<p>I have heard about this Oberlin College. I have heard about its albino squirrels and womb chairs. I have heard about its conservatory. I have about its liberal, weird, quirky students. I have even heard about its good science programs. But, is it academically intense like Reed College. Can it challenge me? Can it make me stay up until 3 A.M. every night in order to get a passing grade!? Also, will the students accept me as a minority student and someone who thinks differently!? Will this college fulfill me emotionally, spiritually, and physically!? Will this college be a good fit for me or is it just another college that I mark off my list!!!?</p>
<p>I’ve just read your long thread on the Reed board. Rather than try to answer all your questions from scratch here, I’m going to suggest you first read as many of the [Oberlin</a> Blogs](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/) as possible. They should give you a pretty full picture of what Oberlin students are like and what the campus culture is. If you still have specific questions, come back here and ask them.</p>
<p>(Well, I’ll answer one question: no, you won’t have to stay up until 3am every night to earn a passing grade at Oberlin. That sort of behavior and anxiety is unhealthy. But Oberlin is one of the top schools in the country academically.)</p>
<p>College deadlines are approaching!!! I need to find good colleges to attend. Does anyone have any suggestions!? I am stressing!!!</p>
<p>Submit your app to Oberlin, but make sure you submit a strong Oberlin essay and not a perfunctory one. Keep it positive. It’s not just about what a school has to offer you; what do you have to offer the college you want to accept you? Lots of people have the stats. What do you have to offer that makes you different in a way that will make a positive contribution to the Oberlin community? Schools like Reed and Oberlin don’t accept students just based on stats and high school ECs. Why you and not another applicant with stats as good or better? </p>
<p>Some things to ponder when you are filling out your apps and writing your essays. As you know, I’m only trying to be helpful. </p>
<p>By the way, my D2 is a “minority” and she loves Oberlin. She says it is a special place where students are tolerant of all viewpoints, fashion styles, hobbies, musical preferences, life goals, races, religions, ethnicities, etc. Yes, there are some rich kids who attend Oberlin, but unlike some other leading colleges and universities, the rich Oberlin kids don’t flaunt it. According to her, there is no dominant group (preppies, hipsters, hippies, jocks, etc.) on campus like there is at most colleges and universities. She also says the academics are very challenging, but the degree of challenge can vary depending on major. She is incredibly happy with her decision to go to Oberlin instead of Cornell U.</p>
<p>I have just been given a budget of $300 by my parents to spent on college applications!! If I am going to apply to Oberlin College, I want to apply to the music college and normal college. But, they cost more than a $100! Should I not apply to it and go with my other colleges or what!</p>
<p>What’s the level of your musical ability? The Oberlin Conservatory is one of the Top 5 conservatories in the country. The talent level is off the charts, IMHO. I’ve witnessed the talent in the conservatory. I was shocked at the high level of skill. I don’t mean just the next level up from a high school orchestra. I’m talking Julliard level. Prodigies. So be honest with yourself about your own skills, whether it’s instruments or voice. </p>
<p>There are only 150 + double degree students. If your ability isn’t at that level, save your money and the time it would take to prepare for and submit to an audition. There are ways for students in the College of Arts and Sciences to participate musically. My daughter is a soph in Arts and Sciences and she was able to pull it off. Isn’t the app fee for the College of Arts and Sciences only $35?</p>
<p>I have just looked this up. Athletes and music students at Oberlin form their cliques and do not interact with the other students. Also, a new director from stanford is trying to turn the college into a jock school. Becuase of these facts, I am starting doubt that athlectics are good at all and just not apply to Oberlin. I even was willing to try sports and music at Oberlin, but now I do not want to. I will just deal with my original colleges and hope Reed College accepts me:(</p>
<p>Given your limited application funds, I would focus on schools that are more matches and safeties. Oberlin looks like it would be a real reach. You will likely need to limit the reach schools that you can apply to. Good luck!</p>
<p>Just for the record, jussmall, the “information” you’ve looked up could not be more incorrect. These are not “facts.”</p>
<p>“Also, a new director from stanford is trying to turn the college into a jock school.”</p>
<p>This was one of D1s complaints. Apparently students were concerned that the
administration was trying to make the student body more “normal” and get more rich (and full-pay) preppies, in part by increasing sports teams/emphasis. However, that complaint was made in 2005 !! And that athletic director is leaving, not coming !</p>
<p>Since then, on CC I’ve read that Oberlin students are basically always voicing this similar concern, from time immemorial, that the administration is out to change the culture and make the place “just like everyplace else”. Yet its character endures. (So I read here, I’m not in a position to have such perspective).</p>
<p>But apparently they did make some material improvements in athletics facilities, and team results, over the last five years, so maybe D1 was not completely wrong, something did change, a litte anyway.</p>
<p>Personally I don’t think having a little athletics diversion is a bad thing at all, within reason. And there’s no reason they can’t find someone who can bounce a ball a little and fit in a little too. I know a kid that’s there now, he is on one of the teams that does relatively well, loves it, and is all Oberlin all the time.</p>
<p>Teams aside, one thing I recall was they had an outstanding set of PE offerings for the non-athlete students there.</p>
<p>Just to state the obvious, there’s a world of difference between making material improvements in athletics facilities and “trying to turn the college into a jock school.” Many of our best students are athletes, and they are fully integrated into the campus culture. Oberlin is the furthest thing from what is usually meant by “a jock school.”</p>
<p>People, I just do not want to go to Oberlin College, get on one of the teams, and be isolated from the rest of the campus. I want to play a sport to have fun, which is what they should be all about, not winning.</p>
<p>“People, I just do not want to go to Oberlin College, get on one of the teams, and be isolated from the rest of the campus.”</p>
<p>Wasn’t that already addressed in #11 above when he posted, “Many of our best students are athletes, and they are fully integrated into the campus culture.” ???</p>
<p>“I want to play a sport to have fun, which is what they should be all about, not winning.”</p>
<p>As a bad athlete and a decent fan, it has been my long-held experience that one can have fun regardless, but it is often more fun when your team is winning, at least sometimes. Maybe that’s just me.</p>
<p>But in any event, I think ultimately to determine whether the environment there truly meets your needs you would have to do an overnight. Because people here can say stuff, but you’ve heard some other stuff someplace which you are giving credence, so you would have to visit to most properly decide for yourself.</p>
<p>jussmall, I think you are overreacting to tidbits of information. No one is isolated at Oberlin unless they want to be. You don’t hear about Oberlin students jumping into gorges like you do at Cornell, for example. Or you can negligently isolate yourself by your own attitude. Oberlin isn’t high school. People act like adults. You can hang out with anyone you want to hang out with if you have an open mind and tolerance for different points of view. That is, if you don’t approach people with preconceived notions that they don’t/won’t like you or people in “X” category (athletes, musicians, liberals, conservatives, intellectuals, stoners,etc.) are bad people. </p>
<p>The young people I’ve met at Oberlin (and I was just there last week) talk about the diverse group of people they associate with at Oberlin. This isn’t high school or a college run by pro athletes-in-waiting or a Greek society.</p>
<p>I think you are right, you should just apply elsewhere.</p>
<p>After looking up my colleges financial aid, I have decided to apply to Oberlin College. Reed College and Oberlin College are the only colleges that meet 100% of my demonstrated need. Even though I know they wil probably still include loans, I need all the financial aid I can get. So, are there any other colleges that you all can suggest that at least meet some of my standards and have good financial aid? Please hurry in your suggestions because applications are due soon. Also, NO research universities, I do not want to be ignored by my professors or encounter any of the other bad things people talk about.</p>
<p>Suggest post your request for suggestions of colleges that may fit you and may meet your financial need on the CC “College Search and Selection” Sub-forum, not the “Oberlin College” sub-forum.</p>
<p>Be sure to give people a good description of your academic credentials and criteria so they can give more meaningful suggestions.</p>
<p>Plainsman,</p>
<p>I get your point, but it would be flat (pun intended) out impossible to jump into a gorge at Oberlin. I doubt that the elevation varies by more than three feet across the entire campus. Other than the buildings, I think the highest thing you could jump off of there is the sidewalk.</p>
<p>^
LOL. I’m aware of that, BassDad. Just trying to make a point. 
I don’t think there is even a pond to jump into around Oberlin. Maybe a creek…somewhere. :)</p>
<p>There are the ponds at the Arb!</p>