Preparing for Success in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences

As a high school student, you can begin preparing to earn a degree in Geography or Meteorology in a number of ways:

* If you are planning to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree through A&GS, take as many Math courses as you can, especially in algebra and calculus (please visit our Math Requirement section listed below for detailed information on the A&GS Math requirements, tutoring services, and the Math Placement Test).

* If your high school offers them, take Physics courses as well as courses in Computer Science (in particular, programming).

* Take as many AP classes in as many subjects as possible; take the AP tests at the end of these courses to earn college credit.

* Make sure you complete at least two years of the same foreign language (required for A&GS Bachelor of Science degrees). If you are planning to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree through A&GS, we recommend you take four years of high school language, as the BA degree requires advanced college-level courses in a foreign language.

* Prepare for and take the ACT, SAT, and PSAT exams. Retake these tests if your initial scores were low.

* If possible, visit the OU campus. You can arrange for a campus tour by calling the Office of Prospective Student Services at (405) 325-2151. You can also tour the National Weather Center while you're at OU; to arrange for a tour of the NWC, please call (405) 325-1147 or e-mail tours@nwc.ou.edu. NWC tours are given on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

* Check out the "ACADEMICS" section of our web site at ags.ou.edu to find out about how OU is structured academically and the specific requirements needed to earn your degree. Please note that in order to finish a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology in four years, you will need to have MATH 2443 (Calculus IV) successfully completed by the end of your sophomore year in the program. A grade of C or better is required in each calculus course before you can proceed to the next level.

* Read the OU catalog! http://catalog.ou.edu/; we strongly recommend the following sections: General Information; How to Apply to OU; The OU Difference; Admission, Enrollment and Financial Aid Services; University College; and the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences. Remember that in college you are responsible for understanding what your degree requirements are and for familiarizing yourself with the OU General Catalog.

* Delay buying a new computer until you have attended OU for at least one semester; to see why, please refer to the "Computer Recommendations" below.

* Do not hesitate to contact the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences Student Services Center at (405) 325-3101 if you have ANY questions. We love hearing from students!