Oberlin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not the parent of an Oberlin student.

I have a DS that just graduated from Denison that applied to all three (Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison).

I also have a DD that applied to Wooster and Denison this past cycle.

I am going to post our findings and experiences.

In 2017 my DS applied to all 3 with a 30 ACT, and 3.6 from a typical New England suburban high school. Good not great.

Accepted to Denison with 26k merit.
Accepted to Oberlin with 15k merit.
Declined at Kenyon.

Frankly he did not demonstrate interest in any of them. I mention this that I believe that likely would have helped at Kenyon. I also think being full pay might have helped.

Attended and had a good experience at Denison. We toured Oberlin and I liked it. My DS didn’t like the town. He felt it was old and downtrodden. DW didn’t like Oberlin - too progressive. I liked it and thought my son should attend. Oberlin was willing to work with us on merit given offer from Denison.

Overall DS need less stats than DD at these schools. Also I believe the overall cost of attendance has declined.

In 2018 DD applied to Denison with a 1550 and a 4.8 GPA. Offered less aid than her older brother. I believe they were practicing yield protection.

In 2021 younger DD applied to Denison and Wooster. Approximately 3.6 GPA with no test scores. Good not great ECs. Denison suggested DD apply ED2. Offered pre-read. 20k merit plus 20k financial aid. We have never received financial aid from them (Denison)while DS attended but they said it was because older DD was still in college which again didn’t add up because DS and Older DD were both in college for two previous years.

Wooster offered DD 34k merit.

DD did not apply ED2 to Denison as given COVID she felt it was too far. Waitlisted but I think that was a polite decline.

I realize this does not address your post but I thought you and others might find my families experiences with the Ohio LACs informative.

Boys will have easier admit at all three.

Best of luck.

PP, thanks for your post. Really appreciate reading the three scenarios. DS has a 34 ACT and a current 3.5 GPA. His first year of HS not so great, but his grades have been on a steady upward trajectory. He will be full pay. As of now, he prefers Kenyon. Hoping to see the three Ohio schools when he is out of school in two weeks. FWIW, I am very progressive and would probably be fine with Oberlin, but perhaps may not be same for him.

The last year of admissions has made DS and many of his classmates anxious, even if it may not be founded, so think he is eager to come up with a good mix of a list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any one with DCs @ Oberlin? Or recent grads? DS has strong ACT score, 3.5 GPA, decent ECs w/some leadership. May not have the stats juice for Kenyon, which he is interested in, but am wondering about Oberlin. DH from Ohio and suggested it. DS is fairly involved in social justice issues yet also has a strong independent streak (though not as in political parties) and wary of one-side POVs. Oberlin considered pretty left and hippy when I was a kid, but am wondering if it may be more so these days.

Read the story about Oberlin and the Gibson bakery and see if that’s the type of institution you want your child educated at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson%27s_Bakery_v._Oberlin_College

I'm progressive and I find Oberlin's behavior concerning this case disturbing.

Meh, it's pretty lame. Oberlin looks like mother Theresa compared to sexual misconducts you can find just by googling. Sandusky the child abuser at Penn State, gynecology sexual assaults at USC, UCLA, Columbia... Larry Nassar the sexual predator and the U of Michigan... Most DCUM parents would give an arm and a leg to get their kids into USC, UCLA, Columbia, Michigan... Oberlin's fault was standing behind its students it promised to care for... instead of throwing them under the bus when convenient...

[Anonymous]

My child just graduated from Oberlin and had a great experience. They got some merit but since they applied ED it was in the $10K range with a 31 ACT and strong GPA. I’d apply RD but show strong interest especially for a boy. Being male is a big advantage given the higher percentage of girls applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not the parent of an Oberlin student.

I have a DS that just graduated from Denison that applied to all three (Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison).

I also have a DD that applied to Wooster and Denison this past cycle.

I am going to post our findings and experiences.

In 2017 my DS applied to all 3 with a 30 ACT, and 3.6 from a typical New England suburban high school. Good not great.

Accepted to Denison with 26k merit.
Accepted to Oberlin with 15k merit.
Declined at Kenyon.

Frankly he did not demonstrate interest in any of them. I mention this that I believe that likely would have helped at Kenyon. I also think being full pay might have helped.

Attended and had a good experience at Denison. We toured Oberlin and I liked it. My DS didn’t like the town. He felt it was old and downtrodden. DW didn’t like Oberlin - too progressive. I liked it and thought my son should attend. Oberlin was willing to work with us on merit given offer from Denison.

Overall DS need less stats than DD at these schools. Also I believe the overall cost of attendance has declined.

In 2018 DD applied to Denison with a 1550 and a 4.8 GPA. Offered less aid than her older brother. I believe they were practicing yield protection.

In 2021 younger DD applied to Denison and Wooster. Approximately 3.6 GPA with no test scores. Good not great ECs. Denison suggested DD apply ED2. Offered pre-read. 20k merit plus 20k financial aid. We have never received financial aid from them (Denison)while DS attended but they said it was because older DD was still in college which again didn’t add up because DS and Older DD were both in college for two previous years.

Wooster offered DD 34k merit.

DD did not apply ED2 to Denison as given COVID she felt it was too far. Waitlisted but I think that was a polite decline.

I realize this does not address your post but I thought you and others might find my families experiences with the Ohio LACs informative.

Boys will have easier admit at all three.

Best of luck.

Also, for what it's worth, in 2017 Oberlin's endowment was some $850M. At that time, Vassar College's stood at $1.1B. In the past 4 years, I noticed Oberlin pretty much caught up with Vassar. Oberlin's endowment is currently approximately $1.1B, comparable to Vassar's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any one with DCs @ Oberlin? Or recent grads? DS has strong ACT score, 3.5 GPA, decent ECs w/some leadership. May not have the stats juice for Kenyon, which he is interested in, but am wondering about Oberlin. DH from Ohio and suggested it. DS is fairly involved in social justice issues yet also has a strong independent streak (though not as in political parties) and wary of one-side POVs. Oberlin considered pretty left and hippy when I was a kid, but am wondering if it may be more so these days.

Read the story about Oberlin and the Gibson bakery and see if that’s the type of institution you want your child educated at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson%27s_Bakery_v._Oberlin_College

I'm progressive and I find Oberlin's behavior concerning this case disturbing.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any one with DCs @ Oberlin? Or recent grads? DS has strong ACT score, 3.5 GPA, decent ECs w/some leadership. May not have the stats juice for Kenyon, which he is interested in, but am wondering about Oberlin. DH from Ohio and suggested it. DS is fairly involved in social justice issues yet also has a strong independent streak (though not as in political parties) and wary of one-side POVs. Oberlin considered pretty left and hippy when I was a kid, but am wondering if it may be more so these days.

Read the story about Oberlin and the Gibson bakery and see if that’s the type of institution you want your child educated at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson%27s_Bakery_v._Oberlin_College

I'm progressive and I find Oberlin's behavior concerning this case disturbing.

+1

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-25/usc-payout-gynecologist-sex-abuse-claims-to-top-1-billion

USC to pay $1.1 billion to settle decades of sex abuse claims against gynecologist
USC's own defense of $1.1B sexual abuse settlement is that it's comparable to what other universities have paid out for their sexual abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any one with DCs @ Oberlin? Or recent grads? DS has strong ACT score, 3.5 GPA, decent ECs w/some leadership. May not have the stats juice for Kenyon, which he is interested in, but am wondering about Oberlin. DH from Ohio and suggested it. DS is fairly involved in social justice issues yet also has a strong independent streak (though not as in political parties) and wary of one-side POVs. Oberlin considered pretty left and hippy when I was a kid, but am wondering if it may be more so these days.

Read the story about Oberlin and the Gibson bakery and see if that’s the type of institution you want your child educated at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson%27s_Bakery_v._Oberlin_College

I'm progressive and I find Oberlin's behavior concerning this case disturbing.

Meh, it's pretty lame. Oberlin looks like mother Theresa compared to sexual misconducts you can find just by googling. Sandusky the child abuser at Penn State, gynecology sexual assaults at USC, UCLA, Columbia... Larry Nassar the sexual predator and the U of Michigan... Most DCUM parents would give an arm and a leg to get their kids into USC, UCLA, Columbia, Michigan... Oberlin's fault was standing behind its students it promised to care for... instead of throwing them under the bus when convenient...

FWIW, Nassar was affliliated with MSU, not Michigan. None of those schools are on DS' radar.

[Anonymous]

NP here. We are planning to visit Oberlin, Kenyon and Wooster. Any reason to add Denison?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not the parent of an Oberlin student.

I have a DS that just graduated from Denison that applied to all three (Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison).

I also have a DD that applied to Wooster and Denison this past cycle.

I am going to post our findings and experiences.

In 2017 my DS applied to all 3 with a 30 ACT, and 3.6 from a typical New England suburban high school. Good not great.

Accepted to Denison with 26k merit.
Accepted to Oberlin with 15k merit.
Declined at Kenyon.

Frankly he did not demonstrate interest in any of them. I mention this that I believe that likely would have helped at Kenyon. I also think being full pay might have helped.

Attended and had a good experience at Denison. We toured Oberlin and I liked it. My DS didn’t like the town. He felt it was old and downtrodden. DW didn’t like Oberlin - too progressive. I liked it and thought my son should attend. Oberlin was willing to work with us on merit given offer from Denison.

Overall DS need less stats than DD at these schools. Also I believe the overall cost of attendance has declined.

In 2018 DD applied to Denison with a 1550 and a 4.8 GPA. Offered less aid than her older brother. I believe they were practicing yield protection.

In 2021 younger DD applied to Denison and Wooster. Approximately 3.6 GPA with no test scores. Good not great ECs. Denison suggested DD apply ED2. Offered pre-read. 20k merit plus 20k financial aid. We have never received financial aid from them (Denison)while DS attended but they said it was because older DD was still in college which again didn’t add up because DS and Older DD were both in college for two previous years.

Wooster offered DD 34k merit.

DD did not apply ED2 to Denison as given COVID she felt it was too far. Waitlisted but I think that was a polite decline.

I realize this does not address your post but I thought you and others might find my families experiences with the Ohio LACs informative.

Boys will have easier admit at all three.

Best of luck.

PP, thanks for your post. Really appreciate reading the three scenarios. DS has a 34 ACT and a current 3.5 GPA. His first year of HS not so great, but his grades have been on a steady upward trajectory. He will be full pay. As of now, he prefers Kenyon. Hoping to see the three Ohio schools when he is out of school in two weeks. FWIW, I am very progressive and would probably be fine with Oberlin, but perhaps may not be same for him.

The last year of admissions has made DS and many of his classmates anxious, even if it may not be founded, so think he is eager to come up with a good mix of a list.

I’m the PP.

Again only first hand knowledge at Denison.

First, given my DD’s experience this year I think admissions and price were easier this year. My DD did not apply to top tier schools but where she applied she did well and the offers were strong. I also received offers of additional aid after May 1 from at least two schools. Never experienced that before. So I think between COVID, international attendance off, and demographics (less HS graduates) I think college admissions will get easier.


I think full pay will help but what my youngest excelled at was demonstrated interest. She was all over it and it made a difference. I would say my other DD had a harder time because all the schools figured she had a ton of options given her high stats. So I think she punched below her weight where my youngest punched significantly above it.

Denison was, according to my DS, somewhat fratty. Also athletics are a big part of it. He was neither and did well but it should be a consideration. A friend’s DD attended Kenyon and she came from a private HS. I am making a stereotype but I could see an easier admit from private vs public school. Kenyon feels like a private boarding school when you tour. I liked it and they had a great course catalog but not sure I could make it 4 years. Would definitely get isolating.

I liked Oberlin because it felt intellectual and in college you should engage in great debates.

When my son saw Denison he was sold.

Good luck. I think your DS is going to do quite well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are planning to visit Oberlin, Kenyon and Wooster. Any reason to add Denison?

I’m the PP whose son just graduated from Denison. Absolutely add Denison. I’d call it the middle of the road. Oberlin is far left. That’s good with me and my DS is far left but it’s not for everyone. Kenyon is a very nice place. Very peaceful setting but very isolated. Wooster, great merit, but you have to want to do research given senior capstone project.

Denison is in Granville. Great small town - twenty minutes to Easton mall and half hour to Columbus. Academics are below Kenyon and Oberlin but my son had to work at it. He did double major and graduate cum laude. Definitely worth a look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any one with DCs @ Oberlin? Or recent grads? DS has strong ACT score, 3.5 GPA, decent ECs w/some leadership. May not have the stats juice for Kenyon, which he is interested in, but am wondering about Oberlin. DH from Ohio and suggested it. DS is fairly involved in social justice issues yet also has a strong independent streak (though not as in political parties) and wary of one-side POVs. Oberlin considered pretty left and hippy when I was a kid, but am wondering if it may be more so these days.

Read the story about Oberlin and the Gibson bakery and see if that’s the type of institution you want your child educated at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson%27s_Bakery_v._Oberlin_College

I'm progressive and I find Oberlin's behavior concerning this case disturbing.

This was 5 years ago, just after Trump was elected. There is now a really impressive new president and the head of residence life during the incident is “on sabbatical”. They were also once a stop on the Underground Railroad. Not sure at what point you are going to move on. But everyone at the college has.

OP, if there is one thing COVId made clear, it’s that Oberlin is a very tight community. I was so thankful that’s where my kid was when COVID hit. They dealt with it very well, and my kid was on campus for two semester of in person classes, almost no community spread. I was very impressed.

No one will ever convince the Fox News soundbite crew otherwise, but there is a range of viewpoint from extreme liberal to mainstream Republican, but more liberal than conservative students. The conservatory is fully integrated into the Arts and Science campus, Con kids are assigned A&S roommates, most A&S kids play one or more instruments, sing or are into drama. The Con kids bring a lot of diverse points of view too. And they have some cool programs like barefoot dialogues (which my kid did, and it was good for him) and an evangelical Christian “sister school”.

If your kid os uncomfortable with openly gay, openly trans, etc, Oberlin is the wrong place. Besides that, right of center to pretty far left is all fine. Mitt Romney would be fine there. Trump worshipers, not so much. The kids who have trouble with the campus culture are really those who have no fine arts interest or background. If your kid is very Greek life and big sports, but no real interest in art, music or drama it will be a bad fit.

Carman Ambar, Oberlin’s President, did an interview with the NYT on campus culture, BLM, etc. She answers a lot of the questions you are asking. Link is in here. https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/news/no-parties-no-sports-how-oberlin-college-surviving-pandemic

My kid is HS class of 2020. In term of Admission, Oberlin was very much in line with Kenyon in terms of admissions difficulty. Remember when you look at stats, you are getting A&S and Con. The pure GPA and ACT numbers for the A&S kids are higher. But, of course, the Con kids have amazing talent.

ACT is a 32-34 ACT from the DMV (girls probably need a point higher than boys). 3.5 GPA isn’t a helpful stat. Weighted? Unweighted? Rigor? 3.5 is kind of low, even UW. I’m assuming some ECs that will show that Oberlin is a good fit? Oberlin has a lot of applications (and students) from the DMV, and are looking for a certain kind of kid. Fit matters to them in selecting a class.

My kid applied to A&S. 4.2 GPA. Weighted, obviously, but with 4 years of music and two feign languages, so lots of UW classes. 1530 SAT. Merit awards from Oberlin and Kenyon almost identical. Wooster was much higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. We are planning to visit Oberlin, Kenyon and Wooster. Any reason to add Denison?

I’m the PP whose son just graduated from Denison. Absolutely add Denison. I’d call it the middle of the road. Oberlin is far left. That’s good with me and my DS is far left but it’s not for everyone. Kenyon is a very nice place. Very peaceful setting but very isolated. Wooster, great merit, but you have to want to do research given senior capstone project.

Denison is in Granville. Great small town - twenty minutes to Easton mall and half hour to Columbus. Academics are below Kenyon and Oberlin but my son had to work at it. He did double major and graduate cum laude. Definitely worth a look.

+1

[Anonymous]

In addition to Wooster, also check Lawrence and Beloit, and maybe Kalamazoo and Knox. Also maybe Grinnell and Macalester.

My friends kids love Oberlin. They are progressive.

My kids preferred Lawrence, Beloit and Macalester.

[Anonymous]

My DC attends Oberlin and enjoys it. You MUST visit when school is in session to "get the vibe."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC attends Oberlin and enjoys it. You MUST visit when school is in session to "get the vibe."

Apparently there is a summer semester this year because of the pandemic