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| Students researched a college major and then created a multimedia blog to display their work. The students explained their blogs to their parents. |
Incoming high school freshman got a head start on previewing colleges by attending the K20 Center’s GEAR UP college forums. The forum is an overnight stay on a college campus for students and their parents to learn more about host colleges, admissions, financial aid and get a taste of college life. Students visited Rogers State University in Claremore and the University of Oklahoma, Norman.
Parent Jodi Simmons, Vinita, wanted her sons Gibbons and Skyler to attend the GEAR UP college forum so they would feel more comfortable when applying to colleges. “When they are filling out college applications they could say I’ve been there I know what it is like, and make a more informed decisions” said Simmons.
Campus Life
The students and their parents participated in several activities while on campus including a campus tour, career exploration, ropes course, financial planning tips and resources and college entrance requirements.
“GEAR UP has blown my expectations,” said Vinita parent Charity Rose. “I thought we would sit and hear people speak, maybe take a tour of the campus. But we actually got to be hands-on and do college activities.” said Rose.
Most of the students’ agreed the ropes course was their favorite activity. Since the students were from different parts of the state it gave them a chance to know each other and work as a group.
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| Broadcast professor Scott Hodgson shows off Studio D at OU's Gaylord College of Journalism. |
The college major exploration was another favorite, and eye-opening, experience. Simmons said one of her sons realized after researching what it takes to be a crime scene investigator that “he is going to have to put in a lot more effort into to it (math) than he thought.”
Hugo student Makayla Fitzpatrick said the college forum has made her reconsider her college choices. “Before all I wanted was to go to Texas,” said Fitzpatrick. “Now, I’m leaning a little bit toward Oklahoma.” Even a slight nod toward an Oklahoma college made the overnight stay worth it for parent Mona Fitzpatrick. “It has changed her mind about college,” said Fitzpatrick, “I’m all for it.”
The college forum is one of many activities the K20 Center holds throughout the year to increase GEAR UP students’ and their families’ knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing.
Rose said she didn’t go to college because of the mystique surrounding the experience. “Now I know it is not something way out there, anybody can go to college. GEAR UP has made it more attainable.
Posted on
Mon, July 12, 2010
by Lori Johnson
filed under