<p>Hi, we live in California too. Our S is accepted and going to Grinnell in the fall. He was very interested in both schools. Oberlin has an incredible music conservatory, but if your DD does not want to be that serious about music, than Grinnell may be better. Don’t get me wrong, as Grinnell has a very good music scene and music program. Our S is musical too, but does not want to major in music. He wanted to go to a school where his ability would be respected and could contribute without being a music major. Grinnell is ranked very high and is a very intellectual school. Oberlin has a good name too. I think that both are very liberal schools, but Oberlin is probably a little more liberal outwardly and wears there heart on their sleeve a little bit more if that makes sense. Grinnell is a very easy drive from Des Moines or Iowa City. It’s a small town, but the college because of its incredible endowment(7th in country) brings in amazing lectures, artists, bands, and activities for the students. Everything is free at Grinnell. Grinnell has amazing facilities as they have been on a building blitz in the past five to ten years. You would need to visit both. Grinnell has an incredible number of students that go on to earn their ph’d’s. I can put the link on here if you would like to see those stats. Grinnell is very remote, but the kids that we have talked to find it very relaxing and can catch the free shuttle bus into Des Moines if they want to do city shopping etc. although most have told us that the college brings in so much that they don’t ever really want to leave. Grinnell does not have any core requirements except the Freshman tutorial, but from what we have heard from many, you will be working very closely with a professor who is your advisor and they really do help you put together a very well thought out curriculum. It took us about five hours from air port to air port and then had about a 45 to 50 minute car ride to the campus. Again, it was a very easy drive to campus. Grinnell has regular shuttles to and from the airport during holiday and vacation times and can help you set up transportation for your DD. Grinnell is in the process of finishing up their new natatorium, indoor tennis courts, indoor track and climbing wall and they will be ready this August. The science building is top notch and they recently built an incredible new student center and the food was very good. The new fitness center is wonderful too. They had very nice music and performing arts centers as well. As I said, they have a lot of money and many kids get to do research projects too. Everything is free so the kids don’t need much in the way of spending money. Big plus in our opinion. I like Oberlin too. It feels similar and many kids who chose one or the other, many times get into both. I think Grinnell is a little more academic, but would not say enough so to really make a difference. Grinnell is known to be one of the most intellectual schools in the country. I think both give a lot of work, and it would depend more on what your major is. We absolutely fell in love with Grinnell and our S felt very accepted by the kids he met while visiting there. I think it will come down to little things in your case, but those little things can sometimes mean a lot depending on what you are looking for. Please let me know if you have any other questions and congrats to your DD as they are both great schools.</p>