ibcc

My first post, thanks for all the info in the last year since I found this site! What are the general thoughts about attending either of these schools if given the four years for free based on your academic accomplishements. Both universities are trying to keep residents in state with full rides. I'm quite sure DS will not qualify for financial aid. I have not read much about these schools in the forums. According to the college rankings, maybe we should start looking elsewhere?

ruca

Sounds like your son is a junior. If so, he should definitely be looking at a wide variety of colleges right now so that he can figure out what will fit for him.. don't limit yourself to in-state publics, because sometimes you can get a better financial/academic/social deal elsewhere.

ibcc

Thanks. Should you still apply as one of your "safeties"?

ruca

There are a lot of safeties to choose from--if U Oklahoma or Oklahoma State are likeable to him then they are definitely good safeties, otherwise look at other options.

ibcc

Can anyone address the quality of education at these institutions? How about the general college experience for students attending? Thanks.

Erin's Dad

Both are good (but not great) institutions. Norman has a neat small town feel but there is still a great deal to do. OSU is different in that it traditionally targets the A&M types (lots of farmers and trucks). If your DS knows what he wants to study that would help narrow things down.

bandnerd91321

Would he be going on a full ride because of National Merit?

ibcc

Yes. Both universities are very generous with National Merit scholars who are residents of the state. It would be extremely helpful to have funds kept back for graduate school. But maybe the cost savings is not worth the education one would receive. I'm getting the feeling that they are just average state schools.

Bigredmed

OU is better than OSU if he doesn't know what he's interested in doing. OU is better academically, but if he prefers OSU for any reason, there's nothing saying he must go to OU.

I think you are mistaken to believe that any sort of "free" schooling is not worth it. The HYPS and the like that get people going on this board (and there are a lot of prestige whores here) are great, but their practicality and expense (especially versus "free") are typically not worth it.

What many people on here don't want you to know, or fail to realize themselves, is that there are very, very few professions in which an Ivy degree is prerequisite, namely Investment Banking. Other than that, if you're talented enough to get NMS money, or into HYPS, then location really doesn't matter, you're talented enough to succeed most anywhere. There are even some fields (nursing and teaching stand out) where staying local, if that's where you want to end up, is probably vastly superior. This doesn't mean that HYPS aren't right for some people, and that fit is of zero relevance, because it certainly does matter. I'm just cautioning you against thinking that if something is cheap it must not be worthwhile.

bandnerd91321

OU is def better than OSU. But you should also look at other schools that give you a full ride, or close to, for NM. OK is not the only state school that does this. He will be getting mail from a lot of schools offering a full ride, so you can also look through those. If he is planning on going to grad school, OU has an advantage in that he can get a high GPA there. I know kids from my HS that get in and they are in the lowest quartile of the class. Sorry, don't beat me up for saying that, it is true. It is a nice campus, though!

ibcc

Thank you for your input. I needed to have some opinions about what is in my own backyard!