June Spotlight

Happy summer! Hope you’re enjoying some well-deserved rest. As you begin to prepare for next year’s college readiness program, consider the resources we have for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. There are worksheets, games, and activities for all levels. This month, we feature publications and tools on college options, campus tours and the costs associated with postsecondary education.

With the numerous options available in Oklahoma and nationwide, selecting a college can be a daunting task. We encourage students to utilize the following tools to explore all types of institutions and individual schools.

College Fair Worksheet – This flowchart assists students in selecting a college by focusing on the level of education desired, as well as the type and size of the school. Once students decide on the type of institution they prefer, they can compare the responses of individual colleges to the list of college fair questions.

School Finder –Narrow down a list of thousands of institutions to only the ones that match a student’s needs from a comprehensive list of school characteristics. 

College Matching Assistant – This tool helps students find colleges that meet their academic requirements. The search criteria includes school type, whether public or private, size, in-state or out-of-state tuition, among other factors. This is a good place to start when comparing different colleges.

One of the best ways to determine which college or career technology center will be a good fit is by conducting a campus visit. Students should always step foot on the campus of their desired school before deciding to attend.

Making the Most of Campus Visits Guide – This guide recommends locations to explore while on campus, provides a checklist for campus visits, and offers suggested questions for the admission staff.

Sometimes an in-person visit to a distant college is challenging. In that case, we recommend students use the Virtual Campus Tours available on OKcollegestart.org to explore what their favorite institutions have to offer.

The cost of college can be a major factor in the choice students make on where to pursue their higher education. Planning early for this cost and taking steps to seek and apply for scholarships can help alleviate the financial burden and make it possible to select an institution that aligns more closely with their interests.

Financial Aid Planning Timeline – Exploring financial options on paying for college early can make the process much less stressful. Students can learn what to do now to be successful in planning and paying for college with our helpful checklists. These checklists highlight beneficial information for students from seventh grade through their freshman year in college.

Financial Aid Worksheet and sample Financial Aid Offer – Students can use these worksheets to determine out-of-pocket expenses for the colleges they’re most interested in attending and explore options for financing the net cost.

UCanGo2.org is a great resource for tools and publications to help students plan, prepare and pay for college. Be sure to check out the information regarding the financial aid process while you’re there!

The UCanGo2 Outreach Team is available to provide free presentations or Zoom webinars at your school, library, or community center focused on college planning and the FAFSA! Additionally, we can share information about Oklahoma’s Promise, finding scholarships and creating a StudentAid.gov account, which is necessary to access and electronically sign your FAFSA application. To request a workshop: