<p>I am a Jewish Northeasterner who wants to study Creative Writing and political science. I enjoy a good hippie/hipster/alternative culture at any school, but was turned off by the extreme level of inwardness I found with the students at Wesleyan. I would like to go to college where students are genuinely engaged with their studies and will take stimulating/intellectual discussions outside of the classrooms. I appreciate diversity and even though I lean left politically, I am somewhat frustrated with an intense level of political correctness to the point where it becomes discriminatory. In regards to substances, I'm okay with drugs and alcohol around me but not to where I'm forced to do it by my peers.</p>
<p>It sounds like a good fit to me. My D is a freshman studying Creative Writing. She also didn’t connect with Wesleyan but fell in love with Oberlin when she set foot on the campus. And she loves the school, her classes, her friends. I don’t think you’ll find many students who are not liberal, but there are kids from all over the country and the world so I think that offers different perspectives. Also, I don’t think you’ll feel any pressure at all in terms of drinking and drugs. Oberlin seems to be all about being allowed to be who you are. But of course the best way to find out if it’s a fit is to visit if you can.</p>
<p>Yes, I think you would like Oberlin very much. For writing, I think it is great - lots of quiet spaces (I did my creative writing in alot of places, the arb, Mudd, coops, outskirts of town), lots of quirky interesting people that inspired me.</p>
<p>My D2 considered Wesleyan and other LACs before deciding on Oberlin. She’s now a sophomore. She high schooled in the northeast but was raised before that in the midwest. While New York and California probably represent the two largest state contingents at Oberlin, the college’s underground railroad legacy, location, and the fact that most administrative staff are locals (i.e. midwesterners) does make for a different flavor than Northeastern LACs. On her pre-enrollment visits (she made two) my D2 found Oberlin students less self-absorbed than their counterparts at Wesleyan and other schools in New England. </p>
<p>As a native of the tri-state, NY, Connecticut and NJ area, I find the Midwest like a breath of fresh air compared to my home territory, and I’m not referring to the air quality either. </p>
<p>I noticed you also identified yourself as Jewish. Oberlin has a fairly significant Jewish student population (according to my D2), if that is important to you. My D2 enjoys the Friday night Shabbat meal with her friends, Jewish and non-Jewish. She is not Jewish, but she always feels welcome.</p>
<p>Finally, if you love music, no LAC can hold a candle to Oberlin’s world class music conservatory (not just a music department) - Liberal Arts college combination. That alone makes the school a very special place.</p>
<p>Based on this info you give, you sound like you would be a great match for Oberlin. I’m a current student, and I can tell you I know a lot of students currently here that sound a heck of a lot like you. I would suggest coming to visit though, so you can get a real feel for it. Do an overnight!</p>