You are going to hear a lot about graduation rates and retention over the next several years, and you may wonder why. Graduating significantly increases your earning potential, improves the status of the university and the value of your degree, and saves the university and state lots of money. In short, it is good for you and for OU too.
National surveys show that college graduates earn an average of one million dollars more across their careers than people who just finish high school. In addition, increased graduation rates benefit the university . This is because national rankings depend in part on graduation and retention rates. When our rates improve, our ranking improves, and that increases the prestige of OU and your degree.
Graduation is also important to the university community because of the considerable cost of educating our students . Think about all resources that it takes to run a university and provide student services: everything from providing academic advisers to posting and processing student grades and records, running the student health center, providing recreational activities and career services, and much, much more. Students who use these resources without graduating preclude others from using them.
Graduation extends far beyond campus too. New college graduates provide "brain power" for developing new businesses, for improving environmental awareness and protection, for researching the lessons of history, for developing new medicines, and for communicating new social trends.
What can you do while still in high school?
There are many things you can do to prepare yourself for a successful beginning at the University of Oklahoma.
First, make sure to take Math your senior year. Many districts do not require mathematics courses during your senior year in high school. Math is like a foreign language. If you are not using it, you will forget it. Keeping your mathematics skills in tune will help you during your college career.
Second, READ! Read everything you can find. This will prepare you for large reading assignments you may have in some of your college-level coursework.
Third, you do not need to have a major selected when you arrive on campus. However, we encourage you to explore some different options prior to arriving here. Contact professionals in your community that work in areas you are interested in and ask to spend a day shadowing them. This will provide you with a better idea of what you may be doing with your potential degree. You are also welcome to take an online interest inventory provided by our Assessment and Learning Center. The Assessment and Learning Center can assist prospective students in exploring potential careers and majors that match your talents, interests, and values. Information on this program is at http://www.ou.edu/univcoll/alc_discover.htm.
All of these resources are here to help you, but in the end, it is your responsibility to make it happen. If you do choose a major, get a degree check sheet that lists all the requirements for the degree. Then sketch out a rough four-year plan, keeping in mind that you will need to complete an average of 15.5 credits per semester to finish the minimum number of 124 credit hours (many majors require more) in 8 semesters. Taking summer and intersession classes can help compensate for semesters in which you need to take fewer hours.
Finally, take part in the many activities the University of Oklahoma provides for you to assist you in starting on the right track toward graduation. After you are admitted, watch for information in the mail about the Summer Enrollment Program, Camp Crimson, and New Sooner Orientation. These activities are designed to provide you with the best opportunity for success!
We look forward to your arrival on campus. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Prospective Student Services by e-mail at ou-pss@ou.edu or by phone at (405) 325-2151 or (800) 234-6868.
Sincerely,
Dr. Douglas D. Gaffin
Dean, University College
National surveys show that college graduates earn an average of one million dollars more across their careers than people who just finish high school. In addition, increased graduation rates benefit the university . This is because national rankings depend in part on graduation and retention rates. When our rates improve, our ranking improves, and that increases the prestige of OU and your degree.
Graduation is also important to the university community because of the considerable cost of educating our students . Think about all resources that it takes to run a university and provide student services: everything from providing academic advisers to posting and processing student grades and records, running the student health center, providing recreational activities and career services, and much, much more. Students who use these resources without graduating preclude others from using them.
Graduation extends far beyond campus too. New college graduates provide "brain power" for developing new businesses, for improving environmental awareness and protection, for researching the lessons of history, for developing new medicines, and for communicating new social trends.
What can you do while still in high school?
There are many things you can do to prepare yourself for a successful beginning at the University of Oklahoma.
First, make sure to take Math your senior year. Many districts do not require mathematics courses during your senior year in high school. Math is like a foreign language. If you are not using it, you will forget it. Keeping your mathematics skills in tune will help you during your college career.
Second, READ! Read everything you can find. This will prepare you for large reading assignments you may have in some of your college-level coursework.
Third, you do not need to have a major selected when you arrive on campus. However, we encourage you to explore some different options prior to arriving here. Contact professionals in your community that work in areas you are interested in and ask to spend a day shadowing them. This will provide you with a better idea of what you may be doing with your potential degree. You are also welcome to take an online interest inventory provided by our Assessment and Learning Center. The Assessment and Learning Center can assist prospective students in exploring potential careers and majors that match your talents, interests, and values. Information on this program is at http://www.ou.edu/univcoll/alc_discover.htm.
All of these resources are here to help you, but in the end, it is your responsibility to make it happen. If you do choose a major, get a degree check sheet that lists all the requirements for the degree. Then sketch out a rough four-year plan, keeping in mind that you will need to complete an average of 15.5 credits per semester to finish the minimum number of 124 credit hours (many majors require more) in 8 semesters. Taking summer and intersession classes can help compensate for semesters in which you need to take fewer hours.
Finally, take part in the many activities the University of Oklahoma provides for you to assist you in starting on the right track toward graduation. After you are admitted, watch for information in the mail about the Summer Enrollment Program, Camp Crimson, and New Sooner Orientation. These activities are designed to provide you with the best opportunity for success!
We look forward to your arrival on campus. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Prospective Student Services by e-mail at ou-pss@ou.edu or by phone at (405) 325-2151 or (800) 234-6868.
Sincerely,
Dr. Douglas D. Gaffin
Dean, University College