My OU story started when I applied, and I was denied right out of high school. I was the first person in my family to attend college, and I had little idea of what to do after that. Eventually, I transferred a few times and made it to the University of Oklahoma, where I finished my bachelor’s and my master’s degrees. That journey led me to working on the OU Transfer Admission Team and doing what I can to help students complete their own academic journey.
Ask questions! Reach out to the schools you are interested in. Reach out to your tribe’s education department! If you have family or friends who have gone to college, ask them questions, too. There are so many programs across the country that help Indigenous students with the college process. You don’t know what you don’t know, so ask questions!
The Native American community at OU is embedded from the student body all the way to the administration. From events to student organizations, there are multiple avenues to explore and ways to become part of the Native American community on campus.
My favorite is Indigenous Preview Day for future Indigenous students. It’s a great way to see campus and experience a piece of what OU can offer you. Students meet with so many organizations and our admissions team, who help relieve some of the stress of the college search process.
The Student Financial Center is one of the best, and the Student Life office is great for finding your community. The OU Writing Center and tutors on campus also help make coursework more manageable so you have more time to focus on other interests.
