Oberlin College Top Questions

Oberlin academics are incredibly high quality but relatively low pressure. Everyone works hard but enjoys their homework (it is extremely rewarding) and the professors are very helpful and accessible. Intellectual conversations outside of class are constant. The most unique classes are called Excos and are taught by students or members of the community. My freshmen year I took an exco on the social implications of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Academics are amazing. People here seem to know everything! It's a little intimidating, but like always, if you go to office hours and try your best, you will do fine. You are encouraged to try new classes. The faculty doesn't want you to fail, and they want you to experiment with things that are new to your academic world.

My professors in my non-lecture classes know me by name. The first-year seminars are great for that, and I can count on those professors to write recommendations for me if I need them. My favorite class this year was music history, the professor really loved it and made it so interesting and fun! Class participation is very common, and I can only speak for myself when I say that I study for at least a few hours every day, depending on the types of classes I have. I don't feel a whole lot of competition, I feel like that would be more prevalent in the conservatory. I don't spend time with my professors outside of class, but I certainly get on the best with my private flute teacher (she's the closest to my age). I feel like it really depends on your degree as to whether or not Oberlin is job-geared. As for me, there is absolutely no way I could get a job with a music history degree from the college (as opposed to the conservatory), but since I'm premed, I want to take advantage of Oberlin's musical resources before I'm tossed into a completely science-filled world after I graduate.

I've been very fortunate with my academics since freshman year. I made some bad choices with my courses my first semester, but ever one since then has been smooth sailing. All the professors in the theater department know me and I'm on first name bases with a couple of math and chem professors. One of my favorite classes was with a 'Obie Legend' Bob Young (who'll retire soon). It was the incredibly difficult course on Multi-Variable Calculus. It was that class that made me want to be a math major. It was inspiring and insane. Conceptual and challenging. Loved it. My least favorite class, by far, was a first year seminar called 'Uses of Metaphor'. The course description and syllabus were both promising. However, the professor, John Hobbes (coincidence) was horrendous. Our discussions consisted of us talking and him telling us that we're wrong. It was awful. He didn't like it when people had opinions that differed from his. For my final paper, I just asked him what he wanted me to write. So I did everything he told me to, down to the letter. I got an A. I was not happy with that class at all. I think most students (I can't speak for them all) have very intellectual conversations outside of class. Actually, it could be considered very odd. Everyone talks about philosophy, physics, art (mostly art) and music when not in class. Even when high. Especially when high. Some students come from very competitive schools and feel lost in Oberlin a little. It isn't a competitive school. I know my instinct is to check what my classmates got on a quiz...but after the first semester, I stopped caring about other people's grades and focused on my own. I haven't had any problems with competition. We all want to do well. The only competition that occurs is when it's personal between two people. I love both my majors. The math department is extremely nurturing (as it is an incredibly tough subject) and all of the professors are there to help. My adviser, Bob Bosch, met with me every week to help me with homework in his upper level Operations Research class. Theater is also a very strong department. People who come out of the Oberlin Theater department usually have a strong education in either acting (especially Shakespeare) or directing. It's a small department, so it isn't too difficult to break into the bigger shows. And there are always student productions going on to supplement the faculty productions. The academic requirements, especially for a double major like me, can be frustrating. I won't be able to take all the courses I want senior year because I need to get right of some core requirements, for example. However, it's all geared to give us a comprehensive liberal arts education. The academics are most certainly geared towards learning for its own sake. Almost to a fault. The cinema studies department almost didn't exist because on paper it looked to be too vocational for the administration. Especially in the arts majors like Film, Theater and Creative Writing, the education in how to be good is excellent but there is little instruction on how to use it in the real world. I wish there were more classes that focused on getting agents and whatnot. On the other hand, the other departments, like Math, flourish due to the school's academic nature. I love learning math for it's own sake.

The professors at Oberlin truly care about students and do their best to get to know as many students as they can. They are very dedicated. However, they usually do not offer enough sections for popular classes. Oberlin needs to higher more professors.

Professors know you by name, most classes are fairly small and teachers usually love to help you outside of class as well. Very dynamic range of good areas to study.

I love most of my professors here. They are really nice and genuinely care about students. if you're struggling, they will do their best to help you. You really learn a lot in the classes and there is a VERY wide range of things to learn about - there are many eclectic, unusual, interesting classes.

The academics at Oberlin are excellent. The professor work extra hard to know your name, your academic strengths and weaknesses, despite whether it's a lecture size class, or small discussion based class. The only issue I have had with unresponsive professors is in the psychology department, which I have heard from other students as well. I am a studio arts major, and the teachers within my major are absolutely amazing and inspiring. I literally, am inspired and challenged every day to push myself and develop my role as an artist. The art teachers, and my adviser are supportive, intelligent, caring and awe inspiring.

Wonderful. Amazing professors in small classes, not the toughest graders generally.

Academics at Oberlin - for me - have been really great thus far. I am an English/art history double major with a theater minor. The theater department is too small and it is notoriously hard to get into art classes (art history majors have to take one art class in order to graduate), but overall the class selection is pretty good. If you just go beg a teacher you can usually get into a class, with a few exceptions, of course. A lot of my classes are discussion and most of them are small, which I really like. With one exception, every professor I've had has been great. Most of them are willing to help you out in any way they can and I feel really close to some of them - especially my advisor. I went to brunch with him over winter term and it was fun. The requirements at Oberlin are pretty easy to complete as long as you schedule yourself correctly.

I love not having grad students as teachers. Every class has a real professor to teach it, and, barring some of the easier, more widely taken courses, has only about 20 students in each class. This makes for a very personal learning environment which I like very much. Oberlin focuses on giving its students a thorough liberal arts education. As such, we have a large number of credits outside of the field of our major to fulfill. Thankfully, the college takes a lot of transfer credit from high school. As far as difficulty of the classes, you will find much harder classes elsewhere, but I haven't encountered a completely trivial class yet, and if you put some effort into the classes, you don't really have a limit to what you can get out of them.

Small class size and seminars are great. Most departments really reach out to students and try to capture them in their programs. It is nice to feel the support of professors inviting you into their fields. Education is what you make of it, but Oberlin will teach you about life, and it won't leave you hanging. You will find a job if that is what you desire, but you will probably want to continue education or try to help the world. Oberlin is not about getting you a job in a corporate latter, but if you want that you will still have support.

Many professors are very good. Classes are generally very rigorous, and students are generally very smart. Comparative American Studies is a unique major, radical (in the academy) and useful. Also, TIMARA is a unique major in the con, combining composition and computer and electronic technologies.

Students are no competitive, but rather their is a general sense of perfection. Students study hard and think deeply about the concepts and ideas they are learning. It's easy to spend time with professors outside of class and develop meaningful relationships with them and other students through studying.

The classes are small compared to most schools, but a bit bigger than many other liberal arts colleges. The more advanced your course, the smaller your class will be, which is great for pursuing your academic interests among a small group of like-minded people. Great teachers abound...a few duds, but you'll find those anywhere.

yes teachers know my name. I like my Tennis class and viola da gamba classes the best I guess, the most fun activities I do aren't classes though. My least fav class is Music Theory. I'm really bad at it and find it useless to me. I never study. I'm taking easy classes though and am working on switching majors. class participation doesn't happen much in any of my classes save dance class, most are lecture-types. Yes, I've learned more from the students here at Oberlin than the classes will ever teach me. Yes, the con students are competitive sometimes, the college not so much, it depends on your instrument. The most unique class would be entrepreneurship just because it is such a new field of study. I have been a violin performance major for two years, though I came in wanting really to do baroque violin. I now am switching to double degree with comparative american studies and an independant major in the con focusing on pedagogy, wellness, and historical performance maybe. These majors are the best for me because I have many interests and can't stand being put into a box by a specific major, I want to do activism work and need a handle on a lot of different topics and skills. Yes, I meet with A LOT of professors out of class mainly to talk about my major and sort out what I want to do, also getting help with music theory. I don't think the academic requirements are unreasonable. Some majors are for making a student marketable, some are more for personal growth. It depends. I refuse to be marketed, I demand education because and only because I enjoy it.

Couldn't be happier!

Academics are rigorous here, though hard classes can be avoided, and a lot is expected out of the students. There is a huge emphasis on paper writing and on the "so what" factor. There is an expectation for students to move beyond the basic requirements of assignments and be creative and apply very critical thinking. The students here think differently and much more critically and expansively than at a lot of other schools, as I have generally observed. Unfortunately, this often makes Oberlin students somewhat judgmental. Oberlin prepares you to be a thoughtful, questioning human being, not for most careers.

You academic experience at Oberlin will vary a lot depending on what your major is. I've spent a lot of time in Social Sciences/Humanities, and from my perspective it seems like Oberlin students study a LOT. Not only that, but all the intellectual conversations that started in class leak into the hallways between classes and into the night. Education at Oberlin is definitely geared towards learning for learning's sake - sometimes, it seems like a majority of our majors will not get us anywhere after we graduate, unless we head to Grad School, which a staggering number of Oberlin students actually go through with. In that way, our learning is really self-motivated because we want to be better in whatever particular field, and not for some job in the future. The most unique class I've taken at Oberlin is the Black Arts Workshop. We learned about African cosmologies and ritual practices and applied them to African-American theatre and art. The class really bonded as we explored acting, dance, ritual, and vocal/instrumental music.

Classes are great and very personal. Professors in my experience have been really committed to helping students and interacting with them on a personal level. The EXCO program is really cool, where students teach classes to other students on a variety of topics (Super Smash Bros., Environmental Justice, Swing Dancing, Calvin and Hobbes etc.) Oberlin is definitely all about education for its own sake, it has the most percentage of students go on to pursue PHDs than any other undergraduate institution. The academic requirements are pretty easy to fulfill. Oberlin students regularly have intelligent interesting academic conversations outside of class. Students study a fair amount, but not so much that they can't enjoy themselves.

lecture classes usually have 30-35 people... so it's great the MAJORITY of my classes have had wonderful teachers. teachers are always wanting to help students.... its so much fun talking about our classes with other students. students are NOT competitive with other.... only with ourselves... for we want to do good work. as a Comparative American Studies major, the classes, the professors, my fellow students, have Blown me away. As a result, academics here at oberlin have been beyond my expectations.... many student and professor activists.

except for some intro science classes, it is very rare to be in a class with mroe than 50 people. most classes are between 15 and 30 students. academically-- rigorous, sometimes difficult (depending on the professor/department) but excellent. the profs are totally involved and they all know what they're talking about. on the other hand, some other classes are relatively easy, in terms of workload. that doesn't mean the classes are not as interesting as the others though.

I'm a physics major -- it's a pretty small department, and I really like that. I've gotten to know most of the professors and all the other physics majors in my year. All my physics classes have been (for me, at least) very challenging but doable. I just started working on a second major in creative writing. I'm taking my first creative writing class right now (CRWR 201), and I love it -- it may be my favorite class at Oberlin so far. I've had one class that was way too easy and therefore dull. All the rest have been tough enough to be interesting.

Wonderful academics. All my professors know me by name. Theyre all intriguing and in love with their subject. Open to ideas and interdiciplenary approaches. SO intelligent.

Oberlin academics definitely goes beyond the classroom boundaries. We're constantly talking about our ideas and beliefs in any variety of settings, engaging with them as part of our lives and our work. Teachers are extremely accessible and helpful, I've found that to be the case in all the departments I've been involved in. There is a general feeling at Oberlin that the ideas we wrestle with ought to charge and change our lives, and I think they do for the most part.

Education at Oberlin is not about getting a job. Education at Oberlin is not about learning for its own sake. Education at Oberlin is some bizarre combination of a feeling of responsibility of going to college and not particularly wanting to enter the world without having a BA in order to get a job. There are people here for the learning, sure, but there are also lots of people who are here just to keep going to school. I'm one of them. I hate myself for it. Intellectual conversations outside of class rarely have to do with class. They're usually about current events, environmental movements, or political theories. They're wonderful. But I really don't go to Oberlin for the classes at all. I'm here for learning about farming and cooping, learning how to tutor children, learning how to date somebody new for the first time in five years, and to drink coffee. And the coffee here sucks.

Of course professors know my name! My favorite classes every have been with Paul Dawson in the politics department, who tries to scare his students into learning valuable life lessons. People study constantly, but because the library is so great it becomes a social thing. Most classes are small, and so everyone has to talk, and people usually have good things to say. I'm in the Politics and History Departments, and definitely have been known to hang out with some of my professors. Oberlin has pretty simple distribution requirements which mostly exist to ensure that you at least try a department or two outside of your immediate comfort zone. Oberlin, unfortunately, is mostly about learning for learning's sake, but generally this means that people take classes they're genuinely interested in.

Most professors know my name I think, which I like. If you want a professor to know your name, it's fairly easy to make this happen. There are always opportunities to spend time with professors outside of class, like office hours or Professor "Beverages and Soda" at the Sco -- it used to be Professor Beers but someone complained and now the name is supposedly more appropriate -- where professors and students can get together, listen to live jazz, have deep discussions, and drink ridiculously inexpensive beer.

academics are pretty all right. sometimes i feel like i learn as much outside of class from conversations with other people and as in class, it's just different types of learning.

All but one professor knows my name and it was a filler class so I'm not too affected by it. I always find students studying in the library and participating in class. A lot of people take academics seriously here and put them in front of other things that are taking place around them.

Tough, but the professors are understanding. It is a lot of work though, but you learn a lot. The students are really intelligent and you learn a lot just by talking with them.

Dance classes are really cool and interesting, very conceptual a lot of times, not a ton of technique, although I haven't taken a lot of the upper level modern classes, which are probably cool. We also have cool stuff like Capoeira Angola and West African Dance. Students study really hard, and then really like to chill when they are done. During the week, there aren't a lot of people relaxing. Yeah, people do have intellectual conversations outside of class. And relate things to their lives and experiences. People aren't competitive from what I can see.

Intense. Incredible music conservatory.

Classes are challenging but there are easy and moderate ones if you look for them.

The profs are awesome about getting to know the students it the best part of the school. They definatley do all they can to help the students succeed instead of expecting them to fail.

Profs know your name, for the most part; dinners at professors houses are a blast; in class participation is almost TOO much; tons of wonderfully stimulating out-of-class conversations with great people; people aren't competitive at all; the economics department is horrible and getting worse every year; Professor Beers every Thursday is the greatest thing in the whole wide world; education is geared towards learning for its own sake; not a lot of emphasis on getting a good-paying job, which is unfortunate and probably the cause of Oberlin's financial woes.

all of my professors know my name. favorite class: Politics on gender, sexuality and law--where everyone talks about/debates court cases. students always study. work hard, party hard. there's always class participation, the students really care about learning what's going on students most definetly have intellectual conversations outside of class. it's great students are always competitive im a double major in sociology and law and society with a minor in psychology i've had dinner with my professors. they are great. oberlin's education is geared towards learning for the sake of learning. which is how it should be

In a class of well over a hundred just before his retirement I was amazed that Ron DiChenzo knew my name, but I was on a first name basis with every single one of my professors in College. My favorite class had to be drawing with Todd Scroder, in this class there was a laid back sensibility, a stimulating group of students and a professor who infused literature into the drawing room. My least favorite class was probably chemistry, go figure. Students at Oberlin work hard, look at Mudd or the Sience Center on any given evening, packed with Obies. Class participation depends on the professor and their ability to lecture well, also depends on how much attendence affects the overall grade, and the popularity of the subject. Oberlin students don't tend to be competitive, but I suppose in subjects I had little exposure to, it's possible. The art department was small, but lots of very hard working and incredibly intelligent and talented professors. I enjoyed my time with these individuals, the knowledge they lead me to and the opportunities the skills they taught provided me with. I often met profs for coffee, or spent time with them and their families, but being from Oberlin I also grew up with profs sons or daughters, so I suppose my situation might be a bit different. As I said previously, Oberlin has never- I felt- been interested in gearing students for the real world or jobs, gaduate programs def.

Most professors do know your name and make an effort to help you in any way possible. My favorite class has to be Professor Hall's Philosophy and morality. Not only does he lecture on certain ideas of thought but most of class is dedicated to open discussion, urging everyone to participate and give their two cents.

Most of my proffesors know who I am, they do a really good job of being open and sociable with the students. I've really liked all of my classes so far, I'm only a freshman so that's not really saying to much. I think Oberlin's requirments are apropriate and that the education is geared toward learning for its own sake, but our rates of employment and grad-school really speak for themselves.

-This semester, all four of my professors know my name. -My favorite classes have been "Music of the Romantic Era" & "Grief, Rage & Wonder: The 19th Century British Novel I." -Least favorite class was "Genetics, Evolution & Ecology" (intro Bio class). -Students study A LOT & have many intellectual conversations outside of class. -Class participation is quite common. -Students aren't so competitive with each other as with themselves, always striving to do the best they can & push their limits. -The most unique class I've taken is "Environmental Chemistry" or "Magic & Mystery in the Ancient World" -I'm an English major, and the English department is fantastic. There are loose requirements that are easy to fulfill and leave a lot of room for me to explore my passion for 19th Century British fiction. -Academic requirements here are minimal, and very easy to fulfill. -Education at Oberlin is geared more toward learning for its own sake, though many students take courses or choose majors just to get a good job.

I love that I know all of my professors and that I am comfortable enough to go to the bars with them.

Professors usually know your name. Many intellectual conversations take place out of class, often you can hear students arguing about philosophy or politics in the dining halls or in the gym. Oberlin has a great academic record and works hard to both prepare you for and get you a job upon graduating. You can see many professors outside of class whether its out to eat or in the gym, they have an active role in students lives.

My advisor knows my name and i think three of my professors from both semesters, know's my name.

The learning environment between students is not competitive. Classes are challenging and thought-provoking. Graduation requirements are flexible so students can adapt their course load to their interests.

Professors know you by name if you show effort in their class. If they see you working towards achieving that A, they will put their best effort in to get you that A. My favorite class would have to be Surveillance & Society Since 9/11 and my least favorite would be Modern European History. Students study time all depends on majors. Biology majors seem to always be working, along with Economics majors, but History and Sociology majors have more papers, which allows more free time. Class participation depends on the class. Some are pure lecture, some are lecture/discussion, and some are pure discussion, it all depends on the class. I'd like to think about 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time Oberlin students have intellectual conversations because you have 3000 of the best students in the world. Students are competitive, but moreso with themselves then others. The most unique class I've taken would have to be Earth's Environments because I never knew rocks were so interesting. The Sociology Department is great. Its made up of some of the greatest professors who really know their stuff. Its fun learning from people like that because it makes it more fun. Very personable staff as well. I spend a little time with Professors if I need help, but there are some that go to Professor Beers, where a student goes to grab a drink with a professor to talk about class, life, etc. The requirements are great because there is no set curriculum. You have some requirements but your schedule is who you want it to be, which makes it fun and interesting. The education at Oberlin is geared to learning for its own sake as well as getting a job. Oberlin College speaks volumes on a resume' so it really helps when you're getting a job.

All of my professors know my name. My favorite class is my politics/law class. It's a discussion class that is difficult intense. My professor's very intelligent and knows how to "stretch our minds" if you will. He's good at playing devil's advocate and teaching us to think from both perspectives. I think that's especially important at Oberlin since it can be such a liberal bubble. Students study probably everyday. Class participation is definitely important and expected. Many of the things we talk about in class extend to conversations outside of class. I guess students are competitive, but people are so independent and individualistic (but in a good way!) here; they try hard and do well because they want to learn. Intro to Comparative American Studies is a unique and great class. It opens up your eyes to new ways of thinking and seeing things and it's not offered at many colleges. I try to talk to my professors during office hours when I don't understand something, I'm frustrated about something, or I'm confused about a paper I have to write. The academic requirements are perfect. They keep students well-rounded but they aren't too strict. The administration likes to say it's geared towards getting a job, probably just to make parents happy that their money's going towards something substantial. However, I'd say most students learn for the sake of learning.

Professors will or will not know your name based on your desire to have them know or not know your name. I mean, you will always exist on that sheet of paper and they will definitely know you by facial recognition as the kid who either participates enthusiastically or sits in silence at the back of their class. Oberlin classes are very personal and interactive, which is wonderful for student-teacher relations. But you have to want it, you have to get to know your professor for them to get to know you. I know many students who not only talk with all their professors on a first name basis but have meals with them, babysit their children, and share opinions on why Blood Diamond is worth paying 3$ or not to see at Apollo on the weekend. My favorite class is "Language and the Body", a linguistics anthropology/psychology class taught by a young visiting professor who is engaged with us, enthusiastic, brilliant and interesting. I just recently completed a project where I had to find a "master the mysteries of body language" video on you tube and test out the suggestions and record/analyze and hypothesize about my findings. It was a blast and I learned a lot. My least favorite class was Musical Acoustics, not because it was a bad class but because I let myself down by not preparing enough, missing classes, and procrastinating myself to a bad grade. More or less one of those "can I have a redo?" moments. Students study on a regular basis. Academics here is a very self-motivated system. You can have help in class-outside of class, from students, your professor, your friends, other staff but it ultimately comes down to applying yourself at the end of the day. And students know the importance of that here. You get the most back when you put in the most effort. Students and professors love class discussion, and conversation flows easily in class between professor-student student-student student-professor. Being engaged with the material and asking questions, voicing opinions, and listening are all factors that contribute to the class atmosphere. That goes to say also that students who chose to just observe or are shy exist and do very well here too. It's a great environment for beginning to find yourself and open up more than you have in the past. Intellectual conversation is...everywhere. In the shower, on the toilet, at 7am, noon, and midnight, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in line for the vending machine, or on a treadmill you will likely hear someone discussing gender-politics, the theory of relativity, dante's inferno, or the injustice of napkin dispensers? People here like to talk. They like to learn, they like to hear what other people have to say, and they like to know why they think what they think. However, we also like the Office, and if you want to know what I think about Lindsay Lohans nude photo shoot, we can talk about that too. Competitiveness is one thing, dedication and commitment is another. We don't compete against one another as much as we compete against ourselves. We came here to learn to be the best we can be at what we want to do and we will draw off each others resources to get there. We work together to reach our goals, not climb on top of each other to get there. The most unique class I have taken is Archeology. It was grreat. I don't really have a major/department per say because I'm undecided. I want to be a self-designed graphic arts major and therefore I'm working in a lot of different departments at once. Everyone's just dandy though. I don't spend a lot of time with professors outside of class. Partially because this just isn't my style and also partially because I'm a freshman. I spend a lot of time with my Track/XC coaches though. They're my favorite people. Oberlin's academic requirements are definitely one of the best parts of getting an education here. They don't really "require" so much as "encourage" you to explore diverse fields of knowledge. You have to take at least 9 credit hours in the departments of Humanities, Sciences, and Cultural Diversity. You have a Lot of freedom in what you want to do and where you want to go (the sky is the limit) and it's a lot of work but it's definitely manageable and you have an adviser and other great resources to help you out. The education system here is not geared towards getting a job unless you want it to be. They will help you get wherever you want to go, but the percentage of students who go off to grad school is one of the highest in the nation. I know tons of students who have done and will do incredible things in the workforce, the arts, sciences, abroad, for the environment and for humanity because of what they learned and who they met at Oberlin.

History department is bogus. History professors don't know anything about history so they tun the class into a sort of english class, with discussion and writing being the only things one is graded on. They do not grade or even lecture on one's actual knowledge of history. Professors do know names which I like, but I could live without some professors.

Most of my professors know my name. I love that class sizes are small and we have some really great discussions, provided a professor who's a good facilitator (some of them are really brilliant but not really good at teaching). Sometimes class discussions carry over to outside of class but I wouldn't say it's incredibly common, probably because of the shortage of extroverted people. Oberlin students work hard, but there's a lot of leeway- if you want to make a tough schedule you can, or if you want a light one you can do that too. Students are not competitive at all- your schoolwork is your own business. As long as you take learning seriously no one cares what grades you get. The anthropology department is small but slowly growing. The East Asian Studies department is huge and awesome, whether you're into Japanese or Chinese. But, if you're looking for Korean you should probably look elsewhere. I have pretty much never spent time with profs outside of class, unless I'm going to office hours. Oberlin's academic requirements are very reasonable and allow you to get a great, broad education. Oberlin is very geared toward learning for learning's sake. A lot of students go into non-profit or teaching or writing and things like that. There's an anti-establishment sentiment on campus-- students would rather fight the man than earn a high salary.