I’m a high school senior making my college decision. Basically, it’s down to a few small liberal arts colleges (Macalester, Clark University, and Bryn Mawr), or OU’s Honors College. If I want the type of community that smaller colleges offer, is there any way to get that through the Honors College? Or, if I’m otherwise looking at these tiny schools, is it unrealistic to think that I could get a type of experience that gives the same opportunities as smaller, more exclusive schools (socially, academically)? Also, are the classes in the Honors College generally challenging? I’m looking for a more studious community – while I’m not against partying, I don’t expect to do a lot of it. Any insights?
@dogs4cats My high school Senior DD was going through the same decision process. We talked to many current OU Honors College students who were answering the phones at the National Merit Scholars office about their experiences. We were at the OU Honors College on March 28th for her interview for the MHSP 8-year BA/MD program. While there we spoke with other Honors College students. Without exception those students we spoke with were pleased with the Honors College, a school within a school — with smaller, more challenging classes. See the following NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/education/some-question-merit-aid-at-university-of-oklahoma.html
@dogs4cats Do you have any idea what you want to study? Some programs at OU are quite challenging while others are less so. Keep in mind that the majority of your classes will be outside of the honors college, so you need to consider the overall rigor of the university.
I transferred from Oxford College of Emory University (a liberal arts college on Emory University’s original campus) to the University of Oklahoma. Realistically, no honors program at a large university will offer the same type of community as a liberal arts college unless the honors campus is physically isolated from the main university. This is not the case at OU. Students in the honors college often form rather close bonds with others in the dorms, but unlike at a liberal arts school, they are not constantly bumping into the same people for four years.