<p>I'm cross-posting here hoping to get a response---
Anyone accept a NM scholarship to Oklahoma (or, know anyone who did)? While the free ride for NM Scholars at OU is a financially attractive option, can anyone comment on what the academic experience was like for those who choose this option? Did the honors college live up to expectations? Was it challenging enough for brighter students? Do grads get accepted into good graduate programs? Though OU offers numerous study-abroad options, how good are they? While OU seeks to recruit NM Scholars, did it continue to provide strong support after they were enrolled? Did anyone regret choosing OU over a more expensive option? Though OU has some known strengths in certain science and engineering fields, I'd especially be interested in hearing more about the experiences of arts & sciences majors. (Since NM Scholars at OU---or people that know some---might be a limited number on this forum, I'd also be interested to hear from others who were A&S majors at OU).</p>
<p>My daughter and I just visited O.U. and attended a national scholars presentation.
I will say this, they really rolled out the red carpet – impressive from start to finish.
Though I can’t comment on the program from a current O.U. student’s perspective, I can attest to the presentation. The presenters included students from the national scholars program, and we were escorted to and from each portion of the program by these students. The staff of the national scholars office gave each student in attendance at least an hour of their time explaining the program, the scholarship package, the NMF process, etc. They also put NO pressure on us (nice surprise). They fed (for free) entire families at their main dining facility – not just the potential attendee. We spoke to faculty advisers and the director of recruitment for the honors college. The students we met were pleased with the program, and one of our escorts was just admitted to med school. My daughter is currently interested in pre-medical studies, and the adviser overseeing this area said they had 80% of their students get accepted into med school this year. Considering how difficult it is to get into medical programs, (45-50% nat’l avg.) we thought this sounded pretty good. They have an honors residence hall, but it’s relatively small. The main residence halls have floor-based communities however, made up of just honors college participants or National Merit students, so if you don’t get into the honors dorm, you can still live with other HC students. They have an honors college building, but it’s not anywhere near the size and scale of the honors college at, say, Arizona State Univ. You will need to have around a 30 ACT/1330 SAT, 3.75 gpa or top 10% of class, and must provide an essay. Hopefully some current O.U. honors college student will see this post and give you a realistic take on the program. As a parent of another student interested in this particular college, I know that we will be watching!</p>
<p>I put this on the OU forum, figured I’d post it up here too. Again, if you have any other questions, I’ll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability. I also put some info about the social life at OU on the OU forum. As for the honors dorms, be sure you get the National Merit or honors community in the towers, not the Honors College. They’re bigger, cleaner, nicer, have wifi, better heating/AC (a must in OKLA), and are closer to the main cafeteria, which is superb. Sorry in advance for the long post! </p>
<p>Just some background info about me: This is my first year at OU, like most students here I am a native Oklahoman, and I chose OU over Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Georgetown, and Baylor last year.</p>
<p>Q: Anyone accept a NM scholarship to Oklahoma (or, know anyone who did)?
A: I accepted the NM offer. It was one of the main reasons I attended OU, as I did not qualify for need-based aid at my other choices. After adding a few outside scholarships, I actually end up making about $1,900 per semester here.</p>
<p>Q: While the free ride for NM Scholars at OU is a financially attractive option, can anyone comment on what the academic experience was like for those who choose this option?
A: There are some students who are serious about academics. That being said, academics definitely take a backseat to Greek life/social functions/football, at least among 1st and 2nd year students. Greek life is a HUGE deal, and it really detracts from the academic atmosphere of the school. Community/campus involvement is also a big deal, which is a plus. The problem, however, is that these organizations are Greek-dominated, as the frats/sororities control who gets to elected to student leadership positions. Non-Greeks can be very involved in community involvement if they wish, it can just be hard to get an office in a club/student government. </p>
<p>I’m not saying that no one takes academics seriously. There are quite a few Greeks and non-Greeks who work hard and contribute to the classroom experience. Overall, the academic experience is about what you could expect from a public school. The top 5% of students are as competitive academically as anywhere in the country. Another 20% try hard in class and excel academically. 35% do enough to get by, and the rest couldn’t care less about academics. It does get better as the bottom 40% starts to drop out. Not trying to be a jerk, but you can definitely see an improvement in the academic atmosphere after Christmas Break when a number of kids go home and don’t return.</p>
<p>Q: Did the honors college live up to expectations?
A: I have only taken 2 honors courses so far, but both of those classes were excellent. My honors perspectives class was challenging without being overwhelming. The second class I took is unique to the honors college. Sometimes, when guests visit OU, they will teach a 1-credit course that lasts only a week or so. These classes are typically reserved for 10-15 honors students. This semester, I was able to take a class on the JFK assassination taught by the head historian at the History Channel. There was a TON of work packed into one week, but it was by far the best class I have taken thus far. I learned more in that class than I have in any gen ed class. I’ve heard President Boren’s honors section of his government class is wonderful, but it’s VERY hard to get into as it is limited to 10 student. He does have a non-honors class, but it has upwards of 150 students.</p>
<p>Q: Was it challenging enough for brighter students?
A: On-level gen ed courses are not challenging at all to brighter students. So far, my lowest grade in a gen ed has been a 98, and I’ve yet to make below an A on any assignment/quiz/exam. My best friend’s lowest grade was a 97 last semester, and that was in econ, one of the harder courses. Basically, students who show up to class, pay attention, read the syllabus, complete assignments, and spend a little bit of time studying can make As with minimal stress. It really is amazing how few people actually do these things, though. As I said before, academics take a backseat with the majority of students. It’s always amusing to see people who never pay attention/complete assignments/study look shocked when they realize how badly they bombed an exam. Still, it can be depressing how often this happens. Staying motivated can sometimes be tough when it appears that no one else cares about the class.</p>
<p>Honors courses are a different story. Advisors typically suggest that students take no more that 2 honors courses a semester. If you want to be challenged in gen ed courses and surrounded by people who actually care about the class, you MUST take the honors sections.</p>
<p>Upper division classes are MUCH better than the lower level gen eds. The atmosphere is more serious (people actually want to be in the class) and students put forth much more effort. Not to be mean, a lot of the kids who aren’t willing to work in the gen eds tend to drop out before they advance to the upper division classes. When you come to OU, remember it is not an Ivy. It’s a public school in Oklahoma. A good number of kids from OK and TX are not at all prepared for college life. Not saying they aren’t smart. They just aren’t willing to put forth the effort. After a few semesters of partying and performing poorly classes, they leave. By the 3rd and 4th year, you’re left with the kids who are serious about classes.</p>
<p>Q: Do grads get accepted into good graduate programs?
A: If you complete the honors program, apply yourself to your studies, and maintain a high GPA, then yes, graduates do get accepted into good graduate programs. I’m involved in pre-law club. While a majority of our senior members are going to OU or OCU law next year, we do have members who were accepted to Harvard, Duke, UTexas, UChicago, and NYU. Students also do well in national scholarship competitions. This year, we had 2 Truman Scholars and 3 Fulbright Scholars. A number of OU students also win Rhodes Scholarships. It helps that President Boren was a Rhodes Scholar. He is always available to help students who apply for this scholarship.</p>
<p>Q: Though OU offers numerous study-abroad options, how good are they?
A: The study abroad options are wonderful. OU has its own summer programs in Italy, Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, China, and Oxford that are taught by OU faculty. The Oxford and Germany programs are limited to only honors students, while the Italy program has both honors and non-honors sections. In addition to these, OU has tons of reciprocal exchange programs with universities in Spain, Ireland, England, Scotland, China, Japan, UAE, Jordan, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Switzerland, South Africa, India, Portugal, etc… I could be mistaken, but I believe OU has more reciprocal exchange agreements that any other university in the Big 12. Because these are reciprocal exchanges, students pay OU tuition. For NM scholars, this means that tuition is waved. All students get $1,000 for travel expenses, and NMs get an additional $1,000 as part of the scholarship. Next summer, I plan on taking 2 courses either Madrid or Pueblo, Mexico. A friend of mine is finishing his European History degree in Aberdeen, Scotland this semester. Because I haven’t personally studied abroad yet, I can’t tell you exactly how good these programs are. My friend in Scotland has nothing but positive things to say about his experience, though. Another friend is going on an archaeological dig in Pompeii this summer, which should be a great experience.</p>
<p>Q: While OU seeks to recruit NM Scholars, did it continue to provide strong support after they were enrolled?
A: Yes, the NM office does a wonderful job helping scholars. They are ALWAYS there whenever you need them. If you have a question, a problem, or just want to talk, they are available. The honors advisors are also very helpful. They have access to enrollment overrides for any class. Basically, if there’s a class a NM scholar wants to take, they will be able to take it. NM scholars also have early enrollment privileges throughout their time at OU. If you have fewer than 24 credits, this doesn’t help a ton, as OU scholars also get to enroll early. But once you get above 30 credits, you pretty much get first choice of classes. Finally, NM scholars get to conduct personal research projects with OU faculty, thus enabling the student to make close connections with the professor. It’s also a nice addition to a job or grad school application.</p>
<p>Q: Did anyone regret choosing OU over a more expensive option?
A: At times, yes. Honestly, I came to OU mainly because my girlfriend came here. I know that every single advisor tells you not to go to pick a university because of your significant other, and that is certainly good advice for high school students. In the end, I decided I would rather regret not getting a prestigious undergrad degree than regretting not staying with her. So far, it has been a good decision. The college transition has been much smoother thanks to her, and I see us staying together for a very long time. Still, there are moments that I wonder what I missed by not going to Duke or Stanford. For the most part, I feel that I missed out on learning a great deal from the diverse, academically driven classmates I could have had at another school. The honors courses do help in easing some of these feelings. Also, knowing that I will be entering law school with zero debt will be nice. I am hoping to get into Duke, Georgetown, or Vanderbilt Law, so I do have reasons to stay motivated in my classes.</p>
<p>Regarding OU’s non-engineering majors, I’m a Criminology/Spanish major, so I know a little about some of OU’s art and science majors. The majors really vary by department. The journalism department is fantastic. Their building is gorgeous, and the classes can be rigorous. The meteorology department is the best in the country (where else can you go sunbathing in the morning and have a snowball fight in the evening?). The History department is…not great. I was a history major, but at the moment, there are only a few good profs. The history classes offered are not very diverse either (American history classes are nearly exclusively western US; also, surprising lack of Native American history). The professors in criminology are amazing. They are the reason why I changed majors (took a class last semester, loved it, got to know some of the faculty better). Foreign languages depend largely on what professors you get. The business department is known for having tough classes, but OU’s Price Business College is a great school. Personally, I’m a Native American and was looking forward to taking some Native American Studies classes. However, I was greatly disappointed in the quality of the intro class. The Native American language classes are very good, though they quickly fill up with people simply trying to get an easy foreign language credit. The intro English classes are pretty good, but I don’t really know if they improved my writing. The professors in that department are very accessible and work hard with students. Zoology, economics, letters, and psychology can be tough, but the professors are top notch.</p>
<p>What kind of stats do you need to win a full scholarship? Is the criteria similar to ROTC scholarships where they look at well rounded candidates or is it all academic? I have a 2030 SAT 1390/1600 with a 3.85 and an all AP/IB course load. I also am an eagle scout and play varsity football. I am out of state (Virginia), does that make it harder for me to win a NM scholarship?</p>
<p>Any NM Finalist can accept the scholarship by naming OU as his/her choice with NM Corp. before the deadline. (It was April 30 this year.)</p>
<p>This isn’t a full-ride, though. It is full-tuition plus. So look at the website and do the math to see what you actually will need to pay as an out-of-state student.</p>
<p>I just copied this from the OU website:
“If this is the only financial assistance you receive, your estimated out-of-pocket expense is between $7,500 to $8,500 per year as an Oklahoma resident or between $9,000 to $10,000 per year as a non-resident.”</p>
<p>While the free ride for NM Scholars at OU is a financially attractive option</p>
<p>Atomom is right…it’s not a free ride. It’s a free tuition plus. You still have to pay several thousand every year.</p>
<p>As for the med school acceptance rate…be wary of any such reports. Many schools boast such acceptance rates…Bama boasts an 85% acceptance rate. Those numbers have to do with those who actually apply. That number has NOTHING to do with freshman students declaring premed. </p>
<p>All schools have very large numbers of frosh premeds. If a school has 300 frosh premeds, then likely only about 75 will still be premed by senior year application time. The weeding out at every school is very high. My own Bama son will be starting med school in less than 2 weeks. All of his premed friends are heading to med school as well. However, along their 4 years in undergrad, they saw a lot of “premeds” fall away once their BCMP GPA fell apart.</p>
<p>Does OU’s scholarship extend to national achievement?</p>
<p>klloga, get on OU’s website to check but i believe the answer is yes. and redraven, thank u for ur candid post. it helps the rest of us with this process and u gave some great and practical advice to the OP. Take care</p>
<p>Do all National Merit Finalists at OU join the honors college? Our daughter is debating whether she would actually want to do this. She could potentially complete her degree in biology in 3 years(should have around 60 college hours when she finishes high school in May 2014). This would leave 2 years of graduate tuition left over if I’m understanding correctly from the Nat’l Merit counselors at OU. If she joined the honors college this would add extra hours, possibly another year which would cut into her grad school tuition. What are the biggest advantages to the honors college if you’re already a Nat’l Merit Finalist?</p>
<p>From OU’s website [Benefits</a> for OU National Merit Scholars](<a href=“http://www.ou.edu/content/go2/nationalmerit/benefits.html]Benefits”>http://www.ou.edu/content/go2/nationalmerit/benefits.html)
</p>
<p>Whenhen,</p>
<p>Thanks for the link. I’ve looked at the information but it’s been some time ago.</p>
<p>phil413, my son is going to OU in the fall as a National Merit Scholar and will be in the Honors College. There are many benefits of participating in the Honors College. That thing that appealed most to my son was that the honors college felt like a small liberal arts college within the bigger university setting…sort of the best of both worlds. Honors college classes are much smaller than regular classes. For example, one class my son is enrolled in for the fall has a max of 18 students in the honors college. The non-honors sections of the same class have 150 students. They offer reading groups for the students, more personal attention, special library privileges, opportunities to build relationships with faculty, etc. Also, the only way to graduate with honors is to participate in the honors college. </p>
<p>As for joining the honors college adding a whole year to your daughter’s undergrad experience, I don’t think that’s right. Students have to take a certain number of hours in the honors college, but it can be, for example, an honors biology course instead of a “regular” bio course. I believe there are also three other classes they have to take that are specific to the Honors College, but I’m thinking a couple of those can be used as general electives. Also, there is an honors thesis. </p>
<p>Have you toured OU and the Honors College yet? If not, you should consider it.</p>
<p>I’m not in the honors college at OU, so I can’t comment on how effective it is in fostering a scholarly environment. However in my department there are a couple of people who dropped out of the honors college as upperclassmen so they could have a bit more curricular freedom. </p>
<p>If she does attend OU, I’d have her apply for the honors college and then drop if it gets to be too much or if the course requirements become unwieldy. Soonermom95 made some excellent points about the benefits of the honors college. I’d add that in the honors college ALL classes are taught by full time professors, not adjuncts, which makes a world of difference with respect to general teaching ability, availability, and possible recommendations for research positions.</p>
<p>SoonerMom,</p>
<p>Thank you for all the info. This is exactly the information I was looking for. Initially I was thinking the honors program would add an extra year until I looked at it more closely. Our daughter has almost all her general ed courses done and should be able to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology in 3 years. I did see, though, that Spanish and chemistry(still needs these) are both offered as honors courses. So it looks like the honor’s program would only be an extra 3 or 4 classes in addition to the few general ed classes she still needs to take.</p>
<p>Whenhen,</p>
<p>Thank you for the info as well. She is concerned about maintaining her GPA for graduate school purposes. It didn’t occur to us that she could change from the honors program if her courses became too difficult. Something to consider.</p>
<p>My husband and I both attended OU but spent most of our time at the OU Health Sciences Center. We did take our daughter to main campus OU a few weeks ago and walked the grounds. We have not set up a formal tour as of yet. We plan to do that in September after we hopefully hear from National Merit. Thank you both for all the input.</p>
<p>phil413…if your daughter is a NMSF, be sure to schedule her visit through the National Scholars Office at OU. They will put you up overnight and will schedule your daughter with anyone and everyone she is interested in talking to. They will also have current NM Scholars acting as guides so she can ask them questions.</p>