Winter Closure FAQ

The Oberlin College Office of Admissions will be closed starting Monday, December 23, 2024 and will re-open on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Any materials that are submitted during this time will be processed and added to your application when our office reopens. Please do not panic if items appear to be missing from your application; for a number of reasons, your applicant portal may not reflect all updates until January. We will be unable to respond to most emails during this time, but will follow up with you once our office re-opens. We hope you have a terrific winter break!

General Questions

I just submitted my application; when can I log into my applicant portal?
Woohoo! We can’t wait to read your application. It takes 1-2 days for your application to automatically load into our database, after which you’ll get an email with instructions for how to log into your applicant portal.

Is my application complete?
You can track the receipt of application materials through your applicant portal. Please note that any materials received while our office is closed will not be processed until we reopen in January.

Do I need to submit standardized test scores?
Oberlin is test-optional, so it’s up to you whether or not you want standardized test scores to be considered as part of your application. If you do, you can self-report your scores through the Common App or Coalition/Scoir Application, or through your Oberlin applicant portal. We only require official score reports for enrolling students.

I have a problem and can’t submit my Early Decision II application (and/or a piece of the application) by the January 2 deadline. What should I do?
First, stay calm. We're people too and we understand that things happen sometimes!

Second, email us to let us know that there will be a delay. It’s also helpful if you can let us know when we can expect the missing item(s) to come in. We will respond when the office reopens.

While there is a grace period for missing materials, given the quick turnaround associated with evaluating Early Decision applications, we will need to receive the missing items in a timely manner in order to consider you as an early candidate and render a timely decision.

My teacher said they submitted their recommendation letter for me, but it is not showing as received in my applicant portal?
Applicants to the College of Arts & Sciences are required to submit one academic teacher recommendation from a teacher who has taught you in a core academic subject (English, math, science, social studies, foreign language, or an AP/IB class). If we receive a recommendation letter that does not meet these guidelines, we will still read and consider it, but it will not count towards our requirement and it will not display on your applicant checklist.

Can I solicit additional letters of recommendation?
Yes, but please be reasonable! Generally, we are able to get all of the information we need from two letters, but if you would like to send in one additional letter, that’s fine. Quality over quantity is what matters here.

Please note that we are unable to accept letters submitted by the applicant. If your recommender is having trouble submitting their letter through the Common App or Coalition/Scoir Application, they can email it to us directly at college.admissions@oberlin.edu. Please ask them to include your name and the name of your high school in the email.

How do I submit supplemental materials?
You can submit supplemental materials through your Oberlin applicant portal, which you will gain access to 1-2 days after submitting your application. As with letters of recommendation, we recommend quality over quantity when it comes to supplemental materials. Please see our Art Supplement guide for more information and guidelines for file submission.

How do I schedule an interview?
Please see our Interviews page to sign up for a timeslot.

Are there in-person or virtual visit options available outside of interviews?
Yes! Check out our Visit and Connect website for more information on scheduling a visit to campus or signing up for a live virtual information session or campus tour. Admitted students will also be invited to special visit days in April.

Where do I find my T#?
Your T# (aka your Oberlin ID number!) is listed at the top of your applicant portal.

How do I update my application?
If something on your application is incorrect or needs to be updated, email us at college.admissions@oberlin.edu and we’ll take care of it!
 

Financial Aid - Domestic Applicants

Where do I send in financial aid materials?
Documents can be uploaded through the Financial Aid website and will be processed once our office reopens. Please do not submit the same item multiple times.

When is the deadline for submitting my financial aid materials?
Financial Aid materials are due by January 2 if you are applying for Early Decision II, or January 15 if you are applying Regular Decision. Due to delays in the FAFSA's availability, Regular Decision applicants have until February 15 to submit it.

Do you offer waivers for the CSS Profile?
Oberlin does not offer waivers for the CSS Profile, however certain students may qualify for a waiver directly from the College Board.

When will I receive my financial aid package?
Admitted students will receive their full aid package (including need-based and merit scholarship awards) when they receive their letter of admission. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships; no extra application is required.

International Students

Where do I send in financial aid materials?
Documents can be uploaded through your Oberlin applicant portal and will be processed once our office reopens. Please do not submit the same item multiple times.

When is the deadline for submitting my financial aid materials?
Financial Aid materials are due by January 2 if you are applying for Early Decision II, or January 15 if you are applying Regular Decision.

Do you offer waivers for the CSS Profile?
If submitting the CSS Profile poses a financial barrier for you, please submit the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISAFA). You may upload your completed ISAAA on your applicant portal. 

Can I get a test fee waiver for Duolingo?
In order to remove application barriers, Oberlin does not charge an application fee nor do we require SAT or ACT results. We realize that the costs of an English proficiency test may prove to be prohibitive for some applicants, but in the interest of fairness to all, we are unable to provide fee waivers. If you cannot afford an English proficiency test, we will review your application without it. When making our admissions decisions, we draw upon a holistic review which means that no one element of an application will ever guarantee a student’s acceptance or rejection. 

If another college or university provides a waiver for you, you may send us your score report. Please note that an English test proficiency test is not required if the language of your secondary school is English.

When will I receive my financial aid package?
Admitted students will receive their full aid package (including need-based and merit scholarship awards) when they receive their letter of admission. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships; no extra application is required.

Do you have another question that isn't addressed here? Email  college.admissions@oberlin.edu and we’ll get back to you when the office reopens.