Possible Move to Norman (Tulsa, Edmond: relocate, apartment, income)

[ncps]

Recently accepted to grad school at OU. I haven't decided I'll be attending yet, but it's in my final three. Admittedly, I know very little about the area. I've been doing some Internet research on my own; of course, that only tells you but so much. A few questions:

1. Housing. Most of the listings I've looked at suggest that I can get a fairly nice 1-BR apartment for around $500. Is that accurate, and are many of these within walking distance of OU? I'd love walking to campus (or a short bus ride) if possible.

If anyone can actually recommend any complexes for me to check out when I visit, that'd be great.

2. Crime. The brief research I did suggests that it isn't that much of a problem. Fair to say? There are knuckleheads everywhere to be sure, but it sounds like Norman's a safe place.

3. I gather that Norman is your fairly typical college town in the South/Midwest. A town where life revolves around the university, and relatively liberal in an otherwise conservative area. Accurate? It won't affect my decision, it's just something I'm curious about.

I live in North Carolina, so there's a little hesitation in moving all the way out to Oklahoma. That being said, it sounds like a great area with great people the more I learn.

[StillwaterTownie]

I don't think Norman is liberal, certainly not in the same sense as Stillwater where there is more liberal type activism concentrated than in Norman. Further, as Oklahoma goes, so does Stillwater, but Norman overall in the elections goes more often to the Republican side. For instance, Brad Henry won Stillwater in his first governor's election. In Norman, he lost.

[Nameless]

Norman as a whole isn't liberal, but I'd assume the area around the university is as liberal as Oklahoma gets. "Don't Edmond my Norman"....says enough.

[#1soonerfan]

Originally Posted by Nameless

Norman as a whole isn't liberal, but I'd assume the area around the university is as liberal as Oklahoma gets. "Don't Edmond my Norman"....says enough.

HA HA! I remember seeing that bumper sticker. I guess its our adaptation of "Keep Austin Weird"

NCPS, each person has different needs from their school, but I think you will enjoy coming to OU. I am now in my senior year (about to be a SUPER senior) and I love it here. The campus is beautiful, I would suggest you look at the many pics of campus posted on here. OU is its 6th year or so of a massive building boom, so there are lots of new facilities coming online. Its very tech-savvy. For example, nearly every building having wireless internet, with plans to make the whole campus covered by wireless access, so you can sit out the south oval with your starbucks and surf the net on your laptop. SWEET!!

In all seriousness, the OU prez David Boren has been recruiting top faculty from the more prestigious colleges in the US. My financial markets prof is from Notre Dame and my Geology prof is from Stanford. So if they gave up their gigs there to come to little ole Oklahoma you know something special is here. The political makeup of Norman in general is a definite mix of liberal college town in the middle and conservative/libertarian suburb on the outskirts. So theres something for everyone. Norman is VERY safe! The most common crime around here is public intox. As far as rents are concerned, Norman is dirt-cheap. There are numerous older homes just north and west of campus that have been converted into duplexes, triplexes, etc. that rent from $300 and up that would easily be in walking distance to campus. One thing though. I would still have a car, as most stores and businesses are not "walkable" from that area. Check out http://www.normantranscript.com/ and look at their classified ads to get a better feel of rent rates.

Oh and one, thing, I'm sure you already know this. Norman and OU revolve around football. Every home game, Norman fills up with tens of thousands of rabid Sooner fans. I don't know if thats your thing, but I have to admit it draws you in. You will be screaming BOOMER SOONER within weeks of being here. I always have a blast (just as long as the win!)

I hope this answers your questions. I think the best way to get a feel for OU is to see it. OU was at the bottom of my list until I actually came for a visit. BTW what are you planning to study?

[GradSchoolStudent]

Hey! Looks like I found the right place to chat and meet Oklahomans. My name is Sky and I got accepted into OU myself. Currently I live in Wichita, and am of course having to relocate to OU. Making the decision of OU over KU was the toughest decisions in my life so far, but as a Ronald McNair Scholar OU is giving me in-state tuition...

Anyway, I am as well looking over my options of:
1. Accepting the choice of living/Grad School at Tulsa
2. Accepting the choice of Norman/the home campus

What advice would you give me based on affordability/the housing market, which is my major concern? I do have a house-trained lapdog named Mia, who is a Schneagle (half Schnauzer, half Beagle). I literally saved her life and she has saved mine, won't give her up for anything....

My Major is Social Work, got into the Advanced Study Program of Child Welfare, which is another consideration of work placement/Internship-
Ok City/Norman or Tulsa?

Thanks in advance!

~Sky
SkylarLoves@Gmail.com

[Amazonchix]

I suppose it comes down to what you would like to do with your masters in social work? Are you wanting to work at a hospital, state agency or with a local agency??? Income level and the availability of rapid advancement depends on what you see your self doing. Also, Tulsa is more liberal than the Norman area.

[ncps]

Originally Posted by #1soonerfan

I hope this answers your questions. I think the best way to get a feel for OU is to see it. OU was at the bottom of my list until I actually came for a visit. BTW what are you planning to study?

Thanks for the info. Very helpful. Studying political science...hope to make it out there in the next two weeks or so for a visit.