<p>rumors/stories I've gathered lurking around this and that... At Oberlin: </p>
<ul>
<li>lots of pot-smoking hippies</li>
<li>drug use is more "necessary" to the social life at Oberlin </li>
<li>extremely liberal political activists (or politically conscious)</li>
<li>strict environmentalists</li>
<li>Large LGBT population</li>
<li>sexually adventurous i.e. orgies (i don't even know what this is supposed to mean) </li>
<li>lots of musicians</li>
<li>intellectual, academically intense atmosphere</li>
</ul>
<p>Please, I'm not talking about EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OBERLIN STUDENT.. Just talking about "stereotypes" of the overall population. We all know how fallacious stereotypes can be, but there must be some basis to these impressions I've repeatedly heard. Please tell me which one of these, if all, are completely misguided conceptions that should be dispelled... </p>
<p>I guess the more appropriate question is what kind of student body does Oberlin tend to attract? What are the common characteristics that Obies share?</p>
<p>Where have you been "lurking"? Certainly not at Oberlin. If you are genuinely interested in Oberlin, read the online blogs, written by Oberlin students; do some serious research about the Oberlin and its history, talk to current students, and visit. But your suggestion that these stereotypes could even possibly be accurate call into question your reason for posting here -- the only items on your list that are accurate are the ones about intelligent and academically engaged (rather than intense) students and lots of musicians (there is a Conservatory and Jazz school at Oberlin, so of course there are a lot of musicians).</p>
<p>As mamenyu suggests, the easiest way to dispel the stereotypes is to consult the Oberlin</a> Blogs to witness examples of living, breathing Oberlin students.</p>
<p>AHHHH THANKS. The Oberlin Blogs seems like a really good resource. I've heard those things mostly from other typical internet college sites like CC and words of mouth.</p>
<p>also look at We Are Oberlin stories, which have short entries by students, alums, teachers, which give you a perspective on the reality of Oberlin's culture of tolerance, social activism, environmentalism, music, and academics that you have heard all those rumors about. Oberlin</a> Stories</p>
<p>Check out U-N-I-G-O dot com. I think the information posted by Oberlin students on a site not affiliated with the college is more balanced than stories posted on the school's own website.</p>
<p>y'know, I'm just a parent and an Oberlin junky on CC, but I read a number of entries on the site Plainsman mentioned -- all very positive (many said "I LOVE Oberlin") except for one student who thought it wasn't a radical enough place -- but kind of repetitive (a function of the fact that they were all responding to the same questions) and very co-op-centric. I think the student blogs on the Oberlin website are far more interesting and well written (many seem to be creative writing majors), and they seem unedited and candid, even to the point of self-deprecation, and offer a fascinating glimpse into student life at Oberlin.</p>