Hello all!
I’m being recruited by Oberlin’s track team and am going on an official visit next Sunday–Tuesday (October 2–4). What should I do while I’m there to make the most of my time and get a good feel for the campus? Any neat places I should try to explore?
You will spend most of your time on team-related activities as a team member will almost certainly be your host, you will go to meals with various groups of team members etc, and will meet with the coaching staff at some point, and watch a training session.
Additional things you can do: (1) sit in on classes – contact Admissions to ask if they have a list of classed which faculty are willing to open to visiting students, and then email the professor asking if you can sit in. Consider going to more than one class if you are on campus for two days. (2) If there are particular departments you know you are interested in, email the chair or administrative assistant asking if you can meet with someone to learn more about a particular program, or facility. But be prepared with questions which cannot be answered on the internet so that it is not a waste of time.
Both my kids visited Oberlin several times and found faculty and staff very responsive.
Go to Wilder Hall, the student union, where you can learn about all of the orgs and activities. Spend time on Tappan Square, the central part of town. Across from the east side of the square is the beautiful Allen Art Museum, which you might want to visit. Across from the south side of the square is part of downtown Oberlin with the bookstore. Get some donuts at Gibson’s. Go to a concert at the conservatory if you have time.
On your way to all of the aforementioned activities, please stop by Burton Hall and tell my son to eat more vegetables. 