Transferring: Information About Schools

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
1

Hello Everyone!

I am currently in the process of researching a number of different schools with the intent to apply as a transfer student, and I would appreciate any insight into the schools listed below in terms of the strength of the departments I am interested in pursuing, how they compare to one another (which is, perhaps, a bit of a silly question in that they are all somewhat similar in terms of academic quality), and graduate school placement is also of interest.

Currently, I am a student at Marlboro College, intending to study some amalgam of the humanities and social sciences (likely some combination of Anthropology and Sociology and History). If I recall correctly, my GPA is currently somewhere in the 3.9 area; I’ve become involved in a few different clubs on campus, and I will be working with one of my professors on a project this coming semester. The size and focus of class, the interdisciplinary environment of the departments, the access and relationship with professors, and the process of the Plan of Concentration were all factors in my matriculating. However, though I have formed wonderful relationships with a few professors, I am not quite satisfied with the school. Academic rigor is a primary motivation for looking elsewhere, as I felt classes were too easy. In addition, due to ever-decreasing rates of enrollment, the new president instituted a program that will give a new student from each state a full scholarship should they choose to attend. My fear, of course, is that this program, given Marlboro’s small endowment, will impact my financial aid such that I will not be able to afford to continue my studies.

The schools I am interested in applying to, in no particular order, are as follows: Reed College, Swarthmore College, Wesleyan University, College of William and Mary, Bates College, Oberlin College, Carleton College, University of Virginia, and the University of Michigan.

If I had to choose favorites, I would say Reed and Swarthmore are probably most appealing to me. That being said, there are programs of study at some of the others that are particularly appealing to me-the Classical and Medieval Studies programs at Bates and the College of Social Studies at Wesleyan, for example.

Any information or insight is greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

2

I am an Oberlin alumnus with a great deal of knowledge about Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan.

Presently, you are attending a very small college which I saw has about 200 students. The small school atmosphere must have been appealing to you.

If you want to make a radical change, and attend a Big Ten university with over 40,000 students, located in the middle of a medium-sized city, then Ann Arbor would be your place. It has thousands of courses, and I am certain you would find the mixture of courses and programs you desire. It is one of the top public universities for undergraduates, and also has an excellent graduate school. You would probably live in an off-campus apartment since there is not much housing for juniors and seniors. It is one of the best college towns with hundreds of nearby restaurants, bars, clubs, and stores. You would be exposed to a great college sports scene, topped off by the 109,000-seat Michigan Stadium and the Wolverines football team.

Oberlin is one of the larger liberal arts colleges and conservatories with close to 3,000 students. Because it is larger, it has more courses than would be at a typical 1,500 to 2,000 student college. I highly recommend that you visit its excellent website, where you can find out about the professors and the exact courses which are offered. The college is known for being very flexible in what people can major in, and in designing their own academic programs. Many of the students are double majors.

.

3

Oberlin has always had strong history and sociology departments, producing many graduates who go on to highly-ranked graduate schools. One of the history professors, Steven Volk, was recently US professor of the year.

Some of the things you would like about Oberlin:
-More of an intellectual place where students discuss currents topics, and are interested in learning and going to class;
-The music conservatory which has hundreds of concerts per year, and where students in the College of Arts and Sciences can take classes and lessons;
-Many active student organizations and extracurricular activities, including speakers, films, and plays. A common complaint is that there is too much to do. I just viewed a Youtube video about weekend dance lessons and dancing that many students participate in.
-Experimental college (or Exco) classes you can take, many of which are conducted by students. You can receive some college credit for this,
-There is college housing and board for everyone requesting it, but there is also a coop system where about 22% of the students board at primarily older large houses and former dormitories, operate the house, and cook the meals. It is also possible to live at one or more of the houses if there is room. Selection is by lottery, and the room and board cost is less than the regular system.