Scholarships are prestigious. While there are many of them out, the best ones anyone could get are mostly scholarship programs administered by the school. In the case of Oklahoma University, scholarships administered by the university are among the highest-paying and the most valuable. Throughout this article, we will refer to scholarships offered by Oklahoma University as OU scholarships (because, why not?).
If you are a high school student who hopes to enrol for a post-secondary degree at Oklahoma University, this wonderful opportunity is for you. The university has encouraged students to apply for scholarships by submitting an application form at the desk of the scholarship board. To do this requires you to be a current undergraduate at the university.
This wonderful opportunity presented by the sponsors of the many scholarships administered by Oklahoma University is intended to make your time as an undergraduate easier and more productive. Should you be a high-performing student and you think your record speaks for itself, or you are in need and you think your financial status will get you one of the need-based OU scholarships, you are to apply for consideration for the scholarship before December 2022.
You should take note that application for OU scholarships involves you applying for a single one when you submit your application. This means that the University board matches you with a scholarship that they believe is merited by your academic performance and other qualities that will be talked about extensively later on.
In this article, you will read about proven tips to win one of OU scholarships, everything you need to know about Oklahoma University if you have not been there, the facts about the state of Oklahoma, rules guiding OU scholarships, the benefits of winning one, and the specific peculiarities to them. Have a lovely time reading!
OU SCHOLARSHIPS: EVERYTHING ABOUT IT
OU scholarships are funded by the Government, companies, public figures, businesses, and brands that are affiliated with the university. The sponsors donate to the program. By doing this, they leave the administration of the individual scholarships to the university.
Oklahoma University is responsible for handpicking undergraduates enrolled in different fields at the university who is best deserving of the scholarships. To get one of the OU scholarships, a student is expected to apply first.
Although OU scholarships are numerous, application for each one of them is through the single application through the link provided above. Students are not required to specify which scholarship they are applying for. By just showing interest in a scholarship program, they are considered for which one their qualifications meet.
OU scholarships are of many types. There are scholarships intended for residents of the state of Oklahoma, non-residents, and transfer students. There are also scholarships intended for international students at the university.
You must be a resident of the state of Oklahoma to qualify for OU scholarships intended for residents. Students from other forty-nine (49) states across the country can enter for non-resident OU scholarships, while students transferring from other institutions across the nation can enter for the transfer scholarships.
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma was derived from the words “okla” and “humma”, with the two meaning people and red respectively. The state of Oklahoma includes the Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory which were merged together on November 16, 1907.
Oklahoma is a state bordered by Texas on the south and west, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New Mexico on the west, Colorado on the northwest, and Kansas on the north. The state is located in the South Central region of the United States and it is the 46th state in the nation.
Oklahoma, the host state of OU scholarships, is the major producer of natural gas, oil, and agricultural products across the nation. The state relies on an economic base of energy, aviation, biotechnology and telecommunications.
As of 2020, Oklahoma has a population of about 4 million. When ranked against the other states in the country, Oklahoma was 28th. It covers 177,660km2 of land and 3,377km2 of water.
OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY: BRIEF DETAILS ABOUT IT
The host university of OU scholarships is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. The university was founded in 1890 and over the years, the number of staff and students has seen a steady increase. As of the fall of 2018, the university had 31,702 students enrolled with about 3,000 faculty members. Oklahoma University offers 152 baccalaureate programs, 160 master’s programs, and 75 doctorate programs.
The university is recognised as one of the most prestigious in the country. As stated by the National Science Foundation, OU spent $283 million on research and development in 2018. Compared to other universities across the country, this number put Oklahoma University at 82nd in the country.
The university is 131 years with multiple awards in multiple sports including seven football national championships and two NCAA Division I baseball championships. The women’s football team has won the national championship five times, and the gymnastics have won a combined eleven national championships since 2002.
The university is both equipped for the best undergraduate programs you could and extracurricular activities like sports.
OU SCHOLARSHIPS FOR RESIDENTS
The OU scholarships that are available for residents include:
- National Merit Finalist
- National Merit Semifinalist
- Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program
- Award of Excellence
- Distinguished Scholar
- University Scholarship
- Academic Achievement
- NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST
Award Amount: $69,100.
Qualification: National Merit Finalist.
- NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST
Award Amount: $16,000 = ($4,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: Be named a National Merit Semifinalist and have a 3.5 GPA.
Students who advance to Finalist standing and name OU as their college choice by
April 30 are eligible to be upgraded to the National Merit Finalist package.
- OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS’ ACADEMIC SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Award Amount: $43,150.
Qualification: ACT/SAT scores in the top one half of one percent for OK residents.
- AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Award Amount: $16,000 = ($4,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 31 ACT or 1390 SAT (or greater) and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank .
- DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
Award Amount: $12,000 = ($3,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 29-30 ACT or 1330-1380 SAT and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank.
- UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $10,000 = ($2,500 x 4 years).
Qualification: 28 ACT or 1300-1320 SAT and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank
- ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Award Amount: $8,000 = ($2,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 24-27 ACT or 1160-1290 SAT and 3.25 GPA or top 10% class rank.
OU SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NON-RESIDENTS
The OU scholarships that are available for non-residents include:
- National Merit Finalist
- National Merit Semifinalist
- Award of Excellence
- Distinguished Scholar
- University Scholarship
- Academic Achievement
- Honor Award
- Merit Award
- NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST
Award Amount: $123,500 .
Qualification: National Merit Finalist.
- NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST
Award Amount: $60,000 = ($15,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: Be named a National Merit Semifinalist and have a 3.5 GPA.
Students who advance to Finalist standing and name OU as their college choice by
April 30 are eligible to be upgraded to the National Merit Finalist package.
- AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Award Amount: $60,000 = ($15,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 31 ACT or 1390 SAT (or greater) and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank.
- DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
Award Amount: $56,000 = ($14,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 29-30 ACT or 1330-1380 SAT and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank.
- UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $44,000 = ($11,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 28 ACT or 1300-1320 SAT and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank
- ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Award Amount: $40,000 = ($10,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 26-27 ACT or 1230-1290 SAT and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank.
- HONOR AWARD
Award Amount: $32,000 = ($8,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 26 ACT or 1230 SAT (or greater) and 3.25-3.49 GPA.
- MERIT AWARD
Award Amount: $28,000 = ($7,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 24-25 ACT or 1160-1220 SAT and 3.5 GPA or top 10% class rank
OU SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The OU scholarships that are available for international students include:
- Award of Excellence
- Distinguished Scholar
- University Scholarship
- Academic Achievement Award
- Non-Resident Merit Award
- AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Award Amount: $60,000 = ($15,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 31 ACT or 1390 SAT (or greater).
- DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR
Award Amount: $56,000 = ($14,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 29-30 ACT or 1330-1380 SAT.
- UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Award Amount: $44,000 = ($11,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 28 ACT or 1300-1320 SAT.
- ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Award Amount: $40,000 = ($10,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 26-27 ACT or 1230-1290 SAT.
- NON-RESIDENT AWARD
Award Amount: $28,000 = ($7,000 x 4 years).
Qualification: 24-25 ACT or 1160-1220 SAT.
HOW TO APPLY FOR OU SCHOLARSHIPS
“Rather than completing multiple scholarship applications, you only need to complete one application – your application for admission to OU – to qualify for scholarships. You are to contact your admissions counsellor if you have a question you want to clarify.”
Although there are many scholarships under the flag of OU scholarships, application for all of them is through a single form here. Completing the application at the provided external link to the official website means you have shown interest in all the merit-based scholarships administered by the university.
To apply for a need-based scholarship, an applicant will need to complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
To apply for any of the scholarships, you must be currently enrolled at Oklahoma University at the time of application.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The deadline for application for OU scholarships is December 2022. Only scholarships submitted before or by this date will be considered.
TIPS TO WIN OU SCHOLARSHIPS
OU scholarships are merit-based and need-based. In this part of the article, you will read about all the tips you need to follow to stand a better chance of landing one of the scholarships. However, you may want to know that the factors considered before OU scholarships are awarded to anyone are beyond academic excellence. While candidates are vetted based on their academic performance, other factors like community services and extracurricular activities come into the picture.
- Stand out academically. We earlier said OU scholarships are not awarded on academic excellence alone. While this is true, academic performance is considered before an applicant is selected to receive one of the OU awards. To be among the front-runners for OU scholarships, ensure you have a strong academic performance in your high school and at Oklahoma University. The path to winning one of OU scholarships begins the first time you step your foot at the school.
- Be a contributor to your community. The board nominated by Oklahoma University to select candidates to want applicants to be relevant in their community. To be this person, you have to be active in community services. This can be a continuous project or a one-time project that improves the quality of life in your community. Whatever it is, it gives you an edge at winning OU scholarships.
- Ensure you make no mistake when filing FAFSA. This applies if you are applying for one of the OU scholarships that are need-based. You should know that getting one of the merit-based OU scholarships does not stop you from applying for a need-based one should you be qualified. When applying, ensure you make no mistake in the application as a mistake can prove very vital. After you have entered your details, go over everything one more time before clicking the proceed button. A few minutes of revision of the details you provided can go a long way.
- Submit your application in time: As stated earlier, the application for OU scholarships closes on 15 December 2022. Should you be interested and willing to apply for this scholarship, ensure you have your application submitted before the deadline. You can never tell if the judges want to consider the time of submission or not.
- Be a leader: Leadership is one of the key factors considered when selecting candidates for OU scholarships. When applying, share the positions you have served in as a leader in the past. This can be as the president of an organisation, or the financial secretary. Whatever capacity you have served, the board wants to know.
BENEFITS OF WINNING OU SCHOLARSHIPS
- With one of OU scholarships, you get to travel and learn about new cultures. While the fund from the scholarship can be used for anything, a likely use might be to travel to places with great scenery. You can even travel outside the country to learn about totally new cultures with the fund.
- The average pay per academic year in American universities is about $20,000. Should you secure a spot for yourself in one of OU scholarships, you may have more than enough to pay for your tuition during your stay on campus. This gives you added opportunity to perform better academically, as you do not have to work to put yourself through school.
- You are debt-free after college. Many undergraduates in the American school system take loans to see themselves through college. Given the interest rate on student loans, the students face the challenge of having to secure a job early so that they can start paying their student loans as soon as possible. Even with this, it takes years to be debt-free. However, with OU scholarships, you may never need to take a student loan. Moreover, you get the chance to hit the ground running after college.
- OU scholarships give your resume a significant boost. Because of its significance and reputation, you have an advantage over others when you job-hunt or apply for internships during your undergraduate study. Potential employers see you were an outstanding student while you were an undergraduate at Oklahoma University.
- You have access to a lot more things at Oklahoma University. Winning one of OU scholarships means you get called for special events in the school. When the sponsor companies and figures organise seminars, you will be given an added advantage the others may not have. You may be given the chance to speak at the seminar or to enrol on a special program. It can even be to join a research or a program that teaches you so much.
SUMMARY
A synopsis of the article
KEY TAKEAWAYS
How to Apply: Application for OU scholarships can be done here.
Supporting Documents: Candidates will be required to verify their SAT scores during screening.
Types of OU scholarships: OU scholarships are of two types: merit- and need-based scholarships. Application for need-based OU scholarships is through FAFSA while an application for merit-based OU scholarships is through the link provided above.
Basic Requirements: To be considered for any OU scholarships, you must have a strong academic performance, be involved in the community, have leadership skills, and be involved in extracurricular activities.
Language Requirement: Sufficient understanding of the English Language.
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
Oklahoma University official website: Visit here.
OU scholarships: Visit here.
About Oklahoma University: Visit here.
Oklahoma University Outside Scholarships: Visit here.
Facebook profile of Oklahoma University: Visit here.
Twitter profile of Oklahoma University: Visit here.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Administrator: Oklahoma University.
Departments: Depends.
Renewable: Depends.
Nationality: American, International.
Language requirement: Applicants must have a sufficient understanding of the English Language.
FAQS
What are OU scholarships?
OU scholarships are administered by Oklahoma University. These scholarships are sponsored by different bodies: companies, businesses, government, public figures, and brands.
How much are OU scholarships?
OU scholarships are a variety of scholarships. For this reason, the award worth is not general, but specific to each of OU scholarships.
Are OU scholarships renewable?
Many of OU scholarships are renewable. To qualify for renewal, you have to meet the specified requirements.
When is the deadline for OU scholarships?
The deadline for OU scholarships is 15 December 2022. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
How can I apply for OU scholarships?
To be eligible for OU scholarships, you have to be enrolled at Oklahoma University at the time of application. You can proceed to apply here.
Are OU scholarships need-based or merit-based?
OU scholarships are either merit-based or need-based. OU scholarships are a variety of scholarships and there are two types: need-based scholarships and merit-based scholarships. To apply for need-based OU scholarships, you are required to complete FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) here. Application for merit-based OU scholarships is through the link provided above.
What are the factors considered before OU scholarships are awarded to an applicant?
Factors considered when selecting students to receive OU scholarships include academic excellence, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities.
Must I be enrolled at Oklahoma University to receive OU scholarships?
Yes. OU scholarships are open to undergraduates enrolled at the university. This means you have to be a student at the university at the time of application.
CONCLUSION
The probability of you getting one of OU scholarships is so high. If you do not want to apply for the scholarship, this alone might be the incentive you need. By applying on the university website, you will be matched for several scholarships and if you meet the criteria for many, you will be selected for the best and most lucrative.
OU scholarships are among the highest-paying scholarships across the country; Hence, why you may want to win one even more. The award from one of OU scholarships can be the difference between performing excellently at school and not doing so.
If you are having doubts or you feel you are getting cold feet, think of the benefits and submit that application today. You will most likely get one at Oklahoma University.