O'Connell's Off Topic

The article I saw ranked OU high in Entrepreneurship - a narrow category, But Congrats to OU. I am a grad of OU Business School. It's a good school. And it's probably a better B School now than back in the day.

Can you post the article that you refer to. In my opinion, OU has a good business school. But the rankings I have seen don't rate it very high. Granted this Entreprenurial thing is real good. And that's an important part of a good B School. Check your article.

And Yes: The books are about the same everywhere. And there's a ton of good solid profs. In my opinion, OU grads would do better to make OU as good as they can. And let the quality of the grads speak for the quality of the school. I think work ethic, neat appearance, abiity to learn systems, proficiency in Excel, attention to detail are what employers look for.

I am not big on saying "OU is vastly superior to XYZ. or any other school" That doesn't work for me. But if that's how you feel and think, Go for it.

Go Sooners.

OK. Maybe Crowe Dunleavy. I am not a lawyer. I will let you guys decide how you hire. If you want to spend time on SAT scores, go for it. And...it will give your staff something to do.

I think I heard or read that OU and TU and OCU are graduating 500 - 600 eager lawyers. Per Year!

To stay on my thread topic that OU is making a mistake to pay lavish amounts to National Merit scholars:
"Recruitment

OU has an office, called National Scholars Programs, that's dedicated to recruiting and retaining National Merit Scholars. The office has four staff members, an administrative assistant and about four to six student employees, said Andy Roop, director of prospective student services.

The office has an annual budget of $266,475 for salaries and operating expenses. That does not include money for scholarships".

Read more: http://newsok.com/university-of-oklahoma-offers-support-scholarships-for-national-merit-scholars/article/3609787#ixzz1ZqAFferO

Go Sooners.

Interesting. I would add that OU's National Merit Scholarships are - as I understand - much larger than $10 K per year. If OU was offering NM's scholarships of $10 K, I would probably have little or no objection. $10 K is tuition and maybe some more. Reasonable.

$1,000 is a nice scholarship. But, $1 K is likely not a difference maker in most kids' college choice. So, maybe we sort of agree on that.

What I would like is: Offer the NM students a generous scholarship. 100% of tuition. That's plenty for a good school like OU to offer.

And I would like to see OU offer generous $4,000 - $5,000 scholarships to good students in Oklahoma and Texas and Arkansas. Students that have the demonstrated ability - grades, standard tests like National Merit and ACT - and references to deserve generous, but not lavish scholarship help.

"The (OU NM) office has an annual budget of $266,475 for salaries and operating expenses. That does not include money for scholarships". That's FIFTY scholarships at $5 K each. 50.

Read more: http://newsok.com/university-of-oklahoma-offers-support-scholarships-for-national-merit-scholars/article/3609787#ixzz1ZqAFferO

To your point of the 450 students: The numbers clearly favor the 450. That group in my opinion will produce many more productive grads than the 50 you favor. It's numbers and opinion. I think you put way way too much emphasis on National Merit scores. But it's opinion. Go Sooners.

I bet your son does well on the PSAT. I think schools like Vandy are good - but maybe overrated. I tell people that an OU student can - if he/she chooses courses, classes, instructors well - get an education that compares well with a prestige school like say Texas.

I have to admit that the UT grads I know are quite sharp and quite well educated for the most part. I can't say that about all college grads. It's not intelligence, it's what they don't know. Hard to describe, just basic things I would expect a college grad to know. Like a good knowledge of American History.

Comparing OU to Oklahoma Directional Universities: Here's a summary of some opinions on comparing OU with state directional schools. First, I was raised by my Dad to think OU was clearly superior. I am a proud OU grad. And I got a good education. Not one weak course or instructor. Not too much political indoctrination at OU. And when I graduated I was convinced OU was superior. Actually, OU was pretty darn good. Go Sooners.

Since then, I have worked with grads of directionals and I have had friends and family members graduate from directionals. Here's the deal: An "A" student at a directional is often an "A" student at OU, Texas or anywhere. Some people are smart. They get it. They would be "A" students anywhere.

From that point it's anybody's guess. A "B" student at a directional might be a "B" student at OU - or maybe a "C" or "C +". A "C" student at a directional might have a harder time at OU. The intangible is that directional school students are not pretentious. They come to a job maybe without great polish. But often times with a real solid work ethic and lots of common sense. Often, they are quick learners and very good employees.

Regardless, I have learned that on the job it's still Work Ethic, Ability to learn quickly, Attention to Detail, Appearance.

My point of this is to recommend OU should make big time changes in the NM program. Offer National Merit students a generous tuition 100% scholarship. But cut back on the lavish and expensive frills. OU needs to exercise common sense. Get rid of the silly overhead $266 K per year to administer the OU President's pet elite program. Recruit more sharp kids who are not NM students. They are the backbone of OU student body. OSU and Tech get that. OU needs to figure it out, too.