r/oberlin • u/NearbyOperation1752 • 7h ago
r/oberlin • u/[deleted] • May 23 '25
Resources for prospective students and parents
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 • u/noramcsparkles • May 01 '23
Prospective/Admitted Students FAQ
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 • u/Beneficial-Cat5758 • 1d ago
Rising senior wondering about ED and application
Hello! I am a rising senior. I am very very interested in oberlin, i would say i feel a certain draw there, and its very in line with my interests and type of people. i also have demonstrated alot of interest (i visited, attended an open house and interviewed)
i want to know my chances of getting in, any current students experinces making friends there, and if ED would be a good option.
My school does not do AP, its early college program. Pretty reputable. I have a 3.8/3.9 college GPA, many ec including: child advocacy, camp counsler, counsler in training, dance for many years, violin for many years, (thinking of applying to the con.. also wondering about that).. i am a tutor at my school and outside for migrants, head of model UN club and advocacy club. the only thing is it all sounds very Oberlin and im worried its too typical and therfore harder to get in. i know that sounds so stupid..
NOOO SAT (😄
my interview went really well and then i freaked out i was too all over the place (mainly, i was just excited).
Im wondering what made you choose Oberlin. i would say i am funky and interesting but i look basic and i am worried i would have a harder time fitting in.
How are the parties?? How is the food??
also i am interested in public humanities and things along that vein. also possibly child psyc...
sorry its so much but give me any info you can and advice.
r/oberlin • u/Staccat0 • 1d ago
Weird Question about Water
How hard is Oberlin’s tap water? Does the city publicly share the PH?
I googled it but I’m not finding a great source.
r/oberlin • u/gorhsdjens • 7d ago
transferring to oberlin?
hi!! i was wondering if there are any transfers here who could give any advice about what the process was like, and what they did to get in? also would it be weird to apply again after getting in and going to another school?
i got in as a first year but decided not to go, and im really really regretting it 🥲
r/oberlin • u/One_Significance5713 • 8d ago
Does Oberlin ever feel too small?
I’m thinking about applying, but I worry it’ll be too small, maybe boring and not much to do outside the campus.
How does it compare to your high school?
r/oberlin • u/booyaka1907 • 9d ago
need help from full-need intl students
i got 1580 on sat but my gpa sucked due to my overwork out of school at family business. i need full cost of attendance to meet and i’m overwhelmed to think about gpa. is there any intl full aid students i can talk?
r/oberlin • u/squidgees • 10d ago
should i take psych 101 if i got a 4 in ap psych?
hi! i’m a freshman interested in majoring in psychology here at oberlin. because of my ap psych credit, i was able to skip to developmental psychology. however, i am nervous on if my high school class properly prepared me and if im biting off more than i can chew. should i take psych 101 and not use my credit or should i use my credit and go straight to developmental psych?
r/oberlin • u/Neat_Manufacturer539 • 11d ago
I'll venmo $20 to anyone who will ship me some Oberlin dirt
My sister met her partner at Oberlin and after 11 years together, they're getting married! I'm officiating the ceremony, and they want to incorporate a ritual involving dirt/soil from all the places that are significant to them and their relationship (both of their hometowns, the city where they live now, etc). If you're willing to collect some dirt from various locations around Oberlin, I'll venmo you the cost of shipping plus $20 for your trouble.
r/oberlin • u/TheBikeWhisperer • 12d ago
Oberlin’s beloved eaterie Taco Flavored Kisses has shut down
Sadly it appears that TFK has closed across from Tappan Square. Their homemade tamales were to die for. So sad.
Does anyone know the story?
r/oberlin • u/Standard_Serve2067 • 16d ago
How bad is Chem 101 Actually?
Hi! I am a Sophomore (dual degree, neuroscience and TIMARA) and I am thinking about going to med school. I know I will need to take a bunch of chem classes, but I've heard of Chem 101s reputation. I've never taken an actual chem class before (my chem class in high school for some reason focused on the layers of the Earth???) and I was wondering if I should just take chem in the summer rather than take it at oberlin. I enjoy STEM, I even found parts of AP Physics enjoyable, and I am generally quick to learn when it comes to the sciences. I would love to hear about people's experiences with Chem 101, such as workload, pace, and general sanity. Thank you so much! And I hope all of you have a great last week before move in :) .
r/oberlin • u/melodyblack195 • 16d ago
nearby pharmacy and/or pharmacy delivery at Oberlin
How do Obies get hold of their meds?? Thanks in advance for any advice!
r/oberlin • u/New4taccount • 20d ago
Confused and worried about class selection.
Hi everyone! I'm an incoming freshman and film student who has been having a rough time with class selection. Two of the classes I wanted to take filled up before I could enroll, and while I was waiting for said classes all of the other film classes filled up as well. I'm pretty concerned about this since I want to get started on my major right away. Is there anything I can do about this? I believe there's supposed to be an option to waitlist classes but it hasn't been working for me.
r/oberlin • u/Far_Swan3262 • 21d ago
72.6% high-school average, anyone admitted to Oberlin with similar grades?
Hi everyone! I’m an international student planning to apply to Oberlin for Business for Fall 2027.
My final high-school average is 72.6%, and I’m trying to get a better understanding of how much this might hurt my application.
If you were admitted with a similar academic average, I'd love to hear about your experience. Especially:
High-school GPA/average
Extracurriculars
Recommendations
Essays
ED vs RD
I also have a significant background in music and film scoring, which is one reason Oberlin interests me despite applying to Business.
I'm not asking for a “chance me”, I'd just like to hear from people who actually got accepted with a similar academic record.
Thank you!
r/oberlin • u/Initial-Cash-6682 • Jul 23 '26
Chance me i need to know
Demographics: Hispanic, first-generation college student, immigrant background
State: Texas
School Type: Public high school (small town)
Intended Major(s): engineering pathway
SAT: 1420 superscore (790 Math, 630 EBRW) (school average is 930)
UW/W GPA: 3.52 uw and 3.8 w (school doesnt have standard scale so ill say this: unweighted average was a 95.8/100 and weighted is 98:100)
Rank: top 12 percent
Coursework: 9 AP classes. AP Scores: AP Lang (4), AP Physics 1 (4), AP Precalculus (5), AP Government (4), AP Literature (3)
Grade Trend: Strong upward trend — freshman (~3.2), sophomore (~3.5), junior (~4.0), senior (~4.3)
Extracurriculars: NHS (2 years), Student Council (1 year), UIL Academics (2 years), Peer Tutor (multiple years)
Awards: AP Scholar with Distinction, College Board First-Generation Recognition, Rural & Small Town Recognition, school-level top academic award
Illl be applying for aid and my efc will be around 0-5k i need to know if ill realistically have a chance
r/oberlin • u/the_waitinggame • Jul 18 '26
Freshman in Langston
Hey everyone,
Idk where else to put this so here it is. Due to disability accommodations (I assume) I got put in Langston, which the site says doesn’t have freshman. One, is this true? and if it is, are there are upperclassman willing to take a clueless terrified freshman under their wing? Second, is there anything specific about that dorm I should know that would inform what stuff I bring? I saw somewhere that the some of the walls are thin, but other than that, I haven’t been able to find anything about it.
Also general question do people like talk to their hall mates? I’m in a single but I would like to have friends 😭
Thank you thanks etc etc
r/oberlin • u/homegirl649 • Jun 28 '26
can someone show pics of second floor dascomb dorm room looks like?
or even just explain it plz i want to know what to expect
r/oberlin • u/lastofus1029 • Jun 26 '26
oberlin psych major
hello! im a rising senior in high school thinking of applying to oberlin in the fall. im interested in political science and psychology, but i want to know more about the psychology major.
I want to know if anyone has any anecdotes on the research opportunities, internships during the summer and the winter term, faculty, rigor, PsyD and PhD placements...etc.
If anyone has any insight into the psych program at Oberlin I would be very appreciative, thank you!
r/oberlin • u/QuestioningAll13 • Jun 22 '26
any other Saunders freshman?
Hi!! I applied and ended up getting placed in saunders for my freshman yr, but only after doing so realized that they didn't tell me the name of my roomate (aka i can't contact them until move-in day) and theres not that much info online abt the dorm in general! I knew going into an LLC that it would be a diff expeirence from going into a freshman-centered dorm, but I was just wondering if any current obies could tell me what the age ratio for the dorm is? and if any future ones wanna reach out that'd be peak bc i just started buying stuff to move in and wanna talk it out with others!!
tldr: current/future obies who lived in lord-saunders hall reach out!! havent seen much info online from current/future students and would love to get that going
r/oberlin • u/PinappleSap94 • Jun 20 '26
Barrows or Burton to meet people?
I know this has been asked but there are so many old posts I'm trying to get a more recent sense of things. If your main hope is to meet people (and you're not an athlete or in the Con) and you ware opting for a first year dorm... which is better for making friends? Burton looks nicer visually but everyone says Barrows has a nice community - I'm really hoping to meet folks and have a chill group of friends but I'm not out going enough to be the one to start the connection.
r/oberlin • u/squidgees • Jun 19 '26
Housing process mistake
Hi!!! I am an incoming first year and just realized I chose the incorrect room. I am rooming with someone who does not fit my preferences at all. Is there any way for me to cancel this??