@Booajo Good to hear. The political opinions vary depending on where you’re at within the university (ie, Greek Life vs. the Black Student Association) but there is also always variation within those groups of course.
I have a question about the National Merit scholarship at OU…my daughter has looked at a couple of schools that appear to give more merit money for NMF, making it closer to a full ride. My question is: Do NM students at OU have access to scholarships, and are they likely to be awarded scholarships that help to make up the difference? I guess I’m just looking for any input about the total cost of attendance and the balance after NM scholarship, and how folks have made up the difference (scholarship, parent money, etc.). Thanks!
Yes there are outside scholarships and departmental scholarships. Because of outside scholarships we will have zero out of pocket expenses for the first 3 semesters assuming she gets no additional scholarships. I’m estimating expenses at about $6K a semester (tuition, fees, room and board, books). It will likely be less because she’s moving off campus to an apartment next Fall but I like to estimate on the high side to be safe. OU’s official year estimate for OOS students $9K a year OOP expenses after the first year but I think that’s on the low side.
It’s really hard to nail down an exact cost of attendance at OU because one could live in a less expensive dorm and many of the fee’s are not only based on how many hours you take but also which department the class is in (the fees for journalism classes are much more expensive than English lit classes) so everyone will have different bills.
There do seem to be more departmental scholarships open to upperclassmen (at least in my daughter’s major). The trick with departmental scholarships for National Merit students at OU is to make sure it’s a cash scholarship and not a “tuition waiver” their National Merit Scholarship is already a tuition waiver so what you are looking for is a cash scholarship to help defer the “fees” and room and board.
I am encouraging my DD to continue to apply for any scholarships she finds. She’ll hopefully be working over summers and be able to help pay for some of her educational expenses but we’ll likely pay for most of it that is not covered by scholarship. OU’s National Merit Scholarship is not a full ride and they are very clear about that upfront.
My daughter is seriously considering Oklahoma for next fall. We had a very positive experience this past weekend at the S2S event. We are OOS and wondering how kids get from campus to the airport. She definitely won’t have a car as a freshman. Also, she is pre-med and concerned about how she’ll get into OKC for shadowing/volunteering at the clinics and hospitals. Any insight would be appreciated. Thx!
@econmomto3 Shuttle or Uber are options to airport. Though I told my D not to give trouble to others, invariably in all her trip her friends dropped to the airport. My D is also OOS and does not have a car nor plans to have a car until she graduates. She is also pre-med. But she has not started doing any thing so far. Mostly she will do in Norman itself (and may not go to OKC for any volunteer activity). But OU has some bus service on a schedule from Norman to OKC campus. During semester, it is better to do it closer in Norman than OKC because of class schedule and the time it will take to go to OKC and back. May be in summer you can plan for OKC or do it at your home town.
@econmomto3 Glad to hear you liked the S2S event (my D was thrilled to volunteer to talk to some of the potential students on Monday.) I’ll echo @GoldenRock 's experience-- my D has typically been dropped off/ picked up by a friend from the airport; she did take a shuttle once (I think it was 25 or 30$- easily arranged online.) Students can ride the local bus system at no cost (called CART-- you can look at their schedules and maps on OU’s site- there may be some hospitals/clinics local to OU Norman campus. To travel to the OU medical center campus in OKC- I think you can take Embark from Norman to OKC.
Keep hitting us up with questions-- there a few of us SoonerScholar parents around- and we’re happy to help.
Question…We visited this weekend and had a great experience. I think my S is really looking at OU for next year. I am concerned with the dorm situation mostly and do they really help the new students as much as they said? I would love for my S to have a strong support group and when listening to everyone this weekend that seemed to be the case. For those of you that have students already there as NMF is that the what you have experienced?
@Tgirlfriend Can you be more specific about your concerns about the dorms? I’m not sure what situation you are referring to.
My daughter went to Camp Crimson and I think it really helped her transition into dorm life. Highly recommend it!
http://www.ou.edu/campcrimson.html
@3scoutsmom …We have visited 2 times and my concern about the dorms are the lack of privacy. We asked about gettting a single room on the NMF floor however my S seems to think he will be okay with a roommate. I feel differently about that. He has had the whole end of the house by himself for the last 9 years and he likes his own alone time. Does that make any sense?
Yes that makes sense, my daughter needs her alone time too. She and her roommate don’t have the same classes and are involved in different activities on the weekend so she has the room to herself at times. She also goes to study at various places around campus if the dorm is a distraction.
If he’s up for a roommate I wouldn’t worry about it at all. Having a roommate can actually part of his support system. I know my D and her roommate helped each other out a lot especially the first few weeks of school.
@Tgirlfriend I can’t speak to the privacy issue as my D is comfortable with a roommate. She does, however, spend time in the floor study room and social lounges as well as other places on campus to study (honors building, library, engineering building). She tends to do well in study groups- so the NMF floor is perfect for that. She has NMF kids in all but one of her classes and they work together often. She will be moving to an off campus apt next year with 3 other NMF kids and they will each have their own room in the apartment. She usually participates in the scholar-first year events; and often goes to on campus lectures and events or even just to the gym with her suitemates or others from the floor. I imagine some of the kids she has become friendly with (including her room & suitemates) will be the friends-for-life type.
@3scoutsmom and @oneundecided …thank you so much for all the encouraging words. I think we are more worried about that adjustment than he is although I have seen some concern out of him lately about the whole college thing. I think the unknown is more scary than anything. He told me the other night that he had only known this house and this community. I could see the worry in his eyes and it broke my heart. I had to tell him that it would all work out and that change would be a good thing. Then I explained to him that his dad and I would miss him just as much as he missed us and he could bring college friends home anytime. They really need a parents support group too. Lol
@Tgirlfriend Agree. At their age, they adapt and get along with folks of different background and culture and open for any change. Remember, the dorm is only for 10 months. Meantime they get to know students from different classes, other rooms, clubs and who are like minded and click and they form a circle and move in to apartments. So it is realistic that the room mate (and suite mates) may or may not click. That is ok because still they will find some friends within the 1 or 2 months. In extreme situation, OU allowed on a case by case basis to change the room if there are serious issues with the assigned room mates.
The most painful time was when me and my wife left OU campus on Sunday morning in August with the final hug and tears with our D to get back home after the orientation week.
@Tgirlfriend Our D is a freshman on the NM floor. She is from OOS and didn’t meet her roommate or suitemates until she arrived on campus. I really think in many cases the anticipation is so much worse than the reality. Have your S go to Camp Crimson if he can. This was a great way for our D to connect with others in small group activities before arriving on campus. Once there, there are so many activities, opportunities and supports available - and hundreds of others going through the same exact experience and emotions - that the students quickly find others to connect with. OU just set a record for the highest fall to spring retention rate for the current freshman class, they know what they are doing and recognize the importance of students feeling connected and building relationships right away. Best of luck to your D and to you and your husband. 
@GoldenRock …thank you for the encouragement. I have no doubt I will be crying like a baby all the way home from dropping him off. @WImom94 …thank you. Yes, I will ask about Camp Crimson. He is thinking about trying out for the band so I think that would help him also. I have a feeling the next few months are going to be rather difficult but in a good way. 
@Tgirlfriend Trying out for the band is a great idea! Our D’s roommate made the marching band. She moved in early for “band camp” which helped her start making friendships and getting to know campus before everyone else arrived. She loves it and has enjoyed all of the perks and travel that come along with being part of such an incredible tradition.
As someone who lived on the NM floor freshman year, I truly enjoyed it. Of our group of 10 closest friends, all of us lived on the NM floor and 9 of us are OOS. That’s part of why I chose OU. I knew I could find an environment where other students would have similar interests as me as well as be actively searching for new friends as freshman year began.
FWIW, I did random roommate selection and did not do Camp Crimson but still had a great first year. Camp Crimson is very hit or miss. Some students realllllllly enjoy it. Some students think it’s a waste of time. Either way, it is not a requirement to succeed at OU either socially or academically.
Band is a great thing to do. Exposes students to more people and has a very tight social group. Moving in early is also a great perk. It’s kind of funny though, because the people who move in early are mostly those doing either band or Greek recruitment, which leads to some polar opposites being in the dorms at the same time.
So S1 will be graduating in May after 3 years in NMF program (thanks to AP credits and a focus on the goal). Lived in Walker 10 for freshman year and met most of his current friends through that. Roommate was not bad, but roomie met a girl and that made things awkward. All of his roommates in apartment are alumni of Walker 10.
He plans on staying for the MS next year. The program provides assistance for that as well. He has been able to work in paid positions doing research to supplement the scholarship. We have given him food and occasional spending money, but the scholarship has made our role rather minor. The program itself is more than willing to be there for students even after they start.
Wish he would have taken advantage of programs abroad and such, but he is highly motivated to get done and anything not directly related to that goal tends to be avoided. This is just my kid, not a reflection of the others whom I have come to know. There are some really good kids in the NMF program.
We are visiting Oklahoma in March. Junior son, PSAT 225, well over our state’s usual cut off. Hoping to see NMF program/perks, but son obviously hasn’t officially been named NMF yet. Will this be ok?
@Booajo Yes! Make arrangements through the scholars office, they will be happy to help you. DD16 toured OU as a junior and they were very accommodating!