<p>Could anyone help me make some distinctions between the two schools? To me, they both seem a little looser than the average LAC, with more music, diversity, etc. What specifics set them apart?</p>
<p>I’m applying to both! I haven’t visited Wes but i’ve been to Oberlin. Here’s what I’ve gathered, mostly from the stats at collegeboard.com:
Wes is a tad bigger
Oberlin’s on a 4-1-4, while Wes does semesters
Wesleyan accepts 27% of applicants, Oberlin 33%
They’re both pretty diverse compared to other LAC’s, the College Board makes Wes out to be a little more diverse than Oberlin
Oberlin is considered rural, while Wes is in a medium sized town
Wesleyan’s architecture is a little more traditional, Oberlin’s is kinda all over the place-but in a really cool way!
Wesleyan’s in the Northeast while Oberlin is in the Midwest, so Oberlin has more students from the Midwest and Wes has more from the Northeast. I’d assume this makes the “feel” at the schools a little different.
Oberlin has the conservatory, so I’d say it’s a bit more musical.
Both schools are known for being liberal, activist, and good schools overall!
If you were wondering what makes them different socially/atmospherically…I couldn’t tell you because I don’t go there, sorry.</p>
<p>It’s best to visit, IMO.</p>
<p>On paper they seemed similar, D1 did not react to them the same way following her visits to each. Wound up not even applying to Wesleyan. But that may be partly due to impressions left by just a few students she met at each school, who may not have been truly representative.</p>
<p>KVA420, just FYI, Wes’s admit rate went down to 22% last year, and it once again had an increase in applicants. Not sure if Oberlin’s admit rate has decreased (I think maybe, but not as much?). But yeah, I think that’s good info for people to have. </p>
<p>Anyway, as I think I’ve said elsewhere, I agree with monydad. If you don’t have time to visit before apps (assuming you’re applying this year), I’d encourage applying to both, and if you get into both, go do overnights. They are similar enough that various random people on the internet’s subjective experiences aren’t going to be as helpful as a visit.</p>
<p>And very few people are apt to have solid enough knowledge about both schools as to be able to offer informed comparison. (I know a lot about Oberlin, for example, but almost nothing about Wesleyan.) The significant differences between these two schools are not to be found in the statistics. And just to correct one of KVA’s inferences: Oberlin is not really a Midwest school in its population (unlike, say, Carleton and Grinnell)–there are more students from New York and California than from Ohio.</p>
<p>It is so hard to compare two schools without knowing your interests. Yes the two schools share a passion for music as you indicate, but there are so many differences. You really must visit and decide where you will thrive. My oldest graduated from Wes last May (studio art major) and my youngest is currently a first year at Oberlin. The youngest chose Oberlin over Wes because of Oberlin’s strong emphasis in environmental studies and creative writing which are not currently strong programs at Wesleyan (although Wes is currently developing these two areas). She also was drawn to the coops, the farm, the campus wide commitment to social change and sustainability. She liked the semi rural, cozy feel of the campus. Older daughter had an amazing education at Wes in the arts and especially valued the proximity to urban centers, the intimacy of her department, the amazing film and theater departments, and the highly diverse student body. One clear distinction between the two is that Oberlin has far more defined general education requirements prior to selecting a major.</p>
<p>I also applied to Oberlin and Wesleyan RD! I’m having trouble deciding which I might attend (if i get in to both), but I haven’t made it out to Ohio to visit Oberlin yet which I think might help me with my impression. I’d say the fact that Oberlin is in the middle of a cornfield could be a negative for some people…</p>
<p>Lil pixie; Oberlin is NOT in the middle of a cornfield…it is in the middle of a town. I’ve been out there a bunch of times and have never seen a cornfield. The college is a very sophisticated community made up of people from all over the country.</p>
<p>I’ve been to Oberlin. I liked it a lot but Oberlin is a small town. It’s fair to say the college is in a rural community. It does not have the feel of an urban area or a surburban area. I think cornfield is just an expression.</p>
<p>On the cornfield question, see [Oberlin</a> Blogs | Blog Entry: ““The middle of nowhere””](<a href=“http://blogs.oberlin.edu/living/town/the_middle_of_n.shtml]Oberlin”>http://blogs.oberlin.edu/living/town/the_middle_of_n.shtml) .</p>
<p>my son is a senior at Oberlin and he loves it. First, while Oberlin is in a rural area, it has a nice little town where kids can go to eat and drink. There always are things going on, mostly revolving around music and performing arts, and my son never lacks for things to do. Second, like Wesleyan, the kids at Oberlin are creative, engaged, active learners. Third, from what I read, kids at both schools are activists but while the kids at Wesleyan may follow through on their threats to strike, the kids at Oberlin are more likely to let off their steam with a beer and a concert.</p>
<p>I just got home from taking my D back to Oberlin for Spring semester. This weekend we found another mall area with great movie theaters, decent restaurants and shopping. It’s not as “upscale” as another place we found outside the town of Oberlin but it was very solidly middle class and safe, very suburban rather than rural, and only 15 minutes from campus. Loved the theaters, by the way. Nice stadium seating. :)</p>
<p>As someone who went to college in New York City (and worked my first job in the Boston area), you can keep the urban center crap. It’s a major hassle (ridiculous parking situation, crime worries, absurd prices, crappy places to live on a student budget) and what college students have money to throw around in some crowded, claustrophobic “urban center?” I couldn’t afford Broadway plays after I GRADUATED from college, never mind while I was a student. </p>
<p>I was born and raised in the Northeast, but I resent the Northeastern bias held by so many Northeasterners on CC. Best time I ever had was grad school in the Midwest. I think that is the reason I don’t mind spending an entire day driving out to Oberlin and another entire day driving back. It’s the time I get to spend while I’m there with my daughter. But I also just love being back in the midwest. I’m sorry but people are just nicer in the midwest.</p>
<p>Plainsman - please tell us where this other area is - I’m so sick of Elyria. I know you mentioned North Olmsted in the past. </p>
<p>Also, if other parents have bid on hotels on Priceline, would you mind sharing what your winning bids were?</p>
<p>We have used Priceline in the past for Elyria - and have bid as low as $39 for a 2 1/2 star - in Elyria that is the Holiday Inn.</p>
<p>My son is a first year student at Oberlin. Although I am from the northeast, I share your general enthusiasm for where he is. While in the ideal world the town would have more restaurants, etc. and there would be easier access to Cleveland, my son loves the town and finds it so welcoming and quaint. And he loves the students and school. They feel so comfortable there and are very engaged and involved in their intellectual lives on campus. That is what college shoud be about!!</p>
<p>I agree! My daughter (also a first year) could not be more happier with Oberlin, both academically and socially. She too loves the quaint small town and especially values how accessible community interactions are. She arrived early to work at Jones Farm, did a learning garden for an environmental studies class project at a local elementary school and knows all of the shop owners by name. The personal interactions available in a small town are valuable.</p>
<p>Need 2 Learn, </p>
<p>It sounds like you’ve already been hanging out at the Cobblestone Square Mall area in Elyria. They were the closer movie theaters (in a decent neighborhood) that I was referring to, and that we only discovered last weekend. It was actually my first time “hanging out” in Elyria. If there is a rundown section of Elyria, I haven’t found it. Hopefully, I’ll never stumble into it. </p>
<p>I occasionally stay at the Country Inn & Suites in Elyria, but much more often stay up in North Olmsted at the Marriott Courtyard on Country Club Boulevard. There is an upscale mall area north of there in Westlake where my Obie daughter and some dormmates visited, to shop and enjoy a movie. It’s only a few minutes from the Marriott Courtyard. The Great Northern Mall -a big enclosed mall - is on the other side of the street from the Marriott. Hidden behind the Great Northern Mall are three other, smaller outdoor malls with a ton of restaurants and stores. It’s very solidly middle class and safe. </p>
<p>Lately, the Marriott started offering me the Oberlin College rate, perhaps because I stay there so often. I’ve also stayed there for free. 
The Macaroni Grill, Chili’s, and a steakhouse are literally right next door. I just walk over. That’s a big improvement over the Arby’s and McDonald’s which are right next to the Country Inn & Suites. </p>
<p>The Oberlin College rate at the Marriott comes with the all you can eat breakfast buffet. Without it, you have to pay an additional 10.99 per person for the hot breakfast. I like the workout room at the Marriott. It’s small but nicely equipped. Homestead Suites is cheaper and right next door, if you want it. They allow pets; the Marriott doesn’t. The downside to the cheaper Homestead Suites is that breakfast and working out are not strong features.</p>
<p>But the upscale area I referred to is close to North Olmsted, in the opposite direction of Elyria. Granted, North Olmsted and Westlake are further away from campus, but I don’t care. I want to be comfortable and go out somewhere without going into “the city.” I have no interest in venturing into Cleveland.</p>
<p>Need 2 Learn, </p>
<p>It sounds like you’ve already been hanging out at the Cobblestone Square Mall area in Elyria. They were the closer movie theaters (in a decent neighborhood) that I was referring to, and that we only discovered last weekend. It was actually my first time “hanging out” in Elyria. If there is a rundown section of Elyria, I haven’t found it. Hopefully, I’ll never stumble into it. </p>
<p>I occasionally stay at the Country Inn & Suites in Elyria, but much more often stay up in North Olmsted at the Marriott Courtyard on Country Club Boulevard. There is an upscale mall area north of there in Westlake where my Obie daughter and some dormmates visited, to shop and enjoy a movie. It’s only a few minutes from the Marriott Courtyard. The Great Northern Mall -a big enclosed mall - is on the other side of the street from the Marriott. Hidden behind the Great Northern Mall are three other, smaller outdoor malls with a ton of restaurants and stores. It’s very solidly middle class and safe. </p>
<p>Lately, the Marriott started offering me the Oberlin College rate, perhaps because I stay there so often. I’ve also stayed there for free. The Macaroni Grill, Chili’s, and a steakhouse are literally right next door. I just walk over. That’s a big improvement over the Arby’s and McDonald’s which are right next to the Country Inn & Suites. </p>
<p>The Oberlin College rate at the Marriott comes with the all you can eat breakfast buffet. Without it, you have to pay an additional 10.99 per person for the hot breakfast. I like the workout room at the Marriott. It’s small but nicely equipped. Homestead Suites is cheaper and right next door, if you want it. They allow pets; the Marriott doesn’t. The downside to the cheaper Homestead Suites is that breakfast and working out are not strong features.</p>
<p>But the upscale area I referred to is close to North Olmsted, in the opposite direction of Elyria. Granted, North Olmsted and Westlake are further away from campus, but I don’t care. I want to be comfortable and go out somewhere without going into “the city.” I have no interest in venturing into Cleveland.</p>
<p>Consider posting this over in the Wes forum as well.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Plainsman. We usually travel with our wonderdog, because our Obie misses her. The Holiday Inn in Elyria lets her stay there, but we have to take a room in the motel part instead of the much nicer tower. And as I’ve mentioned in earlier threads …it’s right next door to the abandoned “gentlemen’s club”. We’ve learned it closed when it was discovered that one of the dancers was underage.</p>
<p>Need2Learn,</p>
<p>I don’t think I’d enjoy staying in an area next to a “Gentlemen’s Club” closed or not. There’s got to be some seediness to the general area. I’m guessing; I’ve never stayed there. I’ve never seen the Holiday Inn in Elyria. </p>
<p>I did stay at the Homestead Suites in North Olmsted one time, when I found it necessary to bring our dog. The room was very clean but Spartan. It was also a lot cheaper than the Marriott Courtyard next door. It was something like $59 bucks plus an extra $25 for the dog. I admit I’m willing to pay a little more to be a little more comfortable but the Courtyard seems to be downscaling some features causing me to have second thoughts. But I have Marriott points, so I get occasional free stays. HBO was not on the telly in my room at the Ccourtyard, the last time I stayed there. I didn’t see ESPN either. That’s almost un-American. Oh well. I go to Ohio to see my daughter not to watch cable television.</p>
<p>By the way, I forgot to mention there is a Ramada right across the street from the Courtyard and Homestead Suites. I’ve never stayed there.</p>