Oberlin College RD Admission Thread

<p>My D was waitlisted: 94% GPA unweighted, 2140 SATs, 5s on the 2 APs she’s taken so far, club prexy since sophomore year, published writer, presumably good recs, visited and had a lovely IV. We are not full pay by any stretch. In fact, filling out the Profile, I felt quite underprivileged even though our income is 120Kish. Admitted to Grinnell, Bryn Mawr, Holyoke, St Olaf, Juniata, and Earlham. Waitlisted Kenyon, denied at Carleton. The season’s over and I for one am glad! Now she gets to go to some admitted student’s days and choose.</p>

<p>from the admissions’ blog referred to above…“However, need does influence some decisions. We do accept some students on the edge of admissibility because they can contribute to the costs of an Oberlin education. On the other hand, we invariably find ourselves waitlisting or denying some students each year who are otherwise well-qualified and appealing, due to a high level of financial need.”</p>

<p>too bad this could not be more exact as this factor has NOTHING to do with the kid’s merits. They cd have done everything they needed to get in, but because of family income, did not get accepted. But this is not disclosed on the response to the kid.</p>

<p>We know a few others from my Daughter’s hs whose stats were below hers and who got in to OC. But we are more financially needy than they.</p>

<p>It makes me wonder if he should bother accepting Waitlist status. Would they even bother accepting a waitlist kid and give him enough aid to make it possible? </p>

<p>2016BarnardMom: read the waitlist blog I posted above. One of her points was that it is a myth that waitlisted kids don’t get aid. </p>

<p>I don’t see anything in this blog about whether Oberlin gives financial aid to those admitted off WL. Does anyone know whether they do or not?</p>

<p>If they admit you off the waiting list they will meet all demonstrated need as they do for anyone who is admitted.</p>

<p>I will say this, when I visited and attended the parent meeting, it was openly stated that Oberlin is not needs blind and that income level does have a significant impact on admittance.</p>

<p>Although Oberlin does meet 100% demonstrated need, I am not exactly pumped about the financial aid package that I received. Still leaves the school at 34k while another has offered me 19k. Although Oberlin has been my dream for a year, I might just be throwing in the towel. I’m sure any of you would love to take my place. Best of luck to all of you, future Obie or not. <3</p>

<p>For the vast majority of applicants, it’s simply not true that “income level [has] a significant impact on admittance.” If you’ll read the admissions blog referenced above, you’ll see that income only comes up as part of the discussion in maybe 10% of the decisions, and those are candidates on the margins, about whom the decision could go either way. If applicants are clear admits, then they are admitted without regard to their ability to pay, and their full financial need (as measured by FAFSA) will be met.</p>