Oberlin College Top Questions

There are no uber-popular groups, per se. A lot of people on campus are part of things called co-ops, cooperative living and eating situations where the students work together to prepare meals for dozens and make sure that conditions in the co-op houses are livable. These are the Oberlin equivalent to frats...but they really have no bearing on most people's lives. Other than the fact that people sometimes have to cook a meal instead of go out for dinner, it doesn't affect me at all. I'm involved with an improv troupe and various theater groups on campus, so everything I do is performance-based. People living in dorms, unless they are in a freshman dorm, tend to keep more to themselves. There are always exceptions, but that is what my friends have found. Athletic events can be popular...but most people don't care too much. Guest speakers and music events performed by the conservatory and its associated artists draw the biggest crowds. David Sedaris, for example, was the biggest thing since sliced bread. Theater, also, can draw a big crowd (but I'm biased). I met most of my closest friends through my department, but also through my freshman dorm. Living with a bunch of newbies was wonderful for getting to know people. If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday I am either 1) teching for a show and haven't got out yet; 2) playing video games or watching TV with my roommate and other friends 3) getting the last bits of homework done before going to sleep. The big traditions every year, other than 'Disorientation' (the orientation parties) are 'Safer Sex Night' and 'Drag Ball', both of which are intrinsic to Oberlin's personality. Safer Sex Night is the night that everyone gets skimpily-clad and dances around while learning techniques to have safe sex. Drag Ball is is pretty self-explanatory. People party whenever they want basically. Mostly on weekends... but most people get busy during the week too. Fraternities/Sororities don't exist on campus. Most of the stuff to do on a Saturday night involves seeing an on-campus movie, taking in some theater, some improv, some sketch comedy, some music from the con. There's always a show somewhere. I use off-campus for shopping and seeing movies. That's about it. Oh, and non-sanctioned parties (which I rarely attend anyway).

I am a member of the Equestrian Club, one of the most popular clubs at the school. I am also on the Oberlin Co-ed Hockey Club Team. Both of these clubs are very fun and provide a good opportunity to meet people. In addition to sports teams and clubs, there are also many intramural soccer and softball teams that provide a low-key atmosphere for exercise and making new friends.

A lot of planned activities, concerts, art shows, plays. Along with a lot of spending time out in the sun hanging out with people doing some sort of physical activity if you want. Party-wise it is a bit lacking. Dating is sort of odd becuase it is a small campus, but that can often be a good thing if you want to see people you know a lot.

Lots of parties, but not as many as a state university. Some people like to get out of Oberlin on the weekend and go on trips or to Cleveland. We have the Sco, a club, in our student union where you can go any night to dance. Bands also perform there. Some dorms have more of a sense of community then others. Athletic events are not very popular. Guest speakers, theater productions, and concerts are numerous, and very popular. No fraternities or sororities. There is plenty to do whether you do drugs/drink or don't.

There is always something to do at Oberlin. Always. Whether it's a guest speaker, concert, school-sponsored parties, house parties, T.G.I.F., sketch comedy shows, plays, art showings, etc... I'm never really bored.

People here aren't assholes! Tons on musical performances are available here, mostly for free or three dollars. People party every weekend. No greek scene. There is much to do without drinking here. There are dances and plays and parties and concerts and an arb to wander around in the moonlight and a campus club and a movie theatre and everything. Lots of speakers, lot's of everything good.

The most popular student organizations on campus are the radio station (WOBC), OSCA (Oberlin Students Cooperative Association), womens rugby, ultimate frisbee, the College Democrats, and the two newspapers - The Grape and The Oberlin Review. I'm involved with WOBC, the tour guide program at the Allen Memorial Art Museum, OSCA (I'm in Kosher-Halal Coop), and the Student Honor Committee. There are all sorts of activities to get involved with - a ton of student theater, lots of intramural sports, literary magazines, and everything else you can think of. If we don't have the club you want, you can start one. My friends are involved in political organizations, outdoor clubs (the rock climbing wall and the bike coop are big), art coops (the pottery coop, the film coop), and all other sorts of things.

Many people center their social time around the parties that happen every weekend, as I suspect happens quite frequently at most colleges. That does not come even close to describing the amounts of social activity going on at Oberlin. The number of campus events each day approaches mind-boggling. Indeed, if an activity or event dies due to lack of participation at Oberlin, you can safely assume that this happened because the students couldn't spare a few hours because of their involvement with some other set of events. In addition, having a strong conservatory attached to the college and a community of students who support all types of music means more concerts happen in a year than days. I would even bet that we have maybe an average of two or even three concerts a day.

So many interesting events happen at all hours of the day, that you really have to choose wisely what to go to. This can be frustrating, when you have multiple obligations simultaneously, but all in all it gives the Oberlin life vibrancy. Compared with some other college's I have visited. Oberlin really has a lot of activities, lectures, concerts, opportunities that are extremely accessible, and it is unwise to not take these opportunities. I often feel there are more organizations and events than students on campus. Everyone is involved in much more than just their major.

lots of activities. socially life is awkward sometimes. teehe.

There's a club for anything, and if there's not you can start one. The school has its own bowling ally, which is super-cheap and under-rated. The school also owns a dance-club/bar called the 'Sco which can be fun occasionally. There is NO Greek life and it's awesome! We have the hippie frat alternative: co-ops! They are way better because they involve FOOD! The pot scene is amazing. There are niches for other drugs, but not if you don't want them. There are always ways to have fun without drugs, too...it's all about who you hang out with.

OSCA, different co-ops are different, not a lot of people leave doors open. I never go to athletic events. There is no dating, just hooking up, or being in a relationship. Drag Ball is great. I don't drink, but I like concerts and bands playing and co-op parties like Keep's haloween bash and dancing. there are no fraternities/sororities. last weekend I did a lot of work for osca. On a saturday night- go to the cat, watch a movie, hang out in fairkid and hear folk singers. off campus I only drive people to the airport.

Oh the parties are off the hizzay!

I have known most of my closest friends since freshman year, when we met by living in the same dorm and through mutual friends, etc. I also met a lot of people during my sophomore year when I lived in a co-op. Since then, the people I am friends with are mostly the people that I party with on weekends. I find that I don't meet that many people through classes. Drinking definitely makes up a huge part of my social life, especially during my senior year.

The best social life on campus is in the CO-OPS! My house is amazing; people leave their doors open, blast folk music down the halls, invite whoever whenever into their space to talk or party. People in my co-op just love having fun together. I would say that most-to-all of my friends, I met in my co-op. Sometimes I have a look at the Oberlin events calendar and I am just blown away by the gobs of events I could go to on any particular night. Attendance at guest lecturers and artistic performances are surprisingly high. Oberlin students really seem to love supporting one another on all their ventures.

There is a ton of stuff on this campus all the time. Club sports are popular, much more so than varsity sports; Rugby is the best! Guest speakers and concerts draw the most people, but a lot of people are just content to hang out with each other, sometimes drink, sometimes smoke, sometimes neither. There is always always always something to do on campus. The conservatory puts on 400 concerts a year, which is an absolutely ridiculous number if you think about it. There is not a lot of pressure to drink, although some people do like to and do drink regularly. People study hard, but not hard enough to prevent them from having a god time.

there a lot of different groups on campus.... the most popular sports are the rugby (especially women's) rugby team, and the ultimate frisbee teams.... there are quite a few varsity athletes, but people here generally have more enthusiasm for the club sports there is safer sex night and drag ball. Safer sex night is a dance party in the fall that also teaches about safer sex techniques... drag ball, every spring is hugely popular.... people dress in drag or just generally mess with the gender binary... there are drag performers... its the equivalent of our prom. It's great that I can run into people I know everywhere on campus.... people here generally procrastinate writing their papers until [the night] before.... THERE ARE NOT FRATS OR SORORITIES. there are co'ops... 4 of which u can live in.... these co'ops host parties every year (they are ALL INCLUSIVE) ... co'ops are the closest thing to frats and sororities on campus.... Oberlin is a good place to come to if u don't drink... MANY PARTIES HAVE LIVE MUSIC THAT YOU CAN ENJOY WITHOUT BEING DRUNK. :) there are also communities that generally don't drink (or so I know of) there is a science fiction group of people... many of these people also do live action roleplay.... the Oberlin College marching band is also a welcoming community for people who are not into the party scene... people here make sure to have fun as well as work hard.

People almost never fomally ask each other out or go on dates, but plenty of people are in relationships. How these relationships get started remains a mystery to me. There are parties if you like that sort of thing. Some people go to parties pretty much every weekend. You don't have to. I don't. There are no fraternities or sororities. I love the contra dances that we have once or twice a month. Different houses have very different degrees of community. In the big regular dorms people don't talk to each other much; you might well not get to know the other people in your hall if you didn't already know them. The co-ops and programs houses have much more of a community.

WOMENS RUGBY IS THE BEST THING ON CAMPUS. It makes you so proud to be a girl. The 'Sco is the school run bar/venue/hang out and its hopping most weeknight and some weekends. Weekends consist of pre gaming in your room and then going to overpacked house parties with school bands playing (which are ALL amazing) and running into everyone you ever hooked up with because, lets face it, Oberlin is a small school. Occasionally those people are of the same sex- but thats what's college is for, right?

I met my closest friends through where I lived freshman year, through theater extracurricular activities, and occasionally through classes. Extracurriculars and living proximity though are by far the best ways of meeting people. Most people I think ended up staying pretty close with the people they lived near. Some majors also have pretty tight bonds, theater being the example that comes to mind most easily.

Lectures and concerts and performances, oh my! They're wonderful, but they're nearly impossible to go to if you work and/or are taking a challenging class. Traditions were completely disappointing, because there are none, besides drag ball where I felt completely uncomfortable as a transperson, and dandelion romp, which is wonderful but not at the same level as New England contradancing. I met my closest friends in my freshman year dorm and I'm dating one and hate the other. People here don't date. They stare at one another awkwardly for four years and get married to the other person's best friend 10 years later. I wish I wasn't kidding. Not much partying which is fine. Lots of PBR, which sucks. If I'm awake at 2 am on a Tuesday, I'm working on my math homework. There's lots to do that doesn't involve drinking, if anything there's little to do that does. And that's wonderful, so long as you're willing to drag your ass out of bed on a Saturday night to do something, which sometimes you're not.

OSCA is the biggest student organization on campus, but otherwise we have basically have everything. Theater is popular, as are music groups, OCircus, dance organizations (salsa, contra, and swing), and the radio station. The OC Dems seem to have 300-something people on their e-mail list. No one goes to athletic events except for Ultimate Frisbie and Rugby. The dating scene... is what you make of it. I met my best friend on The Day of Service, where first-years go out into the community and do volunteer work. I met most of my other non-co-op friends pretty randomly, actually. 2 am on a Tuesday, you're sleeping in the library. Drag Ball is huge, as is the Big Parade and Folk Fest. There's basically a few parties going on every weekend except right before finals, but parties usually involve people you know. On a Saturday night you can go see a play, a concert, hang out with friends, smoke pot, eat at Downtown Pizza at 3 a.m.

Dorm communities really depend on the dorm. If you're looking for a small place where you can know everyone who wants to know you, I recommend Fairchild on South Campus. There are only about 70 residents and the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. Also, if you're up for "partying" on week nights, go to the Sco. NEVER go to the Sco on weekends unless there's a band playing or some other such event. Going to regular Sco programming on weekends is lame. Plus, the best programs are during the week -- pitchers on Monday and Wednesday, fiddy cent beers on Tuesday.

oberlin student co-operative association! (osca) is a really great thing to be involved in. living and/or dining co-ops foster a lot of community, are cheaper and friendlier than dining halls. and you learn how to cook. and fairkid is the best one.

OSCA- Oberlin Student Coop Association- is the largest student organization, and people love it. So much music its ridiculous- a lot of times my band just sets up in the basement of a co op and plays. Theres a lot of community and a lot of hanging out.

There are a lot of great concerts and events, but it's a tiny town and there isn't really anything to do outside of the college. But there are great people here and you can befriend them and then hang out withthem.

Not a party school, but lots of smaller gatherings where the pot and alcohol flow freely. Occasionally a good house party comes along. No frats and sorrorities, thank god.

The social scene is pretty divided but certain people flow between circles. There are the athletes, the conn kids (conservatory students), the hippies and the hipsters. Once you step into a party you can easily distinguish which type of party you are in from the clothes people are wearing to the music. One's ability to be a part of one or more of these groups is a personal choice. People choose which crowd or crowds they identify with and then they welcomed for the most part.

There really isnt a very big social scene. There arent many students at the school and most people know each other.

Students leave their doors open more or less depending on what dorm you live in; athletic events are not popular, which is depressing; the dating scene is a joke, in fact people don't really date, period; I met my closest friends through sports and living next door; Oberlin has some legendary traditions including Safer Sex Night and Drag Ball; people party hearty on the weekends, though the College has been cracking down on off-campus housing; no frats/sororities; lots of things to do that don't involve drinking, like music at the Con, theater productions, dancing; off campus - nothing to do except the 4 restaurants and the one bar.

All of the answers are above.

-Athletic events are slowly becoming more popular; theatre is popular; guest speakers are popular -Dating scene is a little rough, but it's definitely possible to find someone to be with. -I met my closest friends through living arrangements & athletics. -Drag Ball & Safer Sex Night happen each year. -There are no frats or sororities, which is really nice. -Last weekend, I attended Oberlin's 2nd Relay for Life event & went to the spring opera (Monteverdi's "The Coronation of Poppea"). -If you don't want to go party/drink on a Saturday night, you can go to a concert, go to the Apollo to see the movie that's on, hang out with friends, go to a play, etc...

Oberlin has the most boring weekend social life, especially if you like to party. There will be a lot of school sponsored activities, such as dance performances or musicals. But the school really lacks a fun party atmosphere. Most parties include everyone standing around, looking at each other, drinking beer.

I love the football team. I fell that alot of people have a stereotype on us which is funny. The oberlin students here seem to hate being stereotyped for being gay or an outkast yet many of them turn around and stereotype the football team. I feel the football program at Oberlin College will help bring more respect to the college from surrounding societies. Also I love the partying!!!

Kids party on the weekends, but usually get their work done on friday or saturday afternoon before going out. Safer Sex Night is lots of fun with very little clothing.

The most popular groups, teams, etc. would be the Ultimate Frisbee team and all of the academic-based organizations. I'm involved with football so we're more towards the bottom of the popularity pole, but thats also because of people who believe the stereotypes associated with us, when in actuality, we're some of the smartest on campus. Students do leave their doors open, some for company, some to let out the stink, and some to make sure their entire room doesn't smell like weed. Ultimate Frisbee is probably the most popular, along with politically based speakers. Footbal has made its way up the list though. I met my g/f here and couldn't be happier. You've got ladies from all over and all ethnicities so you've got a good pot to choose from. I met my closest friends through the football team. Its good because you come in your freshmen year and you know 50-60 guys so it helps when you go to parties and get introduced. Awake at 2 am, I am probably out doing something I shouldn't. There are two major events, Safer Sex Night and Drag Ball. Drag Ball is one of the most entertaining experiences I have ever been a part of. People party Tues-Sun. There is a good amount of alcohol consumption and drug using going on any day of the week. Oberlin College has no fraternities or soroities, no paying to be someone's bitch. I went out and kicked it with my friends last weekend. hit up a few parties, chilled with my g/f. You can go to Cleveland (about 30 min away), go dancing at the Sco (on campus club), bowling, shoot pool, check out movies. There is always something to do. If we go off-campus, we hit up clubs and bars, typical college behavior.

Oberlin Democrats is a popular group, but I think that's mainly because this year's an election year. Yes, students leave their doors open. Well, we do anyway. Athletic events aren't that popular; they're only popular for other athletes. Guest speakers are pretty popular; it depends on who they are and how well advertised it is. We have so many of them, it's hard to make it to all of them! Theater is pretty popular as well. Once again, it depends on the crowd. If I'm awake at 2 am, I'm probably writing an essay that's due at 9 am the next day. Safer Sex Night and Drag Ball are HUGE traditions. People party every weekend, both nights. There are also people who don't party. It depends. We don't have frats. Thank God. Last weekend I went to parties both nights. The parties here are awesome because there are usually REALLY good bands playing! Something that I can do on a Saturday night that doesn't involve drinking....smoke a bowl. Well, there are parties at houses that are off campus. Other than that, there isn't really too much to do off campus other than go to the bank to cash a check, eat out at the Feve, or catch a $3 at the Apollo.

I'm getting too tired to write much more. Basically to sum up the social scene. If you're involved in things you're hot, if you're like me, cross country running makes you a fine (hard to catch) catch. Your door is open if you remember/find your doorstop otherwise, knock and you shall be received. There are so many things to go to, take advantage of as many musical, theater, art, athletic, and club events as you can and you will be happy as a clam. We have world renown speakers and musicians all the time. That's not something to pass up. The music is HOT. The people are HOTTER. Your friends are the people you meet down the hall who own the xbox, the people you meet who like to watch corny youtube videos with you, the people you meet in class who like to complain about the assignment due friday with you, the people you admire, the people you play sports with, the people who you jam with on the weekends. You can meet your closest friends anywhere. At 2 am you are either - at a party with your friends listening to techno and watching your friends act Crazy, at the dance club dressed in matching outfits with your best friend trying to figure out a way to get the lead singer to make out with you after the show, snuggling with your significant other, watching really lame yet hilarious youtube videos of gerbils eating broccoli or being a diligent student and finishing that paper in the 24hr study lounge with your music, cold pizza and/or cupcakes and the other kids in your class who need to finish that same paper. If you're not drinking you could be, sledding, urban climbing, tightrope walking, movie screening, running, playing video games, studying, at a movie, out to Cleveland, baking, making dorm mischief, dance party!, at a play/concert, schmoozing with your crush, ping-pong, tea party, water gun wars, taking a great shower, making your own hottub, writing a novel, life drawing club, learning something etc. etc. Off campus...go to the city. Bring some spending money and take your pick.

I hate to be a varsity sport, probably one of the best on campus, and not be able to get gym time, because Ultimate Frisbee, which isn't even a varsity sport is getting time before us. Club sports such as these should get less time in the gym so that the sports that are more important, such as an actual varsity sport, whether it be baseball, softball, lacrosse, or whatever, gets the gym time they need first.

OC Democrats is quite large. Theater and Musical theater clubs are very popular and put on lots of shows, though our student theater spaces leave something to be desired (namely, more space). My favorite extra-curricular activity is choir. The conductor is awesome and everyone in the choir really loves to sing, and everyone's quite friendly. We make awesome music. Guest speakers are pretty common and popular, as is theater. Sports events...it's like they don't even exist. Except for women's rugby. And perhaps fencing and aikido. The dating scene is *awkward* I mean, we try, but sometimes it can be discouraging. A lot of people are shy. I met my closest friends eating in a co-op with them. The co-op system is really great. Also we live in the same dorm which is a program house. People party a lot, but it's low key, hang out and have a few beers in my friend's room kind of partying. Hardcore loud crowded parties definitely happen if you're into that, but there is no Greek life. And we're proud of that. Pot is almost as popular as alcohol. There is plenty to do on weekends if you're not into partying. There is always some performance going on- often several. But, if you're looking to go clubbing or do some sort of activity that's not on campus, Oberlin's not a good place to be. Stick to campus events- you can check out the events calendar on the Oberlin website, but even that's not complete.

What are the most popular groups/organizations/clubs/teams on campus? Women's rugby team, freesbee club... · Tell us about a group you’re involved with. The men's rugby team: great spirit, lot of fun outside practice, great people that understand what rugby is all about... · Do students in dorms leave their doors open? Most of them yes. · How popular are athletic events? Guest speakers? Theater? Athletic events: not so popular. Guest Speakers: popular. Theater: very popular. · Tell us about the dating scene. Not much couples formed... · How did you meet your closest friends? by working together. · If you’re awake at 2am on a Tuesday, what are you doing? I failed to try to sleep. · What traditions/events happen each year? dragball party, merengue madness, safer sex night. · How often do people party? Very often, depending on the parties available, like Fridays and saturdays at least. · How important are fraternities/sororities? Not important. There's none here I believe. · What did you do last weekend? Hung out with my friends up late, but I did not party. · What can you do on a Saturday night that doesn’t involve drinking? Go to the disco, or the movie theater...but really nothing else. · What do you do off campus? Shop in town, party.

There are over 100 chartered student organizations that receive funds from the Student Activities Fee, and many many more that are not officially registered with the Student Union. Mostly only athletes attend athletics events. Guest speakers are relatively well-attended, as are theatrical productions, and conservatory performances. Healthy and fulfilling romantic relationships are an impossible aspiration. My closest friends are people that I have lived with, or played softball with, or met through mutual friends, or cooked with in a co-op, or served on a committee with... There is no Greek life. The co-op system is a form of gender-blind fraternization. Last weekend, I did homework, went to plays, snapped my fingers, and went to parties. If you don't want to drink, you can build a bike, bake muffins, make a rope out of shoelaces, build an igloo, make a giant badger out of chicken wire, have a handstand contest, do a radio show...infinite.

No one really goes to athletics.

For a school so remote and small, Oberlin is more active than many public universities I've been to. There is always something going on on the campus, sometimes too many things. From parties to concerts to religious activities to theatre, there's never a shortage of things to do.