Tests, campus visits may prepare Oklahoma students for college

NORMAN — Matt Hamilton has a long title at the University of Oklahoma: registrar and associate vice president for enrollment and student financial services.

In other words, he’s in charge of admissions and financial aid at OU, which makes him someone worth paying attention to for prospective college students.

Accept a Promise

As students get closer to finishing high school and look forward to college, Hamilton has several pieces of advice to help them be as ready for college as possible.

"Students in the eighth, ninth and 10th grades should check into their eligibility for Oklahoma’s Promise,” the state program that pays in-state tuition at Oklahoma public universities or a portion of private-university tuition.

Students whose families make less than $50,000 per year are eligible if they maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average in 17 college-preparing courses and stay out of legal trouble.

"Take the ACT or SAT for the first time in the 10th grade; it gives students a good realization of what they’ll see on the test,” Hamilton said. Students often take the test several times until they — and the colleges or universities they want — are satisfied with the score, he added.

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