<p>I’m awfully glad I ran across this discussion because I see exactly where you’re coming from lanmine:
Next fall I’ll be an incoming transfer at Oberlin and I luckily for me,I spent pretty much every other weekend at OC because I went to school in Ohio(although I’m from the largest city in the midwest)Even though I didn’t go to Oberlin this year,students definitly made me feel like I was a psuedo-Obie because of how much time I spent there.Whether you’re on South campus(more URMS & more diverse) or on North campus(more athletes & more affluent students) you’ll notice that most students are generally happy to be at Oberlin.Whether they were a football player or a Con student,everyone I’ve met truely does seem to love the school and love being there.Oberlin does give pretty amazing financial aid(I’m so glad about that)but I’ve never heard anyone say that they’re there because their parents made them or because of the fin aid.
Oberlin vs Tufts:
I know a few people that go to Tufts and from my understanding,the students love being there more because its well-known rather than because of its academics.Clearly,Tufts is an amazing school,but Oberlin for me was a better choice because students make the campus their own and don’t feel the need to go off to Cleveland(a poor excuse for a city,in my opinion).At Tufts,the enviroment doesn’t seem that comfortable to me primariy because students don’t take the effort to love the school the way Obies do at OC.Also,my friend that goes to Tufts often talks about how much time she spends in Boston;I wouldn’t want to go to a school where students go to a big city to leave their campus.But,thats just me.
If you like city life:
You should go to Tufts if you’re worried that being in a rural environment.However,I’m from Chicago and was pleasntly surprised by how much I enjoyed being at Oberlin(the many times I’ve visited)The ambiance at Tufts is def. suited more for a trendsetting/Gucci wearing student, whereas at Oberlin,if you walk to class with no shoes on,no one will bat an eye.I can’t stress enough how AMAZING Oberlin students are;they truely know whats up(socially) and bring so much happiness to the campus.Snob factor?Might as well be zero.
Hope this helped!</p>