<p>The dust is now settling on the college admissions process, and I find myself with the dreadful honor of deciding between two really awesome schools. I received a wonderful finaid package from Oberlin, and I expect Mac to do a good job too (from what I've heard), so I'm approaching this decision as a "money is no problem" perspective for now. </p>
<p>So, I'm just curious if anyone has any thoughts on comparing these two schools? I've read all the guide books, and visited Oberlin, so I know a lot I think; I just need some extra help.</p>
<p>Specifically, I'm curious about:
-Drinking/Party scene (how prevelent really?)
-Workload (how much homework (dormwork) should I expect)
-Food (quality and flexibility)
-Profs
-Dealing with administration
-Dorms
-Anything else you can contribute.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the help guys; this board is an invaluable resource!</p>
<p>Congratulations on getting into these two great schools!</p>
<p>Here is what I’ve read/heard:
-Drinking/party scene: I don’t think this is terribly prevalent in either one, but I get the feeling the Oberlin kids might party a bit more than Mac kids. This is just the impression I got from reading students’ comments in books and websites. I think more goes on off campus at Mac than at Oberlin, but both are pretty on-campus-focused.
-Workload: I think they’re probably about equally challenging. It might depend on your major as well. Maybe check the requirements at each school for the major you have in mind (if you have one).
-Food: No clue. Might be on the schools’ websites.
-Profs: I hear Mac’s profs are extremely accessible and that they give each student personal attention. They really encourage discussion and ideas. However, I also heard that there are some bad professors. Oberlin probably has some of those too. Both schools have very small class sizes. I know that most classes at Oberlin are discussion-based and the professors reward students for originality. I believe it’s very easy to get involved in scientific research with a professor at Oberlin. It seems like both schools have great profs.
-Administration: I know there’s some tension between Oberlin students and administration because of budget cuts. That’s something to look into. I’m not sure about Macalester.
-Dorms: I only saw one dorm room at each school, but I think they were both pretty typical. Nothing too special.
-Anything else: Oberlin is in some middle-of-nowhere farm town. It’s pastoral and pretty, if you like that kind of scenery (you visited, so you would know). Mac, on the other hand, is in the middle of St. Paul. It’s not completely urban - there’s definitely a campus - but you do have to cross some busy streets to get from building to building. That was one reason I decided not to apply - I just don’t like that busy, noisy environment. I would suggest visiting Macalester if you can so you get a feel of the very different settings.</p>
<p>-Overall, the two schools seem to have similar types of students and academic programs (distribution requirements).</p>
<p>Some resources I’ve found especially helpful (you may have heard of them) - the Students’ Guide to Colleges (Top 100 Schools) and the website u n i g o.</p>
<p>I hope I helped. Good luck making your decision! Maybe I’ll see you at Oberlin (if I get in)!</p>
<p>As I posted to this thread over in the Macalester section…</p>
<p>Redknight, my son is in exactly the same boat, with a really tough decision to make between Oberlin and Mac. He will be very interested to see what people have to say on this thread. One other question to add to your list: quality of classroom experience? He visited both schools, and happened to sit in on a couple of great, discussion-based classes at Mac, but only got to sit in on one class at Oberlin, and he said the teacher was not very good. I’m hoping that one teacher was an anomaly… Does anyone have any insights on this?</p>
<p>Obviously you should visit both. Also compare the events schedules for the two schools. You will see obvious differences. Oberlin Conservatory and the Allen Art Museum are continuous and major contributors to the every day life of Oberlin students. There is also a terrific concert series and speaker series, with world-class performances. As to level of teaching, not to worry: Oberlin is first-rate academically; there is an impressive rate of graduate school matriculation, which evidences that quality of education. Visiting one class that disappoints for whatever reason is not a fair sample. Most Oberlin students love their academic experiences. Oberlin has a history of social engagement from its founding on, and that legacy is apparent. Food: Oberlin has pretty good regular food service, with an attempt to feature local foods. It also has a very large coop system where students purchase, prepare, and serve (and clean up) for themselves. Relations between students and the Krislov administration have been positive; students love Ben Jones.</p>
<p>Ha, very common, D1 chose Oberlin, but you never know how other would have worked out.</p>
<p>City access would be nice to have, theoretically, but does it detract from campus life there? I recall they don’t have housing for everyone on-campus, once people go off are they less connected to the place? Don’t know, just asking.</p>
<p>Virtually unlimited course offerings would be nice to have, can they take courses at U Minn, to extend the effective course catalog, and if so how practical is that to do/ how many people actually do it?</p>
<p>D1 thought Oberlin was a little stronger for what she was particularly interested in, but otherwise Mac was a decent contender. Family acquaintance attended, liked it.</p>
<p>More east coasters at Oberlin.</p>
<p>(Yet) colder at Mac.</p>
<p>Check catalogs, Mac seeed to have a lot of visiting profs & adjuncts, seemed to me.</p>
<p>Both are wonderful colleges. DD wanted to be in an urban setting and so that was a factor in choosing Mac, which she loves and at which she has grown enormously, intellectually and otherwise.</p>
<p>Hey, I’m going to Oberlin and my twin sister is going to Macalester! They’re pretty similar schools. The major differences are location (one urban, one rural) and size (Mac is smaller than Oberlin).</p>
<p>Liv09: Your sis should like Macalester and you should like Oberlin. The schools are not dissimilar but are unique in many ways. My D2 is likely headed for Oberlin as your classmate (we’re just waiting for final financial aid considerations), and we lived in Minnesota, in the Twin Cities metro area, for 16 years. My daughter was born and grew up there. We’ve lived in Pennsylvania for the last three years. </p>
<p>There are things for your sis to do in St. Paul, but most of the action for liberal types off campus is next door in Minneapolis. The city of St. Paul is more blue collar than Minneapolis, more ethnic, more Catholic (to the mostly Lutheran Minneapolis). The people of St. Paul have occasionally elected Republican mayors; I can’t remember the last time Minneapolis had a Republican mayor and I’m old. In fact, Minneapolis once had a black female mayor way back in the 80s. That was quite an accomplishment in a city which at the time had a black population of only about 11%. That should tell you how liberal most of the white citizens tended to be. I can’t imagine a black mayor of St. Paul, but I suppose it could happen. One day.</p>
<p>The answers to most of those (at least from the perspective of an Oberlin student) vary. Your workload will depend on the courses that you take (both in type and quantity), and the effort that you want to put into your work. Professors are generally very good. A handful are mediocre, a handful are life-changing. Plenty of the dorms are crappy, but there are plenty of nice ones and that wasn’t a big deal for me. The things you asked about are fairly broad–if you have more specific of questions, feel free to ask me.</p>