Forty-eight freshman and sophomore GEAR UP students from Savanna Public Schools recently participated in a virtual college tour day. Students began the day by discussing how to select a college that is the right choice for them. They looked at location, cost, admission requirements, academic programs, and class size.
The first virtual tour was of Murray State College in Tishomingo, OK which is a junior college offering small class size and lower costs. Murray has several outstanding programs such as Veterinary Nursing and Gunsmithing Technology which is one of only six such programs in the nation.
During the next tour, students received an overview of the University of Tulsa, which highlighted campus activities and living on campus. The university is a four-year private college with large classes, a variety of student activities, and several unique opportunities for learning. GEAR UP students discussed the differences between a privately funded college and a state-funded college and the possibility of scholarships and grants compensating for higher tuition.
The final tour of the day was of SOSU (Southeastern Oklahoma State University) in Durant, OK with college recruiter, Sarah Hughes speaking to the students via Zoom. After viewing a short video, she discussed the top five academic programs SOSU offers and gave an overview of student life. She encouraged students to find a college that was a good fit for them and to get involved on campus. She also communicated the importance of early planning by studying hard and being involved in their current school. She concluded the session with a question and answer period with the students.
The field trip was sponsored by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s GEAR UP program. Eastern received a $17 million federal GEAR UP grant in 2017, and will serve more than 3,000 students in 39 area schools for seven years.
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GEAR UP Students Travel to Puerto Rico for Global Leadership Summit
Eighteen GEAR UP graduates participated in a 4-night, 5-day Global Leadership Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Students encountered a wide range of experiences, from