<p>If you lived two hours away, then yes, perhaps Oberlin might look askance at you not visiting, but twelve – don’t worry about it! Oberlin has a “why Oberlin” essay so you can talk about why it is the school for you in your application.</p>
<p>OP, in which area do you live?</p>
<p>Lots of transportation options </p>
<p>we want to help :- )</p>
<p>OP</p>
<p>Colleges divide the Ad Reps up by geographic area. Call & find out who covers your territory and ask for his/her direct e-mail.</p>
<p>I know of an Ad Rep from another LAC who has stopped in interested students hometowns to meet if it is en-route to other appointments. No harm in e-mailing directly and explaining the situation and asking if he/she has any other meets in your area aside from what you see on the website stating the closest visit you see.</p>
<p>I live in Delaware. I’m about an hour from the southern most point of Philadelphia, about 2 hours from Baltimore. Nearest train station is one mile from school and half hour from home.</p>
<p>Sorry to jump in late to this whole conversation, but as an admissions counselor I just want to reiterate that we are definitely not going to hold it against you that you are unable to visit campus before applying. There are many reasons (financial, logistical, etc) that can prevent students from visiting campus, and while we certainly encourage visits as the best way to learn more about Oberlin, we do not expect everyone to visit. Please do feel free to contact the counselor for your region (that’ll be Kris Surovjak, for Delaware) to ask any questions you may have or just to express your enthusiasm for Oberlin, if you would like to do so. Regarding interviews–last year we offered Skype interviews to everyone who had requested an alumni interview but was unable to complete one because we had no alums in the area. I’m not sure what the status of that project is this year, but we should be able to set you up with a Skype interview if you’re interested-- call the admissions office to inquire.</p>
<p>Thank you Elizabeth!</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, my daughter didn’t visit until after she was accepted–there is no way could we have afforded out-of-region college visits until we knew how the financial aid was going to shake out. </p>
<p>My experience: admissions staff–friendly, helpful, some maybe a bit clueless about those less financially cushioned than themselves but still open-minded and enthusiastic in spite of sometimes long hours and travel. My experience with financial aid staff–cold, disdainful, condescending. (I would strongly advise your parents magically be exempt from any fallout of the recession if you want respectful interactions with the financial aid staff. I have cried maybe ten times in twenty years, and after talking with one financial aid staffer once, I hung up and cried.) Professors: for the most part seem excellent. Challenges and opportunities: excellent. But there are many, many, many, MANY excellent schools out there. Don’t limit yourself to thinking there are only X-number of schools where you could be happy and successful. Not remotely true.</p>
<p>Have to say: Once upon a time, I thought I would donate money to Oberlin forever. The interactions I’ve had with the financial aid office completely swept away those warm fuzzy feelings.</p>
<p>^
Wow. I can’t say I’ve had experiences (yet) with financial aid at Oberlin that it moved me to hang up on 'em and then cry. Are they businesslike? Yes. Cold? Er, maybe a bit. Disdainful and condescending? I haven’t experienced those attitudes. Not yet, anyway. Maybe it’s coming? :)</p>
<p>flanders said: “My experience with financial aid staff–cold, disdainful, condescending.”</p>
<p>Our experience is quite different: we foudn them repeatedly professional; informative; helpful; and patient. </p>
<p>More to the point: I can easily handle just satisfactory interactions with support functions as any college as long as academics - the instution’s primary purpose - are top notch.</p>
<p>Sorry your experience was not so good.</p>