<p>Wondering if anyone has any insight or experience with the academic advising system at Oberlin. I think that in general this is an underutilized resource at colleges and generally requires the student to be very proactive in order to get the most out of it. That is fine, but not all students are that confident, especially when they first arrive on campus. However I think having a mentor to help question, advise, and ultimately help the student explore what is to offer at a brand new institution cannot be underestimated. Do Oberlin professors take this responsibility seriously or not? Do they view it as an important part of their job or not?</p>
<p>I’ll tell you my junior D’s experience: She received a history advisor as a freshman, based on her “interests” as she wrote them in her application. Advisor was adequate, but it was her first semester freshman courses that really steered her to her “mentor.” (She is no longer a history major). She now has an advisor in her major and it has been great. She is in a small department, but feels completely comfortable approaching all the professors. She’s recently been offered a great summer internship, and the guy who hired her specifically mentioned how personal her recommendations from the professors were. </p>
<p>There have also been a couple of classes where D struggled, and the professors were very supportive. In one case, he required her to meet with him weekly (she was not happy). In another, he arranged for tutoring and study group support.</p>
<p>I think Oberlin is a place where the professors are very invested in seeing their students succeed. It’s a culture where that really encourages students to explore their interests, and professors are happy to oblige in this. My kid is not particularly “proactive” but she has certainly felt comfortable at Oberlin to develop what seem to be very close relationships with her professors.</p>