Career Compass

R E E CAR PASS COM

Y R E V E N W O R I E H T

NOW IT’S TIME TO START PLANNING YOURS.

You might think it’s too early, but by thinking about classes to take in high school now, you can make the most of your experience later.

On the following pages are some quick tips to help you chart your path.

TO Four years. That’s all your high school experience is. A lot can happen in four years.

You’ll make new friends, you’ll find new activities you enjoy, and you’ll figure out what you’re going to do next!

Right now you might not know whether you’re going into a career or heading to college. By planning ahead you can be prepared for anything you decide!

To graduate high school in Oklahoma ready to start college, you need to take the following courses: • 4 units of English • 3 units of math • 3 units of laboratory science • 3 units of history/citizenship skills • 2 units of the same foreign language or 2 units of computer technology • 1 unit of fine arts or speech Your local school board’s graduation requirements may exceed the state graduation requirements of 23 units.

R YOU Have you ever wanted to be in 2 places at once? Now you can! At Meridian, for instance, in addition to working toward your certificate of completion in a career training program you enjoy, you can get high school and even college credit.

HIGH SCHOOL Enroll in this at Meridian Biomedical Sciences - STEM Academy

Get credit for that at your high school Algebra II, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, Anatomy and Physiology, AP Statistics and Pre-AP Chemistry

Business Technology

Computer Science

Computer Aided Drafting

Computer Science

Health Careers Information Support and Networking Systems Pre-Engineering - STEM Academy

Anatomy Computer Science Algebra II, Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Physics, Pre-AP Chemistry and AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles and Computer Science

If you need a math credit, we offer Geometry, Algebra II and Math of Finance. Check with your high school counselor to see which class best fits with your graduation plan.

COLLEGE CREDIT College is expensive. If you start planning now, you can help offset expenses down the road by taking advantage of a cooperative agreement program. In some of the programs at Meridian, college credit may be available once you complete a career major. Awarded credits may apply toward an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) degree at Northern Oklahoma College in Business Management or Entrepreneurship or an Associate of General Sciences degree at Cowley College. You can also accelerate your education at OSU Institute of Technology – Okmulgee through prior learning assessments. Visit osuit.edu.

The A.A.S. degree has a lot of benefits: • It’s a technical workforce degree.

• It’s great for someone who is planning on directly entering the workforce after earning the degree.

• Classes are specific to the technical workforce degree and may not apply to other degrees, depending on the college you attend.

• Some credit may apply to a specific Bachelor of Technology degree.

USE YOUR RESOURCES

Your school and community are filled with people who want to see you succeed.

From your parents to your teachers to your school guidance counselors, each of these individuals has your best interest in mind. As you begin to chart your future, be sure to take advantage of the expertise they have to offer.

If you want to do some web surfing on your own, a great place to start could be the following sites: actstudent.org The ACTÂŽ is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions.

The ACTÂŽ has four sections: English, reading, math and science, as well as an optional 40-minute writing test. Depending on where you apply, you may or may not need the written test.

okcareerguide.org OKcareerguide is an online tool to help students explore and guide their future. The site offers everything from assessments, occupation options, sample education plans and connections to employers. This site contains helpful resources for students, parents and educators. It also offers information for adults who are interested in exploring new career paths as well as information for veterans who are transitioning from military to civilian life.

meridiantech.edu Whether college or career bound, Meridian Technology Center trains high school and adult students for success in more than 20 career programs. Students experience small classes, hands-on learning, selfpaced programs and real-world learning projects. High school students who live in the Meridian district attend tuition-free.

TO R YOU

LANGUAGE LEGEND Class rank: This is how you compare to other students in your grade based on your high school grade point average.

Elective Courses: These are the classes that you get to pick. Here’s the time that you can start thinking about what you’d like to do after you graduate and take classes in that area. Electives come in two forms: required and general.

Required electives: These are classes that meet your high school’s graduation requirements but are classes that you can choose between. For instance, in many schools you can enroll in choir or drama to meet your fine arts requirement.

General electives: These are courses you can take in high school that aren’t required. For instance in many schools you can take Agriculture, Technology or Marketing Education as electives.

Grade Point Average (GPA): This is an indication of your overall achievement in school.

It’s calculated by adding the number of grade points received over a period and then dividing it by the total number of credits you attempted during that same time period.

Required Core Courses: These classes are required by the state of Oklahoma for high school graduation. Without these classes, you won’t get to wear a cap and gown in four years!

Standardized Tests: These tests, usually the ACT or SAT, are used by colleges and universities to gauge your academic skills, abilities and preparation for higher education. In Oklahoma, the ACT is primarily used.

1312 S. Sangre Rd. | Stillwater, OK 74074 405.377.3333 | meridiantech.edu

Meridian Technology Center will not discriminate in its programs, services, activities or employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender expression or identity, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or genetic information.