IzzyD

So I'm trying to narrow down my list of colleges and was wondering if anyone
--current students, alums, parents, etc--could comment on the differences and similarities between these two schools (yes, I know Carleton is ranked higher, but that sort of thing doesn't really matter to me).

Any thoughts?

mamenyu

Two differences are the presence at Oberlin of a conservatory and outstanding art museum; Oberlin also has a distinctive history (on the underground railroad, one of the first colleges to admit women and African-Americans, "fearless" social activism). Oberlin has a 4-1-4 structure, so there is a winter term for individual/group projects. Oberlin is probably more "artsy" and liberal.
Both offer high quality educational opportunities. Visit and see which is more to your liking. The difference in rankings is insignificant; both send a high number/percentage of students on to top graduate schools.

noir.stork

izzyd-

Hey, I'm an Obie... who knows nothing about Carleton. So, my question to you would be:

(What are looking for? what are you like? what do you do with your spare time? what do you want to study?)

Or: Do you like music? do you like zombies, dancing, or telling stories? Do you smile at strangers, overcommit, make art, play frisbee whenever its nice outside? Have you ever geeked out about language or science or novels? Do you like wind and sunlight?

If the answers to the second set are predominantly yes, Oberlin is a school for you.

-n.s

noir.stork

And the big ones:
Do you care? About others, about something more than yourself, about politics or making the world a better place? Do you want to build community? Do you like to cook or teach? Do you like to learn?

IzzyD

Hey, guys, thanks for all of your advice--I haven't visited Oberlin yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

r-crispie

Oberlin has some nice scholarships and the Conservatory is of course important if you want a performance degree (BMusic). Oberlin has a more activist liberal inclination.

As for narrowing the list, be careful at this stage not to overcut it, if you are not trying to make a decision about ED applications. The best money offers are likely in the spring and you are likely to find interesting new schools and programs if you keep looking. In this day five applications would seem to be a minimum if you have 1-2 "safeties". A dozen applications can be quite a chore to manage.

My daughter chose Carleton, over Oberlin's scholarship offer. In her acceptance she made a fundamental decision that she wasn't going to go for a BMusic, she loved the classes at Carleton, that she fit with Carleton's culture best.

The touring part is important, consider your prospective major, the respective departments, then sit in on a few classes.