<p>Hey folks,</p>
<p>I've narrowed down my search to Oberlin and Grinnell. Despite this question being posted dozens of times, I have yet to see any thread with substance. Here is my list of things you should know in regards to your input:</p>
<p>-money is no issue. I will never need to worry about it.
-I am interested in oil painting, psychology, political science, and art history.
-I can handle any winter
-I am a left of center person
-being accepted into a top graduate/professional school is my main concern at the moment.
-the less sports matter, the better</p>
<p>Please please please provide some input with substance!</p>
<p>Here is my list of things you should know:</p>
<ul>
<li>Both schools meet your list of requirements quite well</li>
<li>You either should have known that or should have formulated the list more rigorously</li>
<li>If you have no clear preference between them by now, you should not be applying ED to either</li>
</ul>
<p>I dont understand what you mean by formulating the list. I am incredibly aware of how they meet all the factors. Its picking one over the other that I cannot do.</p>
<p>Have you visited either school? While very similar in many ways, many kids come away with different vibes. My son – now a college sophomore at a big school – visited both schools, interviewing and doing overnight. </p>
<p>Both schools have strong track record in grad school admissions. Both lean liberal. Oberlin has its own art museum, and seems to have a broader art department and opportunities as a result. My son met at length with an art prof, who toured him around. Of course, with the conservatory at Oberlin, there is a vibrant musical life on campus. </p>
<p>Oberlin has co-ops as a living choice, where students cook etc for their house. I don’t think that is an option, at least for freshman, at Grinnell. Oberlin has been popular among east coast families for a long time, Grinnell only now gaining traction there. Oberlin often perceived as quite politically correct campus – not that it is necessarily more than other similar schools, but it has that reputation. </p>
<p>As for sports, I think I remember hearing that about 30% of the Grinnell student population participates in varsity sports and only about 15% at Oberlin. My son’s impression at Grinnell was that there was a slightly broader range of student types than at Oberlin. </p>
<p>He loved the classes on both campuses that he visited, engaged students, interesting discussions. </p>
<p>There is plenty of substance in the prior conversations comparing these two schools – although reading those prior threads may not have given you the info you were looking for, I would not characterize them as without substance.</p>
<p>Allow me to clarify. The past threads covered areas already discussed at length and not particularly relevant to me.</p>
<p>Why did your son research these schools so fully then decide the LA experience was not for him?</p>
<p>My D was accepted at both and selected Grinnell.
-I am interested in oil painting, psychology, political science, and art history.
both schools are equally strong in these areas
-I can handle any winter
the winters are similar at both schools
-I am a left of center person
both schools are roughly equally extremely liberal
-being accepted into a top graduate/professional school is my main concern at the moment.
Grinnell has an edge here in science and math grad schools and med/vet schools
-the less sports matter, the better
Grinnell doesn’t have much interest in sports, but that is even more true of Oberlin</p>
<p>They are similar greats chools. Visit both and go to whichever you like better</p>
<p>OP, if money is no issue, I’m curious why you haven’t visited either of these schools? ED is binding. If you haven’t visited each or aren’t sure, I’d apply to both RD and see what your options are. Do NOT apply ED to a school you’ve never visited!</p>
<p>Or perhaps you have visited? If so, there’s no “substance” anyone here can provide that you don’t already know. They’re similar schools in a lot of ways, but in the end you need to go with the one that seems like the best fit for you.</p>
<p>to the OP – my son went to a large urban high school which was bigger than Grinnell and close to the size of Oberlin. In college, he wanted to be among a more diverse range of students, rather than what seemed to be variations of himself at both Oberlin and Grinnell – smart, quirky, and independent kids. </p>
<p>Good luck with your college process.</p>