Why Oberlin Essay

<p>I was just curious about what some people used for their essays since the deadline is way past. You don't have to be specific I just wanted a general idea.
For mine I used their dedication to diversity (first college to allow women in, first college to allow african americans, stuff about undeground railroad, MVP programs, domitory selections (Russian, Asian, African...etc)...etc), big-small college (professor-student relationships, safety, community like setting), arts and sciences (conservatory, super computer, science center, green house/building that is run entirely with the use of solar power)...and that's pretty much it</p>

<p>I said that it was very liberal and accepting since it was the first university to not consider race and gender as a factor by accepting women and minorities. I also said that they valued Asian culture a lot since it is one of their strongest programs and I am really happy that a college as great as Oberlin valued it a lot. I also said that I want to go into biological research to stop the aging process and that the university has been at the forefront of accepting new ideas and discoveries. Basically, that's why I wanted to start my journey into research by studying at Oberlin.</p>

<p>Wow, i guess my essay will be rather unique in light of these two posts... My essay was actually a giant metaphor, kinda. Basically I wrote about walking barefoot as a metaphor for the way i have lived life. After visiting oberlin a couple times i noticed that some of the students like to walk around barefoot. So i pretty much connected this idea to taking risks and being outside your comfort zone as a way of experiencing everything life has to offer, yadda yadda. i wont give too much away. But my essay really didnt deal with specifics much at all... I dunno, im kinda counting on its uniqueness...</p>

<p>rhunter2007,</p>

<p>If you don't mind sharing, when did you apply to Oberlin and did you receive any type of mail from Oberlin yet?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>TimeMaster</p>

<p>I applied to oberlin RD, sent in my app probably about a week before the deadline. I have recieved several mailings from oberlin. I got a general confirmation letter, a course catalogue, and a couple of letters from the financial aid office saying they are beginning their assesment of my financial need, etc and what i still need to send in. Thats pretty much it i think...</p>

<p>Just in response, I've gotten a confirmation letter from the guy who is going to present my application to the admissions committee , something from the psychology department chair, and my official financial aid estimate (I went to MVP weekend and they gave us a form to fill out so we'd know how much financial aid we'd get, for me, they're paying all for about $6,800 a year which is to be covered by loan and workstudy.)</p>

<p>i received a dependent student financial aid confrimation letter, a letter from the chair of the economics department and a course catalog, as well as a call from their lacrosse coach just asking where oberlin stands on my list of schools etc., do my chances of getting accepted look good? i mean i thought my stats were low compared to most who apply. it doesnt hurt that im a minority though, glad asians are still a minority at some places...</p>

<p>i applied about 4 days before the deadline date. but i didn't send my transcripts till like the day of the deadline because of my school's winter break.i say dont worry about it though. it sounds like me and shaquitapack are both minorities, maybe they only send that stuff to minorites? i do not know for sure though</p>

<p>I got a course catalog, a letter from the politics department, and several mailings from them.</p>

<p>And...I'm white. I submitted my app January 10th, and my supplement January 14th. So...I don't know.</p>

<p>I just got a letter from the env. science department today. I also emailed with the swim coach a couple times...I dont think he felt i was strong enough for him to give me a tip or anything, but he said that they need male swimmers and that I would be welcome to join the team. </p>

<p>So, do you guys think that pretty much all applicants get this kind of mail, or do you think it is just oberlins own kind of 'likely letter'?</p>

<p>I don't know really, but it seems like a lot of people get these letter so...perhaps not so much?</p>

<p>Or they could just want all of us. =D</p>

<p>I got nothing.</p>

<p>well there are people who do not receive these letters and lets remember the people on cc are probobly above your average applicant. so i dont know if it means "likely letter" but probobly more like on your application you put down the following department and we thought you were a student based through a early glance who would fit well in that department so we sent you more information</p>

<p>My son got an e-mail from his admissions counselor saying how much he liked S's essay. We're hoping that's a good sign. He has a strong legacy connection through his Dad, so that should help (though the development officer says they don't weight it much).</p>

<p>i got an e-mail about them liking my essay last year and got in, so that's probably a very good sign!</p>

<p>OMG! I'm kind of freakin out now. I thought there was a separate essay for music ed, so I wrote about why I wanted to pursue music ed in the essay, as well as where I wanted to be in the future, but I thought it was a different prompt. Am I totally screwed now? I mean, it was a good essay, but it wasn't focused on the prompt "Write about your hopes and plans for your educational and professional development during the next ten years. Include such aspects as diverse interests, career goals, and options you wish to explore." Oh man....</p>

<p>umm...it specifically says "Why Oberlin?"...so i hope you included something about why/how Oberlin would help you reach those goals</p>

<p>Well, the prompt I was given is the quote in my above post, which isn't exactly why oberlin. Maybe I got a different essay topic? But that wouldn't make sense since it is the unified apps...maybe it's the year I applied for? 07-08?</p>

<p>Baritone: the Why Oberlin essay is for the College, not the Con. Your essay is probably fine -- according to the admissions people, the audition is about 80% of the basis for decisions.</p>

<p>Ah, I see now. Thank you, you have saved me a lot of unwanted stress. Wow, I didn't know the audition was 80%. That means that the app is virtually worthless, not so good for me, since I was counting on it to help supplement my voice. Hmmm, any clue if music teacher recs mean anything in the process?</p>