<p>I read with interest and amusement the Miami opinions of the merits of their school over this one. But I'd love to hear the other side. </p>
<p>My daughter, currently a h.s. junior, would be an out of state student. She's an above-average student (all honors, AP & GT courses). A suburban liberal, she enjoys the varsity tennis team, would love a school with a quidditch team. She's pretty social and participates in a moderate amount of extracurriculars - including making nationals consistently in speech and debate. Oh yeah -- and she belongs to a minority group.</p>
<p>Could she be happy at Ohio U.?</p>
<p>If she is liberal, she will have a hard time trying to find friends who have the same views as she does. Miami is VERY conservative. OU has the character and quirkiness that I think she will enjoy (especially if she wants a quidditch team).</p>
<p>Hmmm… Thnx for the feedback, lean!</p>
<p>Dear Aint -</p>
<p>Wondering if you’ve looked into the practical side of things? I’m not sure about Miami, but I am familiar with OU (my son just graduated from HTC). I would look at scholarships (OU is <em>very</em> generous to OOS students with automatic money for good stats - it was definitely our financial safety). I would look at dorms (esp ones designated as “honors” dorms). I would look at honors programs (OU has one of the best - HTC - which is very different from most schools). And, very importantly, I would look at majors. One of the reasons that led us to OU in the first place was the high ranking and reputation of the department we wanted to be in. Does she have a specific interest in a major yet?</p>
<p>And, I would definitely VISIT each campus and get a feel for the place. Take the standard tour and talk, but see the town, eat in the dining hall, talk to some faculty, and strike up conversations with students in both schools. You daughter might just fall in love with one or the other. </p>
<p>After my son’s four years at OU, I can’t image that he could have found a better place, but my biases are clouded by the scholarships, by the fact that he was accepted into HTC, and by the reputation and facilities of the department he went into.</p>
<p>Digimedia,</p>
<p>Thanx for the detailed reply! D just got her ACT scores back today, and we’re disappointed, but they’re in the OU ballpark. With scores now a known quantity, I went online to do some additional research about the school. </p>
<p>While D’s not cemented on a major yet, her interests are (luckily!) in line w/her best h.s. grades: Photography, Journalism (Photojournalism), & Psychology. I noticed OU boasts the Scripps School of Journalism. Would love to know whether anyone knows anything about its rep.??</p>
<p>Scripps always ranks in the top 10, and sometimes even in the top five Journalish schools.</p>
<p>Here’s from Google Answers on J-School Rankings: “Obviously ranking depends on who you ask, but it seems no matter who does the ranking, the following schools consistently rate the top of the list -----”</p>
<p>Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism
[Medill</a> - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/]Medill”>http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/)
Columbia University (grad school only)
[Columbia</a> University Graduate School of Journalism](<a href=“http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/]Columbia”>http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/)
University of Missouri at Columbia
[Missouri</a> School of Journalism](<a href=“http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/]Missouri”>http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/)
University of Georgia Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass
Communication
[Welcome</a> To Grady College](<a href=“http://www.grady.uga.edu/]Welcome”>http://www.grady.uga.edu/)
Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism
[E.W</a>. Scripps School of Journalism](<a href=“E.W. Scripps School of Journalism | Ohio University”>http://scrippsjschool.org/)
Arizona State University - Cronkite School
[Cronkite</a> School redirect](<a href=“http://www.asu.edu/cronkite/]Cronkite”>Your future starts now | Cronkite School)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism
[UNC</a> School of Journalism and Mass Communication](<a href=“http://www.jomc.unc.edu/]UNC”>http://www.jomc.unc.edu/)
Syracuse - S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
[S.I</a>. Newhouse School of Public Communications](<a href=“http://newhouse.syr.edu/]S.I”>http://newhouse.syr.edu/)
University of Maryland Phillip Merril College of Journalism
[Taking</a> you to the Merrill College website…](<a href=“http://www.journalism.umd.edu/]Taking”>http://www.journalism.umd.edu/)
University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism
[KU</a> School of Journalism and Mass Communications](<a href=“http://www.ku.edu/~jschool/]KU”>http://www.ku.edu/~jschool/)</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, Pitt told us during the tour that it has a quidditch team. Your D might want to consider it too.</p>
<p>My D thought Miami was much too conservative. Even the videos on their web site lean to preppy, and their frat row suggested an extremely strong Greek campus. OU felt much more friendly. Their student union is great! OU is known for its journalism program. Its student-video contest is worth tracking down if the videos are still posted on line. </p>
<p>Overall, OU seemed like a great college community. We also thought that OU’s price and scholarships were fair. The school was a winner on many different levels…but unfortunately, their new nursing program is not a 0-4 program and D was concerned that it wasn’t as developed as the nursing programs offered by other schools. She wasn’t able to get an answer from OU about how many of the prenursing students are actually admitted or about the profile of admitted students. My D is committed to nursing and chose another school, even though she loved Ohio U.</p>
<p>Wow! OU sounds like it could be home to my vegetarian, green-conscious, non-greek, camera-happy, merit $$-dependent, kid. :-)</p>
<p>We’ll definitely be taking a careful look at its Open House for Juniors next month. Thanks all!</p>
<p>…and don’t forget to fill us in on what you find.</p>
<p>OU all the way! I am a Bobcat! Loved that school! Live close to Miami right now, but it is “J.Crew U” all the way. I know lots of kids who llike Miami. My D also got into the HTC program at OU. No freshman course requirements, first pick for courses ( before athletes!), and one-on-one and small group seminars. Lots of personal attention from OU. She is turning down Honors program at OSU and Presidential Scholarships from Chicago and DC schools to attend OU. A 32 will get your child automatic free tution. Check the Gateway Scholarship chart. It’s a no brainer. No games. Go Bobcats!</p>
<p>You sound as excited as I was when my son got accepted. He graduated in 2009 and that program really helped him succeed in a tough area (film industry). He <em>loved</em> his time there.</p>
<p>LOLOL!! Jmay721 I second your emotion. No HTC here, but equally as happy to report that following a grueling nailbiter of a contest between UDayton & OU, we have deposited with the Bobcats. D is looking forward to joining the award-winning Speech & Debate team. We’ll be visiting again this weekend, but the deal’s been sealed. I’m now in the market for green & white gear!</p>