<p>Anyone else here making this decision? What are your pros and cons?</p>
<p>Honestly they amount to almost exactly the same thing, but oh so different from that I can tell.</p>
<p>For me the deciding factor would be the art department which appears to have better funding at Grinnell, the gay community which seems decent at both places and size where Oberlin wins.</p>
<p>Bonus: Oberlin had clearly superior food...</p>
<p>food is important.</p>
<p>I'm in the same position you are! Definitely let me know which one you choose, okay?</p>
<p>I'm choosing between Oberlin, Smith, Wellesley, and Grinnell (in order of preference...so far). </p>
<p>Oberlin: My favorite things about Obie: The classes I attended were SO innovative! The LIBRARY. Oh, the wonderful times I had in Mudd. It is so big and comfy. The womb chairs, the couches, the skylights, the BOOKS! Weia Teia (I think that is how you spell it) is a great restaurant in downtown Oberlin, I want to go back. I loved the open grass areas in the "square" and across from Mudd/Student Union, there were so many people laying in the grass, tightrope walking, playing and singing with guitars. That is my favorite thing about Obie. The talent that the students possess. I went to an Open Mic and Third World and was blown away. Of course the conservatory has a lot to do with this, which is a good thing. I'll never forget laying in the grass one beautiful October day and I heard this voice! It was so beautiful, so I followed it. I watched this woman sing and play guitar with herself from a reasonable distance. I was mesmerized. I had the pleasure of watching her sing right in front of me at Open Mic. Wow. and there are so many others, just like her.</p>
<p>I didn't like all of the pot around. Also, there were some areas that were dirty. I could also tell that campus was a bit segregated. Most of the minorities lived around Third World or Spanish House, most Asians went to Asia House. Myself, being Black, would prefer to live with all races. Though, these are all things I can deal with.</p>
<p>Grinnell: I stayed in East Campus (Kershaw, top floor with REALLY high ceilings and loft beds), where the newer dorms are. I really liked it there, but I don't know what I'd do if I had to live anywhere else, like North Campus. I visited my friend who lives in Noyce, I believe. It was gross and tiny. Cigarette butts everywhere. Yuck. But the part of where my friend lived was a (or THE) queer-friendly area. I would want to live in the queer area, but not if I had to live THERE. By the way, there isn't too much difference from gays at either school, in my opinion. Grinnell is closing the Quad and Cowles this fall and opening a new dining hall. They say the food will be better.</p>
<p>Academically, I don't see too much difference in the quality of education you would receive. Both are really good schools. Oberlin is better for music and writing, but I think they are equal otherwise. This coming from my friend: She visitied both Grinnell and Oberlin and she wants to study art and Chemistry. She hated Grinnell, just because the art department wasn't treated very well. She applied ED to Obie because she thought their arts were better. Grinnell gives more work, but they have an open curriculum, so you can take whatever you want. Obie has requirements, but they aren't that bad.</p>
<p>Whew, writing this helped me out a lot. I think it's pretty safe to say, I won't be going to Grinnell (unless my other schools don't come through with aid). I'm visiting Smith and Wellesley later this month, so we'll see where I'll actually attend.</p>
<p>grinnell sucks! oberlin sucks! go to kenyon. the best school in ohio, if not in the midwest.</p>
<p>Grinnel has loads and load of gay people so if you are really liberal then it will be perfect for you, but IOWA doesnt offer much of a social life, I got in and decided not to go</p>
<p>oberlin oberlin oberlin....i ED-ed there and dint get in and i still plan to transfer someday!! i know oberlin alumni....and they are the coolest ppl on earth....
the only thing um guessing on ur mind right now is prolly rankings!! well, GET OVER IT!! rankings mean nothing...um not staying grinnell sux or anything, i got waitlisted there, um at their mercy ( and if u asked for finaid, technically it is my duty to try to convince you to let go of a seat that i can occupy eventually!!:) ) but thts beside the point...ohio is a way better place to be in than iowa, and most of all---OBERLIN IS CULTURED!!!
the allen memorial art museum and the world famous conservatory!! DUDE...UR GONNA HAVE A LIFE FOR GODS SAKE!!!A LIFE AMONG ART!!i'd chose that over geeks in the middle of smelly cornfields anytime of the day!!GOOO OBERLIN!! um shameless....</p>
<p>okay...i guess i went too far....i know a grinnell graduate too and he is also the best person on earth....and ROBERT NOYCE!! grinnell was nice enough to waitlist me despite asking for major finaid!! oberlin rejected me downright! i should b grateful...i just felt guilty so i had to write tht....hmmm.....</p>
<p>GEEKS IN THE MIDDLE OF SMELLY CORNFIELDS?!?!!?!?!</p>
<p>I wasn't 100% sure if I made the right choice picking Grinnell, but the sheer amount of blinding, indignant fury I felt upon reading those words showed that I did. So, in a weird way, thanks.</p>
<p>(But I'd appreciate it if you didn't do it again.)</p>
<p>no ofcourse not....i apologized instantly....and listen.....um frm bangladesh....um not even supposed to kno any of tht ****t i said anyways...it was just a comment smn made when i used to be a grinnell fan...its just stupid...why dont u do something....try to report it as offensive reply....i'll do tht myself but um guessing u cat delete your own posts....but i dont know.....wtv....dude....i apologize! if i get into grinnell....i'd be happy too! and i dont mean too like ill compromise and be happy...i mean i'll be esctatic!!i was just trying to get me in through the waitlist....forgive my desparation :(</p>
<p>wow....now tht um readin it in caps..it really is very offensive...</p>
<p>Hahaha don't worry about it! I got a little mad at first but then I read your second post and I figured you didn't really mean it.</p>
<p>Where else did you apply?</p>
<p>Well, honestly, both are in small midwestern towns, and I know people at both, and the "bubble" atmospheres are quite similar. Oberlin has Cleveland for maybe an occasional concert, but then again, Grinnell has Des Moines and Iowa City for...well, maybe not so many concerts, but at least a day trip to somewhere else.</p>
<p>I had a very hard time choosing between the two schools, but ended up choosing Grinnell for a few random reasons- I felt like I liked the people better in general (just a random gut feeling I got), it was father away from home, the classes I sat in on at Grinnell were better than the ones I sat in on at Oberlin, and I liked the smaller campus as well.</p>
<p>Either place is great, though.</p>
<p>applied to a LOT of places, got waitlisted at four only-colby,mt holyoke, bryn mawr and grinnell, got a couple acceptances with NO AID which is worse than being waitlisted any time of the day...</p>
<p>i do, however, feel closer to grinnell everyday...</p>
<p>Des Moines has a ton of concerts, btw. From Springsteen to Nickelback to Guitar Shorty to Seether to Bon Jovi to...well...anyone. Those names came to the top of my head as people who played in DSM this spring alone.</p>
<br>
<p>Oberlin has Cleveland for maybe an occasional concert</p>
<br>
<p>Oberlin has concerts in spades; when I was spending a lot of time there, Cleveland was crucial for Chinatown, shopping, etc.</p>
<p>AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I GOT INTO GRINNELL!! GOT OFF THE GRINNELL ALTERNATE LIST!! YAY YAY!! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!
and they were so generous with aid too, met my full need. um so happy!!
cant wait you meet every1!!</p>