Should I Go to The University of Oklahoma?

The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach—they’re sharing their college experiences as well. Jeff graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. He specializes in GMAT tutoring, math tutoring, and science tutoring, among other areas. Check out what he had to say about being a student at The University of Oklahoma:

Describe the campus setting and transportation options.

Jeff: The University of Oklahoma campus is in the heart of Norman, Oklahoma, just outside of Oklahoma City. The campus is densely packed with beautiful buildings, foliage, and art. It is easy to get almost everywhere on campus by walking or biking. If you have to commute to campus, there are parking and shuttles available as well.

How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants at The University of Oklahoma?

Jeff: It depends on the subject. The freshman-level courses are large, and it can be difficult to have a good relationship with your professor. However, the higher-level courses that are more specific to one’s major are much smaller and the professors of these courses are generally more available for each student.

How would you describe the dorm life—rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students?

Jeff: There are several great dorms at OU that all have dining facilities located within them. There are cafeterias and fast food restaurants within the student union as well, including Cane’s, Wendy’s, Chick-fil-a, and Quiznos.

Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?

Jeff: I studied Petroleum Engineering because Petroleum Engineers were in high demand after I graduated from high school. Petroleum Engineering is one of the best degrees that OU offers. OU also has excellent engineering, business, and meteorology programs. OU supported Petroleum Engineering quite a bit while I was a student there.

How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life?

Jeff: I would say Greek life is fairly big at OU and one of the best ways to meet other people, but there are plenty of other social groups on campus. I pledged a fraternity my sophomore year after having a pretty boring freshman experience; you don’t have to go Greek to meet other people or find things to do at OU, but it certainly helps.

How helpful is the Career Center and other student support services?

Jeff: Hundreds of excellent companies recruit through the Career Center at OU. The Career Center offers a lot of support for students looking for internships and full-time employment, and all of my employment offers came through the Career Center.

How are the various study areas such as libraries, the student union, and dorm lounges at The University of Oklahoma?

Jeff: The Bizzell Library can be a bit crowded, but is usually a great study location. There are several smaller libraries located on campus that are also excellent study locations. My personal preference was the library at the Sarkeys energy center.

Describe the surrounding town.

Jeff: Norman, Oklahoma, is the epitome of a “college town.” The whole city revolves around the university and the campus. There are several great restaurants in the city with most of them located at “Campus Corner,” just across the street from the campus. Norman is also a short commute from Oklahoma City.

How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes?

Jeff: The student body at OU is quite large. The class sizes can be overwhelming at times for freshmen, but the class sizes generally shrink as the classes get more and more specific to one’s major.

Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one you regret the most.

Jeff: I’d say that the best classes I had at OU were the ones where I was challenged to lead and to think outside of the box rather than just memorize information. The same can be said for the best professors I had at OU. My best experience at OU was my involvement with the Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (or CCEW). CCEW is an economic development organization at the University of Oklahoma specializing in technology commercialization, software business development, social entrepreneurship, and agile product design. In my opinion, CCEW is the premier extracurricular organization at OU.

 

Check out Jeff’s tutoring profile.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.