Alabama vs Oklahoma for NMF

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Oklahoma
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Hello,

I’m the mother of a future Sooner! Our story: my son did well on the PSAT and SAT with a hope of semi-finalist. Both of us were thinking he’d go to a Catholic college but when I mentioned one more time about how a few public univ offer more than full tuition, he turned his interest. I was disappointed initially, but this homeschooled guy loves to argue (in an intellectually friendly way, not quarreling) and wants to go where everyone is not just like him in beliefs. His thoughts for a major include history, international relations, or political science with the thought of working with the State dept or in diplomacy or as a univ professor some day.

We live in the Eastern US so he ruled out the Arizona schools. Kentucky didn’t appeal to him. Alabama wasn’t TOO far away, and Oklahoma was put on the maybe but probably not list due to distance. A trip to Alabama in November overwhelmed him and my husband. Everything was so polished! Seamless! Perfect buildings! Beautiful campus, friendly students, rent-a-puppy program (awesome!). The Blount program pulled him strongly, as did their cozy dorms with ping pong tables. The Catholic church there was brand new and lovely, and the noon daily Mass we attended was reverent. He came home 85% sure he’d go to Alabama. After returning home from the Blount interview (can’t remember when that was - January?) he was 95% sure. He said the interview process (discussing a question with the other kids, “How can you know what truth is” or something like that) was the most fun he’d ever had. He even met another boy who thought as he did, that a good monarchy is the best governing system ever.

While he no longer wanted to make the scheduled visit to Oklahoma in February for the Scholars to Sooners weekend, my husband suggested that he evaluate all options before deciding. Also, my husband’s family lives in Dallas so they combined the trip with a visit. I stayed at home while they and my younger son visited. I prayed and awaited the phone calls. My son liked: the giant, generous scholarship, the long 1:1 or 1:3 visits with professors who impressed him, the reading groups, the gorgeous library, the unique style of the buildings, the quirkiness of the older concrete buildings, the excellent reputation for academics, the good food, the wide expanse of the study abroad program, the proximity to relatives (and we drive past my parents’/siblings houses when we will drive him to school in the fall), the low rent in Norman, the idea of camaraderie among the Honor and NM students, and the Catholic parish. A fellow from the parish even gave my sons “Oklahoma Catholic” t-shirts.

While Alabama has much to offer (and a beautiful cursive font “A”), my son knew that Oklahoma felt right to him.

Missaltoe

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@Misslatoe, glad he enjoyed visiting the Catholic parish - it has a fantastic student outreach. My soph D has definitely found a home there and has made so many good friends. She was hooked from the very first pizza night at the beginning of the school year!

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@Missaltoe Glad he decided to come here! I, and several other NMF students here at OU, were down to OU and Alabama as our final two. I firmly maintain that the schools are very similar and students will succeed equally at either one. I think they both have small advantages in different areas, but I think the culture fit is most important. I felt incredibly at home when I visited OU and that feeling has stayed with me for the three years that I’ve been here.

Some of my best friends are NMF and actively involved in the Catholic Church here. I’m sure he’ll do great.

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Hi! Our D is also a future Sooner and attended the Scholars2Sooners weekend in Feb. She has similar interests as your son, particularly international relations and diplomacy. In your research and conversations about OU, did you learn about the “diplomacy lab”? A very unique and fabulous opportunity for students to work on issues, topics, problems provided by Dept of State. Google would have more info., but this was a very appealing aspect of OU for our D. :slight_smile:

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Based on feedback from our Freshman Natl Merit Scholar at OU, it’s a very strong/active Catholic community. Weekly dinners after Sunday Evening Mass, retreats, service projects, Bible study - all very positive experiences.

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Thank you so much for your kind replies. The parish sounds great, and so does the diplomacy lab. He had not heard of that. He’s excited to have a “real” teacher after homeschooling.

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Deciding on Oklahoma (Midwest) vs. Alabama (Deep South) was easy for my DD. Both have great football traditions. However, OU seemed to have a more supportive NMF Program (including more $$$), a prestigious Honors College, and did not require her to pick up a southern drawl!