University of Tulsa/ Tulsa area (Temple, Okay: high school, live in, restaurants) - Oklahoma (OK) - City-Data Forum

stuckunderwheels · 03-28-2010, 08:42 AM

I live in Maine, and I have lived here my entire life. I am a senior in high school, and I am considering going to the University of Tulsa in the fall. This is huge decision for me, and I want to make the right one. I've done research on what the school is like, but I would like to know more about the people. Are they friendly? Opinionated? Rude? etc. I would also like to know more about the city itself. Are there always thing going on? Lots of stuff to do? How is it different from the New England way of life? If you could help me out, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

teakboat · 03-28-2010, 10:59 AM

It is a good quality school, with friendly people. Tulsa is a somewhat conservative, very sane, medium sized city. Somewhat more refined than what you might have expected. A rather pretty city with some wealth in areas. The "culture shock" will not be too great I don't think.

stuckunderwheels · 03-28-2010, 11:21 AM

Okay, thank you. My parents seem to think that it would be a major "culture shock" for me, but I really don't think it would be that bad.

TulsaArtist · 03-29-2010, 08:12 AM

I don't know what the New England way of life is like so can't honestly put up a comparison. But for Tulsas size, it has a lot of great attractions, history, and things to do,,, and the next few years are gonna see things dramatically improve as our downtown revitalization efforts begin to kick into full gear.

rja1969 · 03-29-2010, 07:13 PM

hey stuckunderthewheels

my niece is from buffalo ny and is also considering TU I have lived in maine and my mom family is from MDI. I lived in Tulsa for 5 years and now live back in NY. You will find the people as a whole a little more conservative in Tulsa... you have big money like in NE but you do not see the new bohemian lifestyle i saw alot of in maine. i would think tulsa people are little more similar to tulsans then say metro boston. lastly were are you from in maine and what are thinking of majoring in at TU. it is a great school top 100 ranking nationally

rja1969 · 03-29-2010, 07:35 PM

sorry i missed the portland zip code...i will try to post some links and things to do in the area just give me an idea of what you are into so i do not waste your time.. i think you will find that something is always going on in tulsa and at TU

Bass&Catfish2008 · 03-29-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuckunderwheels

I live in Maine, and I have lived here my entire life. I am a senior in high school, and I am considering going to the University of Tulsa in the fall. This is huge decision for me, and I want to make the right one. I've done research on what the school is like, but I would like to know more about the people. Are they friendly? Opinionated? Rude? etc. I would also like to know more about the city itself. Are there always thing going on? Lots of stuff to do? How is it different from the New England way of life? If you could help me out, I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

It will be what you make of it. If you have a positive attitude and you're nice to folks I can guarantee you that Okies are some of the nicest folks on the block.

As for the culture shock, yes you're coming from NE to the South-Central United States. It's not going to be anything that you can't handle or get used to, but there will be some semblance of Southern dialect/culture, heightened conservatism, and Evangelical leaning attitudes by-in-large. (I can say this with a measure of authority as I was born&raised in Oklahoma and lived in New England for a little bit.)

Either way, you'll be fine. Treat folks with respect and you'll certainly get it back.

Good luck with your decision and Blessings.

stuckunderwheels · 04-01-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rja1969

sorry i missed the portland zip code...i will try to post some links and things to do in the area just give me an idea of what you are into so i do not waste your time.. i think you will find that something is always going on in tulsa and at TU

I like to run outside, so if there are some trails/paths that would be ideal. I would to go see some rock shows. I like to go out to eat; Italian food is my favorite. If I were to go there, I would probably want to go see all the attractions like the zoo and stuff like that.

Goodpasture · 04-03-2010, 01:17 PM

You are going to find Tulsa a pleasant surprise. People here will be overwhelmingly friendly.....to the extent that you will (initially) be suspicious as to what they want. You will learn, however, that when people ask "how are you" they really do care; that when a stranger in the supermarket starts talking with you, that they aren't necessarily hitting on you, when they hold a door for you that they are simply being nice, not trying to get something from you or trying to put you down.

You will rarely find good seafood. Usually it is frozen and is mediocre at best, although there are two nice fish markets in Tulsa that have really fresh fish, it is quite a bit more expensive (I saw lobster the other day at $18.00+/- a pound, and when I was on Cape Cod in January I could get it for $7.00).

You will find beef is as good as it gets. Fried foods are the standard fare, although there are starting to be restaurants that are becoming "innovative' (meaning they are doing what California and New York did 8 years ago).

There are several places to run, play, or ride bikes. If you like fresh water fishing you will find an incredible supply of warm water lakes (think in terms of bass and crappie instead of trout, salmon, or walleye) with lots of water based recreation (wave boards, boating, sailing, swimming etc)

The school is excellent. Young men and women are attractive (check out how many Okies in the list of Miss America's over the past 50 years). Being lonely or alone is a choice you make...........

Oh yeah........politically the area is conservative. Remember, our Democrats are more conservative than your Republicans. The great majority of people claim to be Christian and/or affiliated with a protestant church......these are frequently lip service Christians so don't expect them to be much, if any different than what you are accustomed to. Catholicism is a minority. There are a few wiccan/pagan groups around, a Bhuddist Temple, and a vibrant Muslim community.

stuckunderwheels · 04-03-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

You are going to find Tulsa a pleasant surprise. People here will be overwhelmingly friendly.....to the extent that you will (initially) be suspicious as to what they want. You will learn, however, that when people ask "how are you" they really do care; that when a stranger in the supermarket starts talking with you, that they aren't necessarily hitting on you, when they hold a door for you that they are simply being nice, not trying to get something from you or trying to put you down.

You will rarely find good seafood. Usually it is frozen and is mediocre at best, although there are two nice fish markets in Tulsa that have really fresh fish, it is quite a bit more expensive (I saw lobster the other day at $18.00+/- a pound, and when I was on Cape Cod in January I could get it for $7.00).

You will find beef is as good as it gets. Fried foods are the standard fare, although there are starting to be restaurants that are becoming "innovative' (meaning they are doing what California and New York did 8 years ago).

There are several places to run, play, or ride bikes. If you like fresh water fishing you will find an incredible supply of warm water lakes (think in terms of bass and crappie instead of trout, salmon, or walleye) with lots of water based recreation (wave boards, boating, sailing, swimming etc)

The school is excellent. Young men and women are attractive (check out how many Okies in the list of Miss America's over the past 50 years). Being lonely or alone is a choice you make...........

Oh yeah........politically the area is conservative. Remember, our Democrats are more conservative than your Republicans. The great majority of people claim to be Christian and/or affiliated with a protestant church......these are frequently lip service Christians so don't expect them to be much, if any different than what you are accustomed to. Catholicism is a minority. There are a few wiccan/pagan groups around, a Bhuddist Temple, and a vibrant Muslim community.

Okay, thank you for the information. I'm not really a seafood kind of person. I also rarely eat beef and almost never eat fried foods. I'm not into fishing, but the water-based recreation sounds fun. Since I'm not religious at all, do you think the people who are religious are going to try to shove their beliefs down my throat, or would they be understanding?