Tests, campus visits may prepare Oklahoma students for college

BY JAMES S. TYREE Comments 0
Published: November 8, 2009

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

Matt Hamilton OU registrar and associate vice president for enrollment and student financial services.

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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.

Tour campuses

Visit any college campus whenever an opportunity presents itself, whether it’s band camp or engineering day or a school trip, "just to get a feel of that college and to make contacts,” Hamilton said. Even so, these visits don’t replace the importance of taking official tours and visits.

Along the same lines, talk to people who attended a college or university you are interested in for further insight.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, as early as possible after Jan. 1 in your senior year to make sure you receive all the financial aid you are eligible for before funds run out for the year.

Make good grades

"Don’t pull your foot off the gas in your senior year, ” Hamilton said. Keep taking challenging classes and making good grades through high school graduation. Hamilton said excellent performance down the stretch can sway an admission committee into thinking the student is growing up and peaking at the right time.

"It can be time-consuming, doing all of this, but if someone is trying to decide between two or three great places, this can provide some clarity,” Hamilton said.