Chance me? Also, 3-2 program??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
1

I am going into my senior year in high school, and was trying to get a final opinion on my chances.

GPA: 3.6/4 unweighted, 4.6/6 weighted
ACT: 33 (Math - 31, English - 35, Reading - 32, Science - 35, Writing - 34)
SAT: 1330/1600 (Read/Write - 680, Math - 650)
SAT II: Math II (620) and Physics (690)
APs taken: AP US History (5), AP Physics 1 (2) and 2 (3), AP Human Geography (4), AP English Literature (3)
APs will take: AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science A, AP Physics C E+M and Mechanics, AP English Language
Class Rank: Top 17% (73 of 445), but at a nationally-ranked school. #1 Public School in Ohio.
I can get solid recommendation notes (my physics teacher is a Georgia Tech alum and holds the President’s award for science teachers or something elite like that)

Played JV baseball 9th-10th grade
Have been a part of 5 musicals (4 acting, 1 crew) and 1 drama at my high school
Won a local award for “Best Supporting Actor” in my school drama
A part of a national festival, the Cincinnati Fringe Festival, as an actor in the FringeNEXT program
Holds positions in 2 volunteer groups, Unified for Uganda and Modern Abolitionists Movement
A part of an after-school acapella club, For Good Measure.
Has an official job with a company
Tutors and is a teacher’s assistant/student worker

Also, has anyone here tried out the 3-2 program at Oberlin? That’d be really the only reason why I’d go there. I want to be a Civil Engineer, but also want to be open to liberal arts education. I’ve talked to the 3-2 program head and will probably meet with him soon.

2

I think you have a great chance!

3

Not specific to Oberlin, but a lot of students who start college intending to do a 3:2 program end up NOT doing so. There are a number of reasons, but as best I can tell the most common one is that once they’re involved and engaged with people and activities at the ‘3’ school they lose interest in moving on to the ‘2’ school (before their classmates/friends graduate). If you’re interested in this program at Oberlin you’d be well-served asking someone in the know how many kids have actually completed the program – It might turn out to be a very small number, which should tell yu something. If you do matriculate to Oberlin (or anywhere else) with the intent of doing one of these 3:2 programs it’s important to get connected immediately with that school’s 3:2 adviser, as early curriculum planning (as to complete all the requirements) is crucial.

So, that all said, you may want to look at some schools that have good engineering programs as well as decent liberal arts (these schools do exist). Good luck.