University College - Offering Small Discussion Classes for Non-Honors Freshmen

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Oklahoma
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<p>Since very few people ever see OU as anything more than a generic football obsessed state school, I figured that I'd highlight one of the many things that make OU such an excellent institution, its University College program. While I'm unfamiliar with exactly how it works, the College is essentially designed to ensure that underclassmen have as smooth a transition to college life as possible. It does this by offering gateway courses in various academic skills (all capped at 25 students), housing writing and tutoring centers (the tutoring center even uses Facetime/Skype for students who can't make it to the physical location), and having a number of 24 hour study rooms. </p>

<p>On top of that, it allows professors to teach small 2 credit discussion classes about a particular topic. This semester, I'm taking a 12 person course on Afghanistan history and another course entitled "Sex in the 21st Century". My professors are both excellent and bring real world experience to the discussion table. Today myself and another student invited my Sex professor out to lunch (btw, the food at OU is delicious) where we spent an hour discussing higher ed policy, the first year experience, and even Syria. Next week, both of my University College professors will bring in experts on a particular subtopic, a practice that will continue for the rest of the semester. </p>

<p>So if you or your child wants a huge school with huge opportunities, but relishes in the thought of LAC like discussions with professors, consider OU. Also if you're from CA, OU is cheaper than many of the UCs especially after COL is factored in.</p>

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<p>whenhen, I love hearing your positive views of OU and am so glad to hear that you have landed in a school that you love. My daughter is most likely heading there Fall 2014. I hope to read more posts from you with your great details about what you like (or don’t like) about OU.</p>

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<p>Is OU kinda secluded? As in it will take 20 minutes driving to get to town? What fun stuffs are there to do? My definition fun typically includes running, backpacking, outdoor stuffs. But I like shopping too, especially for food, (or asian food!)</p>

<p>To be honest, I’m trying to like OU now. I just finally sent in all my materials as i totally forgot to send in missing credentials until now. I’m hoping to see my decision after my 17 days backpacking trip starting March 4th. </p>

<p>I applied to just about all safety schools, and U of AZ and U of MN are my favourites. OU is my dad’s favourite. It’s not as if i dislike OU, it just turns me off a bit since it seems so similar to my current boarding school.</p>

<p>The food looks awesome. The dorm is so damn expensive for being one of the old kinds of residence halls. </p>

<p>Just, “persuade me”, please.</p>

<p>Thank you </p>

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<p>

No, OU is not secluded. It’s in a city of 100,000 people which is a suburb of the greater Oklahoma City. Because tens of thousands of students, most of them in the 17-28 age range, attend OU, many Norman stores almost exclusively cater to college age students. In the past month, I’ve gone to a parties at houses and a club/bar, attended a university sponsored video game “convention” with Master Chief and other iconic characters, cheered for OU’s hockey team, seen a free movie at the student union, drove to OKC’s Bricktown, etc. It’s hard to be bored at OU. </p>

<p>As far as outdoors things are concerned, you’d be better off going to Arizona since the area around OU is mostly flat and grassy. Because I’m actively involved in the geology department and generally quite outdoorsy, I go hiking or biking around Oklahoma at least once a month, but doing so requires that I drive out to either Eastern or Southwestern Oklhoma (1.5-2 hours). </p>

<p>I’m from one of the most Asian areas of Southern California so I’m quite aware of what constitutes “good” Asian markets. Though there are a few in the southern OKC area and at least one in Norman (according to my friend from Pakistan), they’re much smaller than I’m used to. However, many of the internationals and Asian frats on campus still manage to make outstanding food, so the relative paucity of Vietnamese/ Japanese/ Korean markets doesn’t appear to be as much of a hindrance as one might expect. </p>

<p>

I don’t really see how the University of Oklahoma can be like your boarding school unless tens of thousands of people with remarkably different SES attend the school. There are a number of boarding school alums at OU and even more at my previous school, a LAC associated with a larger university. Though I occasionally heard that the liberal arts college was in many ways reminiscent of a boarding school, I’ve never heard that claim about OU. </p>

<p>

Assuming you’re considering both UAz and UMinn, are you a national merit scholar? If so, you shouldn’t have to pay for the residence halls which, while a bit cramped, are otherwise fine. Besides, after freshmen year, most students (just like at Arizona and Minnesota) move off campus to amazing apartments which are both far cheaper and far nicer than the dorms. For instance, here’s the apartment I lived in last summer: <a href=“http://www.crimsonpark.com/”>http://www.crimsonpark.com/&lt;/a&gt; For just $460 a month I had access to a private gym, three pools, a voleyball court, my own bedroom, a shuttle to take me to campus whenever I called for it, and a ton of other things. </p>

<p>

For an outdoorsy person, Arizona is probably a better option. I’ve hiked in Tucson and it was incredible. If backpacking is important to you, I’d choose UA over either Minnesota (too cold) or Oklahoma (too flat). Sorry if that wasn’t the answer you were looking for. </p>

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<p>I guess I can comment a bit on AZ and UMinn. I went to the TC campus and my sister went to grad school in Tucson. Unless you cannot afford a coat, Minnesota is much better than the Tucson area for outdoor activities. If you are talking about Northern Arizona, there are at least some interesting places to hike. The rest of Arizona is pretty much desert. Nice at times (early spring), but Minnesota is not always cold and you can do many more things outside. If you love mountains, OK and MN are out.
UMinn is a academically more challenging school, but depending upon your long term plans it may not really matter that much.</p>

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<p>‘Dorm is expensive’… guess that is relative since it seems pretty in line with schools that are similar that we have looked at. </p>

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<p>I want to apologize for my attitude. I don’t know how I came off as to you guys, but looking at my post now it seemed a lot more immature. Be prepared, I have a lot of things to say and questions below. </p>

<p>Honestly, I am just so confused and lost. I just ended up doing/not doing things, and I regret that so much.
Now I am down to UMN-TC and OU. I have already placed my enrollment deposit, but I could still potentially withdraw it. </p>

<p>It’s just that I don’t know what I want to do. I chose geology because my dad suggested it, saying it could get me into the oil industry, and the same goes for petroleum engineering. My dad doesn’t want me to go into other engineering discipline because he believes that I won’t succeed in it as my math skills are as great as he thinks of it to be. He thinks I have more inclination in art/humanities field, which I too think so. I do agree that my math/science skills aren’t top-notch, but it’s not as if I can’t do it. </p>

<p>Additionally, I am starting to gain interest in business program. </p>

<p>I am not being derogatory here, but I noted that OU’s program ranking isn’t as high as UMN. I am sure education quality is of the same, though I really don’t know how the ranking methodology works. So I know at OU I can double in geology and minor in one of the business degree. I saw on the website that they have minor programs for non-business major. </p>

<p>At the same time, I want to continue French, which I have been learning since 6th grade. However, that is something I can opt out as I can do a summer program in France if I really desire it so. </p>

<p>I’m sorry that I have turned this thread into a counseling session for me. </p>

<p>Outdoor activities-wise, I can do those during break. I love mountains and the desert. (I did live in Saudi Arabia for 4.5 years ;] ) </p>

<p>As for the dorm, I didn’t realize that the rates were inclusive of the meal plans, so they’re ok.</p>

<p>@Torveaux‌ “UMinn is a academically more challenging school, but depending upon your long term plans it may not really matter that much.”<br>
Can you please elaborate? Are the academics at OU inferior to UMN? </p>

<p>I plan to do masters. That’s why I have limitations on money for undergraduate. Thing is, if I had planned to do business, I would’ve gone back to Malaysia or Singapore. Saves a heck ton of money. </p>

<p>I understand that I am thinking too much, but I don’t want to be a burden to my family. </p>

<p>@whenhen‌ “here’s the apartment I lived in last summer: <a href=“http://www.crimsonpark.com/”>CrimsonPark.com is for sale | HugeDomains; For just $460 a month I had access to a private gym, three pools, a volleyball court, my own bedroom, a shuttle to take me to campus whenever I called for it, and a ton of other things.”
$460/month? That’s cheap, especially for the amenities given. What are the rates for regular year? I looked through the website and are the rents on the page on a monthly basis? I plan to move out after 1st year and can 2nd year students opt out the meal plans? </p>

<p>I think someone mentioned this, but the cost of living is low in Norman, OK? Or at least around OU.</p>

<p>How’s the transportation around OU? I looked it up and it appears that there’s a bus system that goes from OU to the city? </p>

<p>Thank you very much, all of you. </p>

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<p>How’s the weather in Norman, OK? I heard that OK is a tornado state. Very windy? I’m sorry if I sound so ignorant. </p>

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<p>Well, I can try to help. It has been 30+ years since I went to UMinn. It was tough then and I doubt it changed much. The Big 10 conference members are all part of an academic consortium of colleges (Association of American Universities). You will find a great many other ‘top’ colleges in this group. There are only about 62 schools in the US and Canada in the ‘club’. OU is not a member. You can also review the rankings of colleges in various publications and Minnesota will be in the top 25-100 depending on the program. </p>

<p>My son will be in the Freshman class at OU. He is an NMF majoring in ChemE. If you are looking for PetrolE or something along those lines, OU may actually be better overall. That is based on the proximity to the oil business.</p>

<p>Ultimately, my advice is to visit the schools and see what fits best. Price is more important than academic reputation. It is almost impossible to make up the cost difference if there is a significant difference for you. S1 could have gone to UT, which is also a member of AAU, and an academically ‘better’ school than OU, but the cost is much higher even though we are Texas residents. The honors program at any accredited school narrows the differences even further. When looking for employment, the school where you get your graduate degree will become paramount and where you got your BS will have little significance at all. Same advice I gave my own son. Get BS from a good school for as little as possible. Then he will have enough money to go to grad school wherever he wants and enter the work world without significant (if any) debt.</p>

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<p>

FYI, Petroleum engineering involves a lot of math. As in so much math that a good number of petroleum engineers opt to get a math minor since it’s only one or two additional courses. Geology is far less math intensive but still requires completion of the calculus sequence. OU also offers a Multi-Disciplinary Studies major which allows students to study one topic from a variety of perspectives so you could study the energy industry in terms of accounting, environmental costs, actual geology, history of petroleum, etc. There’s also an energy management major offered at the Price School of Business which you might be interested in. Many graduating energy management majors go on to work for oil companies or service firms. However a more broad business degree may be better as it doesn’t mentally restrict you to one industry.</p>

<p>As far as the geology program rankings are concerned, those are for graduate positions. At the undergraduate level, the differences between Minnesota and Oklahoma are going to primarily manifest themselves in elective courses offered (OU has a plethora of petroleum geology courses while Minnesota offers interesting hydrogeology and limology programs) and examples used in core classes. In Oklahoma it’s common to discuss geologic phenomenon in light of the oil industry while at UC Berkeley (an institution whose geology program I know well) professors often refer to tectonic activity or the beach because of the prominence of both the San Andres fault and ocean in California. </p>

<p>

OU also offers plenty of advanced French courses and the French department is supposedly quite close. My friend, a French minor, speaks highly of the program. </p>

<p>

Same price. Norman, Oklahoma has the third lowest CoL of any city of more than 10,000 in the country. </p>

<p>

Lame. While buses run around campus and to apartment complexes, public transit in Norman is poorly developed. Fortunately a decent number of students bring cars and are usually willing to give rides. Bring a bike bike. If you don’t have one, buy a good used one from Craigslist OKC. </p>

<p>

Not nearly as bad as Minnesota but it can get pretty cold. Though Oklahoma sits in Tornado Alley, Tornado season occurs only in the last month of school. It can get windy but it’s usually fine. Here are the temperature averages for Norman <a href=“Monthly Weather Forecast for Seattle, WA - weather.com”>Monthly Weather Forecast for Seattle, WA - weather.com;

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<p>Thank you whenhen and Torvaux for answering my questions. I feel a lot more comfortable now. Although it’s a shame that the public transportation in Norman isn’t great. A bike it is then. </p>

<p>Haha, I think I can handle the weather. I have been here in Michigan for a while afterall. It’s just the wind that I don’t like. </p>

<p>Additionally, CrimsonPark isn’t part of OU is it?
Are items in convenience store at OU overpriced? Is what I got from other sources. </p>

<p>I will attend University of Oklahoma for Fall 2014. :slight_smile: YAY!! :smiley: </p>

<p>Thank you very much. </p>

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<p>No Crimson Park is one of the many private apartment complexes around OU’s campus. The OU owned apartments are called Traditions. There are two subdivisions, Traditions East and Traditions West. When you get to campus, you’ll learn more about the various complexes. </p>

<p>Yea the convenience store items at OU are very overpriced. However, there is a Walmart semi close to campus which many students drive to during the weekend. It’s pretty easy to get people to take you, particularly if you throw in like $3 for gas. </p>

<p>By the way, if possible you should go to Camp Crimson this summer. It’s supposed to be extremely fun and a great preorientation to college life. </p>