Graduate Exam Assistance Scholarship

The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is a wonderful place for students to expand their horizons; learn to manage time, money, social and professional lifestyles; and critical thinking. A bachelor's degree from USAO distinguishes one among their community, an achievement earned through years of hard work and dedication to their studies. However, some students' ambitions take them further. 

USAO is strictly undergraduate, meaning students wishing to pursue a post-graduate degree must prepare themselves to apply elsewhere well in advance. Whether the ultimate goal is a medical degree, master's, or PhD, there are a number of hurdles a student must jump to be accepted. The first of which are the entrance exams.

The entrance exams, often the most expensive costs a student faces before enrollment in graduate school, are one of the defining factors of an applicant's admission into a program. The most common exam taken by USAO students is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), which cost $205, followed by the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) at $180 and $310, respectively. Other exams include the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) at $210, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) at $250, the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) at $330, and the Dental Admission Test (DAT) at $415. 

These exams are timed and comprehensive. A difference of a few points can determine whether students are even eligible to apply to certain programs, if they will be funded, and to what degree. The gravity of these tests is immense, and, understandably, students devote months to studying and preparing for four to seven hours of performance. Application deadlines fall early in the spring trimester, so preparation must all be done during the fall; on top of regular coursework, jobs, internships, and personal engagements. 

Money should not stand in the way of a talented student pursuing their dreams. Our goal is to facilitate any current USAO student who has demonstrated academic success by covering the first exam, removing one of the many costs associated with graduate level education. Approximately 35 USAO students annually apply for a graduate program, averaging $9,000 spent on entrance exams alone. Our goal is raise at least $4,200, but if we are able to raise the full amount, we would be ecstatic!  

Please donate. A student's journey through graduate school is a financially difficult one, so this small scholarship at the beginning of the process will be such a benefit to USAO's student body.