<p>I live near Oberlin. I've gone to different shows at the sco and parties with a friend that goes there/////had the opportunity to interact with students. Every time I have visited the students almost seem to automatically know I don't go to school there (weird looks, asking if I'm "a freshman or something") and except for maybe 3 or 4 students i've met, they don't seem super welcoming. Even though i feel like i'm "outside looking in" I enjoy the oberlin community (good bands that come, art, diversity,co-ops, sustainability). i have been visiting for 3 years, but I don't understand the social structure. Can any current students explain if Oberlin is cliquey, possibly yuppie, or just a tight-knit?</p>
<p>I can almost assure you that part of the problem is that at small schools people become very familiar and comfortable with the faces around them. You definitely don’t know everyone at a school of 1000-1500 people, but you definitely come to recognize a lot of faces. When halfway through the year you see a face you’ve never seen before you can typically assume that it’s a freshman, a visitor, or an upperclassman that’s never left their room (because faces become really familiar!). I doubt that they have ESP and automatically sense someone who doesn’t go to Oberlin :P. That’d be cool though.</p>
<p>liminial, I think you mean “at a school of 2800 people.” Oberlin is larger than most LACs, although both Wesleyan and Macalester are north of the 2,000 mark. Still, your point is well taken. </p>
<p>Glitter Vomit, perhaps you just look young. My kid is a soph at Oberlin and still gets asked from time to time if she’s a prospie. I have to remind her that she could still pass for a high schooler. Most people consider looking young to be a good thing. If you don’t feel that way now, you will later in life. Trust me. :)</p>
<p>my mistake. it was a random number but i was speaking to small schools in general. point is, i don’t think that kids at oberlin should be written off as cliquey or potentially yuppies all because they spot the OP for the non-student – and she IS a non-student.</p>
<p>thanks every11111</p>