I don't know where to go - texas a&m vs ou

Paying for College Financial Aid (Need-Based, Merit Aid, Loans)
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<p>I was set on going to A&M, but this past week, I visited OU, and now I’m feeling extremely conflicted. OU campus is REALLY nice. The cafeteria is amazing and it’s right next to a party street. I’m not really a conservative person. I listen to electronic music, and I am non-religious, so I don’t know how well I’d fit in at A&M. I also plan on joining a frat. The thing is, if I go to OU, it will be 7 hours away and it will cost more.</p>

<p>Anybody have any insight on this? I’m majoring Geology btw. I’m looking for as much of a social experience as I am academic.</p>

<p>National Merit offer to A&M will leave me with about 10K owed by the end.
OU offer will leave me with about 40K.</p>

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<p>I personally applied to only Texas A&M because of their excessive financial aid, but if you really care about food and partying… </p>

<p>The thing is, I’m probably less “conservative” than you are (I am bi, listen to probably more rap music than you do electronic music, have done probably more inappropriate things than you have, ect).</p>

<p>If you’re like me, you would most likely get exhausted partying and would rather spend more time in TAMU’s hip hop dance club, triathlon club, film-making club, tennis club, creative writing club, orchestra club, poetry slam club ect.</p>

<p>On the other hand, there are a number of incoming freshmen who “like studying” and “like Jesus” according to their roommate listing (if you get what I mean).</p>

<p>So what are you thinking?</p>

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<p>[Best</a> Earth Science Programs | Top Earth Science Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/earth-sciences-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/earth-sciences-rankings)</p>

<p>You could add to the confusion and consider U of Arizona or ASU. They both have good NMF scholarships and USNews ranks them much higher than either A&M or Oklahoma for Earth Sciences, at least at the grad level, which gives some benchmark. In particular, UA is ranked 1st for geology at grad level, and ASU 17th. For general earth sciences, A&M is 32nd and Oklahoma 58th. Neither makes it to the short geology list.</p>

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<p>By the way, U of Arizona allows you to use the leftover National Merit money for their grad school if you do graduate early. </p>

<p>Plus, you’ll be automatically accepted into their Honors College (if that interests you).</p>

1 Like
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<p>ManiacApple, we recently returned from a visit to OU and were similarly impressed with the culture and the opportunities. Coincidentally, another guest in the B&B we stayed in was a visiting Geology prof from Michigan, and an expert in glaciers and glacier water. OU regularly brings in outside presenters and its geology department is strong. My best advice – dig down into the faculty and then go with your heart, assuming you can afford both.</p>

<p>And – yes, look at UofA and ASU, too – do consider size, its pluses and minuses, when looking at them. By any yardstick, ASU is huge, though perhaps individual departments may not be.</p>