<p>i forget if there is a core or not at oberlin. i was wondering what the requirements are for classes, and if it is more flexible or not.
i'm also wondering about the atmosphere. i really love cities, with museums and such really close and just the dynamic, vibrant, moving feeling. when i visited oberlin it was sort of the opposite, though i visited over the summer. during the school year, is it more energetic? also, what is the atmosphere of the school? i think my main concern with oberlin is that when i visited i did feel a little stifled, but with students and events going on it may be different.</p>
<p>maybe i should mention that the other schools i'm considering are case western, the university of rochester, and to a lesser degree, the college of wooster</p>
<p>there are no actual core requirements. there is the 9-9-9 requirement (9 credits each in humanities, social sciences, and natural science, and then a 9 credit cultural diversity requirement, but that can be met within the previous requirement). there is also a quantitative proficiency and writing requirement, but that's taken care of with a class. </p>
<p>i visited during the school year, and it felt like there was always something happening and people going somewhere and doing something. you're right, it isn't a city. it's in the middle of cornfields. but that doesn't mean that it's a sleepy quiet little town that's dead after dark. </p>
<p>i can't really compare to the other schools since i don't know too much about them. the only thing i can say is that oberlin is very different from the other schools you have listed.</p>
<p>Oberlin in the summer is a small, sleepy Ohio town. Oberlin during the school year is <em>completely</em> different, a place where there's always much more going on than one person can possibly take advantage of. It's definitely NOT a city, but the school has a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere.</p>
<p>I'm a recent grad. Between the music events, the art museum and the myriad campus events and parties you needn't worry about being bored. And given that the workload can be very intense (depending on your major - i was neuroscience), the real concern is how to strike a healthy balance between work and play.</p>
<p>I just visited the other day and I used the Oberlin "events" website to make a list of things to do. I was going from one event to another to try to fit them all in. There is so much going on. The only issue is if you are the type of person that likes the stuff that goes on: like theatre performances, improv groups, cult movie showings, singer/songwriter showcases, and the like.</p>
<p>Yeah, when I was at Oberlin in October there was no way I fit in all of things I wanted to do!</p>