I took 2 AP classes in high school and studied often. I took a lighter workload and after my first semester at OU, I found that classes were not as difficult as I anticipated. Since OU is a public university, the class sizes are definitely bigger, but in no way does it hinder my ability to learn. The professors are very proactive and encourage you to study in groups, attend their office hours, and find graduate student tutors, anything that helps you succeed in your classes.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
Living along the Golden Coast all my life and then moving to landlocked Norman, Oklahoma was definitely a culture shock, but I can't imagine being anywhere else for my college education. Everyone here is so friendly and accommodating. It feels great to be part of a legacy of caring students, renowned athletes, prestigious professors, and successful corporation heads.
Whether or not you have a major, OU has over 150 academic majors to choose from, a great factor for me. I wouldn't want to be an out-of-state student stuck with a major because the school did not have enough of a selection.
In terms of campus life, I did not realize how great OU was until I compared it to other schools. We have WiFi access literally everywhere on campus (dorms, cafeteria, classrooms, even outside)! The newly renovated cafeteria (Couch Restaurants) is to die for: with all-you-can-eat BBQ & burgers, stir-fry, Mexican, home-cooked, make-your-own sandwiches, Italian, Chick-Fil-A, and Greek food, all with the swipe of one meal card. Did I mention the in-house frozen yogurt and Starbucks coffee? The Gym (Huffman Center) is open until midnight weekdays and has an indoor track, basketball, racquetball, and volleyball courts available. The library is also a beautiful, quiet place located in the center of campus to study or even nap during the day!
There is not much in Norman apart from the campus, and OU makes sure to keep its facilities as appealing and entertaining as possible for its students.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
With all the renovations, new buildings, and agricultural maintenance around campus, you really see your money put to use.
As an out-of-state student, tuition is more expensive, so I had to apply for a lot outside scholarships to lower the costs. I was still saving money because my out-of-state tuition at OU was cheaper than in-state-tuition in California. OU still makes an effort to give at least some scholarship money to its students, so this helps too. As with any college, make sure to sign up for FAFSA to get the most financial aid possible.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
**Go on a college visit!
-Look around for optimal study spots for you. I like quiet spots, but I also prefer studying in small groups. The library, dorm towers, etc. have study rooms available for you.
-If you already have a major in mind, schedule an appointment with the advisor or department head after your campus tour. They are very accommodating if you schedule ahead of time. This gives you a good idea of what you can expect within the next few years.
After talking to a department head, try to speak with a student in your prospective major and get a tour of the your specific department's building. The general campus tour does not often cover this.
**Research the school ahead of time! Come up with a list of questions to ask so you'll be ready when you actually go to the campus.
**Eat at the Couch Restaurants (the Caf)! You can taste the delicious food you'll most likely be eating every day. (This added to my deciding factor to attend OU!)
**Visit the library
Which types of students will excel at your college?
**Meteorology, Engineering (specifically petroleum), Journalism/Broadcasting majors
-The National Weather Center is located on the south side of campus and provides meteorology students with the best facilities
-The newest engineering building, the Engineering Practice Facility, is exclusively for students, clubs, and student organizations to work, study, and play. This multi-story building has no classes but offers computer labs, open work spaces, and tutoring specifically for engineering students.
**National Merit Scholars: OU usually gives A LOT of money for National Merit Scholars
**Sports/ OU football, volleyball, basketball fanatics: Go anywhere in the country and someone will know the Sooners.
**Students interested in Greek life: Many students are a part of Greek life, but there are also many other student organizations, from the Baptist Student Union to the Filipino Asian Student Association to Students Against a Factory-Farming Economy, there are groups for anyone and everyone on campus.
I took 2 AP classes in high school and studied often. I took a lighter workload and after my first semester at OU, I found that classes were not as difficult as I anticipated. Since OU is a public university, the class sizes are definitely bigger, but in no way does it hinder my ability to learn. The professors are very proactive and encourage you to study in groups, attend their office hours, and find graduate student tutors, anything that helps you succeed in your classes.
Living along the Golden Coast all my life and then moving to landlocked Norman, Oklahoma was definitely a culture shock, but I can't imagine being anywhere else for my college education. Everyone here is so friendly and accommodating. It feels great to be part of a legacy of caring students, renowned athletes, prestigious professors, and successful corporation heads. Whether or not you have a major, OU has over 150 academic majors to choose from, a great factor for me. I wouldn't want to be an out-of-state student stuck with a major because the school did not have enough of a selection. In terms of campus life, I did not realize how great OU was until I compared it to other schools. We have WiFi access literally everywhere on campus (dorms, cafeteria, classrooms, even outside)! The newly renovated cafeteria (Couch Restaurants) is to die for: with all-you-can-eat BBQ & burgers, stir-fry, Mexican, home-cooked, make-your-own sandwiches, Italian, Chick-Fil-A, and Greek food, all with the swipe of one meal card. Did I mention the in-house frozen yogurt and Starbucks coffee? The Gym (Huffman Center) is open until midnight weekdays and has an indoor track, basketball, racquetball, and volleyball courts available. The library is also a beautiful, quiet place located in the center of campus to study or even nap during the day! There is not much in Norman apart from the campus, and OU makes sure to keep its facilities as appealing and entertaining as possible for its students.
With all the renovations, new buildings, and agricultural maintenance around campus, you really see your money put to use. As an out-of-state student, tuition is more expensive, so I had to apply for a lot outside scholarships to lower the costs. I was still saving money because my out-of-state tuition at OU was cheaper than in-state-tuition in California. OU still makes an effort to give at least some scholarship money to its students, so this helps too. As with any college, make sure to sign up for FAFSA to get the most financial aid possible.
**Go on a college visit! -Look around for optimal study spots for you. I like quiet spots, but I also prefer studying in small groups. The library, dorm towers, etc. have study rooms available for you. -If you already have a major in mind, schedule an appointment with the advisor or department head after your campus tour. They are very accommodating if you schedule ahead of time. This gives you a good idea of what you can expect within the next few years. After talking to a department head, try to speak with a student in your prospective major and get a tour of the your specific department's building. The general campus tour does not often cover this. **Research the school ahead of time! Come up with a list of questions to ask so you'll be ready when you actually go to the campus. **Eat at the Couch Restaurants (the Caf)! You can taste the delicious food you'll most likely be eating every day. (This added to my deciding factor to attend OU!) **Visit the library
**Meteorology, Engineering (specifically petroleum), Journalism/Broadcasting majors -The National Weather Center is located on the south side of campus and provides meteorology students with the best facilities -The newest engineering building, the Engineering Practice Facility, is exclusively for students, clubs, and student organizations to work, study, and play. This multi-story building has no classes but offers computer labs, open work spaces, and tutoring specifically for engineering students. **National Merit Scholars: OU usually gives A LOT of money for National Merit Scholars **Sports/ OU football, volleyball, basketball fanatics: Go anywhere in the country and someone will know the Sooners. **Students interested in Greek life: Many students are a part of Greek life, but there are also many other student organizations, from the Baptist Student Union to the Filipino Asian Student Association to Students Against a Factory-Farming Economy, there are groups for anyone and everyone on campus.