LINK LIBRARY

  • SchooLinks is a modern, college and career readiness platform to prepare students for what comes after graduation. SchooLinks helps students discover their interests and strengths, explore colleges and careers, and create a personal graduation plan that best reflects their post-secondary goals. SchooLinks at Norman Public Schools is accessible by 9th through 11th-grade students, counselors and staff.

    All of the SchooLinks features are designed with student readiness, academic, career and post-secondary interests in mind.

    Using SchooLinks, students can:

    • Access career interest, strength, and mindset surveys
    • Explore 2-year and 4-year colleges
    • Create course plans based on career pathways
    • Take virtual reality college campus tours 
    • Search for scholarships
    • Learn about financial aid
    • Explore traditional, emerging and military career fields
    • Create digital portfolios / resumes
    • Communicate with counselors
    • Create an Individual Career and Academic Plan

    Using SchooLinks, teachers, counselors and staff can:

    • Centralize all student info in one place (course plans, resumes, transcripts, scores, etc.)
    • Communicate with students and parents
    • Post internships, scholarships and career fairs
    • Visualize analytics to understand cohort level trends

    You can learn more about SchooLinks at www.schoolinks.com, to login please ask your counselors for your credentials. 

BEGIN HERE

  • It's never too early to start planning for college and careers. There are things students and parents can do at each grade level to ensure post-graduation readiness. 

6th Grade

    • Students interested in math/science fields are encouraged to enroll in 6th Grade Extension Math or higher. The course will enable your child to progress to AP Math and Science courses in high school.
    • Focus on developing good study habits, organizational skills and time management skills.
    • Get involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
    • Take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Career Guide.
    • Visit a college campus or career tech.

7th Grade

    • Students interested in math/science fields are encouraged to enroll in Pre-Algebra or higher. The course will enable your child to progress to AP Math and Science courses in high school.
    • Focus on developing good study habits, organizational skills and time management skills.
    • Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
    • Re-take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Career Guide.
    • Visit a college campus or career tech

8th Grade

    • Students interested in math/science fields are encouraged to enroll Algebra 1 or higher. The course will enable your child to progress to AP Math and Science courses in high school.
    • Consider enrolling in other high school classes offered at your middle school.
    • Apply for Oklahoma’s Promise to earn scholarships for college.
      • Must have an adjusted gross income not exceeding $55,000 per year.
    • Take the PSAT 8/9 then connect your score to Khan Academy to begin preparing the PSAT/NMSQT and other college entrance exams.
      • Review your Advance Placement Potential based on PSAT results.
    • Start exploring classes you are interested in taking in high school. Click here to view course catalog.
    • Focus on developing good study habits, organizational skills and time management skills.
    • Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
    • Re-take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Career Guide.
    • Visit a college campus or career tech.

9th Grade

    • Apply for Oklahoma’s Promise to earn scholarships for college if not completed in 8th grade.
      • Must have an adjusted gross income not exceeding $55,000 per year.
    • Take the PSAT 8/9 then connect your score to Khan Academy to begin preparing the PSAT/NMSQT and other college entrance exams.
      • Review your Advance Placement Potential based on PSAT results.
    • Gain an understanding of what courses are required to graduate high school. 
    • Research college entrance requirements for schools you are interested in attending.
    • Focus on developing good study habits, organizational skills and time management skills.
    • Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
      • Make sure you are appropriately challenging yourself with Honors and/or AP classes.
    • Re-take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Schoolinks.
    • Visit a college campus or career tech.

10th Grade

    • Apply for Oklahoma’s Promise to earn scholarships for college if not completed in 8th or 9th grade. This is the last year you can apply!
      • Must have an adjusted gross income not exceeding $55,000 per year.
    • Take the PSAT/NMSQT then connect your score to Khan Academy to begin preparing the PSAT/NMSQT and other college entrance exams.
      • Review your Advance Placement Potential based on PSAT results.
    • Make sure you are on track to take the required courses needed to graduate high school. Click here to view course catalog.
    • Consider taking the SAT and/or ACT.
      • Students on Free & Reduced Lunch can receive fee waivers from their counselor.
    • Research college entrance requirements for schools you are interested in attending.
    • Focus on developing good study habits, organizational skills and time management skills.
    • Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
      • Make sure you are appropriately challenging yourself with Honors and/or AP classes.
    • Re-take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Schoolinks.
    • Visit a college campus or career tech.
    • Begin to make a list of colleges or career techs you would like to attend.

11th Grade

    • Take the PSAT/NMSQT.
      • Scholarship money is available through this exam your 11 th grade year.
      • Make sure you answer all relevant questions to enter the scholarship program.
    • Make sure you are on track to take the required courses needed to graduate high school. Click here to view course catalog.
    • Take the SAT and/or ACT.
      • Students on Free & Reduced Lunch can receive fee waivers from their
        counselor.
    • Research college entrance requirements for schools you are interested in attending.
    • Focus on developing good study habits, organizational skills and time management skills.
    • Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
      • Make sure you are appropriately challenging yourself with Honors and/or AP classes.
    • Re-take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Schoolinks.
    • Visit a college campus or career tech.
    • Review and modify your list of colleges or career techs you would like to attend.

12th Grade

    • Make sure you are on track to take the required courses needed to graduate high school. Click here to view course catalog.
    • Take the SAT and/or ACT.
      • Send your official test scores to the colleges to which you are applying.
      • Students on Free & Reduced Lunch can receive fee waivers from their
        counselor.
    • Narrow down your choices for college or career tech to your top 3 to 5 schools.
      • Be sure to include a “dream” school and a “safety” school.
    • Start applying for college or career tech admissions.
      • Make sure you are aware of application DEADLINES!
      • EARLY DECISION – Most early action applications are due between October 1 and November 1.
    • Complete the FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
      • Application opens October 1 – www.fafsa.gov.
      • Current income tax information is required.
    • Start collecting letters of recommendation or recommendation forms from teachers, counselors, principals, etc.
      • If the form is to be mailed, make sure to include stamped, college-addressed envelopes, making certain all portions are filled out completely and accurately.
    • Research and apply for scholarships.
      • Scholarships can be found in many places. Make sure to check with your counselor, their website and/or principal emails on a regular basis for scholarship information.
    • Start on any essays to be included with your applications.
    • Watch the mailbox!
      • Early decision replies usually arrive between December 1 and 31.
    • Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
    • Maintain good grades.
      • Make sure you are appropriately challenging yourself with Honors and/or AP classes.
    • Re-take an interest inventory to explore careers based on your personal interest through OK Schoolinks.

    SPRING SEMESTER

    • Continue to check financial aid options and scholarships, APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!
    • Request that your official high school transcript be sent to your colleges to which you are applying. 
    • Contact the colleges to which you applied to make sure all your required information has been received and if anything additional is needed.
    • Most colleges will notify you if you have been accepted or not by April 15th. 
    • If you are living on campus, submit your housing deposit.
    • Compare college acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers to select the best choice.

    AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

    • Ask your school to send your final transcripts to the college you will be attending.
    • Ensure all AP Exams scores are sent to the college you will be attending.