<p>D who is a junior has looked at Amherst. I have suggested that she look at OBerlin. Hadn't even thought that people think about them in the same breath. She isn't interested in being in a city. Likes the idea of a town. She does march to the beat of her own drummer or sax as I should say but doesn't intend to major in music. Sh eis interested in biology ( possibly genetic research or optometry) but she also isn't shying away from art history. We have relatives in the Oberlin area and also the Wellington area thoug we are south of the Columbus area. At this point she likes the feel of Miami of Ohio. I cannot see her at Amherst because of distance but can see her at Oberlin. She is getting ready for SAT in a few weeks and is taking AP bio and AP english III this year as well as CP/Honors classes. Hey Oblerin has Casa Fiesta............. a great mexican rest. with excellent food and margaritas.................... but that is mom saying this :)</p>
<p>My son is applying to Oberlin but not Amherst. They seem like really different types of schools to me.</p>
<p>I've sent one kid to Amherst and one to Oberlin, and I love them BOTH EQUALLY -- the schools, as well as the kids.</p>
<p>All I want to do is offer a little bit of nuance on some of those broad generalities about campus culture at both places. Of course factor in that I'm a parent, and an Oberlin alum, but really am fond of both places equally.</p>
<p>At Oberlin, the less conventional students are very proud of also being nonjudgmental. It's missing the point to say "hippy" there. Try: supremely tolerant of each other instead. People are interested in all the differences but do not either befriend or unfriend because of differences in politics, gender identity and all the rest.</p>
<p>The career interest in banking, mentioned by one poster, would likely be better nourished at Amherst; however if you're talking about the academic training, rather than the ultimate recruitment, both schools afford powerful Econ, History, Government departments. Socially, if you have a need to hear others say "ooh and aah" when you sit down at the freshman dinner table and you say the word "banking"--then Amherst is better for you than Oberlin. Remember that Oberlin sends more people to graduate schools than anywhere...so thinking of TRAINING, rather than network recruitment for banking, in that way: similar.</p>
<p>The question of "what will my non-nonconformist child do?" was raised and addressed at parent orientation when we attended 4 years ago (we're both alumni). The student panel replied with the above concept, and that is IT exactly. You're not "in" if you believe one way or "out" for saying anything else. You are respected and encouraged to be very much yourself, or "Fearless" Yourself...but that doesn't mean selfish. The coops, the ExCo, the language houses, the absence of frats/sororities, the social justice history, the environmental ethic, all represent the more community-spirited sense of generosity towards others there. It is humorous, friendly, serious.</p>
<p>Amherst has a sense of humor, too, and it's a bit more east-coast-chill, very wry and witty; less toss-back-your-head-and-laugh-freely as at Oberlin. Each of my kids fit right into those different kinds of humors and noticed them while visiting, found their perceptions accurate. The child who went to Oberlin always found Amherst a little too sedate; our Amherst kid never felt comfy off the East Coast and liked the mooring of NYC, Boston influences upon the campus.</p>
<p>Cleveland and Boston both play peripheral roles to the colleges. Both generate most of their culture from within the campus, yet both bring in national quality speakers, and so on. </p>
<p>Both have large proportions of international students; Oberlin doesn't limit financial aid from international students, either so that's unusual. </p>
<p>I thought that my S had an advantage as a male within the 5-college-consortium re:meeting females, given the presence of Smith and Mt. Holyoke, which are still all-women's colleges. Both made friends of both genders, in both places. The Amherst women are beautiful friends and girlfriends to the Amherst men, and don't seem to sufffer being ignored just b/c there's Smith and Mt. Holyoke nearby. Everybody kind of holds their own and is seen for who they are. </p>
<p>No frats or sororities on either. Some leftover party-hearty culture among the sports teams at Amherst, take it or leave it; some pot but not liquor much out at Oberlin...but most students are TOO DARNED SMART to get bogged down in any of that, either place. At least mine just were bemused, visited in on those situations occasionally, and could always (and did) avoid whatever they didn't care for without feeling they were EVER on the "outside." To each his or her own, in BOTH places.</p>
<p>Both are equally well educated. Both found professors who taught them with zest and passion, and both talk about "a community of learners."</p>
<p>My Oberlin kid hardly ever left the town, since so much happens right there on campus. My Amherst kid on rare occasion went in to Boston or NYC, perhaps 3 times a year. So don't go by the city offerings in either place. You're not going to AMherst to do Boston, and similarly if Cleveland disappoints a bit, it's truly irrrelevant to the Oberlin experience. The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra comes to play at OBERLIN every year, not the other way around! </p>
<p>Neither of my kids had, could afford, or needed a car. </p>
<p>Both have beloved friends that go beyond graduation.</p>
<p>As for me, I met my spouse l0 years after we both graduated and fell immediately in love, so what can I say? </p>
<p>May all your choices be this wonderful.</p>
<p>Another Bayarean Oberlin app -- we're on the peninsula. We <em>think</em> Oberlin is a match school for son; though it's not his first choice, it's up there.</p>
<p>Dear Paying Three Tuitions: I know almost nothing about Amherst, but you have 'pegged' Oberlin. It's nice to see someone debunk some of the goofy myths and preconceptions about Oberlin. It's a serious place with a proud history. At Oberlin, you can learn a lot, meet some interesting folks, and (when there is time) have some fun. </p>
<p>I graduated from Oberlin over 20 years ago, and had not been back there for a meaningful visit until last fall. My son (who's a senior in high school) had a great time there. My overall impression is that the current students are a very nice and bright bunch, and that the school seems to have more direction and organization than it once did. Whereas I was a little hesitant to have my son apply to Oberlin, I'm now very happy that he has done so. </p>
<p>Oberlin isn't for the faint of heart. As a college friend jokes, it's full of people who are reincarnations of 19th century reformers. On the other hand, it's a great platform/springboard from which to grow, investigate new fields, and move forward. It also has a sense of humor, as you described. </p>
<p>Though Oberlin is well-known for producing teachers, social workers, and other valuable 'helpers,' many of its graduates end up in business. There are scads of practicing lawyers who went to Oberlin, and just as many (if not more) practicing doctors and other health professionals. Other Obies are involved in power politics -- including the new Mayor of Washington, D.C. More and more, it seems that Obies are realizing that change can be effectuated in a variety of ways. The college is (fortunately) eager to assist.</p>
<p>"There's probably a Springfield in every state. "The Simpsons" doesn't specify which one."</p>
<p>I know this is off topic but actually, the Simpsons are in Kentucky. They revealed it in the episode "Behind the Laughter;" you just had to be paying very close attention and been obsessed with the simpsons at the time :)</p>
<p>To elaborate further on the excellent post by paying3tuitions, here is a news release about an Oberlin grad who has been a success in medicine and the business of medicine:</p>
<hr>
<p>Thursday, March 22, 2007</p>
<p>Boston oncologist picked to lead Fox Chase</p>
<p>Dr. Michael V. Seiden, a leading cancer clinician and researcher, is leaving Boston to become president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, the center announced today.</p>
<p>Seiden, 48, is head of the gynecological cancer program at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and chief of clinical research in cancer medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. An associate professor of medicine at Harvard, his research focuses on ovarian cancer tumor biology. He is the physician coordinator of the cancer stem cell project at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.</p>
<p>On June 1 he will succeed Dr. Robert C. Young, 67, who is retiring from Fox Chase, which treats about 6,500 new patients a year and employs about 2,500 people. </p>
<p>Seiden is a graduate of Oberlin College and earned his M.D. and Ph.D. at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his internship and residency at Mass. General, was a fellow in medicine at Harvard, did a three-year clinical fellowship in medical oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and was a postdoctoral fellow in molecular pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.</p>
<p>paying3tuitions, loved your recap of the 2 schools. My son originally wanted to go to Williams. He loved the New England feel of the place and the campus. At some point he began to fall in love with Oberlin. He's been there 3 years and he still loves Oberlin. He just recently to me that he's glad he didn't go to Williams.</p>
<p>HardDriver,</p>
<p>As per ClaySoul on other thread, you have 5 Posts, all reviving 1-4 year old abandoned and irrelevent threads here or on Emory site. What gives?</p>
<p>This is sort of a random question-- but does Oberlin have that "old building" feel? I haven't been able to visit yet but I am curious.</p>
<p>some of the dorm buildings on north campus do, and a few other buildings here and there. but it's more of an eclectic mix with quite of bit of influence from the 60s.</p>