Who typically gets accepted to Oberlin?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Oberlin College
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<p>It happened so that more than once I heard/read stories about students rejected from Oberlin because they were "too good". Some of their friends with less impressing stats were accepted (that's why the rejected kids knew about those cases); there was overall impression that Oberlin adcoms were too "yeld-concious" (or had a bad case of "Tufts sindrom") and did their best to accept only those who would attend Oberlin for sure. (Too bad, some of those rejected kids (such as my friend's son) actually concidered Oberlin as their top choice.)</p>

<p>The question in the app "What other colleges are you applying to?" shows in the same direction, too. :-(</p>

<p>So, what are the typical stats for the accepted students? What "other colleges" are right for answering the above question without awakening adcoms' inferrirority complex? What should be written in the "Why Oberlin?" essay so that it impress adcoms and made them accept the kid?</p>

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<p>Funny, I know someone who was admitted to Oberlin with much higher than average stats, but was rejected from some other very similar places. Several other posters right here on CC have been admitted there with far-above average stats. With all selective college admissions these days there is an element of randomness.</p>

<p>It seems like fit is very important to many, if not most, colleges. IMO Oberlin has particular reason to consider fit, because it is not for everybody. Many people who "get" it seek it out, but some people just don't belong there and might not be happy.</p>

<p>I would say, if you're considering Oberlin definitely visit, get an interview, do all the things you're supposed to do. Then if based on what you've read and observed first-hand you want to go there, apply. Don't apply of you don't really want to go. If one follows this principle, your well-founded reasons for wanting to go there, why Oberlin is a match for you, will easily shine through in your essays. Then you will have a decent chance I think, if the rest of your application is up to snuff. But yet no guarantees; this is what happens when only 1/3 or so of applicants are admitted.</p>

<p>What you should write, IMO, is the truth. If you are actually a good fit, then the truth will only reinforce this. </p>

<p>What can I say, it's tough out there. For Oberlin, as well as the many other selective colleges. I don't see Oberlin as being particularly different in this regard. YMMV.</p>

<p>Stats for incoming recent classes can be found in the various college guide books, US News & World Report College Issue, etc. I don't know about a source for accepted students stats though, just enrolled students.</p>

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<p>My son was admitted with very high stats. It was not his first choice school. He visited once over the summer and did not interview. (He might have met with an admissions rep when they visited his high school.) I think when he applied, Oberlin was his 3rd choice school. I have no idea what he wrote in his Why Oberlin essay but I know that he struggled with it and it was the last thing he did for all his applications. </p>

<p>When acceptances came out, he was waitlisted at his first choice and admitted to his other 3. In thinking about things, he realized he hadn't spent as much time getting to know Oberlin as he should. He visited during one of the accepted students days and decided to attend. He is quite happy and loves the school. It is definitely a good fit for him. He was also awarded a sizable merit scholarship. His experience would essentially refute the argument that Oberlin has "Tufts Syndrome".</p>

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<p>Whenever kids with high stats get rejected from anywhere other than HPY etc., they say it's because they're "too good." I think so many students fail to realize that it's NOT simply a numbers game: Just because SAT scores may be slightly higher doesn't make someone a more qualified than another applicant. Small liberal arts colleges look for a mix of kids who will fit into a community -- not necessarily the highest numbers it can get.</p>

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<p>My friend's son's story was such as he visited Oberlin more than once, had lesson and interview with Conservatory professor (who made an impression on him that the boy would be highly desired applicant), genuinely loved the school ... and still was rejected.</p>

<p>My daughter is interested in Oberlin's double degree program (BM/BS), so if she decides to apply - then we'd probably visit Oberlin anyway - on conservatory auditions day. The problem is, Oberlin is pretty far from our home (we live in CA), isn't anywhere near other colleges we might try to visit before application, and our sources (both in terms of time and money) for all that traveling are somewhat limited. So, wouldn't visiting it for audition be enough for finding out about a "fit"?</p>

<p>Also, if she decides to apply to to BM/BS programs to several different colleges/universities with conservatories, then her college list, probably, will look something like "JHU/Peabody, Rochester/Eastman, CMU, BU, USC, UMich, maybe Lawrence ... some UC's ..." etc. Which ones are good for indicating in Oberlin application (answering the "What other colleges?" question), and which are better not to appear there?</p>

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<p>I would agree that the "Why Oberlin?" essay is very important. Familiarity with the school's history (its importance in American political thought and action), the novel aspects of its curriculum, the uniqueness of its social life and the way in which all of the preceding intersects with a student's interests and goals should give the admissions committee a clear indication of the applicant's level of interest. When I applied to Oberlin, I honestly answered the "What other schools?" question with "Yale, UChicago,..." and I don't think it really had an effect either way. I imagine they're more interested in who the competition is in general. And after years in the business, most admissions personnel know to which other schools you're applying from your stats, geographic location, activities, and from the very fact the you're applying to Oberlin. (E.g., Berkeley, Reed, UChicago, Grinnell, Carleton, Wesleyan, Vassar, Yale, Brown, etc.) </p>

<p>Though, now that I just read what I wrote, I suppose if the applicant's other schools seemed very different from Oberlin in character and social environment maybe the admissions officer would sense that the student hadn't done their homework. My point: I wouldn't hesitate to list Harvard, Yale, etc. for the other schools because that's to be expected and everyone knows admission to such places is a crapshoot. But the character (size, history, social life, intellectualism, etc.) of the other schools might indicate the appropriatenes of Oberlin for the student.</p>

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<p>It seems like there are relatively few places where one can combine conservatory-level instrument study with high-quality academics. And admission is quite selective at each of these places. Given this, I imagine that it is completely typical for someone with those objectives to apply to a number of those few programs. </p>

<p>The typical list for Con applicants is probably different than the typical list for applicants to the College only.</p>

<p>As for the College alone, I think it's funny half of tutoum's list represented 3/4 of my daughter's list, so there might be something to that. But I'm sure the variation is quite wide, as are the interests and personal situations of the applicants. I do not think that one needs to, or ought to, artificially manipulate one's response to these little application questions. YMMV.</p>

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<p>My advice is to not answer the part about what other schools you are applying to. I don't see any way it can help you, only hurt if they think Oberlin is just your safety, or is so far superior to your other choices there must be something wrong with your application. If you list a bunch of Ivies and you are clearly below their standards, that won't help either. I'm pretty sure I remember this question being optional anyway.</p>

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<p>It doesn't look optional for me. There is no indication on the app about that question being less required than any other.</p>

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<p>In reference to that, they can't accept or deny you because of the other schools you are applying to. That is completely bias if they assume "Hey look she could get into Harvard easily...we're just her safety". I think I remember it saying "The answer to this question will in no way affect our admissions decision"</p>

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<p>Where on the application are they saying it?</p>

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<p>No one is rejected from Oberlin for being "too good." Period. If applicants are rejected, it's because they either don't measure up academically (or musically, in the case of Conservatory applicants) or they aren't perceived as good fits for the campus community.</p>

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<p>I left the "other colleges" question blank :<.</p>

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<p>Hope that works out for you.</p>

<p>If I were an admissions officer and decided that an applicant intentionally left this question blank, I think I would be tempted conclude that they did so as a tactical matter for some reason that would not reflect well on their candidacy. </p>

<p>For example, perhaps because they were indiscriminately applying to the whole universe, not necessarily a subset that reasonably would include my school. So the reasonable fit of the school in the applicant's planning has not been demonstrated. Or they thought that, based on where they were applying, they felt somehow they were too "good" for my school, that's why they were hiding their list. That's sort of an insult, actually. Either way, this could be an indication that their interest in, and likelihood of matriculating at, my school was likely low.</p>

<p>In short, when requested information is deliberately withheld I would be tempted to draw a conclusion that was unfavorable to the applicant. If such a thing exists in this context.</p>

<p>But I am not an admissions officer.</p>

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<p>So, monydad, what would you answer on this question, if you were the applicant to Oberlin? :-)</p>

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<p>you didn't ask me myau, but here's what i would do: honestly answer the question.</p>

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<p>A couple years ago my daughter was an applicant to Oberlin. she answered the questions honestly. She was admitted.</p>

<p>Were I an applicant I would answer honestly too.</p>

<p>What you do is up to you. Frankly it wouldn't have occurred to me to agonize about this, or even give it a second thought.</p>

<p>If your kid is really into manipulating answers to get some hypothetical edge, maybe some Ivy or prestige-oriented schools with high US News rankings, which send high proportions to business careeers, might be appealing environments. Just something to consider.</p>

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<p>I took that question as a chance to show what company Oberlin keeps, in the mind of the applicant. There are all kinds of reasons that colleges and universities are comparable, for a given applicant. In my daughter's case, it was a particular major, one of the popular ones at Oberlin. The other schools she applied to had comparable versions of the major.</p>

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<p>My son, who was admitted, also answered the question honestly.</p>

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<p>"What you do is up to you. Frankly it wouldn't have occurred to me to agonize about this, or even give it a second thought."</p>

<p>When I was filling out the application, I read a thread on CC, which said that someone talked to an ex admissions rep, and she said that in quite a few cases. admissions decisions are based on the other colleges you've applied to. I was going to fill it in honestly too, but then I read this thread, and well, I didn't want to take any chances.</p>

<p>"If your kid is really into manipulating answers to get some hypothetical edge, maybe some Ivy or prestige-oriented schools with high US News rankings, which send high proportions to business careers, might be appealing environments. Just something to consider."</p>

<p>I wasn't trying to manipulate anything, I really want to go to Oberlin. I just didn't want to hurt my chances. I applied to HYP, although I prefer LACs, and well, like I said above, I just didn't want to risk it.</p>

<p>"For example, perhaps because they were indiscriminately applying to the whole universe, not necessarily a subset that reasonably would include my school."</p>

<p>I wrote a very very specific "Why Oberlin?" essay, so maybe that would help clarify that?</p>

<p>"In short, when requested information is deliberately withheld I would be tempted to draw a conclusion that was unfavorable to the applicant. If such a thing exists in this context."</p>

<p>Well, yeah, you're right. You could look at it both ways. >.<. This is only getting me more nervous.</p>