<p>What you’re feeling is entirely normal, and there are thousands of incoming freshmen across the country having the same anxiety. Hopefully the move-in days and freshman orientation will reassure you that Oberlin is a great place for you. Try not to be second-guessing yourself, and be open to falling in love with the place. Also recognize that it is also incredibly “normal” to have a wonderful honeymoon period in the first couple of months of college, and then to experience some letdown as school becomes the routine, weather changes, etc. Most second-semester freshmen who have felt this in their first semester love their colleges by about March! All of this is normal - and intellectually curious students are often the hardest on themselves! At the beginning of the year, you’ll have the chance to find some clubs and Ex-co classes that can bring you together with like-minded students. Take advantage of those, and you’ll probably make some life-long friendships. “Cleveland” is less than an hour away, but there all malls within a half hour. Oberlin grads are, by the way, eminently employable, so let go of that mis-perception. </p>
<p>As to the rumors you’ve heard that have made you worry, take them with a grain of salt. Remember it is always really easy to find out negatives about anything…but you have to dig a little more to find positives, because happy people don’t usually write blogs, entries, letters, posts or whatever!</p>
<p>Good luck - have fun!</p>