Visiting Students
Students interested in applying for Visiting Student status should contact the Office of Admissions to discuss eligibility and application requirements.
Transfer Process
An applicant is considered to be a transfer student if they meet one of the following criteria:
- They have been enrolled in a degree-seeking program, regardless of how many credits have been earned.
- They have earned more than 30 semester hours of credit without being enrolled in a degree-seeking program. This is determined on a case-by-case basis, so students who fall into this category are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their situations.
Transfer students may apply for either the spring or the fall semester. The deadline for spring admission is November 15; the deadline for fall admission is March 15. Applications completed after these deadlines will be considered as space allows. We accept transfer applications from students in their first, second, and third years of college. If you are currently in your first year of study at another college, you may only apply for fall admission.
Transferring Credit
Credits are typically eligible for transfer if they are received from an accredited institution and are in a subject area that falls within the scope of a liberal arts education. The total allowed for all transfer of credit may not exceed 16 full academic courses (64 semester hours). We can’t guarantee that credit accepted for transfer will automatically be applied toward your major; acceptance requires the approval of the appropriate department or program. You have a time limit of one year from when you enter Oberlin to request transfer of credit and provide documentation.
View the complete transfer of credit policies on the Office of the Registrar website.
What We Look For
When reviewing the applications of transfer students, Oberlin admissions counselors engage in a holistic evaluation process. This means many factors are considered with each application, with no one component of the application singled out as most important.
- We seek a transfer class that represents a variety of talents, viewpoints, and achievements.
- We require both high school and college transcripts, though we do place more weight on the work a student has completed in college.
- We prefer a high school record demonstrating proficiency equivalent to four years of English, four years of mathematics, three years of the same foreign language, three years of laboratory science, and three years of social studies. If the high school record does not display these proficiencies, we strongly recommend that efforts are made to meet these benchmarks in college.
- We prefer applicants to have maintained breadth in their college curriculums to the extent permitted by their current programs.
- Although we require you to provide standardized test scores, no applicant is ever granted or denied admission to Oberlin solely on the basis of test scores.
Application Deadlines
Transfer Students
Transfer students may apply to enroll in either the spring or fall semester. If you are currently in your first year of study at another college, you may only apply for fall admission. The application deadline for spring admission is November 15; the deadline for fall admissions is March 15. Applications completed after these deadlines will be considered as space allows.
Begin preparing your application materials well in advance of the suggested submission date. Be sure to give your professors and high school guidance counselor plenty of time to write letters of recommendation. Please call us at 800-622-6243 if you are having any difficulty completing your application.
| Steps | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | March 15 | November 15 |
| Notification | Rolling: April 15-June 15 | Late December |
| Reply/Deposit Due | Two weeks after receiving acceptance letter or financial aid offer, which ever is later | Two weeks after receiving acceptance letter or financial aid offer, which ever is later |
Visiting Students
On your application form, please indicate whether you want to be considered for one or two semesters. We will notify you of your admission status no later than one month after the application deadline. Please call us at 800-622-6243 if you are having any difficulty completing your application.
| Steps | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | November 15 | March 15 |
| Notification | Rolling: April 15-June 15 | Late December |
Transfer Requirements
All items are required for transfer applicants unless otherwise noted. We cannot begin reviewing your application until we have received all required components. The College of Arts and Sciences does not require an application fee.
Applications
Application Part I
We encourage you to let us know of your interest in applying to Oberlin as early as possible, so that we may follow up with you regarding important dates and requirements. To declare your intention to apply to Oberlin prior to your submission of the Common Application, complete the optional Application Part I.
Common Application
To be completed online at the Common App website. The Common Application also includes a personal essay. Check out our best essay tips.
Although Oberlin is a member of the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success, we will not be accepting the Coalition Application for the 2017-2018 application year. Students applying to Oberlin in fall 2018 will have the option of submitting either the Coalition Application or the Common Application.
Writing Supplement to the Common Application
The required Oberlin writing supplement asks for a response to the prompt: How did your interest in Oberlin develop and what aspects of our college community most excite you?
We recommend submitting the Writing Supplement as soon as possible after submitting the Common App. The Writing Supplement has a 250-word limit and should be submitted through the Common App website.
Transcripts and Tests
High School Transcript
An official copy, sent directly from your high school.
College Transcript
An official copy, sent directly from your college. If you were enrolled in multiple colleges, we will need an official transcript sent from each school you attended.
SAT or ACT Score Results
We accept either SAT or ACT exams taken within the past five years. An official score report must either be submitted from the testing agency or included on your official high school transcript. SAT II subject tests are optional.
Evaluations
Academic Evaluation (2)
We require two recommendations. At least one, and preferably both, should be written by a professor at your current university who has recently taught you in an academic course. Recommenders should be familiar with your writing, analytical, and quantitative abilities, and be able to provide valuable insights about you.
You may submit this information online from the Common App website.
College Report
May be accessed from the Common App website.
Midterm Evaluation
If you are enrolled in classes when you submit your application, you must complete the Common App Midterm Evaluation form, which requires comments and signatures from all of your current professors.
Unless otherwise noted, all materials may be submitted online through the Common App website, mailed to the Office of Admissions, 38 E. College St., Oberlin, OH 44074, or sent by fax to 440-775-6905.