My son is trying to decide among Oberlin, Skidmore, and Bard. Oberlin is high on his list, but he is a bit worried about the writing requirement. Does anyone know how difficult the required writing classes are at these different schools? Thanks!
IMO these schools’ gen eds are likely pretty similar.
The vast majority of Oberlin’s first year seminar classes satisfy one of the two writing class requirements, and these seminars are offered in many subject areas. Oberlin students must also take a second writing intensive class…again, these classes are offered in a variety of departments, and some are at the 100 level like the first year seminars. You can look in the course catalog to see details on the freshman seminar classes offered in the Fall semester, as well as other writing intensive classes. Program: College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements - Oberlin College - Acalog ACMS™
Skidmore also has a first year required writing class, Scribner Seminar. They also require a senior CODA which I don’t know much about, but can be writing intensive. Again, look at their course catalog for details. https://www.skidmore.edu/academics/general-education-new.php
Here are Bard’s requirements, I am not too familiar with the school. Bard College Graduation Requirements
Thank you so much for the advice and links! You’re probably right that these three colleges have similar requirements. It looks like Skidmore and Bard have introductory writing classes (Bard had a 3 week writing workshop before school starts and Skidmore offers an introductory class you can take before taking one to satisfy the requirement.) It doesn’t look like Oberlin has an option like that, but hopefully the classes there wouldn’t be too overwhelming.
The goal isn’t to be overwhelming- it really is to make sure that the student is able to write at the level required to do well throughout college, and on into life. He may dread it, but the colleges work hard to give good options and to make it constructive. Avoiding a college b/c of anxiety about the 1st year writing requirement would be really short-term thinking!
If he is anxious about his writing skills encourage him to go to the writing center pretty much the 1st day (all of them have one) and get to know the people there. They will read drafts of his assignments and help him develop both the skills and the confidence he will need to do the writing he will have to do over the next 4 years-and beyond. It really is one of those ‘you’ll thank me later’ things!
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I would say that if your son is afraid of the difficulty of the intro level writing requirement at these schools, then your son is particularly in need of the writing requirement classes! He should choose his school based upon his other criteria, and then, as advised, take advantage of the more than adequate help available to him at each school’s tutoring center. I really hope that he doesn’t decide on a school out of fear of a freshman writing class.
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