<p>We would throw away a fullride offer if the school was not a good fit...
for my D
ie- big sports school- not a good fit
greek school- not a good fit
hot climate- not a good fit</p>
<p>she knows herself well enough to know that for her, she would absolutely need a school that is in line with her preferances, and no amount of $, except if the PAID her to go there, and it was alot, would she take 4 to go to a school that is less than 60% a match</p>
<p>Oklahoma is one of those public universities that collect NMS's like baseball cards. I believe it is currently #5 on the list of NMS's enrolled, Harvard topping that list.</p>
<p>I have visited the campus and was surprised by its pleasant appearance, especially since it sits smack dab in the middle of a fairly ugly state. The students are friendly, and athletics are top-notch. Like Texas to the South and Nebraska to the North, football is king at OU.</p>
<p>My principal concern about OU is the marketability of a degree from there. I don't know any businesses that recruit there, and Norman is a long way from any major business markets. Here in Texas, I know very few people with a degree from OU, and I very much doubt that the degree has much clout outside the Southwest.</p>
<p>Two sons of a military officer (budget is tight) in our neighborhood have taken OU up on their offers - and appear to be doing well. The eldest has augmented his resume by winning a scholarship to cover costs of studying in Europe for a semester, and they will both likely get into very good graduate schools. Fantastic young men, however, no matter where they went to school. The problems with an Oklahoma or any of these mid-grade state institutions is that if you have very high aspirations, you can still reach them at an OU, but the margin for error is much less than at a well regarded, ranked school, particularly in areas such as graduate and professional school admissions. Then again, the competition is significantly less stringent (both kids not surprisingly do point to a generally mediocre student body). So like all college decisions, it comes down to the kid at hand, and really, assessing their ability to only only study, but to be assertive and draw resources from a large state university in a way that will inure uniquely to their benefit. Not many kids are mature enough off the bat to do just that, but smart kids can adjust and grow. Sax's son seems to hit the mark.</p>
<p>It went into our recycling bin too (not because OU isn't a good school, but our kid have a bias for a different part of the country), but my son was talking to his best friend tonight and said, "You need a safety school and we're finding it right now." They sat down at the computer and picked one out--it was not OU though they're both NMS--but they found a good match for him that would be a financial safety too. I loved watching this comeraderie. They've been taking care of each other since they were 2 years old.</p>
<p>"I could have picked that one , mathmom. That was a lock. "</p>
<p>It was the blue state requirement...</p>
<p>Actually we are very lucky, two years ago before we got an unexpected inheritence, we would probably have been looking at financial safeties more closely.</p>
<p>"I could have picked that one , mathmom. That was a lock. "</p>
<p>Ouch, I guess I asked for that. :)</p>
<p>It was the blue state requirement...</p>
<p>Actually we are very lucky, two years ago before we got an unexpected inheritence, we would probably have been looking at financial safeties more closely.</p>
<p>All that said, it bothers me to see such over-the-top courting of a kid about whom all they know is that he got very high scores on a two hour multiple choice test.</p>
<p>DD turned down UF three years ago - back when they offered full-rides. One look at the alligators in the ponds on campus - and that was it. She also did not like the atmosphere in the classes she sat in on. DS really liked it, but unfortunately missed the NMF cutoff by 2 points this year, so it is a moot point! In regards to OU; if your kid is a "go-getter" and is comfortable being around a fairly conservative student body, then you should check OU out. It never hurts to have a financial safety in your pocket - and you can wait to visit until you see what other schools have to offer in April.</p>
<p>yes, mathom, but statistically the kids are are national merit scholars do tremendously at OU, so while it may appear questionable, empirically and historically accepting these students has been a great investment for OU. Hardly illogical. And there's no indication (especially with the SAT type test, which is as much of an IQ test as there is in the college admit business) that this practice has done anything but inure to the benefit of the school.</p>
<p>P.S> I don't think the word "inferior" should be used in conjunction with OU. It's not inferior, but is a very different experience than attending an East Coast school.</p>
<p>Thanks, anxiousmom. I had the same thought. Maybe it's fear of flyover country? If the offer is attractive, visit the school.</p>
<p>Another cool thing about full ride scholarships is that your student will not have to work an outside job while going to school. Additionally this leaves them in a much better position to take on non paying internships if they wanted to without worrying about finances. It just opens up so many more choices. If they then wanted to go on to med school or law school they can start debt free. The list goes on and on. Unless of course money is no object. Then lucky you.</p>
<p>As Curmudgeon and others have pointed out, it's a matter of fit. My D wanted to attend school in a major city south of the Mason Dixon Line with a really smart student body the majority of which came from out-of-state. Obviously OU was "nope" on all counts, but so were a dozen other universities that offered her full scholarships. If OU is a good fit for your S then by all means go for it. But I suspect that your S will have very good offers at one or more of his priority schools. Good luck!</p>
<p>Congratulations on a wonderful offer!</p>
<p>I share mathmom's opinion- full ride because of a test score...sure they may do well, but who are they NOT getting because of a 2 point difference</p>
<p>SBDad, the University of Oklahoma is competing with Tulsa. Alright? Do not rule that school out unless your child just does not like it at all when they visit. Tulsa has one of the hottest undergrad as well as graduate research departments in the humanities (I know that for sure, because their grad school send me things all the time) as well as other majors going (for that area of the country). Please do not rule out the University of Oklahoma, they are just trying to compete with one of their friendly rivals with academics. </p>
<p>Oh, and mathmom, good for you. I hope that recycle bin does not get too full, there deary.</p>
<p>Recently compared notes on friends' kids' experiences at State Honors program (where mine once considered) and S's experiences (well to be precise, "reported" experiences), though the State program would have been much cheaper, S is clearly in his element and where he belongs, worth ever cent.</p>
<p>I'm with you, Idad. Still, many many of S's friends are in honors program at state U, with free tuition, and seem just fine. If they want a further degree (law, med, engineering), their parents will be in better position to help with tuition. In addition, the AP and college credits would have counted towards degree.</p>
<p>Anxiousmom, I agree that "inferior" was not the best choice of words, but it was easier and more eye-catching than "Why do people not choose Oklahoma for full-ride national merit scholarships if it was a fit for their children". My apologies to those I have offended.</p>
<p>Mathmom and Citymom, I understand your feelings, but we can all agree that schools have "institutional needs" be it oboe players or cross country runners or geographic diversity or ethnic diversity, etc. etc. OU has just decided, for whatever reason, that they have an instittutional need for NMS. Fair, maybe not - but there are many facets of this whole admission process that seem arbitrary and capricious to someone.</p>
<p>Since OU has no cap on the number of NMS they will take, DS has decided to just keep this offer in his back pocket and see how the rest of the admissions season goes. Nice to know it's there.</p>
<p>While OU may not be someone's first choice, I wouldn't knock the state itself and dismiss it out of hand in terms of career preparation for an undergraduate. The State of Oklahoma has long been of center of technology in the field of Geology, particularly concerning the petrochemical industry. Tulsa is a business center and Oil and chemical money paid for the many cultural assets in that city (symphony, museums, etc.). If fact, I have no hesistation in recommending U of Tulsa, which is stronger academically than OU.</p>
<p>Why throw bricks at any school that will offer a full ride to somebody who doesn't carry a football? </p>
<p>As some others have stated, OU and other schools that offer this create a situation where a kid can finish four years with no debt. OU was a consideration on both my kids lists. UA and ASU were too. With college costing so much these days, turning one's nose up at any offer of a free education... well, that says alot.</p>
<p>My 2 chose two small LACs where they felt a better fit for them and had enough between the school's offers and outside scholarships to leave college with a minimum >10k debt between them and their 290k bill. I would never bash any university's willingness to pay for a kid's education. It doesn't mean something's wrong with the school. More like something's right.</p>