectations, and entrance requirements for the schools that interest you. Remember to update your Course Plan Builder. Talk to your counselor about concurrent enrollment (taking collegecredit courses while you’re still in high school). Save your money. Continue to plug money into your Oklahoma 529 plan OK4Saving.org. Sign up. Even if you’ve already taken ACT or SAT, register for the fall ACT and/or SAT tests; you might boost your score! Have the official scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges or universities that have made your final list of schools. Visit college campuses that are a good match with your abilities and career interests.

SEPTEMBER I Estimated costs for resident students at Oklahoma public colleges and universities I Narrow your choices. Many students select three to five schools to apply to, including their “dream” school, their “safety” school and two or three other choices. I Check your transcripts to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into the colleges that interest you. I Find out from the colleges whether or not they need official copies of your transcripts (these are sent directly from your school). I Keep an eye out for financial aid workshops and seminars, for both you and your parents. I There is a lot of help out there when you’re looking for info on financial aid. Financial Aid Wizard I Register for the October/November SAT I, SAT II and ACT tests if you plan to take them. Make sure your official test scores are sent to the colleges to which you are applying.

I Take another look at your list of colleges, and make sure they still satisfy your requirements. It’s not uncommon for students’ goals to change. Make sure you meet the requirements (including any transcript requirements) for all the colleges to which you want to apply. I Double-check the deadlines. I Give any recommendation forms to the appropriate teachers or counselors with stamped, college-addressed envelopes, making certain that your portions of the forms are filled out completely and accurately. I Most early decision and early action applications are due between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1. I Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these options, and remember to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the college on time.

OCTOBER I Make a final list of schools that interest you and keep a file of deadlines and required admission items for each school. Many students like to have a “dream school” and a “safety school” as well as two or three others. I Take the SAT or ACT tests. Have the official scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges or universities that have

made your final list of schools. Register for December or January SAT I or SAT II tests, if necessary. I Get started on any essays to be included with your applications. Give your essays to others (teachers, parents, friends) for feedback.

NOVEMBER I Submit your college admission applications. I Be sure to check them over thoroughly. Having someone else review your application with you can help you catch any errors. I Be sure to consult with your school counselor about scholarship opportunities. I Not all scholarships are for top students and athletes. There may be a perfect scholarship for you — it’s worth doing a little research. I Work on your scholarship applications, and mail according to deadlines. I Check with the financial aid office of schools you are applying to for specific information on scholarships and costs for tuition, fees, room and board, and any additional financial aid info they require.

DECEMBER I Watch your mailbox if you submitted an early decision application. I Early decision replies usually arrive between Dec. 1 and 31. If you do get an acceptance, you should

withdraw any other applications. I If you haven’t already done so, make sure your official test scores are being sent to the colleges to which you are applying. I Talk taxes. Make sure you and your parent(s) have completed income taxes forms as soon after Jan.1 as possible in anticipation of completing the financial aid applications, some of which have early deadlines. All students regardless if they qualify for financial aid must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. I Get a PIN. Request a Federal Personal Identification Number at PIN. ed.gov. This PIN is used throughout the federal aid process, including completion of the FAFSA.

Spring Semester JANUARY I Complete and submit your college financial aid application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15. Go to the FAFSA on the Web form at: www.fafsa. ed.gov. In order to be considered for financial aid, you will need to submit a FAFSA, even if you have not yet been notified of your acceptance to the college(s) to which you applied. I Check for other financial aid options. I Request that your high school send your

official transcripts to the colleges to which you are applying. I Contact the admissions office of the colleges to which you have applied to make sure that your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you.

FEBRUARY I If you completed the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report within four weeks. I Make the necessary corrections and return it to the FAFSA processor. I Complete your scholarship applications. I Contact the financial aid office of the colleges to which you have applied to make sure your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you.

MARCH - APRIL I You will probably hear from the colleges as to whether you are accepted by April 15. I Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers. These are all important things to consider when choosing a college. I When you choose a college that has accepted you, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit for freshman tuition. This should ensure your place in the entering freshman class. I If you will be living on campus submit your

housing deposit to ensure you get the residential option you prefer.

MAY I Take AP exams for any AP subjects you studied in high school. I Decision time! You should decide on a college by May 1. Notify that school by mailing your commitment deposit check. Many schools require that your notification letter be postmarked by this date. If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular college and have decided to wait for an opening, contact that college and let them know you are still very interested.

JUNE I Have your school send your final transcripts to the college you will be attending. I Contact your college to determine when fees for tuition, room and board are due, and how much they will cost.

Summer I Participate in any summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen. I Now that you know you will be attending college in the fall, it is a good idea to make sure you have student health insurance in case of any emergencies. SOURCE: OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

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COLLEGE BOUND

WHERE THE COLLEGES ARE OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE UNIVERSITY

OKC METRO-AREA COLLEGES

•Goodwell •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Agriculture and education •Contact: (580) 349-2611 or (800) 6646778, www.opsu.edu

NW 164

NW 150

UNIVERSITY CENTER AT PONCA CITY •Ponca City •Type of institution: Two-year, four-year and comprehensive university, degree programs delivered through distance education •Emphasis: Course work for associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in a variety or subjects from multiple institutions •Contact: (580) 718-5600, www.ucponca city.com

OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY •Bartlesville •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts •Contact: (918) 335-6200, www.okwu.edu

NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE •Miami •Type of institution: Two-year residential college •Emphasis: General education, technical/ occupational technical, terminal and transfer programs •Contact: (918) 542-8447 or (888) 4646636, www.neo.edu

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY •Claremore with branches in Bartlesville and Pryor •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Business administration, business information technology, liberal arts, social and behavioral sciences, applied technology, nursing, game development •Contact: Claremore (918) 343-7546, Bartlesville (918) 338-8000, Pryor (918) 343-7868, www.rsu.edu

NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY •Tahlequah with branches in Broken Arrow and Muskogee •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Business, education, liberal arts, optometry, science and health •Contact: (888) 464-6636 or (918) 5428441, www.nsuok.edu

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY •Okmulgee •Type of institution: Public university offering associate and bachelor’s degrees •Emphasis: Applied technology •Contact: (918) 293-4678 or (800) 7224471, www.osuit.edu

BACONE COLLEGE •Muskogee •Type of institution: Four-year college •Emphasis: Professional programs and liberal arts •Contact: (918) 683-4581 or (888) 6825514, www.bacone.edu

22 29

32 33 15 4 5 21 235 9

NW 23 NW 10

34 16

Reno

SW 15

11 36 28

SW 29 SW 44 SW 59

10 31

1. University of Central Oklahoma 2. University of Oklahoma 3. Southern Nazarene University 4. Oklahoma City University 5. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 6. Redlands Community College 7. Southwestern Christian University 8. Oklahoma Christian University 9. Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City 10. Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College 11. Rose State College 12. Oklahoma City Community College 13. Rose State College - Tinker Air Force Base 14. University of Oklahoma - Tinker Air Force Base 15. Langston University - Oklahoma City 16. Platt College - Central Oklahoma City 17. Mid America Christian University 18. Wright Career College - Oklahoma City 19. Park University - Tinker Air Force Base 20. Webster University - Tinker Air Force Base

WESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE COLLEGE •Altus •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: Technical education and academic transfer programs •Contact: (580) 477-2000, www.wosc. edu

SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY •Weatherford with branch in Sayre •Type of institution: Four-year university, master’s degree programs in business education, health sciences and music, and doctoral degree in pharmacy. •Emphasis: Professional/liberal arts •Contact: (580) 774-3782, www.swosu. edu

CAMERON UNIVERSITY •Lawton with branch in Duncan •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Business, education/behavioral sciences, graduate studies, liberal arts and science/technology •Contact: Lawton (580) 581-2200, Duncan (877) 282-3626, www.cameron.edu

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS OF OKLAHOMA •Chickasha •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts •Contact: 224-3140 or (800) 933-8726, www.usao.edu

UNIVERSITY CENTER OF SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA •Ardmore •Type of institution: Off-campus consortium of colleges and universities •Emphasis: General education, business, education, nursing and liberal arts •Contact: (580) 223-1441, www.ucso. osrhe.edu

SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE •Seminole •Type of institution: Two-year public

Santa Fe

Western

Pennsylvania

2 May

Meridian

MacArthur

Rockwell

Council

County Line

Morgan

SW 164

Portland

SW 149

Sooner

SW 134

Sunnylane

SW 119

Bryant

SW 104

240

Eastern

SW 89

High/Kelley

SW 74

1314 24 19 20

Anderson

Sara

•Stillwater with branches in Oklahoma City and Tulsa •Type of institution: Four-year comprehensive research university •Emphasis: Agriculture, arts and sciences, business administration, education, engineering, architecture and technology, human environmental sciences, veterinary medicine •Contact: 744-5358 or (800) 233-5019 ext. 1, Tulsa (919) 594-8000, Oklahoma City 947-4421 or (800) 560-4099, www. okstate.edu

7 3

Mustang

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

NW 63

NW 36

Wilshire

Czech Hall

•Tonkawa with branches in Enid, Stillwater •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: Associate degrees in art, science and applied science •Contact: Tonkawa (580) 628-6200, Enid (580) 242-6300, Stillwater 744-2246, www.noc.edu

Hefner

Cemetery

NORTHERN OKLAHOMA COLLEGE

Nor thw est Exp ress way

NW 122

NW 50

Westminster

Britton

Kilpatrick Turnpike

Douglas Post

•Alva with branches in Enid and Woodward •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts and sciences, Master of Education and Master of Counseling Psychology, Master of Business Administration •Contact: Alva (580) 327-1700, Enid (580) 237-0334, Woodward (580) 2370334, www.nwosu.edu

Midwest

Memorial

Air Depot

NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

21. OKC Downtown College 22. Vatterott College - Oklahoma City 23. University of Phoenix - Oklahoma City 24. Southeastern Oklahoma State University - Tinker Air Force Base 25. Heritage College 26. Platt College - North Oklahoma City 27. Southeastern Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City Community College 28. Southwestern College - Midwest City 29. DeVry University 30. Keller Graduate School of Management 31. Platt College - Moore 32. ITT Tech - Oklahoma City 33. Oklahoma Baptist University Graduate School 34. University of Phoenix - West Oklahoma City 35. Mid America Christian University - North campus 36. Southeastern Oklahoma State University - Rose State College 37. Brown Mackie College

college •Emphasis: University transfer and technical/occupational programs •Contact: 382-9950, www.sscok.edu

EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY •Ada with branches in Ardmore, McAlester and Shawnee •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts and sciences •Contact: (580) 332-8000, www.ecok.edu

MURRAY STATE COLLEGE •Tishomingo with branch in Ardmore •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: Transfer programs and technical/occupational programs •Contact: (580) 371-2371, www.mscok. edu

SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY •Durant •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Business, liberal arts and sciences, teacher education and aviation sciences •Contact: (580) 745-2000 or (800) 4351327, www.se.edu

CONNORS STATE COLLEGE •Warner with branch in Muskogee •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: General studies, occupational, transfer •Contact: Warner (918) 463-2931, Muskogee (918) 687-6747, www.connorsstate. edu

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COLLEGE BOUND

EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE COLLEGE

•Emphasis: Business, engineering and computer science, health sciences, biblical studies, liberal arts •Contact: 425-5050 or (800) 877-5010, www.oc.edu

•Wilburton with branches in McAlester, Idabel, and Antlers •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: General education, business and nursing •Contact: Wilburton (918) 465-2361 or (855) 534-3672, McAlester (918) 4265272, Idabel (580) 286-9431, Antlers (580) 271-0471, www.eosc.edu

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY •Oklahoma City •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Comprehensive; liberal arts core curriculum •Contact: 208-5000 or (800) 633-7242, www.okcu.edu

CARL ALBERT STATE COLLEGE

ST. GREGORY’S UNIVERSITY

•Poteau with branch in Sallisaw •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: General studies, vocational and compensatory •Contact: Poteau (918) 647-1300, www. carlalbert.edu

•Shawnee •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts, nursing, adult learning •Contact: Office of Admissions, 878-5100 or (888) 784-7347, www.stgregorys.edu

SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY — MCCURTAIN COUNTY CAMPUS

SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY

•Idabel •Type of institution: Branch campus •Emphasis: Lifelong learning •Contact: (580) 286-9431, www.se.edu/ mccurtain/

•Bethany with branch in Tulsa •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts •Contact: 789-6400 or (800) 648-9899, www.snu.edu

WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

•Altus •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Business, occupational education •Contact: (580) 481-5243, www.wbu.edu/ altus

•Bethany •Type of institution: Four-year college •Emphasis: Christian liberal arts university with majors in multiple diciplines •Contact: 789-7661, www.swcu.edu GETTY IMAGES

TULSA AREA OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY — TULSA •Type of institution: OSU branch offering undergraduate and graduate degrees •Emphasis: Business, engineering, liberal arts, education, aviation, early childhood development, elementary education, journalism and broadcasting, health and human performance, computer science •Contact: (918) 594-8000, www. osu-tulsa.okstate.edu

TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: Transfer programs and work force development programs •Contact: (918) 595-7000, www.tulsacc. edu

ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts •Contact: (918) 495-6161 or (800) 6788876, www.oru.edu

SPARTAN COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS AND TECHNOLOGY

ROSE STATE COLLEGE •Midwest City •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: Associate in arts, science or applied science and one-year certificates •Contact: 733-7673 or (866) 621-0987, www.rose.edu

•Oklahoma City •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Ministry and liberal arts •Contact: 691-3800 or (888) 436-3035, www.macu.edu

MID DEL TECHNOLOGY CENTER

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

•Midwest City •Type of institution: Technical training •Emphasis: Architecture and construction, manufacturing, information technology, engineering and mathematics, health sciences, hospitality and tourism •Contact: 739-1707, www.middeltech.com

•Shawnee •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts •Contact: 275-2850 or (800) 654-3285, www.okbu.edu/admissions

SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE •Midwest City •Type of institution: Private college; bachelor’s degree completion and master’s degree programs, adult programs, online and on-campus programs •Emphasis: Graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs, business, leadership, management, security, ministry •Contact: 733-3301 or (866) 342-3301, www.southwesterncollege.org

OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

•Type of institution: Technical college offering diplomas and associate of applied science degrees and bachelor’s degree. •Emphasis: Aviation and related technical training •Contact: (800) 331-1204, www.spartan. edu

•Oklahoma City •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: Transfer and technical/occupational •Contact: 682-1611, www.occc.edu

PHILLIPS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

REDLANDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

•Type of institution: Graduate •Emphasis: Theological education •Contact: (918) 610-8303, www.ptstulsa. edu

•El Reno •Type of institution: Two-year college •Emphasis: General, transfer and technical •Contact: 415-6367 or (866) 415-6367, www.redlandscc.edu

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA •Type of institution: Four-year comprehensive university •Emphasis: Research, pre-professional and professional preparation •Contact: (918) 631-2000 or (800) 3313050, www.utulsa.edu

OKLAHOMA CITY AREA OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY — OKLAHOMA CITY •Type of institution: Two-year technical branch •Emphasis: Associate of science, associate in applied science and certificate programs •Contact: 947-4421 or (800) 560-4099, www.osuokc.edu

DEVRY UNIVERSITY •Oklahoma City •Type of institution: Four-year university, bachelor and graduate programs. •Emphasis: Technological fields, business, technology •Contact: 767-9516, www.devry.edu/ locations/campuses/loc_oklahomacity.jsp

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY •Langston with branches in Oklahoma City and Tulsa •Type of institution: Four-year university •Emphasis: Liberal arts •Contact: 962-1663 or (866) 466-2231, www.langston.edu

MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA •Edmond •Type of institution: Four-year university and master programs •Emphasis: Fine arts and design, contemporary music, business, education and professional studies, liberal arts, forensic science, mathematics and science, graduate studies and research •Contact: 974-2000, www.uco.edu

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA •Norman •Type of institution: Comprehensive four-year research university •Emphasis: Comprehensive •Contact: 325-2151, www.go2.ou.edu

OU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER •Oklahoma City and Tulsa •Type of institution: Professional, graduate and upper-level undergraduate •Emphasis: Medicine and health careers •Contact: 271-4000, www.ouhsc.edu

HILLSDALE FREE WILL BAPTIST COLLEGE •Moore •Type of institution: Christian institution providing courses of study leading to associate or bachelor’s degrees and master of arts and ministry degree •Emphasis: Arts and sciences, Christian vocational studies •Contact: 912-9000, www.hc.edu

OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY •Oklahoma City •Type of institution: Four-year university

EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY •Oklahoma City, Altus, Vance Air Force Base •Type of institution: Classroom and distance learning center •Emphasis: Aeronautics, education, technology, management, operations, safety, human factors •Contact: Oklahoma City 739-0397, Altus (580) 481-5991, Vance (580) 213-7320, www.erau.edu

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX •Oklahoma City, Norman and Tulsa •Type of institution: Fast-track degree program •Emphasis: Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral; professional certificates •Contact: Admissions, 842-8007 or (918) 622-4877, www.phoenix.edu

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

COLLEGE BOUND

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

How to manage your money in college So often, we as consumers forget that the time and effort we put into getting an education, working, developing relationships and building our lives is all about our own choices. But we seldom stop to think that every minute of every day, we are spending our own valuable resources in some way — maybe time, maybe money, maybe energy. Consider this: You work at a rather low-paying, part-time job to help pay for your college education. Let’s assume you make $8 per hour. You want to take a trip on spring break with your friends. You want to buy some new clothes to take on this trip, plus a beach towel and sun screen, and of course you’ll need money for food and a place to stay. Say it all adds up to $300. How many hours of your hard work at $8 per hour will it take to make this happen? Wow — almost two weeks at that 20-hours-per-week job just to take this trip! Lots of time and money and hard work for one trip! And that doesn’t even take into consideration gas for the car and other expenses you may have between today and the day you leave for the beach.

Keeping an eye on your money

GETTY IMAGES/CREATAS RF

Now relate this same scenario to all of life and you will begin to get a better picture of what all consumers are up against these days. You will do well to begin today getting a good grip on things to know and do for your money. Here’s how:

Determine your monthly net income

really do not realize what they are spending every month. When you have finished as much of the list as you can, add up everything (be sure you determine the monthly cost for each item) and place it in your money management file.

List all of your debts

Say your monthly income is $120 per month. Or is it? Remember, other people are getting some of your money before it ever gets to you, like the government, and perhaps your employers if you receive benefits. So, determine what you can count on actually coming in, your net income. For the sake of realistic planning, only count income you know you will receive. Start a folder for keeping your money management information. You will always have what you need to work with if you begin this simple process today.

List your monthly expenses Determining monthly expenses can be a challenge, but don’t become discouraged. Finding out what you really need or want to spend on a monthly basis is critical to managing your money. You will most likely have expenses that fall into three categories: I Fixed: those expenses that stay the same every month, such as a mortgage or rent, auto insurance, perhaps day care costs. I Flexible: those expenses that change on a monthly basis, such as utility bills, food costs, gasoline costs. I Periodic: those expenses that only occur occasionally, such as holiday/ special occasion gifts, doctor or dentist visits, car repairs. In some cases, you won’t know exactly what an expense will be. Just estimate as best you can; you can always make adjustments later. Try to mark each expense as Fixed (FI), Flexible (FL) or Periodic (PE). As you complete this list, you may feel a sense of dread coming over you. Don’t panic — this is normal. Most consumers

There are not many consumers who start college with no debt. Americans’ college costs make it necessary for many students and their families to borrow money. It is wise to begin keeping a record of all debt owed, payments made and balances outstanding. Total the debt and also total the monthly obligation for all debts, and keep this information in your money management file.

Write down your daily expenditures for one month Go to the dollar store and buy a small spiral flip notebook to stick in your car, your pocket, your purse, or your backpack. Keep it handy! Write down every single penny you spend every day for one month. If you put a quarter in a parking meter, write it down. If you run through the fast food drive-thru, write it down. If you pay your cellphone bill, write it down. Write down absolutely everything you spend every day for one month straight. For most people, this exercise is a real eye opener. Your true spending habits will be revealed, and you may be motivated to change some of your behaviors and stick more closely to decisions and choices that support your goals. Once you have recorded your expenditures for a month, go back to your monthly expense list and make the appropriate adjustments based on what you now know and the changes you are motivated to make.

Set up a payday-to-payday spending plan You are now ready to establish a payday spending plan.

How much does college cost? The estimated cost of attending Oklahoma colleges and universities is calculated below for full-time resident undergraduate students enrolled in 30 semester credit hours during the 2014-15 academic year. Costs for room and board and books and supplies are based on Fiscal Year 2015 estimated costs and may be rounded to the nearest dollar.

2014-15 estimated costs for full-time resident undergraduate students at Oklahoma public colleges and universities Regional universities

Community colleges

Technical branches

Tuition $4,277

$4,311

$2,573

$3,175

Mandatory Fees $3,292

$1,331

$966

$961

$393

$145

$248

$5,162

$5,044

$5,336

$1,235

$1,151

$1,450

$12,432

$9,879

$11,170

Expenses

Research universities

Average Academic $1,098 Service Fees Room and Board* $7,733 Books and Supplies $875 TOTAL $17,275

*Note: Room and board estimates are based on a student living in a traditional dormitory with a roommate and participating in a 20-meal-per-week plan. Many institutions offer a variety of room and board plans, and costs may differ from the average reported above.

Begin by listing all of your unique monthly expenses, which now should be adjusted based on your adjusted expenses on your monthly expense list, on the payday spending plan. Take your monthly expense list and your debt list and complete the payday spending plan with all of your own expenses and debts listed with the dates or timeframes that relate to that particular expense or debt payment (i.e.: 1st, 15th, 25th, weekly, monthly, etc). Then list your payday dates for one month and enter your anticipated net income for those paydays. Now you can cross-reference the dates/timeframes that expenses and debts are due with your paydays as they come up. So, as you approach the 15th payday, for instance, you will see all expense/debt

payments that will be made between the 15th and the next payday, and write the amount due to be paid in that space under the payday column. When a bill arrives, write the amount of the payment due on your payday spending plan and then place it in your money management file. You will have a quick and ready reference for amounts and dates due for bills rather than continually rummaging through a pile of envelopes and papers. For expenses and bills for which you do not actually receive a bill, list or estimate those amounts approximately one month ahead of time and you will begin to know what to anticipate as you become intimately involved in the real flow of your money. SOURCE: OKCOLLEGESTART.ORG

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

COLLEGE BOUND

As textbook prices soar, students find ways to fight the inflation BY DEBORAH SUTTON Deseret News

Textbooks are expensive, easily costing $300 for one book. The students have reacted by declining to buy, which is sending prices even higher. Before entering the classroom of an intro-level economics course, students get a real-life experience with the subject — the required textbook costs $290 on Amazon. And that’s just one book for one class. Textbook costs have surged 1,500 percent since 1970, according to Economist magazine. That far outstrips the inflation rate of medical care, housing costs and food, and it’s three times the inflation rate of the consumer price index. The increase in prices began when textbook sellers realized those who choose what to buy are not the ones paying. Professors select the textbooks based on content, timeliness and clarity, reported NPR’s David

Kestenbaum, and they don’t think about cost because they are not purchasing it. It’s “like doctors prescribing drugs,” where there is little incentive to compare prices, reported the Economist. And the market doesn’t practice normal price competition. Like a cartel, textbook companies artificially raised prices because they could. They did this in two ways: I According to the Government Accountability Office, publishers began including supplemental materials such as CD-ROMs and access to websites, according to the Huffington Post. I The industry also began regularly issuing new editions. “According to a 2011 survey from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, new editions are released on average every 3.9 years, but a 2008 report from the California state auditor found many college deans, department chairs and faculty

Textbooks’ big price jump

members admitted revisions to textbooks are often minimal and not always warranted,” Huffington Post reported. These strategies backfired when students responded by buying used books, renting books, illegally downloading them, sharing books with classmates or not buying them altogether. “The National Association of College Stores says the average college student will spend $655 on textbooks each year,” report-

Research Group. The solution to the standoff between students and textbook publishers? According to a textbook executive who spoke to Kestenbaum, it’s software. Digital, interactive versions of textbooks are cheaper and easier to update and — the kicker — they cannot be resold. Another option is the growing open educational resources movement, according to the American Enterprise Institute. A startup called Boundless is a leader in the movement. They call it “textbook replacement,” reported Slate. “A great deal of academic content has been made available on the Internet, for free. The open educational resources movement has produced high-quality texts, videos, charts, problem sets, (etc). Some of the authors are college professors who want to share their work at a larger scale; others are sponsored by nonprofits promoting education in the developing world.”

ed the Huffington Post, while the College Board puts the annual cost of books and supplies at $1,200. This means that with a single textbook costing close to $300, students have simply stopped buying. “Sixty-five percent of student consumers have opted out of buying a college textbook due to its high price, and of those students, 94 percent say they suffer academically,” reported the U.S. Public Interest

Preparing for college costs Do you want to go to college, but don’t think you can afford it? Does the vast array of options for paying for college seem like a confusing puzzle? You can afford to go to college, and by researching your options, you can build success.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID There are four major types of financial aid: I Scholarships and grants can be need-based or merit-based. I Merit awards can be conditional on financial need or not. I Loans for students and parents can be need-based or non-need-based. Most financial aid packages involve some loans. I Student employment programs provide work opportunities. Work-study jobs may be on campus or in nearby communities. You are paid an hourly wage set by the school. For more information, consult a financial aid counselor at the college you plan to attend.

FINANCIAL AID FAQS

How do I apply for financial aid?

You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as soon as possible after Jan. 1 of your senior year in high school. By completing this application you have applied for funds awarded by most federal and state agencies.

Applications are processed and results are sent to the colleges you listed on the application. Your Student Aid Report will be provided to you to confirm data about two to three weeks after submitting your application. If you file your application electronically, processing can take seven days. Your school will then provide you with an award letter outlining types of aid for which you are eligible. Further instructions will be included in the letter. If the financial aid office has determined that you will need a loan, contact the financial aid administrator regarding the procedures for applying for federal loans. Apply for other scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible outside of the college or university. For more information, talk with your high school counselor.

Q. A.

How do I compare financial aid packages from different colleges?

Ask yourself these questions when evaluating financial aid offers: I With the aid offered to me, can I afford to attend my first-choice college or university? Remember, the goal of aid is to provide access and choice, not to lure you to a college you don’t really want to attend. I Is there a commitment from the financial aid office to continue the aid after the first year of college? Under what terms and conditions? I Is the loan or work required reasonable? Can I afford the payments once I have graduated? How many hours of weekly work does the award imply?

Two paths to a degree and a career Some college majors focus on preparing students for very specific careers. For example, a nursing major gives you the technical skills and knowledge you need to work as a nurse, and prepares you to pass the licensing exam for that career. We can call majors like these career-oriented majors. Another road to a career is a liberal arts major. The liberal arts is an umbrella term for many subjects of study including literature, philosophy, history and languages. Students who major in these subjects don’t build technical skills for a specific profession, but they still learn valuable career skills: for example, the ability to communicate effectively and solve problems creatively.

Liberal arts majors

Career-oriented majors

Career options

I Range of subject matter. If you choose a major in the liberal arts, you’ll probably take classes in a wide variety of subject areas, which can include English literature, history, sociology, economics and philosophy. I Course requirements. Your eventual major within the liberal arts curriculum will be the subject area you take the most classes in and eventually earn a degree in. For example, you may major in — and earn a bachelor’s degree in — history or English literature. I Career planning. Some liberal arts majors don’t have a specific career in mind when they choose their major, but some do. Many future lawyers, for example, study the liberal arts as undergraduates — majoring in subjects such as political science or English — and then go to law school for advanced study.

I Range of subject matter. If you choose a career-oriented major, you’ll probably take the majority of your courses in your major. That’s because you’ll have to take a lot of required courses. I Course requirements. Career-oriented majors have more course requirements than liberal arts majors. For example, an engineering major would probably have to take a lot of math, physics, chemistry and other lab science courses from freshman year on. I Career planning. Once you choose a careeroriented major, your career path is well mapped out. Note that some careers, like engineering, require so much specific knowledge that students often start preparing for them in high school. Both types of majors prepare students for careers.

Both types of majors can prepare you for a variety of careers. Here are a handful of popular liberal arts majors and a few careers they can lead to: I English: editor, marketing executive, writer I History: archivist, museum curator I Foreign languages: foreign service officer, translator and interpreter I Political science: community organizer or activist, lawyer, policy analyst I Psychology: market researcher, social worker Some career-oriented majors include: I Radio and television broadcasting I Culinary arts I Paralegal studies I Mechanical engineering I Commercial art I Dental hygiene SOURCE: BIGFUTURECOLLEGEBOARD.ORG

I Are other options available to me at my first-choice college or university? Ask the aid office at that college or university to suggest other options for financing your education.

Q. A.

How do I get the most financial aid?

Apply before your school’s priority deadline for financial aid, normally by the end of February. Research and apply for scholarships from private foundations, clubs, employers and other organizations. If your financial or family circumstances change, contact the school’s financial aid office for a new consideration of aid.

Q. A.

What do I need to know about applying for financial aid?

Here are a few helpful hints when applying: I Be sure to complete all required forms by the deadlines. I Complete all questions accurately; plan to meet early deadlines, if applicable. I Don’t wait until you are admitted to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. I Keep a photocopy of all documents for your records. I Use your full legal name — no nicknames — on all applications. The name on your application must match the name on your Social Security card. SOURCE: OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

THE OKLAHOMAN | NEWSOK.COM

COLLEGE BOUND

Strategies for surviving your freshman year

The first few weeks on campus are extremely critical for all new students. It is during this time that you make critical decisions that will have an effect on the rest of your life. Some of these 25 tips are critical during your first weeks, while the others are meant for longer-term guidance and survival. Whatever you do, be sure to be yourself and try to enjoy your college experience as much as possible. Expect to feel some stress and homesickness, but don’t let these issues wear you down.

18.

Don’t procrastinate; prioritize your life. It may have been easy in high school to wait until the last minute to complete an assignment and still get a good grade, but that kind of stuff will not work for you in college. Give yourself deadlines — and stick to them.

19.

Stay healthy/eat right. A lot of problems first-year students face can be traced back to an illness that kept them away from classes for an extended period of time that led to a downward spiraling effect. Get enough sleep, take your vitamins, and eat right. If you haven’t heard the jokes about college food, you soon will. And without Mom or Dad there to serve you a balanced meal, you may be tempted to go for those extra fries or cookies. Stay healthy and avoid the dreaded extra “Freshman 15” pounds by sticking to a balanced diet.

Go to all orientations. Do you really need to go on yet another campus tour? Yes. The faster you learn your way around campus — and around all the red tape — the more at ease you’ll feel and the better prepared you’ll be when issues arise.

Get to know your roommate and others in your residence hall. The people you live with, most of whom are going through similar experiences and emotions, are your main safety net — not only this year, but for all your years. You may change roommates after the first semester or you may stay roommates for all four years — just take the time to get to know your fellow first-year students.

20.

Learn to cope with homesickness. It’s only natural that there will be times when you miss your family, even if you were one of those kids who couldn’t wait to get away. Find a way to deal with those feelings, such as making a phone call or sending some email home.

21.

22.

Get organized. In high school, the teachers tended to lead you through all the homework and due dates. In college, the professors post the assignments — often for the entire semester — and expect you to be prepared. Buy an organizer, use an app, or get a big wall calendar — whatever it takes for you to know when assignments are due.

Stay on campus as much as possible. Whether it’s homesickness, a job, or a boyfriend or girlfriend from home, try not to leave campus too soon or too often. The more time you spend on getting to know the campus and your new friends, the more you’ll feel at home at school. And why not take advantage of all the cultural and social events that happen on campus?

Find the ideal place for you to study. It may be your dorm room or a cozy corner of the library, but find a place that works best for you to get your work done — while avoiding as many distractions as possible.

Seek professional help when you need it. Most colleges have health and counseling centers. If you’re sick or feeling isolated or depressed, please take advantage of the many services these offices provide students. You don’t have to face these issues by yourself.

Go to class. Obvious, right? Maybe, but sleeping in and skipping that 8 a.m. class will be tempting at times. Avoid the temptation. Besides learning the material by attending classes, you’ll also receive vital information from the professors about what to expect on tests, changes in due dates, etc.

23.

Keep track of your money. If you’ve never had to create a budget, now is the time to do so. Find ways to stretch your money — and as best you can, avoid all those credit card solicitations you’ll soon be receiving. The average credit card debt of college grads is staggering.

Become an expert on course requirements and due dates. Professors spend hours and hours preparing course syllabi and calendars so that you will know exactly what is expected of you — and when. One of the lamest excuses a student can give a professor: “I didn’t know it was due today.”

24.

Don’t cut corners. College is all about learning. If you procrastinate and cram, you may still do well on tests, but you’ll learn very little. Even worse, don’t cheat on term papers or tests.

Meet with your professors. Speaking as a professor, I can assure you there are only upsides to getting to know your professors, especially if later in the semester you run into some snags. Professors schedule office hours for the sole purpose of meeting with students — take advantage of that time.

Get to know your academic adviser. This is the person who will help you with course conflicts, adding or dropping courses, scheduling of classes for future semesters, deciding on majors and minors. This person is a key resource for you — and should be the person you turn to with any academic issues or conflicts. And don’t be afraid of requesting another adviser if you don’t click with the one first assigned to you.

Seek a balance. College life is a mixture of social and academic happenings. Don’t tip the balance too far in either direction. One of my favorite former students always used to say her motto was to “study hard so she could play hard.”

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25. GETTY IMAGES

12.

Take advantage of the study resources on campus. Just about all colleges have learning labs and tutors available. If you’re having some troubles, these resources are another tool available to you. Another idea: form study groups.

13.

Make time for you. Be sure you set aside some time and activities that help you relax and take the stress out of your day or week. Whether it’s enlisting yoga techniques, watching your favorite television shows, or writing in a journal, be good to yourself.

14.

Don’t feel pressured to make a hasty decision about a career or a major. It doesn’t matter if it seems as though everyone else seems to know what they’re doing with their lives — believe me, they don’t — college is the time for you to really discover who you are, what you enjoy doing, what you’re good at, and what you want to be. It’s not a race; take your time and enjoy exploring your options.

Get involved on campus. A big problem for a lot of new students is a combination of homesickness and a feeling of not quite belonging. A solution? Consider joining a select group — and be careful not to go overboard — of student organizations, clubs, sororities or fraternities, or sports teams. You’ll make new friends, learn new skills, and feel more connected to your school.

15.

11.

16.

Strive for good grades. Another obvious one here, right? Remember the words of the opening paragraph; while good grades could have come naturally to you in high school, you will have to earn them in college — and that means setting some goals for yourself and then making sure you work as hard as you can to achieve them.

Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Don’t look to place the blame on others for your mistakes; own up to them and move on. Being an adult means taking responsibility for everything that happens to you.

Make connections with students in your classes. One of my best students said his technique in the first week of classes was to meet at least one new person in each of his classes. It expanded his network of friends — and was a crucial resource at times when he had to miss a class.

17.

Find the career services office. Regardless of whether you are entering college as undeclared or have your entire future mapped out, seek out the wonderful professionals in your college’s career services office and get started on planning, preparing, and acting on your future.

Be prepared to feel overwhelmed. There’s a lot going in your life right now. Expect to have moments where it seems a bit too much. As one student says, be prepared to feel completely unprepared. The trick is knowing that you’re not the only one feeling that way.

For more information, go to quintcareers.com RANDALL S. HANSON, QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS

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COLLEGE BOUND

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

Helicopter parents make their way into dorm rooms

BY ROXANNE ROBERTS Associated Press

WASHINGTON — So much stuff, so little style. The dream dorm room was just not happening. Five years ago, Karen and Amanda Zuckerman hit the malls and big-box stores to decorate Amanda’s freshman dorm at Washington University in St. Louis. The offerings were ... well, underwhelming. “She wanted something special,” Karen Zuckerman says. “She wanted a home away from home that reflected her style.” The mother and daughter cobbled together a cute-enough room, then did what any creative, enterprising family would do: Founded Dormify, an online dorm design business based in Rockville, Md. College students will spend $48 billion this year (an average of $916 per person) on furniture, electronics, bedding and other supplies, according to the National Retail Federation. Then there are the families who take it to the next level: Hiring a professional decorator to transform the typical college cell into a cozy retreat. “Designers are doing individual rooms and calling us for products,” Zuckerman says. “It’s becoming a really big deal.” The average dorm room — even at some of the most elite colleges and universities — is not only tiny but also ugly: white paint, standard-issue furniture, fluorescent lighting and nothing that requires nails in the walls. (Some don’t even have air conditioning, which creates another issue.) It’s a challenge for many

More parents are turning to their own interior designers or professional organizers for their children’s dorm rooms. PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

millennials who have never shared a bedroom or bath and aren’t accustomed to roommates or going without. Helicopter parents are not inclined to drop their darlings at the dorm entrance with two suitcases and cheerfully wave goodbye. Instead, they’re turning to their own interior designers or professional organizers, such as Rachel Strisik Rosenthal. One of Rosenthal’s first jobs was putting together a dorm room for a female college sophomore at George Washington

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University. The student had a tendency to be disorganized and had a bumpy first year, so her parents hired the Bethesdabased organizer to put together her dorm room in a way that helped her relax and study. “They wanted her to feel comfortable,” Rosenthal says. “I’ve never been contacted directly by a student. It’s usually the parent.” After taking measurements, Rosenthal put the bed on risers to create storage under the bed, revamped her closet, put in shelves and other wall storage, and reorga-

nized her desk to keep track of assignments and other class materials. The total cost for labor and materials? About $800. The student was so pleased, she worked with the organizer four more times on other dorm rooms and then her first apartment. Dorms are now about 5 percent of Rosenthal’s business, with clients paying the $675 minimum for a combination of design and organization systems. That’s a relative bargain; she knows a professional organizer in New York who just

moved a student into a dorm room — and the planning and design fees were $5,000 alone. This is almost an entirely female phenomenon, fueled by social media and increasingly sophisticated marketing to college students. Boys don’t really care what their rooms look like — they just want the TV and other electronics. Dormify added a section this year for guys, but “that’s really targeted towards moms,” Zuckerman says. Girls, on the other hand, create mood boards with pictures of their perfect space and trade ideas on Facebook and Pinterest. Zuckerman says more mothers and daughters are doing this together, often with professional help, to create the first dorm room — one way of easing the separation anxiety. Dormify started out by designing fashionable twin XL sheets (the standard mattress size found only on campuses), then added other bedding and window collections, wall decals, storage and bath accessories. The company added a blog and “style advisers” across the country — 600 students who post photos of cute dorm rooms and other ideas for small spaces. A typical purchase on the site is $300, but some customers shell out as much as $2,000 to decorate the entire room. Many parents are willing to shell out for dorm room decor with the understanding that they are, effectively, putting together a first apartment. The expectation is that many of the pricier items will last for years and can be transferred easily to a small rental.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014

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