<p>I have yet to take a tour so for now I just wanted to get some opinions of the campus. How are the dorms, teaching halls, ect. ect. Are there lots of things to do around campus? And, I hate to ask, but feel I must...whats the social scene like? thanks, </p>
<p>-nae nae</p>
<p>The campus is attractive, but not in a Georgian style New England way. The campus is right in town, the campus square is the town square....so that tells you the town is tiny...but historically very significant (look it up). the building style of the older buildings is Italianate (unfamiliar for me since I was used to the New England and Virginia colonial red-brick style) and there also is a mish mash of cool modern-to - not so cool shabby modern buildings.. all mixed together. All in all, the campus is cosy and nice, very unpretensious, very "lived in" and while comfortable, does not take itself too seriously. A relief after visits to Bowdoin, Bates, Colby, UVA etc which have uber-campuses (small but very design conscious) ....I knew after a day that I loved the school and the relaxed setting. this may offend some Obies or Obie alums ...but the feeling of not being afraid to seem a little ugly here and there or to have its slip showing impressed me. It showed me that Oberlin's true priorities were "labor and learning". Look at the view book: the message is "do you think you can make a difference"...not don't you think this is the coolest campus. btw the same goes for the food ..it is only ok..BUT I can go to the chinese table 3 times a week for chinese language lunch which includes a regular group students and faculty and very senior emeritus chinese faculty...and it's a blast!)</p>
<p>attractive? you gotta be kidding me. i was there not long ago and the buidlings are old and rotten.</p>
<p>What the hell? Oberlin is a beautiful town.</p>
<p>I <3 Oberlin's library. Coolest couches ever. The conservatory buildings do look a bit like radiators, though...</p>
<p>It's a gorgeous campus. Much of it designed by Cass Gilbert, one of the most important early-20th-c. architects.</p>
<p>but now the school doesnt have enough $ for maintenace and many of the buildings are just rotten. classrooms smell like ****...ewww gross. id say denison has a much nicer campus.</p>
<p>wat?:O classrooms smell?:O</p>
<p>When I first visited Oberlin, I was seriously underwhelmed by the buildings. They seemed in various states of disrepair and looked like radiators.</p>
<p>I've been here for the better part of a year now and my opinion couldn't have changed more.</p>
<p>Like the above posters have said, Oberlin doesn't look coherent or extensively planned out. But it has a large amount of variety of buildings, which is also awesome.</p>
<p>Lest people think that all of the buildings are ugly, here are some of my favorites:</p>
<p>Peters Hall is a turn-of-the-century stone building that looks like a castle. To paraphrase a book I've been reading about Oberlin's architecture, the architects who desidned Peters said that they didn't think they'd ever come close to designing a perfect building, but this was it. The great hall on the first floor is wooden and beautiful and full of Oberlin history.</p>
<p>The Environmental Studies Center is just cool - sustainable, recycled, and cool looking. It's one of the newest buildings on campus, too.</p>
<p>Talcott and Baldwin are two dorms on South campus that are also beautiful, inside and out.</p>
<p>Severance Hall is the home to the psych department, but used to be the main chem building. The inside isn't as nice as the outside, but I hear a rennovation is in the works.</p>
<p>Finney Chapel is the main performance for large musical groups, and it's awesome. It was rennovated a few years back and a huge new beautiful organ was installed. One of my favorite buildings on campus.</p>
<p>Bosworth Hall houses Fairchild chapel. The first time I went inside, I feel like I was transported back to the Middle Ages. Catholic services are held there every week, and it's also the home to performances by the Obertones (acapella group).</p>
<p>The Science Center is huge, modern, and a great place to work - science major or not. </p>
<p>Sure, some buildings aren't as nice. Many of the dorms aren't as nice, but they all serve their job. King and the Conservatory both kind of look like radiators, but they grow on you over time. Also, they were both designed by the same architect as the World Trade Center in New York.</p>
<p>I was turned off by Mudd's disco colors, but they've become part of my Oberlin experience. The rainbow chairs are ridiculously comfy.</p>
<p>In the end, I think that the Oberlin buildings and campus are representative of the students: a little mismatched, but all interesting and charming. Besides, a campus is more than they buildings themselves - it's about what goes on inside the buildings, and how people use the buildingd they DO have. </p>
<p>Obies use them well.</p>
<p>And, I really don't think anything smells too bad.</p>
<p>Ezra '09</p>
<p>i was just surprised...because a good school cannot neglet their facilities that much (for the buildings to smell T_T) but anyway, since more than 3000 ppl have been living happily there i dont think it matters much ^^</p>
<p>are you kidding! oberlins campus is awesome! its so perfect. it is the ideal college town with regards to everything. The buildings are in themselves an architectual museum! Whoever says its ugly go to john's hopkins, now THAT is ugly... Obie is one of the more beautiful campuses</p>
<p>Don't believe whoever said that the buildings aren't well-maintained. He doesn't know what he's talking about. Oberlin is a wealthy school, and the campus is in very good shape.</p>
<p>"Oberlin is a wealthy school, and the campus is in very good shape."</p>
<p>i strongly disagree. take a look at this article from oberlin website;</p>
<p>"There is not enough money, however, to restore Oberlins historically important role in the highly competitive higher education marketplace."</p>
<p>Oberlin's endowment is in the top of 10 liberal arts schools, nationally. It grew by more than 18% in 2005 to reach $704 million.</p>
<p>Oberlin, like just about every college, elite or not, routinely tries to do more than it can afford to do. That's okay. Our schools all aim high. A few people panic every year and label Obie's approach as financially irresponsible and unsustainable. However, Dave72 is right: Oberlin is a wealthy school.</p>
<p>Hi guys, as you can see, I am the real Kenyon<em>10 and obviously someone is trying to imitate me. Oberlin is a fine fine school, great academics, great people and stuff like that. Please, Kenyon</em>01 do not come from Kenyon and he just has something against me. So don't listen to him. He is a troll.</p>
<p>kenyon_10:why do you have to go around harassing me? i may not have the same opinions as you but that doesnt make me wrong. everyone is entitled to her opinions, have some respect. I have visited oberlin and yes i go to kenyon!</p>
<p>I hear that Kenyon kids go to Oberlin because the library is so good.</p>
<p>not really, i mean you have a better library but you hippies smell~</p>