<p>It might not be weird at all to be applying to state schools, larger schools, and also Oberlin - depending on what your plans were (for example, someone interested in music might apply to a wide range of types of schools, including conservatories and academic programs, as well as Oberlin). My sense is that it is both for marketing and to get a sense of the student’s interest level in Oberlin - if it looks very obviously as though it is an afterthought, that might be an issue. Anything in an application has to be considered for its implications; if you leave it blank, that says something too.</p>