<p>Here are 10 reasons:
1. academic excellence, across the humanities and sciences; one of the highest rates of any 4 year college for producing future PhD's
2. presence of a world-class conservatory, for classical and jazz performance -- with a double degree program that is institutionally supported
3. art museum -- with a unique art rental program for students
4. libraries -- one of the largest collections for a 4 year college and great study spaces
5. architecture -- featuring buildings by Cass Gilbert (who designed the US Supreme Court Building in Wash. DC) and Minori Yamasaki (who designed the World Trade Center); there's also a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian house.
6. history of social activism -- was on the underground railroad, one of the first colleges to admit women and African-Americans
7. environmental commitment -- green buildings, local foods
8. student coops -- one of the largest organizations of student run dining and housing at any college in the country.
9. location -- safe, accessible (national airport nearby), close-ish to Cleveland (symphony, museums, restaurants, theater) but Oberlin is self-contained, with loads of music events, lectures, films, theater productions
10. students: smart, thoughtful, creative, engaged, and tolerant -- if not fearless</p>
<p>wow, i love this place even more now.<br>
thank you!</p>
<p>Could someone tell me what the town of Oberlin is like? Walking distance from campus? Lots of bookstores? Etc. etc. Thanks.</p>
<p>The town and campus are seamlessly inter-connected because Tappan Square, designed by the great American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, is the green center for both town and campus. His concept when the town was first developing was to create one central green space, anchored by campus buildings on 3 sides, and the town's Main Street on the fourth side. </p>
<p>When you walk across the wooded Tappan Square from classes to your dorm, you might see a town family walking their dog, along with other college students.</p>
<p>The two main streets (No. Main and Professor) are literally across the street from Tappan Square. There are bookstores, cafes, pharmacy, ice cream shop with outdoor tables on a wide sidewalk. On the intersecting street, many small restaurants, including some Spanish, Asian and other cuisines. I don't recall seeing any fast food restaurants in the center of town. </p>
<p>It is the opposite of feeling that you are in some gated college environment. </p>
<p>Many functions run by the college are open to the town, or even created for the town. A few examples: Allen Memorial Art Museum conducts an art fair right on the lawn of Tappan Square, where college students work with town kids. There's a course in the Psychology department called "Practicum in Autism" where college students work one-on-one with special needs children in the Oberlin public schools, all walkable from campous. When OCircus performs, invitations go out to the kids in town, and families attend.</p>
<p>Mamenyu, please chime in! Your OP showed a lot of understanding of the school.</p>
<p>mamenyu, are you an Obie?</p>
<p>No, but I am the mother (and wife) of one (two?) and have spent some time there.</p>
<p>mamenyu, you are an articulate cheerleader for Oberlin.</p>
<p>There's a lot to cheer about; it has a great and intriguing history and is, today, an excellent academic institution with some unique features -- the Conservatory, soon-to-be built Jazz building, art museum, "green" activism, and Coop system unequaled in any similarly-sized institution. There is also an impressive list of visiting speakers and performers. And there are sports teams, too -- it is not just for "artsy" students.<br>
The town and college are interconnected both historically and as a practical matter -- there are a couple of blocks of stores, no chains among them, apart from the Barnes and Noble-run bookstore; you can find just about anything you might need, though the clothing stores are few and funky. (There's a Macy's in the neighboring town of Elyria.) The new president, Marvin Krislov, seems committed to working with the town in creative ways to enhance both the college and town environments. Some nice local restaurants, too. And the prices are very reasonable compared to the Coasts.</p>