MaterMia

Daisydoggirl can you explain the fifth year tuition paid line - I'm not tracking. Thanks.

GAMomto4

Thanks for this thread. My son (class of 2013) is a likely NMF from Georgia. He is interested in looking outside the south and I was wondering if University of Oklahoma would be worth the trip to visit. I think the answer is yes!

I would love to hear impressions from others looking at the big NMF package schools. Has anyone checked out University of Kentucky?

Daisydoggirl

Graduate school was something of a special situation for me. I graduated with a BS in pharmacy when the school was in the process of converting to all PharmD (10 yr plan). They knew they would need more professors for this process so they first had a few years of small classes (10 students) that were very intense. The intent was that once we graduated and did residencies we would come back and teach. I did for a while before kids/moving. As an incentive to be a part of the program they gave tremendous scholarships. This had nothing to do with national merit. When I was in school, there always seemed to be money for those that worked hard and got good grades.
My daughter is looking at OCU for the dance program which focuses on musical theatre. It will be extremely hard to convince her to go elsewhere. I honestly think she is just putting OU second to make me happy. They do have a musical theatre program that cooperates with their dance program to allow students to take classes. However, her singing is not as strong as her dancing and she would probably need some private lessons to be strong enough to get in. I'll look into MN. I would like her to see a few more colleges.

PghMomof2

Matermia, the 5th year works like this: there is a set amount of money in the scholarship package for in-state tuition (the extra out-of-state portion is waived in full for up to 5 years). Since OU bills tuition by the credit, whether or not you spend it all in 4 years depends on how many credits you take per semester. If there is money left over, you can use it for a 5th year - either just stretch your bachelor's out, or go right into a graduate program.

(the down side of this arrangement, of course, is that you're vulnerable to tuition increases, unlike Bama).

Re: U Minnesota - DS applied and was accepted there as well, but was not offered the big scholarship (he was offered $5k/year). So it appears that you are eligible if you're an NMF, but it's not necessarily a done deal.

dramadad

Mom of 2 >. I think for out of state you are correct.

For instate According to what OU told us, their NMF package provides for 5 years of tuition waivers, regardless of tuition raises. If you can finish you undergrad in 4 years, then you can get you 5th year tuition free if you attend an OU grad school.

If it takes you 5years to get your undergrad, then tuition is still covered.

There is cash award to help cover food and housing, etc. that is split up over 4 years normally. I think if any is left after 4 years you can stretch it into your 5th year.

rescuememylove

I want to bring awareness to Baylor University's Regents Scholarship. It's a full tuition scholarship that can be further augmented by high act/sat scores. It's a really fantastic scholarship I plan on using but I don't see it promoted here often.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC

hl0800

This is my first post on CC, so I apologize if I in advance.

We live in OK and my son would love to attend OU. Right now he has an 32 ACT and at 3.81 UW GPA. He is not a NMSF. The NPC on OU shows us that the cost is $23K and he would be assured of $2500 (Award of Excellence). This makes the price tag $20k in-state.

I am actually applying to UA for my son because their full oos tuition makes it less expensive.

I know about the $2800 from the Oklahoma Higher Regents Academic Scholars Program, but am still looking at UA. Here is a little table as to why:

College. . . . . UA. . . . . . OU
Rank. . . . . . 77. . . . . . 101
tuition. . . . . OOS. . . . In-State
Tuition/Fees. $21,900. . . $8,325
Total Cost. . . $37,900. . $22,500
Scholarships. $21,900. . . $2,500
. . . . . . . . . $16,000. . $20,000

Even if I figure in $300 per trip to pick up my son 3 times a year UA is cheaper and higher ranked.

I would appreciate any and all comments.

GAMomto4

In terms of all/nearly all costs covered, the University of Central Florida NMF package is amazing. It seems to be a big school with a great Engineering program but it has been hard to find info on CC from NMF's who have visited the campus. UCF has a big NMSF dinner coming up in two weeks as well. Has anybody visited the UCF campus that could give us feedback on their program?

mom2collegekids

College. . . . . UA. . . . . . OU
Rank. . . . . . 77. . . . . . 101
tuition. . . . . OOS. . . . In-State
Tuition/Fees. $21,900. . . $8,325
Total Cost. . . $37,900. . $22,500
Scholarships. $21,900. . . $2,500
. . . . . . . . . $16,000. . $20,000

Be aware that Bama's COA is highly padded. It includes the most expensive dorm. I don't know what dorm OU is including in its COA, but if it's a "standard double" then to compare apples with apples then reduce Bama's COA by about $4k per year.

Bama also includes the priciest meal plan which is only required frosh year...and hardly anyone chooses that meal plan after frosh year. So, after the first year, the meal plan part of the COA should be less as well.


Also, what is your son's major? If he majors in Engineering or Comp Sci, then he gets another $2500 per year.

dramadad

To hl 0800

My D is an instate NMF at OU. She is a first semester freshman, and she absolutely loves it, and says she knows this was the place for her. I can tell you that for a parent, that's a great thing to hear. We have visited a few times, and her mom and I have been very impressed. If your son is looking for a big time traditional college experience, you won't do any better. Even though its large, it doesn't feel that way and there are so many ways for students to connect.

Personally, I think OU does not do enough merit for students who are not NMF, but who still have stellar academic credentials. I can understand you looking at Bama. We thought we might have to move out of OK to GA, my D applied to Bama. We never got to visit but I am sure it's great. But when we found out we were not moving, it made the choice of OU easy for my D. She just felt that living in OK all her life she would feel more at home at OU.

I'd suggest you take your son to both schools and see what he thinks. He will have an opinion, I am sure. I'd also suggest you look into other scholarships available at OU, and contact the Dean of Honors at OU. He is a Yale grad and is working hard to further strengthen a really good program at the honors college at OU. There is not a ton of non-need based aid at OU, but there is some. He might be able to get you pointed to some of it. Also don't forget about scholarship opportunities available locally. I remember being amazed at my D's senior day how much local aid some students were able to get. I told my wife we should have done a better job talking to the High school counselors.

With regards to rankings, I don't think it matters much when you get past the top fifty schools. Both Bama and OU will have tough classes for some majors, and both will also have some good opportunities for those students who seek them out. I have every confidence my D will get a great education at OU.

Also if he is interested in a smaller school be sure to look at University of Tulsa. It's a very good school. It's private but I think they are pretty generous with merit aid

hl0800

Thanks. My son is looking at BIOLOGY or an ENGINEERING.

He has visited OU and OSU (in fact spent a week at a summer academy at each).

We have talked about BioMedical Engineering (sort of a cross over). The two ABET accredited schools on our short list are: UCO and LATech. They are the only two with ABET accreditation in ths major that are in our price range.

As you are aware LATech has good merit Aid, but UCO seems to focus on "Competative Scholarships" (code word Leadership). He is an Eagle Scout and has been acknowledge by the City two years in a row for his service (they hold a banquet each November), but I get leary when it comes to competative.

mom2collegekids

We have talked about BioMedical Engineering

What are his career goals??

My son is ChemE but has take a LOT of bio classes since he's also pre-med. As an undergrad, BioMedE isn't really that distinctive. It's really more of a grad discipline. As an undergrad, many major in MechE or ChemE with maybe some extra classes like Cell Bio, Tissue Engineering, etc.

hl0800

Career Goals are sort of up in the air.
He likes Biology, and really enjoys his AP physics class.
Does not accept computer science (my career field) as an option.
That is pretty much how things stand right now.

mom2collegekids

The concern about biology is that unless going to med school, there are a glut of bio grads out there.

Has he explored the various eng'g disciplines?

crazymomster

hl0800 - check out Univ of Alabama at Birmingham. They are ABET accredited and have outstanding bio and engineering. They also have a super fantastic science and technology honors program / community.

Also I believe that his tuition costs would be covered due to his scores. https://www.uab.edu/students/undergr...s/scholarships

I am an OU alum. I loved it there :-)