University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Top Questions

What are the academics like at your school?

Hannah

As with any educational institution, there are some good teachers, some bad teachers, some easy classes, and some difficult classes. I started out my freshman year as an engineering major, which for me was extremely difficult, so I struggled somewhat in my math and chemistry classes. The problem with those, as well, was that the professors and graduate assistants weren't exactly the best and didn't give out much individual help. Anyways, I'm now an International and Area Studies major, which is quite interesting and my experience so far with the professors in this department has been very positive. As for the general student population, I feel that study habits vary quite a bit, but I would say that most people do still spend at least a few hours in the library every week, prepping for tests or doing reading for class. Once we're actually in class, I've found that students really only participate and get involved in honors classes, where the class is smaller and the professor actually facilitates discussion. Otherwise, most people are satisfied to let the professor talk and just take notes. All in all, we have a pretty good educational program at OU, in my opinion.

Cody

Our academics are one of the top public universities in the nation. We have the highest number of National Merit Scholars per capita and one of the most rigorous programs in the nation. As a business student, we have a national ranked energy management and a top 10 entrepreneurship program.

Rebecca

As a part of the Honors college, I'm in a few really small classes: I took honors calc 2 and I'm in honors calc 3 right now, and both classes had fewer than 15 students. This semester, my professor knows all of our names and because he's not stressed by a large class, we really get time to just talk to him, which is really nice. I came to college with most of my basics out of the way, but I've been told that classes like Comp 1 and Comp 2, which are required, typically have over 200 people in them, but if you take the honors classes, which are capped at something like 30 students, you'll have a much better class experience. My favorite class is Intro to Design and Graphics, which the students call studio. It's an architecture class that I'm required to take as an architectural engineering major, and although it's a lot of work and I complain about it whenever I'm given the chance, it's very different from the rest of my classes, and extremely interesting. My least favorite class so far has been Intro to CEES (civil engineering and environmental science). We talked about bridges and dams all semester and everyone just played on their laptops through all of class. It was mind-numbingly dull. It depends on who you're friends with--I live on the national merit floor, so sleeping is less something we need and more something we do in between studying, tests, and classes--all of my friends made 4.0s last semester, and our majors are engineering, pre-med, math, and pre-orthopedic. But my roommate was in a sorority and she was really busy, so she studied a lot like once every two weeks, keeping me up to all hours. It really depends on who you're friends with. Same with intellectual conversations--you can find those kinds of people if you want to, but if not, then you can find those kinds of people too. Competition definitely varies by major--architecture students can be pretty competitive, but the Arch Es (architectural engineers) are more like a community. It's clear who of us excels in certain areas, but we're not very competitive. Again, studio is the most unique class I've taken. I've hand-built structures from chipboard (sort of like cardboard) that have taken me on average 15 hours, and my final took over 40 hours to construct. I've used a laser cutter to make a screen, built projects in wood shop, and even used playdough and duct tape for a project. My major is Architectural Engineering, which is a part of the Civil Engineering and Environmental Science department in the College of Engineering. Honestly, I'm not a big fan of my department here. There are only, at most, 15 other people in my major that are freshman, and less than 10 people graduate from my major every year. So while I'm content at OU, if you can afford to go somewhere else for architectural engineering, I would strongly recommend that you do--I'm currently planning on transferring to UT, where my program has almost 200 undergraduates. I do not spend time with my professors outside of class. OU is not known for it's strong academic requirements, but you can find good academics if you look for them. One current professor who I met at Camp Crimson (sort of like orientation), Professor Kyle Harper, did his Bachelor's here then went on to Harvard for his master's. I also know we have a Rhodes scholar this year, so good academics can be found here. I would say that this school is geared toward getting a job--there are a ton of career fairs every year, and I'm constantly bombarded by emails from career services. '

Menglu

some are good

Ty

Academics at OU are spectacular. Professors are friendly, and they strive to know all of their students by name. Students are encouraged to study on a daily basis, and especially to participate in class. Students usually always meet in the library or other places to communicate and have intellectual conversation. While all students are competitive, OU students do so in a friendly atmosphere. The most unique class I've taken would have to be my current Music in Culture class. My current major is Psychology, but I plan to double major in Music and Letters soon. All students have office hours, and love to meet with students outside of class. While the academic requirements of the school are difficult, they are kept constant so as not to lower standards for future generations. The education at this school is both geared towards a job AND learning. Again, it all depends on what you want to get out your classes.

Colby

Jonny

Academics are a large focus here. There are students who are only taking classes to get by and get a degree, but a majority of my peers truly care about learning. OU has some awesome professors and they generally very personable. Dr. Rufus Fears is one of my favorite professors, and he is known throughout the nation for being a phenomenal lecturer. I took two classes of his about Greece and Rome and they really have broadened my view of how a class can be taught. He generally only lectures, but he is very interactive and is never boring. All English classes at OU are capped at 19 students, so you will always be able to get personal advice from your professors. That is actually part of why I became an English major. Although I don't spend time with my professors outside of class, I've loved getting to know them in a classroom setting while learning from them and my classmates.

Jordan

I am a student in the Price Business School majoring in Energy Management. So far my academic experience has truly made me proud to be a sooner. I know I will be prepared for whatever career path I choose when I leave this university. Professors are more than willing to help you outside of class and give you extra attention you may need. They're all friendly and easily approachable. My favorite class is actually an economics class called Govermental Relations to Business. I loved this class so much because the professor LOVES what he does and it shows through every lecture he gives. It's a challenging class, but he pushes you and explains it all in detail, so that when you finish a case you feel accomplished and feel like you really learned something instead of just going through the motions. The professors expect you to interact and engage in class discussions, they want to know your thoughts and opinions on topics they go over in class. There are also a lot of outside opportunities, such as free tutoring, that can enhance your academic performance and help you learn more from the courses. I am an Energy Management major and it's great! OU's EMGT program is nationally ranked and it's easy to see why. We have some of the best professors and this major gives you an opportunity to intern, do workshops, field work, and other things to expand your knowledge outside of the classroom.

Alia

All of the classes I've ever taken at OU were either taught by experts in their field or hold doctorates in that subject. Those professors also have Teacher's Assistants who are usually working on their Masters Degree at the time. Talk about resources! Honestly, each school is different. I couldn't tell you what the business students or the theater students are like but I have classes with a lot of pre-med students and, yes, they are competitive. There's no way to generalize the classes you take during undergrad because every class, every professor, every major is different. There are classes that are brutally difficult and are meant to push you and there are some that students just breeze through. The point is, there are always resources like Action Tutoring, the Writing Center, Project Threshold, etc. that exist solely to help you with classes no matter their level of difficulty.

Nor

Good professors know your name. Even better, some professors offer you opportunities to get involve in research or internship if you're doing well in school. They guide you into the right path in pursuing your major/career. Students study, get their work done, and have fun too. The life as a student here is somewhat balanced. If you're lucky, you'll get good professors throughout your college life, and easily get 4.0 every semester. The education is geared toward getting a job and apply your skills and knowledge in your career. My major is Petroleum Engineering and OU has a great program if you want to pursue in this career.

Kyle

The academics at OU are, for the most part, wonderful. This is especially true in upper-level courses and the Honors College, in which classes are almost always small enough to allow the professors to learn the name of each student. As at any large public university, however, the gen ed classes (general education - the basic, lower-level classes which everyone is required to take) are usually hundreds of students large, making it impossible for students to develop a very close-working relationship with the professor. Additionally, since these classes are lower-level, many students tend to take them less seriously, and can sometimes be rude and/or disruptive, making the learning process that much more difficult for those students who sincerely wish to learn. As a Sophomore, attending my American Federal Government class every Tuesday and Thursday can be frustratingly annoying, as my assigned seat is in between two Freshmen who haven't yet learned that they will absorb virtually nothing if they spend the whole class gossiping. Nonetheless, the academics at OU are much more often wonderful - the professors are incredibly knowledgeable, encourage intellectual discussion outside of class, and generally care more about their students than any teacher I had in high school.

Kyle

The academics at OU are, for the most part, wonderful. This is especially true in upper-level courses and the Honors College, in which classes are almost always small enough to allow the professors to learn the name of each student. As at any large public university, however, the gen ed classes (general education - the basic, lower-level classes which everyone is required to take) are usually hundreds of students large, making it impossible for students to develop a very close-working relationship with the professor. Additionally, since these classes are lower-level, many students tend to take them less seriously, and can sometimes be rude and/or disruptive, making the learning process that much more difficult for those students who sincerely wish to learn. As a Sophomore, attending my American Federal Government class every Tuesday and Thursday can be frustratingly annoying, as my assigned seat is in between two Freshmen who haven't yet learned that they will absorb virtually nothing if they spend the whole class gossiping. Nonetheless, the academics at OU are much more often wonderful - the professors are incredibly knowledgeable, encourage intellectual discussion outside of class, and generally care more about their students than any teach I had in high school.

Kyle

The academics at OU are, for the most part, wonderful. This is especially true in upper-level courses and the Honors College, in which classes are almost always small enough to allow the professors to learn the name of each student. As at any large public university, however, the gen ed classes (general education - the basic, lower-level classes which everyone is required to take) are usually hundreds of students large, making it impossible for students to develop a very close-working relationship with the professor. Additionally, since these classes are lower-level, many students tend to take them less seriously, and can sometimes be rude and/or disruptive, making the learning process that much more difficult for those students who sincerely wish to learn. As a Sophomore, attending my American Federal Government class every Tuesday and Thursday can be frustratingly annoying, as my assigned seat is in between two Freshmen who haven't yet learned that they will absorb virtually nothing if they spend the whole class gossiping. Nonetheless, the academics at OU are much more often wonderful - the professors are incredibly knowledgeable, encourage intellectual discussion outside of class, and generally care more about their students than any teach I had in high school.

Jawanza

Great emphasis on academics. Great importance placed on doing the best you can at school.

Tuan-Phat

Academics at the University of Oklahoma is often challenging and very stimulating. Students definitely need to dedicate time to study in order to succeed. However, the professors are often very helpful and are willing to spend time during office hours or out of class to help students who need it. As a Microbiology major, I can acknowledge that the Microbiology / Botany department and the faculty there are very concern about the success of their students. From advising, tutoring or help for looking at opportunities after graduation they are always willing to assist students in their every need, Moreover, the Career Services at OU actively help student and get them ready for their future. They offer help for resume building, job / school interviews and often held seminars and career fairs to help connect students with potential employers.

Scot

Freshman classes tend to be huge. Classes further on in your major are great! I had good and bad professors, but some professors became my FRIENDS. My favorite class was Native American Philosophy. I took it for an upper-division Non-Western Civ class. The professor kept the class very entertaining. I definitely question some of the required classes I took, but OU gives its students a very well-rounded education.

Christina

The intro classes are generally pretty large (hundreds of people). My favorite classes so far have definitely been my honors American Perspectives course, something about culture, minorities, and the American experience with Dr. Marcia Chatelain. She is amazing--smart, insightful, and pretty young, so she's up on things, and my intro zoo class, which is solely due to the interesting content. I've heard Gaffin's amazing, though, so if you take intro zoo, take it in the fall. The honors classes are small and usually not too difficult, and the professors are pretty neat! SOME OU students have intellectual conversations out of class (like the people I gravitate toward), but the majority really don't. If you're into the sort of thing, join Amnesty International and take philosphy and Middle Eastern studies courses. The pre-med students are fairly competitive, as are some of the National Merit students, but in general, the students here aren't University of Chicago types. But you knew that... The psychology department's HUGE, because all the slackers who don't really know what they want to do with their lives are psych majors. It's a bummer, because we get a bad rep. The classes are generally EASY. The psych obligatory statistics course is SO dumbed down, it's insane. I don't spend a lot of time with profs outside of class, but that's my fault. You have to be assertive and go to office hours. I keep meaning to...maybe next week. I'll need recommendations later on anyway.

Charlie

I love the academic program, but the one thing I hate is the attendance policy. I'm paying a lot of money to go here. I work very hard for my grades, but living in the dorms made me very sick for both semesters. Some teachers give you 3 absenses before they drop your grade by a letter. I had mono and bronchitis almost at the same time, so I was sick for a very long time second semester. I actually made a D in one of my classes because I missed one day over the amount allowed. My teacher didn't care.

Garrett

Classes are small and tuition is very cheap considering the education recieved. OU recruits more national merit scholars than any other school and is very focused are giving a good education. Professors are always available and tutoring is provided for free by the school in most fields. It is a very competitive place to get an education.

Kayvan

No, most of my classes, the professor does not know my name. My favorite class was Gateway, which was a freshmen introduction to college class that taught me a lot about the University that i never knew about when i first entered the University of Oklahoma. My least favorite class would be Math and especially intro 2 Zoology 1114 and the LAB. Class participation is very common in most of my classes as students do try to communicate with the teacher between the class periods. The students studying varies depending on the students I associate with, not very much. Yes OU students do have intellectual conversations outside of school, that's what I have done many times with some of my fellow classmates. Some students can be competitive if your in a big class, like Zoology 1114. The most unique class would be the Zoo Lab 1121, the dissection of the pig was the most enjoyable experiences i had. My major is Zoology Biomedical, it's a major that had to deal with the basic unit of life-cells, knowing how the functions of DNA and RNA worked within our bodies with protein production, glycolysis, transcription, translation, the processes of cell development with mitosis as the cells double, and the crossing over of cells in miosis with different stage levels you have to know, the different classes with the tree diagram on the different structures where amphibians, reptiles, fishes, etc. were similar and different among each other. OU's academic requirements are very simple as long as you know what to do when the tests come up for a class and if you read enough and know the material by heart. Yes the education at OU geared toward getting a descent job for it's own sake, I still retained all the information I learned for my whole previous year at OU as a freshmen.

katie

OU does a really good job of having professors and teachers teach, not just TA's. Your macroeconomics lecture professor might not know your name, but your TA will, and your English, Math, Lab, and pretty much every other class, those teachers will. Students are competitive, but it isn't out of control. President Boren teaches a very popular freshman PoliSci class OU teachers make it a point to be very approachable and available for students after class. They are always eager to help OU teaches to educate its students, but they make sure that any student that wants to find a job upon graduating will have every oportunity to do so. They have great programs and fairs set up for every major!

Libby

One thing I hated about majoring in Elementary Education is that everyone thought it was a complete breeze. I am told that OU once had an extremely poor education program and it was a joke, but it is now supposedly one of the better schools for that major. I met some pretty nice people through my major, which was a much needed surprise from the horror of most everyone else.

Sara

Professors know your name if you are talkative in class or contact them one on one. I have found that my favorite, and also my toughest classes are the ones for my major, public relations. I love them because they are smaller and concentrate on areas I'm most interested in, but of course they are not gen-ed classes. They are tough. In my gen-ed classes I easily got by with not participating in class (it's not my thing) but now that my classes are small and I seem to know everyone, participation is expected and I'm more comfortable with it. There are many things I love about my major including: I'm in the Gaylord college, which truly has the best equipment and facilities on campus. The teachers are great and very experienced. My only complaint is that I feel I've learned more in my 4 years of internships than I have in all of my PR/Journalism courses. Recently, OU has become very great about helping its graduates find jobs and its students find internships. The career service center has helped me with my resume and the Gaylord college has many wonderful resources for all of its students.

Joshua

Yes, Professors usually know your name. They know mine at least, so be sure that you talk to them in their office hours (most are really cool and like that sort of thing). Also, be sure to speak up in class, especially if you disagree. That's where things get really fun. My favorite class was intro to ethics with Dr. Purinton, mainly because he was a staunch atheist and openly made fun of Christianity in class. As a Christian, it was pretty strong, but I got to argue with him and then we started making fun of each other in the class and I liked the rapport I had with him. Oh, and if you want to maintain a 4.0, I recommend not taking honors classes. I have yet to make an A in an honors class (ok, fine, 1 A out of 3) and I'm a pretty sharp guy. I'm not the smartest ever, but I'm pretty smart, and I had tough times competing with other people. But then again, I always say it's NOT good to focus on grades but rather on the college experience!

Blair

OU, like most colleges, only offers large lower division classes. While it is hard to get to know your classmates and teachers in classes of 500 pupils, it is possible. Some teachers are foreign and hard to explain, but that is common among big universities. In most classes, emailing and getting on a first-name basis with professors is the best way to succeed in a large setting.

Hannah

In my smaller classes my teachers know my name. I think that sstuents study a lot. I study at least 20-30 hours a week. Class participation is not really common because most of the classes are really really big. Im sure that some students have intelectual conversations.

Rachel

In many large classes, it is impossible for a professor to know you name. However, classes are great. You get done with the huge classes pretty early on. The advisors, in the scholars program particularly, are great!

James

OU has a strong academic record and hard-working students.

Michael

OU president David Boren is the best thing to happen to the school. hes a former US Senator but he's like obsessed with trying to make the school as good as possible. hes made most of the departments top programs, which kind of sux, cause we have to do a shit load of work for a degree, but i think a lot of people dont recognize that we're actually a smart school . so we get a lot of work for no deserved recognition or respect. plus theres alot of cool classes but the advisors kind of suck, so unless u search hard, ud never know what u could take.

Elizabeth

I think of OU as a pretty decent school academicly. There are plently of comeptitive students, but there are also a lot of students that like to party and focus less of their school work. As for professors, you really have controll over your classroom experience. Some classes will be small and some will be large and when they are large you must make the effort to get to know the teacher and I really found it helpful to email the professor and just let them know you are in their class. It lets them know you are interested and can sometimes help with future help. My major is Advertising which is in the Journalism school. I will be starting my core classes next semester, but so far I have really enjoyed most of the classes I have taken thus far.

Elizabeth

One thing that really erks me is when people say that with big classes comes general teachers. They don't know your name, your just a number, etc. I really believe this to be untrue. In my history class of 80, the professor knew my name. In my Mass Comm class of 250, the professor did not but the T.A. did in discussion. But even in lecture, with 250 people, we could still hold debates (I highly recommend KJW). Political Sceince was one of the most fascinating classes in the way of knowledge. I learned SO much in that class with Prof. Ray (He is amazing.). I also took non-western dance (you DO NOT dance) which was completely different and really interesting and fun. All the professors have office hours and you can visit them during this time all the time. When it comes to requirements, OU is somewhat lenient in-state. Out-of-state is much harder for some reson. The education is both geared toward and job AND liberal artsy. Everyone has to take gen-ed classes but also take classes that focus on your major.

Betsy

A lot of professors know my name, if you are in a class of 300 it helps to go to the office hours of your professor and let them get to know you. I do not think I can narrow it down to a favorite class; however, any of my Spanish classes have been so fun and I have learned more about myself and how much I can truly acheive than in any other classes. I do not have a least favorite. Students study quite a bit, depending on your teachers, how many hours you're taking, etc. Even with the "blow off" classes it is necessary to study at least an hour or two a day, for the upper division classes at least 2 hours a day. Class participation is common and often encouraged. I have made more friends in my classes than I have outside of class, we often meet for study groups or just get together on the weekend. The students are competitive but it is friendly most of the time. The most unique class I have taken was Spanish Literature. I could tell my teacher wanted me to learn and wanted me to expand my ideas and grow off of his lectures; it was an amazing class and it felt more like a family than a room full of strangers. I am majoring in Spanish which is part of the Arts and Sciences language department. I could not ask for better teachers. I know I could go to them, and have gone to them in the event of a crisis. They were more than just teachers, they were genuine and I cannot thank them enough for all the encouragement and knowledge they gave me. I have given my professors rides when I have seen them walking and we have had "end of the year" dinners at restaurants where teachers have come; it is great to know they really care about you and are going to miss you just as much as you are going to miss them. I feel OU's academic requirements are decent; there are a few electives that could be dismissed. The education I am receiving from OU, in my experience, has geared me toward living without regret and knowing that making mistakes is a part of life. Ultimately the goal after anyone graduates is get a job; however, a lot of my teachers have encouraged me to acheive my goals and experience life for all it's worth before getting a job. I have often been told not to settle for just any job, but to do something that will truly make me happy.

Matt

Professors are true professionals and subject matter experts. I really enjoyed the learning experience.

Jordan

Prof are great on the most part...Lots of Graduate assistants teaching or grading. I had a history class with essay style exams graded only by G A's. They were ridiculous rigid in my opinion, although many history buffs may have easily aced these exams graded so harshly by the tenuous graduate assistants. Academic requirements are what they are...lots of information covered in each semester. Sometimes I do not care for the teaching style and like to study at home and show up for exams, which I do when attendance is not required for some classes. Psychology classes are at times interesting lectures. One 4000 level class on Abnormal Psych taught by a PhD (wow) was enlightening as this Prof had actually worked in his field for many years and shared hands on stories along side the book material. A botany class I took was so gr-eek to me that I dropped it...I had never taken botany before and the Prof {PhD} moved too fast for my absorption, likely many in the class did exceptionally well/others were challenged to make the grade. It all depends on who you get and what your background is. Most instructors or Prof are very communicative and will work with students if need be.

Liz

I love my program: Human Relations. All the HR teachers are great and kind!

Josh

After my general education class (Fresh and Soph year) the classes were small enough to know my name Favorite class was Integrated Business Core Program Least favorite class was anything history The study time by students is mixed... some a whole lot, some not so much and some inbetween Class participation is in almost every class Intellectual coversations do happen outside of class Students are competitive for grades but not usually openly with others The most unique class was the Integrated Business Core Program My major (Supply Chain Management) was newer and on the uprise so many opportunities came from graduating with my majors Professors were always available whenever they were needed OU's academic requirements were great and not excessive The education is geared toward real life situations in the real world, based on situations you would be put into while on the job or in your career

Braden

The academics at OU are way above par. You may have been the smartest kid at your school and come here and think you are an idiot compared to everyone else. Just work hard and enjoy what you are doing. If you aren't enjoying it then you better change majors. I love my marching band class lol. I really enjoyed Intro to Aerospace Engineering with Alfred Striz. He is a die hard aerospace engineer and loves everything he does and has a wealth of knowledge for anyone who takes his class. The education at OU is deffinately geared towards getting you a job but you have to make the best of it. Make college what you want it to be.

Parker

Graduate students have a different life than undergraduates so we are expected to interact with professors and faculty in class and various events. There are social mixers between grad students and faculty and it is one of things where one is expected to attend, mix socially, and play well in the department sandbox. I know for a fact that at departmental brown bag events, a silent head-count is taken by staff and this is noted. I studied all the time because that is my job - to learn this stuff. I disliked one of the theory required classes because the professor was totally out-of-control and into their own personal power games over grad students. I would never take another class with this faculty member. There are a few other staff members that I would avoid also but will not list them here. Reading, writing, and presentations are part of a grad students activities and OU requires their grad students to participate in academic activities. Learning is geared at this level, to become an academic and research is the name of the game. If you prefer classroom time and teaching, you will get the opportunity to do so, however, research is your primary goal.

Dianna

Academics are excellent! My first piece of advice is to get to know your teachers. They are human and they want you to succeed. Go into the process with a good attitude and establish relationships (working) with your disciplines administration, professors and classmates. Do not expect to be friends with everyone, but choose them based on your strengths and weakness (e.g. your weaknesses are their strengths) so that you will not be so overwhelmed. The main goal is to have a career after your years at OU and your professors, classmates and administration all strive toward that goal. The students are competitive (just as in the real world) so, utilize your experiences as a learning process and try not to repeat the same mistakes to many times!

Sarah

My lower division classes were large and the professors were usually grad students. However, the upper division classes were smaller and you had more interraction with the professors. I really enjoyed taking Native American Studies classes and Kiowa classes. It is very hard to find a university that has such an emphasis on Native cultures!

Traci

OU is challenging, but not impossible. It depends on your major and who your professor is. Definitely take any internships that are offered by a company or professor.

Marie

My favorite class would have been Organic Chemistry with Professor Shakya. He was a great professor and tried his best to be there for his students and make sure that they understood him. He I went to his office hours a couple of times and he was very helpful and made sure I knew the material before I left.

Bevan

Class sizes depend. If you are taking a gen ed course then chances are that you will be packed in with a lot of people in an auditorium somewhere. But oddly enough the profs. still seem to keep in touch with the students. They may not remember your name exactly but they know who you are and perhaps your work. Once out of gen ed courses class sizes are very reasonable and you have plenty of personal time with the prof. if needed.

Stacy

When you first come to OU, take a few classes that sound interesting and fun. If you're into one of those hardcore majors such as Music Education and they tell you to focus only on your music classes...don't! Learn what you like or you may end up a junior without any gen eds and wanting to switch majors which will put you back 3 years. Experience life and fun first. You will have the rest of you college career to be serious. Another MAJOR point: Since you're taking classes you enjoy your first year, ace them. The way gpa is done in college is weird and flunking classes your first few years can sink you even if you make all As your senior year.

Stacy

Most professors invite you to ask questions and learn as much as possible during your time at OU. Their enrollment system is excellent, classes and professors are easy to fine and learn more about. Rarely did a professor turn me down to enroll in a class that was already full. The academic requires may seem rigorous at first, but speaking personally as a post graduate, they are absolutely the requirements you need to remain competivitive with other colleges and post-grads.

Toby

hard

Laura

I have had an excellent experience with academics in the engineering department. All of the professors really care and are always willing to help if you ask. I could ask any one of them for a recommendation. Engineering has a mentoring program that is excellent. It's comprised of upperclassmen so they really know what you have been through and are a huge help. I have not had such a good experience with Gen Ed classes. Particularly in the Chemistry department. The classes are huge and the teachers don't seem to care as much. Most of the TA's don't speak English and are not particularly helpful.

Megan

I knew that I would probably be attending an in-state university, probably between OU and OSU. I mostly chose OU because of its reputation for better academics and all of the awards and honors OU has received. Professors are usually available outside of class. The Gaylord College of Mass Communications is an immaculate and amazing building and the professors have lots of experience and knowledge. OU is definitely a competitive place! From athletics, to academics and even the greek system!

Madeline

Because the student body is so large, you can find serious students and you can find slackers. OU's full ride to national merit scholars ensures that you can find an intelligent crowd, if that's your thing. The most unique class I ever took was African drumming- it was so much fun!!

Cody

Look - I love Oklahoma and OU. But it's just not a top flight university. Most of the students at OU don't really belong at a top university. This is a problem that many state schools have: they have to serve the public, which inevitably leads to somewhat less stringent admissions standards. The difference is that there's a huge intellectual community at places like Berkeley, UCLA, UW-Madison, and Michigan, while this community is very small at OU. In any given class, there are maybe three people who can understand the reading and go beyond it. I only applied to OU, since it was completely free as a National Merit Scholar. I'm glad I went to OU in some ways, but I also feel that it was something of a waste, and if you've got the chance to go to a better school without crushing yourself in debt, you should probably do it.