<p>Oberlin sounds like such a fantastic school that might be a really good fit for D. Of concern to me is that it is reported to have much lower 4- and 6-year grad rates (~65% 4 yr, ~82% 6 yr.) than comparable highly selective liberal arts colleges on D's list. Curious as to opinions why the grad rate is not as high as it might be?</p>
<p>Objectively: About 200 of the students at Oberlin are enrolled in a five year double-degree program, earning a BA from the college and a BM from the conservatory. That obviously lowers the four-year graduation rate, because those students aren’t expected to graduate in four years to begin with. In addition, Oberlin doesn’t separate its two divisions in the Common Data Set - so about a quarter of the students represented by those data were in the conservatory, and music schools tend to have lower graduation rates than LACs.</p>
<p>Subjectively… I think Oberlin tends to attract high achievers, who take on a rigorous curriculum that requires an extra semester or two (e.g., a double or triple major in unrelated subjects). There are also a lot of students who take time off to travel, volunteer, or intern; one of my friends is postponing her senior year to take an internship at a museum. I also know of several people who are very politically engaged and left because they felt that college was not the best place for them to make change, or because there was a pressing cause that they wanted to work for - then returned to Oberlin and finished their degrees. It does decrease the four-year grad rate, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing, for them or for the college. It gives them the opportunity to do something valuable personally and educationally, and they deeply enrich the climate on campus when they come back.</p>
<p>Thanks Quaere - I was wondering if it had something to do with the conservatory program. D has repeatedly stated that she is interested in double-majoring. I know that this may well change when she actually gets to college, but … is it not easy to double-major at Oberlin without taking an extra semester or two? Do distribution requirements make it difficult to get all required classes in and also double major?</p>
<p>Something like a third of Oberlin students double- and triple-major - in fact, [url=<a href="http://blogs.oberlin.edu/about/ethos/double_or_tripl.shtml]here’s[/url">http://blogs.oberlin.edu/about/ethos/double_or_tripl.shtml]here’s[/url</a>] an intriguing blog post exploring why it’s so common at Oberlin (and what the point is of having a major anyway!) Most of the time it’s not at all difficult, especially if you decide early and plan carefully. But if you have two subjects that don’t overlap at all and you decide late to double-major, or you’re interested in honors or grad school (which may require extra prep), there is a chance it’ll take more than four years.</p>
<p>To give an example, I was considering a double-major in chemistry and Greek (with the goal of grad school in classics) and discovered that it would be hard to fit into four years and still take a healthy dose of courses outside either major. (That’s a problem I’d probably have at any college, unless it had extremely lax requirements for chem majors…) On the other hand, I discovered I could triple-major in Greek, Latin, and Archaeology, with a minor in chem - and no struggle to finish all three programs, meet my distribution requirements, prepare for grad school, take some random classes for fun, and graduate in four years feeling as though I’d learned what I wanted to learn 
But some people in similar situations decide to stick with both majors and stay longer. If you’ve got the time and the money for an extra semester, and you’re passionate about both subjects to the point where only a major will do, why not?</p>
<p>I hope that rambling made sense, and actually helped with your question…</p>
<p>Double majoring is extremely easy, and a large proportion of the student body does. Our distribution requirements are quite easy to fulfill (9 hours in social sciences, humanities, and math/science, 9 hours of cultural diversity–which is usually fulfilled through those other requirements, it’s not additional–quantitative and writing proficiences). Of course, if your two majors are diametrically opposed to eachother, say, Biology and Politics, it may be trickier to make sure that all of the prerequisities are fulfilled, but through careful scheduling, it’s not difficult at all.</p>
<p>Ms. Ladybug - </p>
<p>As an incoming student, I’m probably not as qualified to answer your questions as quaere, but as somebody who is most likely going to double major and has looked extensively into major requirements, I will tell you that major requirements for Oberlin seem significant, but not overwhelming. As a double major in the science division, I will be able to complete all my course requirements for both majors, plus some extra science classes, and still have room to take lots of humanities and social science classes, without staying any longer than 4 years. A normal credit load at Oberlin is 14 credits, but you can take between 12 and 16 in any given semester. I haven’t looked into what double-majoring in, say, English and biology would be like, but I think that if you planned everything out, it wouldn’t be difficult. And lots and lots of students at Oberlin double- or even triple-major, and I’m sure most of those students graduate in 4 years (if they’re not double-degree).</p>
<p>The problem with graduating on time comes when you don’t plan out your course requirements and sequence well enough, or change your major late in the game, or decide in junior year to add a second and unrelated major. This is true at all colleges and universities, not just Oberlin. Actually, Oberlin’s major requirements are significantly less, credit-wise, than the major requirements at my state school. There, it would be very difficult to double-major, especially in unrelated disciplines, and graduate in four years.</p>
<p>Oberlin is a tough school academically and the town itself is very isolating. On top of that, the weather for most of the year is abysmal. It can be tough to make it out in 4 years. Lots of people leave, come back, take breaks, etc. It’s great, but it is not an easy place.</p>
<p>I think it’s a nice little town and the weather no big deal. If you’re from NYC, then maybe the weather is a big deal. But there are quite a few midwesterners and New Englanders who will find Oberlin, Ohio weather, frankly, moderate. It all depends on what you’re used to. Heck, Californians and Southwesterners are probably excited to experience the change in seasons. As you know, unlike most LACs and some universities, Obie freshman are allowed to bring cars. Twenty or so miles away is plenty of safe suburban shopping, restaurants, movies, etc. You don’t have to venture into Cleveland to find that stuff.</p>
<p>Yes, it is tough academically, but every new student should realize Oberlin isn’t their local, open admissions community college. I’m laughing cause my freshman daughter is already complaining about all the reading and writing assignments. But this is what she said she wanted. :)</p>
<p>Many of my friends, even the ones that did very well and are now in amazing academic careers (many in top Phd programs or med school), all got cars in the their last year there due to the heavy isolation. You have no idea how small it is, especially as you go into your last year or two where you know everyone and everyone knows your business. Gossip at Oberlin spreads like wildfire. </p>
<p>The ones who did the best were the ones who did study away for a semester or a full year, now that I think about it.</p>
<p>Gosh, I think this is very individual, and your experience does not resonate with what I’ve heard from alums and my own student at Oberlin, who enjoyed it even in deepest, darkest Winter Term, and got along very well without a car! There is a lot going on at Oberlin, more than one could possibly do on any given weekend - and really top quality speakers and performers. Some students will benefit from a semester or two abroad, but some just wouldn’t want to miss a semester at Oberlin; in fact, far fewer students are going abroad this year than was expected, some perhaps for economic reasons, but others because they like it there!<br>
The grad rate factors may also include the fact that Oberlin sometimes takes chances on students that comparable schools may not - and sometimes it works out well in four years for those students, and sometimes not…and some kids, with all the advising offered, don’t plan things out as well as they might and need more time to finish. At the current prices, I would not want that to happen, from my parental perspective.</p>
<p>I think it’s very individual too. I know lots of students who don’t have cars, who almost never leave town except on breaks, and who love how much goes on here. There are 2800 students here: how many of them do you actually get to know, even in four years?</p>
<p>I don’t want to give the impression that I hated it or that any one I knew hated it. In fact, we were all super involved on campus with OSCA, WOBC, OFS, etc. It was also group of people all around the same age that all knew each other’s business. That’s what I meant. </p>
<p>Maybe I just knew a disproportionate number of students who studied away or got a car, but again, as you both said, everyone’s experience is different.</p>