Some Impressive Programs

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
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<p>Here's some programs at Oberlin that have impressed me, as a parent observer:</p>

<p>1) For those so inclined, the Oberlin Business Scholars program provides students with in-depth information and training in job hunting/ networking methods, and exposure particularly to financial services jobs. The program is sponsored and aided substantially by the alumni network.</p>

<p>[Under-mentioned factoid: one of the biggest wheels on Wall Street in the 80s- CEO of then-powerful Salomon Brothers, John Gutfreund - is an Oberlin alumnus].</p>

<p>Not everyone is a budding PhD. Though future Wall Streeters may not constitute a majority at Oberlin, its good to know that those who have, or develop, such aspirations can and do exist here, and are not abandoned by the college. This is genuinely an impressive program.</p>

<p>2) For future politicians, Oberlin Cole Scholars receive training, course work and internships oriented towards active involvement in politics. Another impressive program.</p>

<p>3) The recent Oberlin Conservatory performance at Carnegie Hall was reportedly great; sorry I missed it.</p>

<p>On another note, I hear some of the Oberlin ED acceptees got together earlier this year, via Facebook or whatever that is, in NYC. And had a great time.</p>

<p>Good luck to all making the tough decisions in the days ahead.</p>

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<p>There are also the Oberlin Shansi Fellowships, which support two years of teaching and/or research in Asia. </p>

<p>These fellowships, which are only open to Oberlin seniors, provide language training, transportation, and (through the host institution) a job with housing. Shansi has sent Oberlin grads to the PRC, Japan, Indonesia, India, and other places for decades. The program is just one of many strong ties between Oberlin and Asia. </p>

<p>The Shansi fellows end up doing lots of different and interesting things. For example, David Youtz (Oberlin '82) was a fellow in China, and is now head of the Asia Desk at Morgan Stanley. Others have pursued careers in science, the arts, medicine, academics, and other fields. </p>

<p>This is from the Oberlin Shansi web site:</p>

<p>"Oberlin Shansi is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt organization which operates on the Oberlin College campus. The organization promotes understanding and communication between Asians and Americans through individual and group educational programs and community projects. The aim of these endeavors is to make constructive and useful contributions to Asian and American institutions, programs, and communities. It is one of the oldest educational exchange institutions in the United States and is one of the distinguishing features of the Oberlin campus.</p>

<p>Shansi's roots are in the social and religious movement, which was the impulse for founding Oberlin College. Shansi was founded in 1908 to provide support and guidance for the consolidation of educational efforts at the Ming Hsien Schools in Taigu, Shanxi Province, China, which were begun in the late 1880s by a group of Oberlin graduates. In 1918 the Shansi Association sent young Oberlinians to Ming Hsien starting the tradition of sending young Oberlin graduates to Asia.</p>

<p>Over time, these young people played a role in the expansion of the Ming Hsien curriculum to prepare students for the realities of life in Shanxi. An agricultural section was added, followed by an industrial arts section, and later by promoting work in rural reconstruction. Unfortunately, in 1951, with the outbreak of the Korean War, all connections between Oberlin and Shanxi Province were severed. During the fifties, formal educational exchange relationships were established with Tunghai University in Taiwan, and with Lady Doak and The American College in Madurai, South India. Many young Chinese and Indian faculty members came to Oberlin to study and share their cultures. Young Oberlinians taught English and participated in extracurricular activities on those campuses setting the unique program of working towards increased understanding between Americans and Asians.</p>

<p>During the seventies, Shansi expanded its programs to universities in Indonesia and Japan, and for a time to South Korea and Thailand. Then, after a break of thirty years, formal ties were re-established with Shanxi Agricultural University on the Taigu campus. In the fall of 1988, the China program shifted to Yunnan University in southwest China and the Taigu program was re-evaluated and recast. Today the Association supports these China programs and those in India, Indonesia, and Japan." </p>

<p>The Japan fellows work at Obirin University in Tokyo, which was founded by Yasuzo Shimizu, 1926 graduate of Oberlin College.</p>

<p>For more information on the Oberlin Shansi program, go to <a href="http://www.shansi.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.shansi.org&lt;/a>. It should redirect you to the proper site.</p>

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<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I love Oberlin. This is the only forum (in forums of the colleges I applied to) that so many alumni are actually telling us about Oberlin. paying3tutions had a great post in the Ob Parents Council Letter thread, too. </p>

<p>I haven't been accepted anywhere else yet, so I'm very seriously thinking about Oberlin. :D. Very very seriously.</p>

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<p>Hey.. How about Oberlin's Physics and Maths programs..</p>

<p>I dunno much other than the fact that one student won the Apker and went to Harvard grad school.. Are their M and P strong?.. Plenty got accepted to Ivy grad schools?..</p>

<p>Thanks..</p>

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<p>From what I can tell the math department is excellent. My daughter has found excellent courses, with excellent instruction. It is not easy though.</p>

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<p>How about physics..? </p>

<p>Do top grad schools accept Oberlin graduates? I know as long as you finish top in Obe you can go everywhere.. but what if someone is just around the top 25%?..</p>

<p>I'm asking as a prospective student only..</p>

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<p>OK this is what I did before my daughter's final selection of Oberlin.</p>

<p>Her other final choice was "ranked" near the top, however she preferred Oberlin. So I wanted to do a double-check that she wasn't harming her future prospects in any way by going where she wanted to go.</p>

<p>It turns out I have an acquaintance from my youth who, I had recently learned, wound up as a Professor at Oberlin, of long standing. So I contacted this person and asked the following question, precisely: "Do Oberlin students get into the grad programs they deserve to get into, based on their actual ability?" </p>

<p>The answer was a resounding yes; Oberlin's grad school placement was in fact excellent. And a sincere yes, from someone who I know "from the old days" who would not do me wrong.</p>

<p>I passed this on, and the rest is history, as they say.</p>

<p>Don't know anything about Physics, xcept bunch of profs were trained at Cornell, so therefore must be tops & brilliant...</p>

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<p>Monydad.. thanks..</p>

<p>I had checked out the Physics department site beofre.. Mostly Cornell graduates.. probably they could get their students into Cornell too.. Thanks..</p>