Chris Lipski

Major: chemistry

Hello and welcome to Oberlin! I’m Chris and I hail from Ashland, a small town in southern Oregon. I’ll be a senior chemistry major this fall. I’m a big fan of the subject, so naturally a lot of what I do is chemistry-related. I work as a chemistry tutor and a lab TA, and next year I’ll be co-chair of the majors committee. I’ve also done research here in the department over two winter terms and two summers, so if you have any questions about undergraduate research don’t hesitate to ask. It is never too early to start a project; many students use their first winter term to get a taste of undergraduate research.

Don’t worry though, I do leave the lab occasionally. Outside of the traditional classroom, I’ve enjoyed both the marching band and water polo ExCo courses (ExCo courses are an excellent way to do something fun and different – and earn a few credits while doing so). I’ve been an avid card player most of my life and have continued that here at school. Last year I had a regularly scheduled card night – it’s important to make sure you don’t work too hard! When I need some physical activity in my life, I’m a fan of Carr pool as well as the racquetball and tennis courts. You can check out any racquets or balls you might need in the gym’s equipment room, free of charge.

Short List of Favorites

Favorite Local Cuisine: The Feve brunch menu has never disappointed me. For the omnivores out there, the chicken cheesecake at Weia Teia is amazing (it sounds weird, I know, but just trust me on this one).

Favorite Author: John Steinbeck is probably my favorite, though (for different reasons) I also enjoy sitting down with one of Michael Crichton’s sci-fi thrillers.

Favorite Under-advertised Resource: Board games can be checked out for free at the main desk in the student union. Sometimes you just need to feel like a kid for an afternoon.

Favorite First-year Courses

Chemistry 103: Topics in General Chemistry. This course was a really great way to solidify and review what I had learned about chemistry in high school and a good way to meet many other prospective chemistry majors. Even if you qualify through AP credit to skip this course, I would recommend still considering it.

Religion 249: Issues in Medical Ethics. This is a fascinating course that allows you to explore the issues surrounding topics such as organ transplantation, patient consent, and fertility treatments, just to name a few.