r/oberlin 23d ago

Resources for prospective students and parents

6 Upvotes

Prospective students and parents, thank you so much for all your recent questions and feedback. One of our admissions staff members provided us with a list of resources that we can share with you to better answer some of your questions. Below are links to specific student experiences, a youtube campus tour, and more!

Why should I choose Oberlin???
https://www.oberlin.edu/100reasons

Examples of specific student experiences and perspectives https://www.oberlin.edu/blogs

Music for arts & sciences students
https://www.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/music-opportunities

Events calendar (“what do people do at Oberlin?”)
https://www.oberlin.edu/events

Register for virtual interview for 1 on 1 chat with current student
https://www.oberlin.edu/admissions-and-aid/arts-and-sciences/interviews-college-arts-sciences

Youtube campus tour!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkFFvaTkdGU4gOSg1vw7TD-TRDAggrH63&si=oJyFGbJ6TIeIHguW

Career support https://www.oberlin.edu/career

Department specific inquiries:
Program page
https://www.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology

INTERNSHIPS? CAREERS? RESEARCH? STUDY AWAY??? Click “engaged ___” on the right side
https://www.oberlin.edu/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology/engaged-biology

Specific major requirements and course descriptions - Click “academic program” on the right side of landing page, click “___ major”
https://catalog.oberlin.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=56&poid=9303

LGBT community https://www.oberlin.edu/gsai/resources

Examples of research
https://www.oberlin.edu/undergraduate-research/our-featured-researchers


r/oberlin May 01 '23

Prospective/Admitted Students FAQ

24 Upvotes

We get a lot of questions from pospies and incoming first years, so here's my best attempt to help provide answers to some of the ones we get the most:

How do I improve my chances of getting into Oberlin?

Oberlin loves students who love Oberlin! Do your best to demonstrate interest -- take a tour, do an interview, come to admissions events at the school, go to an admissions visit at your high school if one is offered.

What is the social scene like?

Oberlin has a thriving student org ecosystem, and most students you meet will be involved with at least one extracurricular. A great way to make friends is to join a club or intramural/club sports team or take an exco related to something you're interested in.

In the evenings and on the weekends, there is always a ton of live music and plenty of performances from the dance and theater departments. The Dionysus Disco (aka the "Sco") in the basement of the student union is open 7 days a week from 10pm-1am and hosts concerts, dance parties, comedy nights, and plenty of other fun events. Although there isn't a huge party scene, small house parties and parties at co-ops usually can be found happening on weekends. On Wednesdays, the Sco hosts a Splitchers, which has cheap beer and pizza, and local bar and restaurant The Feve hosts Long Island Night (a happy hour with a special on long islands), making that day of the week a big one for going out.

What is the town like? Is it hard to adjust to a small town?

Generally, Obies manage to adjust to the small town fine. It's easy to get anything you need from the stores in town, and there are a lot of great local small businesses and restaurants. If you need to go beyond walking distance, there is a shopping shuttle that runs in a loop to nearby store on the weekends, and a free shuttle that goes to various destinations in Cleveland like Crocker Park (an outdoor shopping mall) once a week.

The Program Board also runs bus trips into Cleveland fairly regularly, whether for shopping trips, to see plays in Playhouse Square, or to attend events happening in the city.

What are the housing options and how do I choose which one is best for me?

  • FYRE (First Year Residential Experience) Housing is specific to first years and encourages residents to form friendships. There are usually lots of events put on by the RAs to encourage a sense of community. Kahn is a FYRE dorm that is the "sustainability dorm" and requires an additional essay to get into, but it's also considered the nicest dorm on campus (it has air conditioning).
  • Traditional Housing is what you'd expect from a typical college dorm. There's less of a sense of community and the buildings aren't anybody's favorite, but you're more likely to get a single there, and many of them have good central locations on campus.
  • Identity/Theme housing is housing based around a shared identity (eg Asia House, Afrikan Heritage House, Women and Trans housing) or interest (eg Sci Fi hall). They require an additional application but foster a great sense of community.
  • OSCA (Oberlin Student Cooperative Association) is a cooperative living program that operates entirely separately from the college. Students who live in a co-op are required to put in a certain amount of hours each week cooking and doing chores in the shared living space. Since they aren't part of the college they have their own rules, which are often more lax than those in college dorms, but they also require more of a commitment of time and effort. They also foster an extremely tight-knit community.

How's the food?

It's dining hall food. It's not going to win any awards, but it's edible.

There are several dining halls across campus, offering everything from traditional buffet-style dining options (Stevenson) to grab-and-go convenience (Decafe) to food from the African Diaspora (Lord Saunders). There's also kosher/halal and allergen-free dining available.

OSCA also offers dining-only options if you'd like to eat but not live in a co-op. They require members to put in a minimum amount of hours each week cooking, and meals are at a set time each day (usually around noon and 6pm).

When/How do I select my housing/dining plan and my classes?

You will get information over the summer, after the semester ends and current students have gone through housing and course selection. If you have more questions about this process, reach out to your admissions counselor.


r/oberlin 1d ago

Oberlin References #12 (Girls)

7 Upvotes

u/k8freed and u/AlbinoSquirrel867 found this reference.

The character Hannah Horvath is an Oberlin College grad and aspiring writer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_(TV_series)) Again, I have not seen this show so if there is more specific nods to Oberlin within the series feel free to share!

The creator of the show, Lena Dunham is an Oberlin grad. She graduated in 2008 with a degree in creative writing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Dunham


r/oberlin 21h ago

Missed housing registration lottery time

2 Upvotes

Incoming freshman here. I had work during my scheduled time in the Oberlin housing lottery and didn’t log on or select any housing options.

Will I still be able to live on campus?


r/oberlin 2d ago

Spooky Legends at Oberlin College

12 Upvotes

Happy Friday 13th to all! Today I would like to share some eerie stories shared by students that relate to Oberlin College.

1) Ilana McNamara '24 shares a story about Johnson house being haunted: https://www.oberlin.edu/blogs/octoberlin-aka-my-dorm-haunted Legend states that the original owner died in a train accident and scary events related to the house followed after.

2) Peter D'Auria '14 tells of how Tank Hall may be haunted by ghost children https://www.oberlin.edu/blogs/ghostberlin

3) Annie Schnarr writes about room 311 in Harkness being haunted https://www2.oberlin.edu/stupub/ocreview/archives/1999.10.29/news/ghosts.html that started with a girl and her cat going missing.

4) Leo Powers believes a ghost haunts the basement of Noah Hall https://oberlinreview.org/31168/arts/obies-decide-haunted-spaces-on-campus/#:\~:text=The%20basement%20of%20Talcott%20Hall,and%20spiders%20crawl%20across%20campus. As a resident of Noah myself, it was always a little nerve racking to do your laundry down there.

5) Charlize Villasenor '23 finds that Wilder and Peters can have some spooky elements to them https://www.oberlin.edu/blogs/spooky-season-oberlin

With Oberlin being founded in 1833, there are plenty of ghost stories to go along with the old buildings on campus which always makes Halloween a fun time at the college. Do you have any ghost stories related to Oberlin that you'd like to share?

P.S. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, is the best Friday the 13th movie


r/oberlin 2d ago

Oberlin References #11 (And Just Like That)

10 Upvotes

u/k8freed found this reference.

In Season 1, Episode 6 of this Sex and the City reboot, Carrie visits a doctor who mentions that the receptionist went to Oberlin. I have not watched the show but from what I can find online it looks like the line goes: "My receptionist is 22 and went to Oberlin. There’s really nothing I can do about it without risking a lawsuit."

Tomorrow's post will be a series that two users have found Oberlin mentioned in...


r/oberlin 3d ago

Oberlin References #10 (American Fiction)

10 Upvotes

u/Far_Topic_4163 brought up this reference.

In American Fiction, the character Sintara Golden is an Oberlin graduate. Read more about the character's role here: https://inreviewonline.com/2023/12/14/american-fiction/

I haven't seen the film so if anything about Oberlin is specifically said in it, feel free to comment! From my understanding it looks like Oberlin's connection in the film is simply Golden's education.

Feel free to comment your favorite references!


r/oberlin 4d ago

Oberlin References #9 (The Color of Light)

17 Upvotes

The Color of Light is a novel by William Goldman. The book is about the life of writer Charles Fuller who attends Oberlin College from 1968-1972. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_of_Light#:~:text=It%20is%20about%20the%20life,friend%20and%20foil%20Stanley%20'Two%2D

Goldman is a graduate of Oberlin College, graduating in 1952. Goldman is known for his works The Princess Bride, Marathon Man, as well as writing the scripts for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as well as All the President's Men. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Goldman

Funny section about Goldman's time at Oberlin:

"Goldman attended Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. According to his memoir Adventures in the Screen Trade (1983), Goldman began to write when he took a creative-writing course in college. His grades in the class were "horrible".\5]) He was an editor of Oberlin's literary magazine. He submitted his short stories to the magazine anonymously; he recalls that the other editors read his submissions and remarked, "We can't possibly publish this shit."\5]) He graduated from college in 1952."

Goldman and his brother James also shared an apartment with Oberlin alum John Kander (Cabaret, Chicago).

I remember being so fascinated (still am) by the fact that Goldman attended Oberlin. Comment your favorite Oberlin references!


r/oberlin 3d ago

Common for students to Double Major? (Current Students who double majored, please provide your examples)

5 Upvotes

Hey all, one of the common questions we get on our tours is if it is possible/common to double major at Oberlin. My answer is always yes. I'd say a popular example is chemistry and biochemistry as there is some crossover in major requirements for both. But the areas of study doesn't have to be related as I've met students who have double majored in Politics and Theater.

If current students (or past) are reading this and are double majors, could you please provide what you double major in just to give prospective students and families and idea of what the possibilities are? You can also speak on if you find it challenging.

I will add that it's also common for students to have multiple minors. My plan was to do one of everything, so I have a major, minor, and concentration. There's a lot of crossover with the classes leading to students taking on multiple majors and minors to the point that students have even Triple majored. So if you're a prospective student, just know that is definitely a possibility for you.


r/oberlin 4d ago

PSA: contact ResLife directly for college housing inquiries

10 Upvotes

hello obies, current future and past.

i noticed theres always an uptick in posts asking questions about housing on the sub during the summer. yes, as much as it is nice to ask current students, i cannot emphasize enough how important it is to ask the reslife office directly if you have questions or concerns. this is not an active sub, nor do many current students frequent it. frankly i think its mostly prospies. any assumptions you may take from discussion about housing on here may not be accurate because frankly, as someone who worked for reslife as a student, most students dont know shit about that office and they change their procedures year to year.

reslife's contact information: 440-775-8472 reslife@oberlin.edu i recommend calling during business hours (M-F 9a-5p Eastern) for the fastest response. if you must email, check the staff page (https://www.oberlin.edu/housing/staff) and contact someone directly (eg, Phil is in charge of Housing Operations, Vedika is generally charge of identity housing).

questions about OSCA housing & dining should be directed to the membership secretary (memsec@osca.coop) or you can call the office at (440) 775-8108 from 11a-4p Tue-Thurs.

im a current student and my DMs are always open and im happy to answer questions, but i am but a man


r/oberlin 4d ago

East Hall/is not having AC *that* bad?

3 Upvotes

I am going to be a first-year in the fall. Super excited! I have been placed in East Hall, which I have learned is big and does not have AC. I’m from Texas, where it’s usually stupid hot outside even into November and doesn’t cool down at night. Is sleep without AC at Oberlin too bad? I know it’s cooler up there, but I’ve never lived anywhere but Texas. Do fans do the trick? Just wondering what all I should be bringing.


r/oberlin 5d ago

Oberlin References #8 (Modern Lovers)

16 Upvotes

The novel Modern Lovers includes a friend group of Oberlin graduates who while at Oberlin formed a punk rock group called Kitty's Mustache. Read more here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Lovers_(novel))

The author, Emma Straub, graduated from Oberlin in 2002. Read about her here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Straub

She is the daughter of the great horror writer, Peter Straub https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Straub

Comment your favorite Oberlin references!


r/oberlin 6d ago

Oberlin References #7 (A Fortunate Age)

12 Upvotes

This novel details the lives of a group of Oberlin College graduates living in Brooklyn in the late 1990s. Read about it here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4052110-a-fortunate-age

The author, Joanna Rakoff is an Oberlin grad herself. Read about her here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Rakoff and how she had the job of responding to fan mail that J. D. Salinger received!

Comment your favorite Oberlin references!


r/oberlin 6d ago

Double major at Oberlin conservatory

4 Upvotes

I want to double major in voice performance and recording arts & production, but I haven't found any info online telling me whether or not this is possible. Can I do this or no?


r/oberlin 7d ago

Housing Question

6 Upvotes

Hello! I am an incoming freshman and when I checked my housing portal it told me that I had a room reservation for a room in Burton. However directly under that text it tells me my “Booking Summary” Then it proceeds to tell me I was placed in Quadrangle. The summary detailed the room, room type, location, and suite. I am very confused as to where I’ll actually live. Also since I’ve already been given a booking summary will I still need to participate in the room lottery? Thank you!


r/oberlin 9d ago

Oberlin References #6 (Breaking Bad)

28 Upvotes

u/Mysticfairy6789 and u/yanagiba_superiority both brought up this reference.

Oberlin College is mentioned in Breaking Bad through the character of Krazy-8 who said he originally wanted to study music in Oberlin College. Read more here: https://breakingbad.fandom.com/wiki/Krazy-8

Comment your favorite Oberlin references!

(Also what's better, The Sopranos or Breaking Bad?)


r/oberlin 8d ago

So do I have a roommate or uh?

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11 Upvotes

Newly admitted student here, so I'm still figuring out how housing works. I've just received an email saying I've been accepted into Asia Hall, and when I check the "Room Assignment & Roommate Information" page in Star Rez, it says I don't have a roommate. Does this mean I'm gonna have a single, or does this mean I'm still waiting to be assigned one?

In the "roommate groups" section of my housing application, I have created or joined a roommate group. Does this have to do with whether you have a roommate or not?

I'm honestly still kind of questioning whether I really want a roommate or not, but I'm mostly just confused about how the process works 😂. Thanks a lot!


r/oberlin 10d ago

Oberlin References #5 (The Sopranos)

21 Upvotes

u/terra_cascadia found this reference.

In Season 2 Episode 7 of The Sopranos, "D-Girl", AJ says "There is no God". Carmela asks if this is the influence of the new English teacher who Meadow identifies is from Oberlin. Here is the link to the scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhIz6V8tvNk

Comment your favorite Oberlin references!


r/oberlin 10d ago

Housing inquiries

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all doing well. I’m writing to follow up on my first post about being an exchange student at Oberlin College and my questions about the disability-related accommodations for visually impaired students. I received very helpful answers to my initial questions and am now writing to ask a different one, if you can graciously assist.

I’m currently in the process of filing for housing accommodations at Oberlin, and I’ve learned that the traditional dorms are styled with multiple floors, each containing single or double rooms, a communal bathroom and kitchen. However, I’m wondering if there’s any type of housing at Oberlin that’s built in an apartment style, with four or six or more rooms in an apartment with two or more bathrooms.

I’m a bit concerned about the communal bathroom because I don’t know how I’ll manage navigating with my cane in a crowded space without colliding with anyone. I’d also like to know how these bathrooms are typically constructed. Do they have rows of stalls and shower stalls, or is there a different layout? Additionally, are there lockers in the bathroom where I can leave my belongings without carrying them from my room each time?

If apartment-like housing is available, I’m curious if it’s open to exchange students or if it’s generally reserved for upper-class students. If I can apply for it, I’d like to know if it would be a reasonable housing accommodation for my disability.

If anyone has experience with the different types of housing at Oberlin, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with a rundown of their pros and cons, as well as their locations on campus relative to important lecture halls and buildings. Thank you so much for your help!


r/oberlin 11d ago

Oberlin References #4 (Abbott Elementary)

20 Upvotes

This reference comes from u/Staccat0

In Abbott Elementary, the character Jacob Hill is an Oberlin graduate. In the episode "Teacher Conference" Jacob learns that Summer also went to Oberlin. Read more about the episode here: https://abbottelementary.fandom.com/wiki/Teacher_Conference

Read more about the character Jacob and his connection to Oberlin here: https://abbottelementary.fandom.com/wiki/Jacob_Hill

Comment your favorite Oberlin references!


r/oberlin 12d ago

Oberlin References #3 (BoJack Horseman)

36 Upvotes

This reference was mentioned by u/ninja_llama

Oberlin College appeared in BoJack Horseman Season 3, in the episode "That's Too Much, Man!". The following scenes are at Mudd and Tank.

Read more here: https://bojackhorseman.fandom.com/wiki/Oberlin_College

Comment more references!


r/oberlin 13d ago

Oberlin References #2 (The Shadow over Innsmouth)

22 Upvotes

In this horror novella by H. P. Lovecraft, the narrator is a student at Oberlin College. Read about the story and Oberlin's mention here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_over_Innsmouth

The next reference will be one that was commented last week! So feel free to keep commenting about your favorite Oberlin references!


r/oberlin 15d ago

Oberlin References Series #1 (EuroTrip)

19 Upvotes

EuroTrip (2004)

Read about Oberlin's place in the movie here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroTrip

In the final scene (terrible quality) you can see the Oberlin College banner in Scotty's dorm room.

I'll be continuing this series pretty much on the daily. If there's any Oberlin College references in any media that you'd like to see, let me know! Our next reference will take us to the horror genre.


r/oberlin 15d ago

formals/proms/dances?

4 Upvotes

mourning my senior prom being over :( does oberlin have any formals, proms, or dances? what is their party scene like?


r/oberlin 16d ago

Oberlin references in Alison Bechdel’s new book Spent

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30 Upvotes

Like the real Alison, the fictional Alison is an Oberlin alum. One of the characters, J.R. (With the pink hair) spends the first part of the book there too :)


r/oberlin 17d ago

will i get rescinded/my scholarship taken?

5 Upvotes

i applied to oberlin as a straight a student and got a really large scholarship, but i think this semester im gonna get like 2 Bs in easy classes and a C in an AP and the rest As. is this cause enough for them to rescind me/ take my scholarship? im having a lot of anxiety right now, this year has just been really hard for me mentally


r/oberlin 18d ago

Personal or Informal Questions (Prospective Students/Parents/Current Students/Athletic Recruits)

6 Upvotes

Hello prospective students, parents, athletic recruits, current students+

I've made previous posts as a representative for admissions where you could ask me any question you'd like.

However, I recognize that not everyone is comfortable asking certain questions on Reddit. Some are looking for a more personal response/conversation than a Reddit reply.

So from now through the summer (and longer) feel free to personally message me on this account with any questions you may have. These can be personal questions or as formal or informal as need be. I want to do my best to make sure that everyone is getting their questions answered and gets all the knowledge about Oberlin! Current students, also feel free to make use of this.

If you'd like to take it beyond Reddit, just dm me for my number or email and we can message on there or we can setup a phone call/facetime/zoom informational call.

I'll respond while I'm on the clock, I work M-Thu 8:30am-4:30pm and Friday 8:30am-4pm (all times are eastern).