Chance me for Oberlin

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
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<p>International. Chinese.</p>

<p>SAT 2050 CR 650 Math 780 W 680 (Do I need to retake it?)</p>

<p>SAT II to be taken in Oct. Hopefully I will get two 800s in Physics and Math II</p>

<p>AP taken: Microecon PhysicsB Calc AB all 5s
to be taken: stat chemistry Physics C Macroecon</p>

<p>GPA I don't know what I am going to get cuz I am in China, everything is not standardized yet..so.. but I know I ranked probably top 10</p>

<p>I got straight A's in every class I took except Calc AB. I am not coming along with my Math teacher even though every Chinese student is supposed to be great in Math.</p>

<p>IELTS 7.0</p>

<p>ECs Volunteering at Hospital (4 years)</p>

<p>Leader of a research club on local places of interest to be protected (4 years)</p>

<p>Director of serveral plays</p>

<p>Cover designer of school publications</p>

<p>Plays badminton[Does that count?]</p>

<p>Spanish Club (3rd language)</p>

<p>Honors English Olympic Contest (National) First Prize</p>

<p>SAT Contest(Regional) 4th [Crazy...]</p>

<p>Best English Debater [Should I put it here or in the ACTIVITIES section?]</p>

<p>Full Scholarship provided by school</p>

<p>My activities are not so strong but believe me, I would have more if only I had the chance. I really want to show this in my essays but I haven't found a good point to start yet. Any advice?</p>

<p>Essays I am working on that. One question on the common app. Is it necessary to boast yourself in the essays or just show them who you are since the awards are listed? Also, what do I need to focus on when I work on the Why Oberlin essay..</p>

<p>Teacher Recs Two fabulous recommendation letters, one from my Econ teacher and on from my physics teacher. I know they love me. I am the only one who participates in physics class so.</p>

<p>I really love Oberlin applying for ed and maybe FA?
I am applying for art and science college..</p>

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<p>bump …anyone?</p>

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<p>Do you have to take the SAT IIs for Oberlin? My D2 did not take SAT IIs and she was admitted to several LACs. She’s a soph at Oberlin. A lot of colleges don’t require SATIIs, including some very good colleges. Others will accept the ACT with writing section and you don’t have to take any of the SATs, I or II. I just read article that said there are now as many students in the U.S. taking the ACT as there are taking the SATs.</p>

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<p>My daughter was admitted with just the ACT with writing section. She did not submit SATs to any of the schools to which she applied. My recollection is that there are a few schools that do want SAT IIs if you submit the SAT instead of the ACT, but most seem not to require them. On the other hand, if you really expect to do well on the SAT IIs, it doesn’t hurt.</p>

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<p>I just thought it would help.
after all, there will always be schools that require sat II on my list.
so i will take it anyway.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure how difficult international admissions is but your stats are well in line with those admitted. I would say the college is a match, perhaps even a bit of a safety. Oberlin (like most schools) care more about your SATs/GPA than anything else and you have a great shot at getting in! </p>

<p>I think Ohio will be a pretty big culture shock though.</p>

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<p>It’s true that all the Ivies require at least one SAT II, if you’re interested in those schools. Although, two of Cornell University’s undergraduate colleges do not require an SAT II. Their other undergrad divisions/colleges do require them.</p>

<p>But LACs like Swarthmore, Wesleyan, Oberlin and Amherst do not require them. </p>

<p>It’s funny because my D had no interest in any school that required an SAT II. She decided she didn’t want to “go through all that” when she could probably get accepted by a top LAC without additional test-taking.</p>

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<p>"Although, two of Cornell University’s undergraduate colleges do not require an SAT II. "</p>

<p>To expand on/clarify this a bit:</p>

<p>The College of Architecture, Art & Planning requires an SAT subject test for prospective Architecture students, which constitute the large majority of applicants to that college, just not for the other majors there (eg art). </p>

<p>For the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, the university states, “SAT Subject Tests recommended in a science and in mathematics”. IMO It is most often the case that when a selective college states something is “recommended” you would be best served to provide it, providing the scores are not horrible. Perhaps applicants to one of the less science oriented programs there (eg development sociology), who have submitted ACT only, can skirt by with little jeopardy, not sure.</p>

<p>All the other colleges there require at least one SAT subject test. The specifics vary by college. Perhaps these posted requirements have changed from past requirements, or have been waived/ modified in some cases, don’t know.</p>

<p><a href=“http://admissions.cornell.edu/forms/FreshmanRequirementsChart.pdf[/url]”>http://admissions.cornell.edu/forms/FreshmanRequirementsChart.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Swarthmore, Wesleyan, and Amherst all require that applicants who submit SAT I scores must also submit scores from two SAT IIs (unless they’ve also taken the ACT). Some other top LACs, like Haverford, require at least one. (That’s why I ended up taking them… there’s a beautiful Saturday morning I’ll never get back!)</p>

<p>OP, if you’re going to be taking the SAT IIs anyway, and if you do well on them, sending those additional scores to Oberlin can’t possibly hurt your application.</p>

<p>I don’t know much about international admissions, so I won’t try to estimate your chances, but it looks like your stats are in the right ballpark. Oberlin places a lot of emphasis on the “why Oberlin?” essay – they like to see students who really understand Oberlin’s history and campus culture, not just our academic reputation. As an international student it won’t be a big deal if you can’t visit campus, but the [Oberlin</a> blogs](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu%5DOberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu), [Oberlin</a> stories](<a href=“http://stories.oberlin.edu/]Oberlin”>http://stories.oberlin.edu/), and [Facebook</a> community](<a href=“http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=114745808655&ref=ts]Facebook”>http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=114745808655&ref=ts) for prospective students are all great ways to get a more informal feel for the school and the students.</p>

<p>Applying ED is a great choice if you’re 100% committed to going to Oberlin, but the FA situation can be tricky both for students who apply ED and for international students. I’d spend a lot of time reviewing [these</a> materials](<a href=“http://www.oberlin.edu/admissions/college/finances/international.shtml]these”>http://www.oberlin.edu/admissions/college/finances/international.shtml), and contact the Office of Financial Aid if you’re thinking about applying ED – they can give you an estimated aid award before you apply.</p>

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<p><a href=“That’s%20why%20I%20ended%20up%20taking%20them…%20there’s%20a%20beautiful%20Saturday%20morning%20I’ll%20never%20get%20back!”>quote=quaere</a>

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<p>I had a friend who was walking from his dorm to the Engineering Auditorium where he was going to take the LSAT when he decided that it was just too beautiful a day to take a standardized test. So he didn’t become a lawyer, but he landed on his feet forming a highly successful Internet company. He’s no Mark Cuban or Jeffrey Bezos, but he knows where his next meal’s coming from. That said, it might be a much riskier play to make that kind of decision before college.</p>

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<p>You are correct. I forgot that the kids I know who did not do SAT IIs for those LACs took the ACT. Same thing for Cornell’s Ag College. I know someone who was admitted without an SAT II. </p>

<p>But am I wrong about Oberlin? That SATIIs are not required? Isn’t Oberlin SAT I OR ACT with writing segment? If true, and if Oberlin is the OP’s first choice and he/she wants to apply ED, why bother with the SAT IIs? They may not hurt, but if Oberlin is where the OP wants to be and he/she is admitted, they are spared “a beautiful Saturday morning I’ll never get back,” to quote quaere.</p>

<p>Personally, I think the ACT is a better test anyway.</p>

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<p>No, you’re right that Oberlin doesn’t require them. If Oberlin is the OP’s first choice and they decide to apply ED, they don’t need to submit the SAT IIs here. But if they apply ED to Oberlin without having taken the SAT IIs, and then get rejected and want to apply to other schools that do require SAT IIs, they wouldn’t have time to take the tests before RD applications are due – they’d basically be disqualified from applying to those schools.</p>

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<p>I did not realize that Oberlin was one of the LACs with optional SAT subject tests. Because most of the very selective LACs require at least two, I assumed that Oberlin was the same. Here in California, most students do take the subject tests as they are required for admission for the UC system, even for students who take the ACT. However, they are dropping this requirement after this upcoming admission’s cycle.</p>

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<p>I think Ohio will be a pretty big culture shock though. …</p>

<p>Like what? I am quite interested to learn about that.</p>

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<p>Makes sense to me. Kids are way too over-tested. I think it’s ridiculous. Colleges buy into the ideas advanced by firms looking to make money. I used to work in Minneapolis. To get a MANAGEMENT job with a big firm in Minneapolis-St. Paul is close to impossible without being going through all sorts of testing with local firms like PDI, Martin McAllister, etc. The Twin Cities has so many out of work PhDs that start their consulting firms, and sell their ideas for testing to companies, it is just ridiculous. Interestingly, I’ve never been subjected to testing to secure a management position on the East Coast. Why is it necessary in Minneapolis and St. Paul but entirely unnecessary in New York or Philadelphia? It doesn’t make sense. Just like all these college tests. What exactly does an SAT/ACT measure anyway? They are lousy at measuring success in the college classroom, if I and my college-aged kids are valid examples.</p>

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<p>First of all, Ohio is a very big state. Depending on the area of Ohio, you may experience what it’s like in the midwest or you may experience a bit of Southern culture. Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus are big cities with big city problems, pleasures and dangers. Other parts of the state are rural. There are farms in Ohio. Lots and lots of farms. It all depends on where you are. Ohio, like most large states bordering different regions, can’t be painted with a broad brush. </p>

<p>Oberlin is a small town. Very small. Tiny. It wouldn’t exist without Oberlin College. Most of Ohio, including Lorain County, Oberlin’s location, is flat. This isn’t Colorado or New England. Forget big mountains and think flat prarie and a tiny town. That’s the culture shock someone else mentioned. However, you are not far from Cleveland, if you care to venture to the city on occasion. Oberlin is about a 35 minute drive from Cleveland, and about 2 1/2 hours from Pittsburgh. That said, the tiny town of Oberlin has pretty much everything you might need as a college student. The one ironic exception is the lack of a music store. One would think there would be a music store in a town with a world class conservatory. My wife, a pianist, couldn’t believe it. If there is one, I’ve yet to find it.</p>

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<p>No music store…
I thought there would be plenty…
Some website boasted that Oberlin students get to listen to 500 world class concerts, which is why I like it in the first place.</p>

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<p>Alas, music stores are a thing of the past. Very few people buy music (whether recorded music or sheet music) in stores anymore. It’s all online.</p>

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<p>Perhaps, but many still buy instruments in music stores.
Problem, here is,the con students already come packing their own.</p>

<p>Probably a decent guitar & roots music store (selling reasonably-priced stuff)could do some business there, but I guess there just aren’t enough bodies in the area to make it cost-effective.</p>

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<p>Exactly. Just this week my D was looking for an accessory for her instrument. I had to order the accessory for next day delivery, which cost a relative fortune (more than the accessory). It would’ve been much better if she could’ve walked into a local music store and purchased the part. There are situations in which a local music store would come in very handy, especially for students who are musically inclined but not in the conservatory, like my D.</p>