University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Top Questions

I love being in the Pride of Oklahoma. It is so much fun. Getting to go to all the football games and basketball games if you choose to do a basketball band. I spend alot of my time on campus in the Bizzell library studying. I also go to Felgar hall which is the mechanical and aerospace building and study in their library some. I love the spirit that everyone has towards the athletic programs. Football is everything in this state and it shows. I also love how smart everyone is so I can get help just about anywhere as long as I talk to people. Don't be to yourself. You will hate OU if you aren't eager to meet people.

OU is a very large campus but it is very doable and after you get your bearings it isn't hard to get around. The campus is set up to be self-contained and if you didn't want to leave campus you wouldn't have too. I was in the family student housing apartments, which were great and I would recommend them to folks with families or graduate students. It is quiet and very friendly. Easy walk to campus and no parking permit is needed. I spent most of my time in my Department because as a graduate student that is the requirement and expectation. My Department has nice funding packages and most grad students get some sort of funding - some get better packages than others. The faculty plays favorites to those who they "deem" as worthy of their time and attention, and there are three or four faculty members I would stay entirely away from because of their attitudes. There are several cases of students leaving the program for another program because of these specific individuals. If you do not cross them or are their favorites, the student is good to go, however, if you happen to not be in the chosen pack of favorites, these faculty will attempt to drive you out of the department on various charges or events.

OU is a large college with many different disciplines to choose from. You must be dedicated and utilize your first two years as an exploration process to review what you want to do. If I could change anything, it would be to require that Freshman and Sophomore students take only the general education classes instead of skipping around within different disciplines. Soak up the lessons learned for the first two years and then decide your career path. OU's administration are human and they can make mistakes, but as a college student, you must be willing to accept some responsibility for your education. Do not expect them to walk you through every process and take some initiative in researching possible careers and the degree plans that go along with them.

OU is a fairly large school. I must admit I was not prepared for 300 person lecture sections! However, the University a lot of support for its students. There are math labs, chemistry labs, office hours for TA's and professors, the foreign language labs, and the writing lab which are a good place to get free help. OU seems to be making the transition to an all walking campus, there isn't much parking for commuter students.

Our school is not too big at all. Yes, some classes have 400 students, but other classes have 20. You can chose what classes are best for you. The professors are always helpful, and very knowledgeable. Norman is definitely a college town, but if you want good food or fun entertainment, OKC is only 20 minutes away. Fraternity parties are a blast. Football games are indescribable. This school has so much school pride that it makes you so proud to be a part of it.

When people ask where I attend college, many of them are shocked to know that I attend OU. OU is a premeir school in the nation in scholastics and athletics and there is a great amount of school pride. People tend to be shocked because many of my peers attended junior college or when to a small college. But the few of us that when to OU, we always tend to get the biggest praise from our community then some other students.

If you are handicap and in a wheelchair or walker I do not suggest you going here. The handicap accessibility is horrible. My borther is in a wheelchair and it is hard for him to get around and I worry about his safety every day he goes on campus. The Disability Resource Center are not very big or very nice at all. If President Boren would recognize these issues then being a disability student would be a lot more pleasurable.

It's a beautiful college. There are a lot of activities and plenty of good lectures. I would like to see more but I think we have a wide variety of people who visit. I like the diversity of people and that we have so many exchange students and opportunities. I usually hangout on campus corner on a patio somewhere.

OU is a place where you can be as involved as you want. There is a lot of tradition in the school, you just have to open your eyes. The campus is always changing. They're always building better facilities and updating their technology. The size is okay but be prepared to drive or ride the bus to some parts especially the Research Campus where the National Weather Center is. Also learn to be patient when searching for parking. There are about 14,000 or so other students that on any given day, are searching for the same parking spot you are. No really, it's not that bad, but you'll learn to be patient and to put on your blinker when you find a spot.

OU seems to really embrace its prestige as having top quality professors that are not only incredible instructors, but also commonly accessable on a regular basis to help with both advancing your area or major, but also those who really want to give you the best education for your money. The campus is large enough to allow for diversity, but not so large that you're lost in a sea of 300 people in one class. Once again, you get the best of both worlds: top notch education on a personal and individual basis.