<p>Need to have more positive posts as Oberlin is under the radar-- many smart and talented students may not think of applying to Oberlin. Music has always been a strong point. Also the sports teams are receiving increasing attention and need even more recognition. Would be good to have new posts this fall so that applicants see the interesting opportunities at OC.</p>
<p>@nervedoctor - Could you elaborate? I’ve been visiting CC for around three years at this point, and have found that the forums are more of a catch-all for questions rather than information sharing. I never used these forums as a prospective or current student, so I’m not sure how we can improve, but I’m always interested in sharing as much Oberlin awesome as possible, wherever :)</p>
<p>You two sound like you have the inside scoop. D – a junior in HS – and I visited Oberlin this summer along with some other schools in Ohio and MI. Of all the schools we visited, she felt most at home at Oberlin. Even though it was summer, you can still get some of that Oberlin vibe and tell that it attracts students who are eager to learn and challenge themselves, are a supportive community with heightened involvement in social issues and the environment. She has good grades, lots of school and community involvement and does not yet have a particular major in mind but is thinking about enviro studies or business. She likes to sing, is in an advanced chorus at her school, and occasionally sings with a friend’s group at local coffee houses. Given that Oberlin is a large school with a stellar music program, do you think she would be able to stay involved with singing at Oberlin? (on an extracurricular basis) She is already thinking she won’t get far with her other hobby which is scuba diving…</p>
<p>Several of my D’s friends non-Con friends are very active in music groups. That’s totally doable. And FWIW, my D is getting SCUBA certified at Oberlin. There is a geology professor who teaches a class on coral reefs, and I believe he’s done some winter term projects in the Caribbean. There’s very little you can’t make happen at Oberlin with a little effort.</p>
<p>qialah</p>
<p>Wow! That is helpful information! Winter term in general sure sounds fascinating in that it gives the students a chance to explore something completely new and different. Now that the students are back, (we were there in August), we need to make a trip back to Oberlin and perhaps even meet with that geology professor. We have had the general tour and the tour of the science building. We also looked around town a bit, found the cool store with the candy counter and ate at the Feve. How would you recommend we spend our time if we make a return trip?</p>
<p>Definitely tour that Art Museum. The collection is impressive and they are expanding. Try to attend a concert at the Conservatory or catch a show at the Apollo Theater.</p>
<p>Speaking of the Art Museum, I was surprised on our tour when the guide said the students could rent art for their dorm rooms for $5 per semester. Very cool!</p>
<p>fyi–shakespearefan: Oberlin doesn’t have a business major. Here’s a link to their info about that.</p>
<p><a href=“http://new.oberlin.edu/dotAsset/1477129.pdf[/url]”>http://new.oberlin.edu/dotAsset/1477129.pdf</a></p>
<p>My son is an economics major at OC and according to a recent article in NY times, students are discouraged from business undergrad major as more well rounded with econ or other liberal arts degree and if planning on MBA, business grad school is the time for super specialized focus.</p>
<p>user & nerve,
That is exactly what my husband (Wharton MBA) and I told my D about business! Better to specialize later and explore all the options when you’re an undergrad. I think she’s starting to get it, and thank you for the info. She feels slightly nervous about not having a specific academic interest, because some of her friends are super focused on things like engineering or music and her older sister is in film school. She is practically minded, though, and figures that whatever career she goes into, it may help to have a business background. I think visits to schools such as Oberlin and others are helping her see all the possibilities out there and how it is possible and even encouraged that students take a rich variety of courses.</p>
<p>“do you think she would be able to stay involved with singing at Oberlin”</p>
<p>Yes! My daughter is a junior at Oberlin . . music is all over the campus, with many formal opportunities to make music (e.g., multiple acapella groups) and informal ones . . . my kid is at the college - not the Conservatory - is taking music composition classes, plays with a punk group, did a solo drop in guitar thing, and last year year helped a senior put together his senior music project . . . what seemed to me from visiting is that music is in the Obies’ DNA and is a routine a part of life there</p>