Oberlin College Admission
Oberlin College Undergraduate Program
Oberlin College Application

The Facts

Oberlin College is a small liberal arts college located in the town of Oberlin, Ohio. The school is home to approximately 2,800 undergraduate students and a mere fifteen graduate and part-time students. The school is perhaps best known for its fabulous music program, which attracts some of the most talented musicians and composers to its conservatory-like program. The college is comprised of two smaller schools; the school of music, and the school of arts and sciences. Many ambitious students choose to study in both schools, and all music students are actually required to take at least 24 credits in the school of arts and sciences. Some of the most popular majors include English, politics, biology, history, and environmental studies.

Admission to Oberlin has grown increasingly competitive over the years, particularly for the school of music, which requires a series of auditions for potential students. Last year, over 6,000 students applied for admission and approximately 2,000 were accepted; of those, about 760 matriculated. The admitted students were highly qualified, with an average combined SAT score ranging from 1240 to an impressive 1440, and an average comprehensive ACT score ranging from 27 to 31. Over 62% of those admitted were ranked in the top 10% of their high school graduating class with an average high school GPA of 3.52.

Students at Oberlin get plenty of individual attention from their professors. The school has a fantastic student to faculty ratio of 10:1, and the professors really make an effort to get to know their students both academically and personally. Many bonds last far beyond the end of a particular class. Freshmen are actually required to take a seminar class where unique social and cultural issues are discussed with a small class of no more than fifteen students.

The Social Scene

The town of Oberlin has been described by many as the quintessential college town, and it offers students a plethora of cute shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as bars with loose carding policies. Many students own cars, but the primary mode of transportation around campus is the bicycle. On the weekends, students often take a drive to the city of Columbus or even Chicago, where social activities and excitement abound.

There are no Greek organizations at Oberlin, and students prefer it that way. Oberlin is not a big party school, but we hear that students love nothing more than sitting around in a dorm room or in a park smoking weed. Let's just say that the students are very laid back. The students of Oberlin tend to be very politically active, and protests are a common occurrence. Students love to get involved and crusade for various causes. This would not be the school for the politically and/or socially conservative. The dating scene is pretty crazy; expect a lot of bizarre but cute musicians to perhaps serenade you at your dorm room window. Awwww....

What's Good

“The school has such an energetic atmosphere. People are here because they really want to learn, and they want to be the best in their field.”

“The professors here are amazing and passionate. They really care about what they are teaching.”

“The campus is gorgeous, and it is a great place to just hang out when it’s nice outside.”

What's Bad

“People here can be way too political. Everything has to be politically correct, and you sometimes feel like you are walking on eggshells.”

“The classes usually turn into big moral debates, and lose focus on what they are supposed to be about.”

“The dorms are pretty cramped, and it’s hard to find a little bit of personal space.”

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