Middle-of-nowhere

agreenbee
Thu, 10 May 2007 03:44:17 +0000

I commented a little about this in the Oberlin vs Wellesley thread, saying that Oberlin’s location has advantages over Boston. Because Oberlin is pretty isolated, we have an extraordinarily vibrant campus life. Everyone tends to stay on campus and socialize here, as opposed to spreading out across a city. Events and parties are very well-attended and (especially freshman year!) it’s easy to meet people there. My friends who go to urban colleges tend to feel much more isolated from their fellow students than those who go to, for example, Bowdoin or Wesleyan.

I think a lot of freshmen come into Oberlin thinking they’ll be bored in rural Ohio (I certainly did) but you quickly get absorbed by everything that’s happening on-campus.

Also, keep in mind that this is coming from a NYC girl studying in London this semester–I love cities and consider myself a city person, but I’m still so glad I chose Oberlin over an urban school (or any other school).

What do I do for fun?

Student organizations (OSCA head cook, Grape photo editor, SIC staffer, occasionally work on student-faculty committees)

Hang out with my friends in dorm rooms, Decafe, Oberlin Market, meals at co-ops, off-campus houses, shows at the 'Sco, sometimes I bartend at parties

Occasional weekend trips (mostly NYC)

ExCo classes (for example, “drag ball; the exco”, belly dancing exco, “how to make the most of your $40,000”)

See my friend perform (music, improv, dance concerts etc.)

And keep in mind that there’s so much more I wish I could squeeze in to my life–like joining the pottery co-op, being a docent at the art museum, teaching an exco…