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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]New poster here - would it be a good fit for a boy who has no problem with progressive politics but is personally just not all that political? And is not at all “crunchy/granola”? He’s more of just a generally quiet, bookish sort, but he is interested in Oberlin (10th grade so just getting into this now) because he plays an interest and would like to study that alongside another major. He also is looking for a school with little to no Greek life.[/quote]

Yep. You just described my Obie. Center left politics with some Bernie ideas thrown in. Passionate about climate change but his major touches on climate change. Not at all into following politics everyday amd I just can’t picture him at a protest or rally.  Strong introvert, very nerdy, STEM major with minors in a second STEM and humanities field where he liked the professor in. A survey class and is just talking whatever he teaches . Freshman year, took music lessons from a Con kid for less than $10 a week. This year, there were COVID restrictions.

He LOVES Oberlin, which is filled with introverted, quirky kids.  DH laughs because during move in, the majority of kids take an instrument out of the car first thing, and walk it in and get it settled. Then, they unload everything else.  :P   There certainly are crunchy granola vegans. But that’s not the majority.  PP is right- the vast majority is involved in something creative though.   And it sounds like your kid ticks that box.

I’m sure kids protest.  But during the BLM and election protests this year, Oberlin was actually much quieter than peer schools. The new president is all about less protest, more taking constructive action to being about real change.

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i just want to second what this PP wrote.  A couple of quick additions from our experience with DS.

First, I want to emphasize how kind the students and faculty members are.  They are truly some of the nicest people ever.  I'm really not sure why.  It would be easy to say it's the Midwest, but the student body is very national, with the majority from both coasts and far fewer from the Midwest.  My assumption is that students self-select for Oberlin.  For my DS, it has been an enormous relief to have the expectation that others will treat him and others with kindness.

Second, it is an intellectual environment.  There are higher stat schools out there, but not nearly as many where students seem truly engaged in their studies and their ECs as part of the life of the mind.  It would be an easy place to be a quieter  kid.

Third, the conservatory brings a serious artistic vibe to the college. When we toured schools, we visited a few colleges with big arts programs, which had the usual artsy students.  What is different about the conservatory is that the artsy students are exceedingly serious and accomplished musicians.  Music is everywhere, and it does bring a creative vibe to the school.

Fourth, other than fraternities, the rest of college life is real and present.  The college has a significant sports program (even if football isn't great most years), and all of the usual liberal arts college clubs and activities.  The town is small, but it is a real town and literally across the street from the college, and with 2700 or so students, it is a little bigger than others.

Fifth, admissions is pretty tough.  The numbers don't match up with the top New England SLACs, but it is still pretty tough to get in.  The numbers were likely depressed somewhat by Oberlin requiring test scores until this past pandemic year.  Going test optional for the next couple of years presumably will bring in more applicants, although no idea how that will affect how hard it is to get in.

Sixth, the administration is impressive.  I believe that the school went through a decade or so of less than stellar leadership, capped off by the bakery escapade five years ago.  But the no longer new president (there four years) is extraordinary and very direct and action oriented.  She has put the college back onto its educational mission, while still both raising boatloads of money and staying true to Oberlin's values.  The COVID program at Oberlin was so exceptionally well run that I handed off their protocols to the leadership of my own big employer to learn from what Oberlin was doing.  As a parent, there was nothing more reassuring than a zoom call last summer with the Oberlin president and top administrators presenting their plan along with their consultants---a team of infectious disease doctors from the Cleveland Clinic.

Seventh, the resources are terrific.  The campus is beautiful and the physical plant is impressive.  Services are great.  Endowment crossed the $1 billion mark a year ago, and the resources are there.  At the same time, the new administration has taken some cost-cutting moves, like contracting out food and maintenance workers, that cuts costs without cutting program.  Again, the college administration is impressive in how they are running the college.

Bottomline is our DS loves college and is getting a great education.  We couldn't be happier.

I don't know whether the college is giving tours, but the sophomores and juniors are there for the whole summer (due to COVID, the school added a summer semester this year to dedensify the campus).  It should give at least something of an impression of a regular college day (even if only hall of the students are there).  It is only six hours away. Definitely worth visiting.
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