(OU/UOklahoma-Norman) I'm a non-traditional student, so I'll avoid discussing the

How this student rated the school

Educational Quality	A	Faculty Accessibility	A
Useful Schoolwork	A	Excess Competition	B-
Academic Success	A	Creativity/ Innovation	A-
Individual Value	B	University Resource Use	A-
Campus Aesthetics/ Beauty	A	Friendliness	A-
Campus Maintenance	A	Social Life	B
Surrounding City	A	Extra Curriculars	C-
Safety	A+

Describes the student body as: Friendly Describes the faculty as: Friendly, Helpful

Female

Quite Bright

Lowest Rating Extra Curriculars	C-

Highest Rating Safety	A+

She cares more about Extra Curriculars than the average student.

Date: Dec 01 2012
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I'm a non-traditional student, so I'll avoid discussing the social aspects of the school, which really don't matter to me one way or another, and instead focus on the academics, particularly within my own major, Petroleum Engineering.

The Petroleum Engineering program is absolutely world-class. OU has one of the largest such programs in the country, and as a result is able to attract a fantastic faculty. The program is challenging, but definitely worthwhile. The school also makes a fantastic effort to connect students to folks working in the industry, so finding a summer internship, co-op, or full-time employment after graduation isn't too difficult (unless, of course, you're barely squeaking by with a sub-3.0 GPA). All in all, I would highly recommend the Petroleum Engineering program at OU to anyone who is interested the field.

As for all the negative comments that are posted here, take them with a grain of salt. If you'll notice, most of the folks that are crying and otherwise leaving negative comments are random liberal arts majors who are only going to college for the social experience rather than to gain a meaningful, useful education.

OU is what you make of it…

Responses

I think the social atmosphere is important to most college students regardless of their major, however if you're a non-traditional student I could see how it would not matter as much since you're there to get a degree above all else. I was in the college of engineering at OU but transferred out primarily because of dissatisfaction with the social life and the administration. I have to admit that I was not in a fraternity and that seems to have a lot of impact on your perception of OU. I think as an Okla. resident OU is a okay choice but not as an out of state student. Also, to anyone reading this review, there is nothing wrong with a liberal arts degree. Some of the most successful people hold liberal arts degrees, but you may find it necessary to pursue a graduate degree in order to obtain the job you desire.

You have only been there for two years. You have only just completed basic core classes and starting core engineering classes. You have yet to even be accepted into the actual petroleum engineering program or have even taken any of the classes. You say that finding a internship is easy. They don't let you take that in your second year. You say finding a job is easy after graduation. How? You haven't graduated yet. Talk about comments taken with a grain of salt.

I am the original poster above. Let me clarify a few things. first, I agree that liberal arts degrees are not worthless, and wasn't trying to imply that they were. However, I think you will rarely find a student studying engineering (or any STEM field) that is more concerned about social activities than academics. The few that are aren't likely to remain within that major for long.

As to the comment that states that I have only completed core classes, that I'm not yet accepted into the Petroleum Engineering program, etc., you're pretty much wrong on all accounts, and clearly have very little understanding of the Petroleum Engineering program at OU. First, I transferred to OU with over 100 credit hours, and completed my "basic core classes" long ago. However, because of the way that OU structures their petroleum engineering curriculum, I am a sophomore in the program despite being classified as a senior by the university. Additionally, we begin petroleum engineering classes, to include reservoir rock properties, the second semester of the sophomore year, which leads me to believe that you have no knowledge of this school's program at all. Second, OU accepts students into the Petroleum Engineering program after they complete their freshman year, assuming they have finished the requisite math and science courses. Third, there is no "they" that "allows" you to take an internship. I know several students in my major that obtained a summer internship after their freshman year. You are correct that you cannot receive the two credit hours for having comkpleted an internship until the beginning of your junior year in the program, but I'm pretty confident that those two credits are not the reason why folks pursue an internship in this field. I myself was offered and accepted an internship with one of the largest independant E&P corporations in the country for this current summer. Finally, regarding finding a job after graduation, I don't need to have found a job to know that it isn't a majro obstacle. I simply have to look at the current job placement rate for our program, which is just about at 100%. If you had nearly as much knowledge into our program as you claim to you would know that the Career Services office at OU makes that information available for every graduating class, along with average starting salaries (they also release the same info for summer internships, including average hourly pay and benefits such as relocation/housing).

The bottom line is, I was giving a review of OU and of the Petroleum Engineering program from my own point of view, which is that of a non-traditional student. My original comments still stand as accurate, although you're welcome to take my original post, as well as this response, with as much skepticism as you want, as it really doesn't affect me either way. However, I'd suggest you do a little research before posting bitter comments that are full of inaccurate and misleading info, such as you did above..

Incorrect. I do not have to do research. I graduated from this "program" in 1999. I have possibly worked in this field longer then you have been alive. My justified disdain for OU comes from my complete dissatisfaction comes from my experience with this program. When I was attending OU, you had to complete all college of engineering core classes before they would accept you into the PE program. I remember this because I had to be "accepted" by the college before I could take well log evalution. Same thing with an internship. You had to be have completed your third semester before your advisor and the company you wanted would look at you for an internship. This is the way it was at Chesapeak, Devon, ConPhillips..etc. You had to have a certain GPA as well. I guess they have lowered their standards. Considering the recent grads I have worked with, I am not shocked by this at all. The hatred that I had for this school was the complete lack of instruction. It was an army of visiting professors mostly from Malaysia, Norway, China or India that read from power point and that was it. They offered no instuction. No professional advice. Nothing. The school was a reflection of this. It is a tough curriculum but it offered very little first-hand knowledge for what you are expected to know once you entered the field or should know. I wish they placed much more on well engineering or reservoir engineering. Nothing about core evaluation or sample analysis. Nothing about horizontal drills. It offered very little of value. Even the internships were a joke. It offered no "hands-on" skills. It was just basic admin chores and sitting in on meetings. Sorry to tell you this but many of the graduates of this program is being looked at with scepticism by potential employers. They are shaken about how little graduates know as I did when I graduated. I know the college will promise you so much. I even remember people from the college of sociology being told that the possibilites were unlimited with that degree. Reality will hit you once you graduate and enter the workforce. In the industry, you are a temporary fixture. You will be bounced from well to well. Trust me. Many wash out. They think it is all easy money with fun travel. They are in for a rude awakening. This college does very little to prepare them in terms of knowledge and the reality of the industry. Sorry but my comments are not inaccurate nor misleading. It is experience.

You don't think that perhaps the petroleum engineering prgram has changed slightly since 1999? You don't think that perhaps horizontal drilling has become a rather heavily focused topic since 1999? I mean, OU has the largest PE program in the country, and is consistently ranked in the top five such programs nationwide. But you're probably right, it's all garbage and I'm simply clueless.

Oh, and I was born in '82. That either means you're full of it when you say you've been in the industry longer than I've been alive, or it means you were in your 40s when you went back to school and are likely about to retire. Either way, this has very little bearing on the topic at hand, and is nothing more than ignorant arguement-baiting.

I happen to intern with one of the Oklahoma City-based companies that you mentioned. If they've lowered their standards as you seem to claim it sure doesn't show given their standing in the industry and amongst other large international companies.

Much of what you say is true - that many people wash out, that college doesn't really prepare them for the real world, etc. However, this is true for ANY degree at virtually any college. It has nothing to do with OU or with the PE program. And your claim that many companies look at OU gras with skepticism is nonsense. I'm sorry that you didn't learn enough, or that your internships weren't challenging or fullfilling, but that is more a reflection of you than it is of the program at OU. My internship this summer has been fantastic, and definitely not full of

basic admin chores and sitting in on meetings.

This will be my last response, as I don't see the value in having an Internet argument with a bitter troll on a college review website. You're entitled to your own opinion, but the fact remains that this degree is the highest paying undergrad degree available, and OU is one of the top schools in the country offering such a degree. The fact also remains that job placement at OU for PE grads is just shy of 100%.

To potential PE students at OU, your mileage may vary, and I highly encourage you to select a college based on your own personal needs and interests. My initial review was nothing more than my own perspective as a non-traditional transfer student. You're welcome to take or leave it as you wish. However, I strongly encourage you to disregard the opinion of someone that claims to have graduated from this program over 10 years ago, as 90% of what he/she is saying about the program is simply false. Do your research, visit the school, talk to current students, faculty, and recent grads, and go from there. Best of luck!

If I may cut into this discussion or response probes; I do agree with both people responses to a small extent. I did attend the college at the same time as the individual that gave it a negative comment but have attended the school recently. I have also worked in the industry for over ten years. I do agree with the comment that the college does have a good reputation but I agree with the comment that the quality of education is very much out of date and does not prepare the students for the future. I will try to write a much more detailed review of my experience at the university in the future. Unfortunately my experiences there have not been good either. It has definately improved in the last ten years but not much. I will write more details soon.

Based on my experience and perception of OU I am amazed to see that there are people affiliated with this university that can convey logical thinking through their posts on this message board! It seemed that I was always surrounded by clowns and people that didn't want to grow beyond the high school mentality. Although the original poster that is defending OU did resort to name-calling and in my opinion that's where an argument loses ground. I do agree the value of a college education is largely based on one's own efforts

"This will be my last response, as I don't see the value in having an Internet argument with a bitter troll on a college review website." Wow! Mature statement from such a wonderful academic institution, I would have expected no less. You don't have to argue with me. You proved what I said as correct: "that college doesn't really prepare them for the real world." That is my problem! I didn't go to college to care about anything else but be prepared for my career! This little pathetic excuse for a college failed in that aspect. You are sorry that "I didn't learn enough, or that internships weren't challenging or fullfilling, but that is more a reflection of me than it is of the program at OU." Of course it is a problem with OU! If I sell you a car that doesn't work or a house that falls apart; is that going to be a reflection on you? I am sorry but I wanted a good education. I am in my 40's but not near any position to retire. If you over 30 like you say that you are then I highly encourage you to enter now. You will soon be considered a dinosaur in the industry and they will not want to waste time on you. As for my "claim that many companies look at OU grads with skepticism is nonsense", I have been in the industry for over 20 years. Many people in the industry and business in general are starting to see the massive disconnect between the skills that are taught by universities and what businesses need.

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