<p>I'm an Oberlin grad and I can assure you that if you do well at Oberlin you'll have access to any of the top grad schools. Many of my friends went to HYP programs, among other quality programs. (Keep in mind that Oberlin counts endless PhDs among its alumni.) That being said, and at the risk of sounding trite, you should choose the school that best suits your goals and personality.</p>
<p>So I finally made a decision. Although Oberlin's conservatory is amazing and the school itself is wonderful, when i visited I really didn't feel like it was a good fit for me. I'm headed to the purple valley. :) Thanks for everyone who contributed their advice, you were all a great help.</p>