I need help with my college decision, so I thought maybe someone on here could help. I have 4 days until the official deadline, therefore I’m kind of freaking out.
Anyways, for some background, I applied and got accepted into Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Lafayette College, Elon College, and Oberlin College. I only applied to small liberal arts colleges because I’m not sure what I want to study. Additionally, I come from a small school, so I really value having a small teacher to student ratio. I’ve narrowed my options down to Oberlin College (in Ohio) versus Dickinson College (in Pennsylvania) because of financial aid offers and diversity.
I think that I might want to study environmental science. Both schools have really good environmental studies/science programs from what I can tell. They also both have better inclusive, diverse atmospheres in comparison to my current school. I have visited both of them and had a great time at both. My financial aid offers are basically the same. Oberlin is a farther drive from my house. I think I liked the atmosphere at Oberlin better, but I’m still really torn.
When I was applying to schools, I applied to Oberlin as my reach school. I didn’t really expect to get accepted. The original plan was to go to Dickinson, but after seeing what Oberlin has to offer and getting in, I’m just not sure anymore. I heard other students at Oberlin’s admitted student day talk about how they were also accepted into Ivy Leagues but decided to choose Oberlin. This makes me scared that Oberlin would be too academically challenging for me because even though I didn’t apply to an Ivy League, I’m fairly sure that I wouldn’t get in. I am a hard worker, but I don’t want to go to a college where I’m always lost in conversations and where everyone is so far above me academically that I feel stupid. I’m afraid that I will fail if I go to Oberlin.
I also really like Oberlin because of the conservatory. I have been playing the violin since I was little. Even though I’m not particularly good, I really would love the opportunity to take lessons for $8 and go to concerts every night. I’m still worried that I would be too stressed with the academic load at Oberlin that I wouldn’t have time to go see the concerts. Oberlin does have more of a reputation, and it’s really hard to not let that influence my decision.
Both are good choices. I’d say Dickinson is a bit more mainstream (still liberal), and Oberlin is farther on the left end of the spectrum. (You didn’t ask, but this is one of the significant differences).
I’m not sure I’d place Obetlin’s reputation that much higher. You know you won’t be able to play violin on any of the orchestras at Oberlin, right? Dickinson has an orchestra you could likely play in.
My kid attended Dickinson. She did really well (Phi Beta Kappa) and got a very good job after graduation. As did her friends, just saw a bunch of them at her wedding to her Dickinson boyfriend a few months ago. I guess I’d also say Dickinson is a bit more practically focused than Oberlin (and honestly, than most LACs). They have quite a few certificates, minor opportunities, etc that seem to help their graduates add marketable skills to their LAC degree.
But either school is a solid choice. Congrats on a successful admission process that gave you good choices!
My son goes to Oberlin. He plays sports but at one point when he thought he would opt out of sports he didn’t have any desire to leave. It’s a pretty solid school and has a new president that I think is pointing the school in the right direction. Small town but it is right adjacent to campus so that makes it nice. The academics aren’t a walk in the park but the colleges you applied to seem to be similar to my son’s so I think you would be fine. Dickinson has a good rep too so you should be fine either way.
I think your fear of being outclassed academically at Oberlin is probably unfounded. They accept students who can do the work. Will you be at the top of the class? Well, half the class will be in the bottom half, so shining there may be harder. The only case in which I would worry about the rest of the student body is the one in which you had to apply to a program/class/major that you were dying to do. If there’s a real risk that you’ll be eliminated because you weren’t selected, you may have a valid concern.
I also dig deeper on the assumption that you’ll have music opportunities at Oberlin because of the conservatory. This is one of those instances in which you could fail to get a seat because of the number of talented conservatory students.
If you like Oberlin better, go for it. But the reasons you’ve given may not be the best ones for choosing it over Dickinson.
Both are excellent schools. For me, the social vibe at Dickinson would be a better fit, but for you, it could be different.
As some basis of comparison with respect to your concerns about academic competition, both Dickinson and Oberlin are listed as “more selective” in *U.S. News/i.
Oberlin offers free tutoring to its students, hiring many upper-class students who are good in their majors or their field of study. Additionally, these peer tutors are not intimidating because they are your peer Obelin students. Check out peer tutoring at:
I would also note that Oberlin’s new president and administration announced a plan to slightly shrink the size of the conservatory and increase the regular college population and simultaneously make participation in music courses etc. easier for the regular college population.
@coolturtle001 My daughter applied to both Oberlin and Dickinson and chose Oberlin. They are both great schools so I don’t think there is a bad choice! They also have some similarities - both have a sustainability focus. Both are campuses that are really integrated into their respective towns. You can walk or bike to just about anything you need.
I agree with @gardenstategal, you would not have been admitted to Oberlin if the school did not think you were up to the workload. There is also lots of support on campus for people to succeed. You can go to professor office hours. Many classes have third and fourth-year teaching assistants that lead review and study sessions. You can also get a peer tutor free of charge if you are struggling in a particular class. There is a writing center to help you with research and writing. Oberlin also introduced a peer advising system a couple of years ago. At orientation, you will be placed in a group of 15 first year students and will have a student advisor that will help you adapt to Oberlin. There is tons of academic and social support there.
That isn’t to say that you wouldn’t have similar support at Dickinson. I remember that @intparent’s daughter worked in the writing center during her time as a Dickinson student.
Regarding music, there are many opportunities to perform outside of the conservatory at Oberlin. Depending on your level, you might take lessons with conservatory students rather than faculty, but they are amazing! My daughter also attends free or very inexpensive concerts of all genres on a regular basis.
Regarding student vibe, you have visited both so you probably know this - Dickinson tends to be more mainstream culturally and politically. It has Greek life, but not to the point of dominating campus life. Oberlin is somewhat more left-leaning and alternative but not as “out there” as the stereotypes would have you believe. Academically, both would probably fit your needs.
This is a good problem to have! Let us know what you decide. I will PM you in case you have any additional questions.
@coolturtle001 : Your fear of Oberlin academics seems to stem from other students who stated that they were accepted to Ivies but chose Oberlin instead. If true, I suspect that those students are attending the conservatory as Oberlin is not really in any cross-admit battles with any Ivies.
We visited both several times, and are very impressed with each. A couple of thoughts, really just echoing others. Don’t let the kids from admitted student days get “in your head” – kids say lots of things, and it is not always true, so while there may be some Oberlin admits choosing between Oberlin and Yale, many others are choosing between Oberlin, Kenyon and Skidmore, or some other combination. You were admitted because experienced professionals know from your credentials that you can do the work. College is an adjustment for every student, so laying the groundwork for success by going to office hours, taking advantage of the writing center, upper level majors who offer tutoring etc., is a good idea for every incoming student.
On continuing to study music – Oberlin College students can take private lessons from Conservatory students very cheaply, so yes, you can study with amazing musicians! Taking private lessons from Conservatory faculty is on an audition basis and rare, as we understand it. But for a student who wants to continue music on their own pace and be in a musically-rich environment, with Conservatory student performances and visiting artists, Oberlin is a smorgasbord of opportunity.
Dickinson students overall tend to be a little more mainstream, and Oberlin students a little more quirky overall, though each campus will have plenty of the “other” type.
A great choice to have, good luck with your decision!
I guess I’d also say Dickinson is a bit more practically focused than Oberlin (and honestly, than most LACs). They have quite a few certificates, minor opportunities, etc that seem to help their graduates add marketable skills to their LAC degree.