- Norman Public Schools
- Timeline and Links
LINK LIBRARY
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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.
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Khan Academy
Take the PSAT 8/9 then connect your score to Khan Academy to begin preparing the PSAT/NMSQT and other college entrance exams.
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Big Future
Ideally students and parents will do some college research on their own. BigFuture is a great resource whether you're starting from scratch or know exactly what you want.
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Typical Entrance Exam Accommodations
PSAT/SAT/ACT accommodations for students with an IEP or 504.
BEGIN HERE
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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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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.
- Apply for Oklahoma’s Promise to earn scholarships for college if not completed in 8th grade.
10th Grade
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- 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.
- 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!
11th Grade
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- 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.
- Students on Free & Reduced Lunch can receive fee waivers from their
- 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.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT.
12th Grade
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- 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.