Own Your Own Future

Launched by Texas GEAR UP in 2010, Own Your Own Future allows students to explore just about every aspect of the journey to college. Since the site uses a "knowledge path" design, students are able to access content that is customized for their grade level. They will find short videos covering pretty much any topic that would fall under four key categories:

• Why Go to College?
• Prep for College
• Find a College
• Pay for College

Supporting print materials accompany each video so that the learning doesn't stop when the entertainment does. The grade-specific college roadmaps also provide a year-by-year overview of the steps students should be taking each month to ensure that they're on track to make their college dreams come true.

Educators have their own portal on the Own Your Own Future site, with a vast collection of lesson plans and classroom activities that were created to be used in tandem with the student materials. All educator resources are organized by both grade level and topic, making for easy access and planning. Want to find a lesson plan for 11th graders on writing a college admissions essay or a teamwork activity for 9th graders? Done in a split second. It's all about making it as easy as possible for you to help your students succeed.

Bilingual parent guides (one for middle school and one for high school) also help families travel the path to college right alongside their students. Whether they're used in parent-meeting settings or at home in the living room, they're an excellent tool to really get the postsecondary conversation started.