Art and Performance Supplements
You are welcome to submit supplemental materials to highlight a special accomplishment or talent that you want to share with the admissions committee. Supplemental materials are not required as part of the admissions process. Anything you send in will be reviewed by Oberlin’s admissions staff.
Music supplements may also be reviewed by Oberlin’s Conservatory of Music faculty to help identify which opportunities in the College’s very active musical community might be of interest.
Supplement Guidelines
While supplemental materials may highlight any talent, we most commonly see submissions in the following categories:
- Cinema Studies
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Music
- Theatre
- Visual Art
When deciding what to submit, we urge you to err on the side of quality over quantity. It’s better to leave us wanting more! You should upload no more than two samples per talent area or 10 photos for visual art. Combined, all audio or video clips that you submit should total no more than five minutes in length. Writing samples in total should be no more than five pages.
Due to the volume of submissions received, admissions staff are unable to review materials in excess of these guidelines.
For classical instruments, two short contrasting solo works, unaccompanied or with accompaniment, are preferred. Performances by chamber ensembles and jazz combos are welcome if it is clear which member of the ensemble is you. Large ensemble recordings (choirs or symphonic bands) are discouraged.
Submission Instructions
Supplements must be submitted online through your Oberlin applicant portal. You will receive instructions on how to access your portal and submit supplemental materials after your application has been submitted and processed, which usually takes 2-3 days. Art supplements should be submitted within one week of the application deadline. All common file formats are accepted. Any materials that are mailed or emailed to the admissions office will not be reviewed.