The Long Road to College

Gerald McCoy: Faith and Football

2010-02-26T11:46:00.001-06:00

OU vs. Texas 2008. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy rolls to his right trying to avoid the mountain of a man bearing down on him. He ducks, trying to get away, but is unable to escape the massive arms of #93 and is taken down for a loss.

Gerald McCoy hops up, walks around as he is mobbed by his teammates and then heads back to the line of scrimmage, ready for the next play. Typical of the big fella.

Gerald McCoy is a big man. No other way to say it. He is big in stature at 6’4” 295 pounds and his smile is a mile wide. But it’s the size of his faith that sets him apart from both a lot of athletes and just people in general.

Gerald said that he grew up in a Christian home and practically lived at church when he was young. In spite of that, he didn’t really start living for Christ until his junior year of high school.

“I was in the crowd that was known as the church guys but I wasn’t doing the things that a church guy would be known to do,” Gerald said. “I just decided that I needed to change what I was doing because I was supposed to be the church guy and I needed to be living a certain way and I just wasn’t doing that.”

Gerald says that this change in his life has really impacted the way that he lives now and the way that he goes about football. He isn’t big on individual achievement and knows that all of his talents and abilities are gifts from God.

“I just say that it’s not my skill, not my talent, and not my work ethic,” Gerald said. “Everything I do God has given me and I want to give it back to him, offer it back up to him. However he wants to use me, then I want him to use me. I don’t care how.”

This attitude carries over to the way that Gerald plays and goes about his football business. His teammates have taken notice of it too. Gerald was elected as a team captain by his teammates for the 2008 season as a sophomore, an almost unprecedented accomplishment on a veteran laden team.

“I lead more by example than voice,” Gerald said. “As far as leadership goes, I lead by how I play, how I am in the classroom, my work ethic, things like that. That’s where more of my leadership role as a captain comes in.”

Gerald’s teammates respect him, as evidenced by them electing him team captain. They admire his hard work and the enthusiasm with which he goes about playing the game.

“He is just an enthusiastic player,” said sophomore offensive lineman Cory Brandon. “He plays hard, he works hard and he is just a great guy.”

Junior tight end Jermaine Gresham and freshman defensive end Frank Alexander also said that Gerald was a hard worker and also said that he is crazy and a really funny guy to be around.

The football field is far and away the place where Gerald excels. As a freshman in 2007, he was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and was named to several freshman All-American teams. In 2008, he was named to the Sporting News All-American team and was named a first team Big 12 defensive player. Gerald isn’t all about his on the field activities and accolades though.

Gerald is the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Chapter at OU. It’s something that he says that he has been involved with for many years.

“I’ve always been involved in FCA,” Gerald said. “That started in middle school, but I seriously got involved my senior year of high school.”

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at OU encompasses a wide range of students and not all of them are athletes. In fact, Gerald said that more than half are non-athletes.

“FCA stands for Fellowship of Christian Athletes,” said senior public relations major JT DeBerry. “FCA is a place for not just athletes, but non-athletes too, to just take a day off each week and just come fellowship, eat food, play games and just have a good time.”

Gerald simply takes a different attitude toward life than a lot of people. He truly epitomizes what it means to be a student athlete. He is a quality student as a communications major, but also supports the other sports at OU. And boy is he full of spirit.

“I love my school,” said Gerald. “Whatever school I attend, that’s the school I represent. Now I’m in college and it’s my state against your state.”

Gerald also said that he really appreciates the support the other athletes give the football team and that it’s only right that he support them as well.

“I know that a lot of those people in the stadium are student athletes and they need support in their sport too,” Gerald said. “I don’t mind doing that because they come support us every Saturday.”

The other athletes have taken note of Gerald’s support and know that it’s not something that he does because he has to, but rather out of a sheer love for competition, winning, and his school.

“I think Gerald is the ultimate man in every category,” said women’s basketball star Courtney Paris. “He supports everyone so he is just the ultimate Sooner and you always appreciate his support.”

For example, at the men’s basketball game against Texas Tech on Valentine’s Day, Gerald showed up with big angel wings, boxer shorts with hearts all over them, and a headband with pipe cleaners attached in the shape of hearts. The students loved it.

“It’s not everyday that you see a student athlete support his fellow athletes like Gerald does in such a passionate way,” said freshman meteorology major Kevin Burns. “Gerald is a great leader for both the team and also for the students.”

With spring practice in the books, hopes are high for the 2009 football season. Gerald said that he thinks it’s going to be a good one.

“It’s good to have Sam back and Jermaine,” Gerald said. “We have a lot of guys returning on defense. It’s going to be a good year.”

One thing is for sure. No matter how the season turns out for the Sooners, they will have #93 on the defensive line, giving his all on every play, serving as their very own minister of defense.

Midterm Project: Dave Edwards

2009-12-02T12:14:00.002-06:00

Three years ago, Dave Edwards founded a new church in Norman, Oklahoma named River Church. The goal was to be not only a church that shows love within the congregation, but also shows love to the community around it. Edwards and River Church have been working toward this goal since the church's founding by adopting a local elementary school and doing other various service projects throughout the community of Norman. I am a member of River Church and I decided to feature him in this video because I have never been involved in a church that is so passionate about caring for its community. The zeal with which Dave goes about his mission is obvious as he walks the streets of Norman.

Community found in churches

2009-11-15T22:09:00.004-06:00

River Church and Berry Road Baptist Church in Norman Oklahoma. River Church uses Berry Road Baptist's facilities on Sunday evening. Photo from Sept. 27, 2009.

Coming to college is one of the most drastic changes that a person goes through in their life. The goal of pretty much every student is to get into a routine that they consider to be normal and like the life that they used to live. Something that some students look for is a church.

For many students, church has been a very important part of their life from day one. They have always gone and been a part of a church family. It’s a comfort thing for a lot of people.

“I was looking because God is central in my life and to grow in my relationship with Him I needed to be involved in a church and establish relationships with others in the church,” said Melissa Mock, sophomore international area studies and history major at the University of Oklahoma.

Louis Warner, a sophomore physics major at the University of Oklahoma says that church has been a major part of his life and it has help him grow in his faith.

“Without a church family, my individual ministry is greatly diminished,” Warner said. “I knew that if I did not find a good church family, I would fall away from my daily walk with Christ.”

Many students take several weeks, if not months to find a church home. There may be many options to choose from or very few. It all depends on the area of the country in which you decide to attend school.

River Church pastor Dave Edwards talks about his church and their vision.

“It took me two weeks to find a church,” Mock said. “River was the second church I visited and I immediately had the feeling that this was the type of church I had been looking for, for a long time.”

Every student gets something different out of church. For the most part, people find community in a church.

“Church has given me a place in the midst of my busy week to go and worship God, learn more about him, and reconnect with others,” Mock said. “Without it I think I would be discouraged and get tired of a lot of things in life, but when I go I am refreshed by God's word and encouraged by my church family.”

Junior College = Solid Alternative

2009-11-08T19:32:00.002-06:00

The front entrance of Oklahoma Community College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo provided by Spencer Smith.

College is expensive. No ifs, ands or buts about it. College is also rigorous academically. No way to disprove that fact either. There are people out there that simply cannot keep up with either of those characteristics that come with a four-year university. For those who cannot afford it or cannot deal with the academic rigors, there is an alternative option: junior college.

OCCC sophomore Spencer Smith talks about the misconceptions about junior colleges.

Junior colleges are schools that offer primarily two-year associates degrees at a lower cost than that of a four-year university. The education however, remains close to the same due to smaller classes and more intentional time with professors.

Spencer Smith, a sophomore at OCCC, said that finances were the primary reason for him attending a junior college.

“Due to extenuating circumstances I don’t have any scholarships so that was a very big motivating factor,” Smith said.

Chris Beaudoin, a sophomore at OCCC, said that many people attend community or junior colleges to take care of classes that they would have problems with at a four-year university. Another reason is just to get classes out of the way so that students can move on to more difficult classes within their major.

OCCC sophomore Chris Beaudoin talks about how attending a junior college benefits him.

The smaller student to teacher ratio is another big factor that draws students to a junior college.

“Going to a university, the classes are 10 times bigger so I get more one on one time with my teachers at OCCC if I do not understand something,” Beaudoin said.

“At OCCC they have much smaller class sizes than at OU,” Smith said. “Also, their calculus program is said to be exceptional. That program in and of itself, that’s why I’m going there. If I have questions, I’ll have more opportunities to get one-on-one time with my teachers.”

How Athletes Search

2009-11-01T21:24:00.005-06:00

University of Oklahoma sophomore volleyball player Suzy Boulavsky, #2 in white, and Texas Tech sophomore volleyball player Karlyn Meyers, #3 in black, ready themselves for the next point in their match October 3, 2009.

The worlds of students and student-athletes sometimes seem to be on opposite sides of the galaxy from each other. However, both have the title of student and it is this term that brings these worlds a little closer together.

A big way in which college athletes and regular students can relate is their search for a college that they want to be at. No matter what the sport, athletes still want to be at a school that they enjoy going to.

“Whenever I decided to come to OU, it was more of a decision based on the school,” said Suzy Boulavsky, sophomore volleyball player at the University of Oklahoma. “I committed when I was a sophomore so I didn't really have an idea of what necessarily to look for but it was just whenever I came to the campus, I felt like it was where I needed to be.”

The traditional way of looking for schools involves applications, campus visits and information on scholarships. The search for a college athlete includes all this, but with many more visits and lots of regulations on the contact between coaches and recruits.

“The first step was to send in videos and a resume to each school, and then I talked to the coaches and went on visits,” said Karlyn Meyers, sophomore volleyball player at Texas Tech University. “Then I talked with my parents and looked at the pros and cons for each school.”

“There are all these stipulations like they can only call you once and then once you sign you can call them whenever,” Boulavsky said. “A lot of times they send out questionnaires about you to find out more about you.”

The biggest part of the search for an athlete is the visit to the school, just like it normally is for the average student. Athletes have to travel all over to visit the schools that they are being recruited by. Meyers and Boulavsky were recruited by schools across the country including Baylor, Texas Tech, Nebraska, Tennessee (Meyers), Northwestern, Miami, Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma (Boulavsky).

“Basically if you have an interest or they have an interest in you, you call them and they will come and watch you more and then you'll set up a visit,” Boulavsky said. “Sometimes they will point blank offer, sometimes they won't. I got lucky because I was offered on the spot.”

OU sophomore volleyball player Suzy Boulavsky talks about what was important for her in her college search and how the recruiting process works.

Some college athletes, like Meyers, have grown up with the dream of playing their sport at the collegiate level and beyond.

“I don’t think it was ever a decision I made; I just knew that was always what I was going to do,” Meyers said. “Since my mom played in college and I always excelled it was an easy decision. I couldn’t imagine NOT playing at this point.”

Others like Boulavsky discovered they had the ability to play at a higher level the more they played competitively.

I probably decided at the end of my freshman year,” Boulavsky said. “I never really was the type of person that looked far into the future growing up. I guess hearing, ‘Wow Suzy you're pretty good, you have this type of swing, the things a lot of coaches are looking for and you should look into it,’ made me want to pursue it. When people started telling me, ‘Suzy you can really do this,’ I was just like, ‘I'm going to.’"

In spite of the general similarities between students and student-athletes, Meyers and Boulavsky agree that the majority of people have the misconception that athletes have it easy in college.

“I just wish that people would understand that it's a job,” Boulavsky said. “It's not fun. What we do isn't fun anymore. It's what is paying us through college.”

“It is hard being a student-athlete because we have to juggle school, volleyball, and then if you find time, a social life,” Meyers said.

Isn't Recruiting Only For Athletes?

2009-10-25T20:34:00.004-05:00

Photo by: Luke McConnell

Jacobson Hall on the campus at the University of Oklahoma houses the university's recruitment services

You may think that only the athletes are the ones that get recruited for school. However, when you look at the process and the attention that you get as a prospective student, it is basically a recruiting process and it starts with your first impressions on campus.

Every single university has some sort of a prospective students’ center. These centers house many different resources that students can use on their college searches. These resources include information about the school, scholarship information, admissions information and campus tours.

“Members of the Recruitment Services team at OU assist students with their college search by providing information about admission, scholarship, housing and financial aid,” said Andy Roop, director of Prospective Student Services at the University of Oklahoma. “We also assist by providing information about the university as a whole, individual colleges and departments as well as student life.”

Campus tours are one of the more important things that a prospective student can do to get a good feel for a school. On a campus tour, you don’t only get to see the campus, but also get to hear about different amenities that the campus offers.

Photo by: Luke McConnell

Prospective students tour the campus at the University of Oklahoma

Rachel Tyrell is a tour guide at the University of Oklahoma.

“I feel like I play a major role in the recruitment process because most students do not know a lot about a campus until they actually come to do a tour, even if they have been here for football games,” Tyrell, a sophomore, said. “On the tour we not only show the campus but highlight resources and different aspects of the learning experience that is appealing to prospective students.”

Tyrell said that she feels a bit of pressure as a tour guide but tries to just let the character of the campus shine through on its own.

“I feel a little bit of pressure to impress the students because it is their first impression; but, at the same time, the University of Oklahoma's campus speaks for itself,” Tyrell said. “Our campus is gorgeous, and when going on a campus tour, OU has a sense of feeling at home.”

Tyrell said that it was important to go to a school that you enjoyed, but it is more important to go somewhere that will be of a benefit to you as a person, no matter what the campus looks like.

“I would tell a prospective student to go where they feel comfortable, where they will be challenged academically, and where they will have phenomenal opportunities to grow their leadership skills, community service opportunities, and grow as a person,” Tyrell said.

Some students choose to take the risk of going to a school without ever seeing the campus and going based solely on academics and reputation.

“I didn’t have the time to get away and take a college visit,” said University of Oklahoma freshman Tryston Walsh. “My family is a very busy family.”

Walsh said that although he didn’t visit OU before going there, things worked out well in a big way.

“I was in awe,” Walsh said of the first time he stepped on campus. “I was amazed by the architecture and how nice everything was. I think it is a beautiful campus.”

Walsh said that even though things worked out for him, he would not advise not visiting a school before deciding to attend it.

“It’s not a smart decision because you need to see what you’ve applied to,” Walsh said. “You need to know general information about your school before getting there.”

Roop says that he always pushes students to take campus tours.

“My advice is always - visit campus,” Roop said. “It is the best way for a prospective student to truly get a feel for the university they are thinking of attending. We will do our very best to provide a great campus visit for prospective students.”

College (Football) Traditions

2009-10-18T22:12:00.003-05:00

After a couple of weeks of advice and typical issues with college, we’re going to steer away from that and focus on some of the more fun things about the college experience. This week, we’re going to look at some of the great traditions of college football. I have personally experienced all of these traditions and feel that they are some of the better ones in the game today.

The 12^th Man- Texas A&M University

Nothing else says tradition like Texas A&M. They have more traditions than you can count. They even have a traditions council! According to their website, the 12^th Man originated in 1922 when a student was called out of the stands to suit up in case the Aggies ran out of players. E. King Gill never got into the game, but he stood on the sidelines the entire game, ready in case head coach Dana X. Bible needed him to play. The students adopted that policy of readiness and support as their mantra and today, the entire student section stands the entire game, no matter the score, in support of their Aggies. The entire story can be read here.

The Texas A&M students are very proud to take part in this tradition and continue to channel the “Spirit of Aggieland” at all times.

“The 12th Man symbolizes the Aggie spirit in such a way that no matter what, every Aggie is there for the team no matter the score, and we will always stand up and support our team,” said Mark Siegmund, sophomore and member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. “Being part of the 12th Man is one of the greatest experiences of my life; one that evokes a great amount of pride from you and truly shows you how Aggies bond together and yell for their team.”

Howard’s Rock- Clemson University

At Clemson University, players rub what looks to be an ordinary rock before running down a hill onto the field at Death Valley. But this is no ordinary rock. This rock was given to the Clemson head coach Frank Howard by a friend, S.C. Jones, who picked up the rock in Death Valley, California. Howard kept the rock in his office as a doorstep and one day told a Clemson booster to, "take this rock and throw it over the fence, or out in the ditch...do something with it, but get it out of my office."

The booster instead mounted it on a pedestal where the players ran down the hill prior to kickoff. Prior to running down the hill on the first game the rock was up there, Howard told his players: "If you're going to give me 110 percent, you can rub that rock. If you're not, keep your filthy hands off it." The story became legend among the Clemson faithful. The complete story can be read here.

While the rock is something that only football players touch and something that students dream of being able to do, it still inspires them every game knowing that the team is going to lay it all on the line for the victory.

“I think Howard's Rock is an important tradition for Clemson because it symbolizes a players ability, skill, heart and work ethic to reach that moment when they first get to rub the Rock and run down the hill,” said Matthew Patterson, sophomore at Clemson. “Not all players get to rub the rock and run down the hill but when that moment comes, 110% is all they will want to give. Every time after that the feeling returns again and again until it is instilled in the heart of every player forever.”

The traditional rubbing of the rock is part of the Clemson team entrance, which people have dubbed, “The most exciting 25 seconds in college football.”

The Red River Rivalry- University of Oklahoma vs. University of Texas

The Red River Rivalry is one of the most exciting and intense rivalries in college football today that pits two of the greatest programs to ever play the game. Played in the Cotton Bowl in the middle of the State Fair of Texas, this atmosphere is unmatched in terms of excitement. The rivalry began in 1900, but wasn’t moved to the Cotton Bowl as a permanent location until 1929. Since then, the rivalry has become famous with the famous split of colors at the 50-yard line. Half the stadium burnt orange, the other half crimson.

Kenny Mossman, senior associate Athletic Director for Communications and the University of Oklahoma says that the State Fair is the perfect venue to showcase this intense and special rivalry.

“The success of the programs, the geographic proximity of the two schools to each other and of course the atmosphere of the State Fair make this rivalry very special each and every year,” Mossman said.

OU students also treasure the atmosphere and the significance of being able to experience one of the greatest of college rivalries in one of the most historic stadiums in football history.

“For me it is the simple fact of tradition,” said Tyler Knowles, senior, University of Oklahoma. “Having two teams with such great tradition and backgrounds laying it all on the line at the Cotton Bowl every year. Some of the greatest college football players have played in this rivalry as well as coaches. Seeing the two teams running out of the tunnel, having the stadium split down the middle, half crimson and half burnt orange, and just seeing the animosity between the two schools makes it so special. There honestly is no greater rivalry in sports.”

This Week

2009-10-13T10:51:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone I hope you are having a great week so far! I just wanted to give you a heads up about this week's post. I'll be talking about college traditions and have some great shots and stories from the OU vs. Texas game this weekend. It's gonna be awesome so get excited!

My Personal Experience

2009-10-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

When I was looking at colleges, my family wasn’t in the best of financial situations. My dad was a student at Baylor University pursuing a PhD in New Testament in order to be a college professor. He made about $15,000 a year in that capacity. My mother has not held a job since I was born (I am the oldest child) and she did not intend to start then. My parents had done very smart investing throughout their marriage so we were not solely living off of my dad’s income by any means. However, college was a bit of a concern for us financially.

I did my part and filled out a FAFSA to apply for federal aid. However, because of my parents’ great investments, our gross family income was much higher than the $15,000 my dad made annually. My parents, particularly my mom, were very adamant about me pursuing scholarship opportunities. I applied for every scholarship through my high school that I was eligible for and also applied for several through the colleges I applied to and others that were recommended to me by my guidance counselor.

I received scholarships from both Baylor University and the University of Oklahoma. I did not receive anything from the University of Georgia however, because their scholarships are highly competitive due to an in state incentive program. I also received all of the scholarships that I applied for through my high school. With all of the money I received, my first semester of college was almost completely paid for. People are just waiting to give out money so that you can go to college. All you have to do is work at it so that you can find those opportunities and apply for them!

Fear Factor #3: Cost

2009-10-11T20:39:00.002-05:00

“Honey we just can’t afford it right now.”

No student ever wants to hear these words, especially if it involves the crushing of a dream that they have had since childhood; the dream of going to college and getting an education. This week, we’ll look at the cost of college and how to work around it so that you can pursue your dreams.

Every year, students across the country do not get the opportunity to attend college because it’s just too expensive. However, there are many ways to overcome these financial hardships.

“I think that anytime someone doesn’t come to college because of finances, it’s because of a lack of knowledge of what is there and what the options are,” said University of Oklahoma Bursar Max Hawkins.

Hawkins said that too many students look at their financial status and immediately get worried or scared about the prospect of paying for college and don’t fully research the options that are available.

“I think sometimes they get scared; they get scared of finances,” Hawkins said. “They are uninformed about finances and probably received some bad advice from people.”

These options that Hawkins speaks of stem from the all-important Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

“The first thing anyone should do when coming to college is fill out a FAFSA,” Hawkins said. “That is the number one starting spot. It doesn’t matter what your family income is, whether you think you’re going to be eligible for something or not, you should still fill it out. It’s free and it doesn’t obligate you to anything.”

Pam McConahay, Associate Director for Financial Aid at the University of Oklahoma said that federal financial aid has only been around since the 1950’s.

“They [the government] established the National Defense Student Loan in 1958,” McConahay said. “It was a result of the Russians launching Sputnik. The United States thought that we weren’t training our students well enough and having enough students going into engineering so they created that loan program to get more students going to school. Before that the only thing that they had was the GI Bill.”

McConahay said that scholarships are another great way to offset to expenses of college. There are a lot of them out there and many that apply to very specific groups of people.

“There are over 900 individual scholarship programs at the University of Oklahoma, some need based and some merit based,” McConahay said.

Students say that scholarships are definitely a huge help when it comes to offsetting the costs of college.

“The majority of the cost of college is covered by a scholarship I received,” said Tom Pedersen University of Oklahoma accounting sophomore. “My out-of-state tuition is waived, which makes coming to The University of Oklahoma much cheaper. What's not covered by scholarship, my parents pay for. I don't really have to worry too much about paying for college because my parents have been saving up for me to go to college for years. I'm mindful and grateful for their provision and try to keep my spending while I'm here down out of respect for them.”

Family saving is also a huge key as many parents anticipate this huge financial investment many years in advance.

“I get money from an account that my grandfather set up for me when I was younger,” said Lauren Jackson, University of Oklahoma social studies education sophomore. “It runs off stocks and bonds.”

The goal of the government is to have everyone in college who wants to be there. The funding is available; it’s just a matter of finding it and applying for it.

“It is never too late to apply for financial aid,” McConahay said. “There is always some funding left. It’s about making sure that people get an opportunity.”

They Said It. . .

2009-10-04T22:00:00.000-05:00

Some students sound off with advice about looking at school sizes

“Well I'd say that you should find a college you love first and then consider the size second. If you don’t absolutely love the school and everything it stands for first then the size wont matter; you're not going to enjoy it. But if you love the school then you will find your niche and the size wont matter whether it is big or small.”

-Lindsey North, sophomore, Texas A&M University

“Choose wisely and look beyond the campus size. Look at the community around it, teacher student ratio, and even how nice the campus and its accommodations are.”

-Kendall Sherrill, sophomore, Spartanburg Methodist University

“Don't let the size of a college bother you while looking at schools. Go where you want to go. If it happens to be a big school, then it will probably take some time getting used to, but if it's where you are supposed to be, with time, it will feel right.”

-Will McCarthy, sophomore, University of Texas

“If having personal relationships with your professors and faculty of your university, and having greater chances to get involved and stay involved is high on your priority list, then a smaller university is the best bet for you!”

-Lane West, sophomore, Oklahoma Christian University

“I would tell them to really take it on account of the university. See how each university goes about getting their students involved, and how the campus breaks down!”

-Abbie Adams, freshman, Texas A&M University

“I would suggest going wherever you feel most comfortable. Don't go for your friends or family, go for yourself. Whether you go to a big school or a small school, college is what you make of it. If you sit in your dorm all the time, that is what you are going to remember as your college experience.”

-Lindsey Provine, sophomore, Western Carolina University

“I would tell students to have a general idea of what they want (huge, tiny, etc.), but not to get too hung up on that. Visit a school to get an idea of it, rather than judging based on a number on a page. That can be misleading, so don't let it freak you out!”

- Aubrey Mowery, sophomore, University of Georgia

“I would recommend that you do your research on schools and then make an official campus visit to every school that you are interested in. You will then have chances to determine the feel of the size and environment of the schools.”

-Kevin Kirk, Director of Campus Visits, Baylor University

Fear Factor #2: School Size

2009-10-04T21:57:00.004-05:00

Last week we talked about the fear factor of distance. This week we turn our attention to another fear factor: size of the school.

Many students gripped by fear when they step onto a college campus for the first time. Normally that sense of fear is eased as they take their tour, but sometimes, that fear stays as they walk around campus more and more and more. Size definitely plays a big part in the initial mentality of a student and their evaluation of a school.

Kevin Kirk, Director of Campus Visits at Baylor University has this to say about size.

“The size of a school does factor in for most students,” Kirk said. “Although for the most part, it's not just the overall enrollment that is important. Students are also very interested in class sizes, faculty to student ratios, the number/choices of activities, and can they find a small group of friends that they can relate to.”

Kirk says that at Baylor, he and his staff try their best to show potential students what it really is like and don’t try to make the campus smaller or bigger than it actually is.

“We do our best to show what is really there and what it is really like to be a student at our school,” Kirk said. “The most important thing is for the student to get a realistic impression that will help them to make the right decision in school selection.”

Kirk said the best way to evaluate the schools that you are looking at is to visit each one of them in person and make a judgment call on size based on the environment. He also said to talk to current and former students.

“Talk to lots of current students at a school to get the ‘real story.’” Kirk said. “This will help to not be inaccurately swayed either way.”

The Bigness

According to fall 2008 enrollment numbers, The Ohio State University had the largest campus in the US with 53,715 students. Arizona State was second with 52,734 and the University of Florida was third with 51,413.

These are mind-boggling numbers for students who have maybe never been anywhere in their life where so many people are in one place at one time. It can be pretty overwhelming.

“It’s slightly overwhelming in the beginning, just because the campus is so big,” said Texas A&M freshman Abbie Adams.

As daunting as this may seem, many students feel that you can reduce the size of a college by simply discovering your niche.

“It was never really intimidating to look at big schools but whenever I got to UT, it was kind of intimidating,” said University of Texas sophomore Will McCarthy. “However, by the end of the first semester I found good groups of friends and organizations that made UT feel smaller and more like home.”

Some students such as Aubrey Mowery, sophomore at the University of Georgia, say that over time, you become used to the big school feel and it doesn’t seem as big.

“The campus seriously isn't that big,” Mowery said. “Wherever you go, you'll learn your way around quickly, whether it's a large campus or a small one. Also, it doesn't even feel like there are 33,000 or however many people on this campus. It feels so much smaller than that! I've gotten to know my group of friends and the student groups I'm involved in, and both of those have made the campus seem way smaller and more intimate.”

The Smallness

At the other end of the spectrum are the smaller schools. These schools have smaller campuses, smaller enrollments and a more intimate feel top to bottom.

“I absolutely love going to a smaller university,” said Oklahoma Christian sophomore Lane West. “We have just over 2100 students on campus, and surprisingly you know most everyone. OC is awesome in that they really stress getting to know the people in your class and the people you essentially are with everyday.”

Many students think that with the smaller enrollments, they get more of an education due to the relationships they develop not only with their fellow students, but also with their professors.

“You get help from teachers a lot more,” said Spartanburg Methodist sophomore Kendall Sherrill. “The teachers actually teach instead of lecture because the classrooms are smaller and they have time to explain questions that students have.”

“School seems easier,” said Western Carolina sophomore Lindsey Provine. “I have great relationships with my professors and they care and know about me.”

Big or small, there is a school out there for you. You just need to get out and find it.

They Said It. . .

2009-09-27T21:39:00.005-05:00

Some students sound off with advice on how to cope with distance in college

“My advice would be to find a school that's right for you based on what's most important to you. If you are thinking about going to a school far away take a step of faith and do it! You'll grow a lot from it and learn more about yourself.”

-Caitie Compton, religion sophomore, Baylor University, Murrieta, California

“If you really love the school that you’re going to go to, then get as involved as possible. Get in a bunch of clubs and continue to pursue the things you did in high school. Get as involved as possible because then you don’t think about being home or family because you’re always doing something.”

-Tim Marquis, meteorology junior, University of Oklahoma, Appleton, Wisconsin

“I would definitely encourage it because you can always go back home whenever you want. It’s a really growing experience. You grow up a lot because you have to be self dependent. Mom and dad aren’t there to solve your problems and that can only help you.”

-Kyle Burke, chemical engineering junior, University of Oklahoma, Thousand Oaks, California

“I would definitely get plugged in. Also you need to be open to friendships and not closed off to people. It sounds cliché but that’s what you need to do. Stick to your convictions as well.”

-Lindsay Lanthripe, early childhood education sophomore, University of Oklahoma, Diamond Bar, California

“I would say just make sure that there are people there that you can really connect with and build community with; people that are on the same page as you with the same desires and goals for life.

-Sammi Fuller, early childhood education sophomore, University of Oklahoma, Diamond Bar, California

Fear Factor #1: Distance

2009-09-27T21:13:00.004-05:00

One of the main dilemmas that students face when deciding on a college is distance away from home. Being far away from home can be a very taxing thing emotionally on some students.

“It can be really difficult to be that far away from your primary support group,” said Barton Turner, licensed psychologist and instructor of psychology at the University of Oklahoma. “If you come from a relatively intact and close family I think it can be difficult to be that far away. The physical separation can be hard.”

The main problem with distance from home is that there is not a set formula or standard for how the human mind will respond to being so far away from the primary support group. It is entirely dependent upon the personality and nature of an individual.

“I think it’s something you have to know yourself well enough to know if that’s something that you might be able to tolerate,” said Turner. “I think there are some people that are independent minded enough and their personality could go across the country and go to school. They’ll have some adjustment problems for sure. Then there are some people who need to stay fairly close for how they are wired.”

For those that are not well suited for going a great distance away from home for school but do it anyway, a vicious cycle develops. Not being surrounded by a strong social network cause students to withdraw into themselves, which causes them to feel lonelier, says Turner.

“As you feel socially isolated, people will isolate themselves further, so they don’t pursue opportunities,” said Turner. “It’s a cycle that leaves you feeling pretty depressed.”

However, as sad and depressing as this sounds, loneliness can certainly be avoided for those who are going far away from home for college. Enter Sammi Fuller and Lindsay Lanthripe.

Sammi (above, in glasses) and Lindsay, sophomores at the University of Oklahoma, are from Diamond Bar, California and have been best friends since birth. They live around the corner from each other, were home-schooled together and attended the same high school.

Upon graduation, both decided to attend the University of Oklahoma. Of course, it was for the same reason.

“When my brother at OU, he was a part of a ministry on campus, the Baptist Student Union, and I really wanted to be a part of it too to get trained so that I could grow in my walk with God,” said Lindsay.

“I would come with Lindsay to visit her brother and when we came, we would stay with older girls in the dorms and I just loved living in the dorms and getting to see how they related to girls and what they were living for,” said Sammi. “I really wanted to receive spiritual training in college and I felt that the Baptist Student Union could give that to me.”

Lindsay and Sammi say that it was hard at times to be away from their friends and family their freshman year but making friends really made things fun and easy to adjust.

“It’s hard because I’m playing this balancing act like when I’m at home I love it and miss my friends here and when I’m here I miss my friends at home and my family,” said Lindsay.

““Last year was really hard but was also fun cause we got to know our friends’ families and we could go home with them,” said Sammi.

No matter what the case, everyone is going to experience some sort of adjustment pains. It’s true of students who stay close to home and especially of those that come to school from far away. The biggest key to getting through that time period is to surround yourself with people like yourself that you can share life with.

“I would say just make sure that there are people there that you can really connect with and build community with; people that are on the same page as you with the same desires and goals for life,” said Sammi.

They Said It. . .

2009-09-20T21:25:00.001-05:00

“Yeah the economy kept me looking at colleges in-state instead of going out of state.”

-Cooper Duncan, mechanical engineering freshman, University of Oklahoma

“I don’t pay for my own schooling and I am the fifth of five children who have all gone to college before me. Therefore, my father has shoveled out a lot of money to let us go to college and be educated. With the economy in shambles and tuition rising, it creates stress on him. It’s stress on him that I feel is caused by me. But it just helps me appreciate him more as a dad.”

-Amanda Lambert, economics sophomore, University of Oklahoma

“Well the economy didn’t really affect me because I got scholarships and my parents’ income was at least decent enough.”

-Luke Brigan, electrical engineering freshman, University of Oklahoma

“The economy didn’t affect me at all in coming, but I do know a lot of people that had to go to community colleges.”

-Blake Corgan, University College freshman, University of Oklahoma

"Demand for a Baylor education continues to be strong. Not only did Baylor enroll a near-record number of freshmen this fall (second only to last year), the University also received a record number of applications — somewhere in the neighborhood of 31,000 high school seniors last year applied. And the continued growth has not hurt the class of 2013’s academic quality, either; officials reported an increase in the freshman class’ academic index, which measures a combination of class rank and SAT/ACT scores. Perhaps more exciting is the continued growth in minority enrollment; a record 35% of first-year students are minorities, up from last year’s record 31%. Over the past four years, minority enrollment among freshmen has increased 62%, making Baylor the second-most diverse school in the Big 12!”

-Baylor Proud Blog

“We have not seen an adverse affect at this point. Student discretionary spending in my opinion likely will be impacted given the possibility of limited or reduced available family resources. Meaning fewer trips home for visits, clothes shopping, eating out, ect…”

“I believe this recession has had an affect everyone. But to your question, I think some families of juniors and seniors in high school might be or have been reconsidering there list of potential universities, and might opt for schools closer to home or even Community Colleges as a short-term alternative. As the economy begins to stabilize and recover in 2010, we could see a change. I think if you were an upper-class student who was not performing well academically or on academic probation, you might reconsider at this point in your pursuit of your education.”

-Chris Krause, Assistant Vice President of Campus Services, Baylor University

College and the Recession

2009-09-20T21:17:00.003-05:00

The United States is in the worst recession since the Great Depression and no one is more affected in an indirect way than high school students who are looking at heading off to college after graduating.

“Students and parents face the worst economy in a generation as they begin the college search process,” said US News editor Brian Kelly in a video on the magazine’s website.

The initial group to be dramatically affected by the economy has been the college class of 2013, the new freshmen in colleges across the country. While older students at colleges and universities have been affected, this class was in the search and application process when the worst of the recession was happening.

“My parents told me that my dad had lost his job and if I was going to go out of state for school then I would have to get more scholarship money than originally planned,” said Walter St. Denis, energy management freshman at the University of Oklahoma. “Thankfully I was able to get some help.”

While other freshmen weren’t affected personally by the economy, they knew friends and relatives who were. There are not many college students who do not know someone who has had to find an alternate route to school.

“One of my friends got a big scholarship to OSU [Oklahoma State University] but had to go to TCC [Tulsa Community College] due to the economy,” said Cooper Duncan, mechanical engineering freshman at the University of Oklahoma.

Those that are able to come to college without a second thought are definitely lucky and blessed to be in that position. Many people are of the opinion that school is the best place to be during the recession because there is really no point in looking for jobs that do not exist.

“With the economy down, it’s actually the best time to be in school because you don’t want to be out looking for a job,” said Barrett Powers, political science sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. “If you can afford to be in school, you should stay in as long as you can.”

University employees also feel the pressure of the economy as it cuts budgets and restricts what each college within the university can do. Chris Borthick, academic advisor at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma says they suffer right along with the students without going to class.

“The thing about all this [the recession] is that every college is hit with the problems as well because our budgets are reduced, so we are hit in our own way,” said Borthick.

The recession has taken a turn for the better and economists and the general public hope that things get better in the near future. However, many people still feel that there is reason to be cautious and frugal with money.

“We’re still in a recession and it’s very likely we could all have to go back,” said Blake Corgan, University College freshman at the University of Oklahoma. “My dad could lose his job at any time.”

Let's Hit the Road!

2009-09-16T14:14:00.002-05:00

Alrighty everyone, let's get started. Those pictures I posted were part of a class assignment and really don't have anything to do with college searches. But they were fun to do and talk about so check those out if you want!

I found this video today from US News and World Reports about America's best colleges. Check it out! It's got some great information. There are also several other videos below it that you should look at as well. I'll probably look at some of them at another time.

2009-09-13T20:47:00.003-05:00

PWOP- My faith is very important to me. It is the driving force behind everything I do and how I live my life. This verse here, James 5:16, is the verse that I am currently memorizing. It talks about being accountable to one another about things that are going on in your life. It says that by doing this, you will become closer to these people that you share life with because you have an understanding of what they are going through in their life and you can give them help based on scripture as to what they should do to correct a problem or go about a situation.

2009-09-09T12:05:00.004-05:00

SOP- This is a picture I took at the University of Oklahoma football season opener against BYU. Our seats were in the upper corner of Cowboys Stadium so you can see the whole field and the massive screens in the background.