FAQ: PAL Program

The PALs are a highly diverse group of student leaders committed to mentoring and supporting incoming Obies. True to the PAL program’s ethos of Obies Helping Obies, many students choose to become PALs to pay forward the support they received during their own first year on campus.

In order to become a PAL, students must submit an application and participate in a highly selective interview process. All applications are thoroughly reviewed with an eye toward selecting students who have a demonstrated commitment to peer mentorship, energy and enthusiasm about the PAL program and its mission, and are excited to welcome new students to campus in the fall. All PALs have a passion for creating safe spaces in which first-year students can flourish both academically and socially.

Each PAL cohort is composed of the 15 students who all share a class together through the First-Year Seminar program. This small group will work together as a team to support each other as you navigate your first semester as an Obie, whether that be in the classroom, during your PAL sessions, or at a completely unrelated social event.

PAL cohorts meet regularly throughout New Student Orientation and the fall semester, both for scheduled cohort meetings and for social gatherings arranged by PALs. Details about PAL sessions that take place during Orientation are available on the New Student Orientation schedule; details about fall semester programming will be shared with students during Orientation as well. Students are always welcome to reach out to pal@oberlin.edu with any scheduling questions.

It’s a mixture of both! The program was specifically designed to bridge academic and social experiences, which is a big reason why PAL has such a close relationship with the First-Year Seminar program. The idea is that, through sharing both an academic class and a PAL-led discussion group, students will get to know each other in a range of contexts and build relationships both inside and outside the classroom.

Your PAL cohort will be one of your first and strongest campus communities, but it’s important to build relationships elsewhere as well. For this reason, PAL facilitates a range of programming throughout the fall semester that will allow for students to bond across cohorts, in addition to within your own. PALs are also prepared with information about the various student organizations and campus communities you can join, so be sure to use them as a resource!

An objective of the program’s cohort approach is to support students in creating bonds of mutual support, and so switching sections of LEAD 050 (the PAL-led fall semester course) is not permitted. Like all full-semester academic and co-curricular courses, you may decide to opt out of LEAD 050 prior to the deadline for withdrawing from a full semester course. If you decide to opt out you will not receive credit for this course. 

Grading for LEAD 050 sessions throughout the fall semester is based upon full participation. Those who attend all sessions and participate fully will receive a Pass grade on their transcript. Work assigned outside of sessions will be focused on helping students develop and practice skills and strategies discussed during sessions.

We are not able to reveal PAL assignments early, but please know that we are working to get you this information as soon as we can. We know that meeting the older student who will play such a big role in your first semester is important!

If you are having a problem with another student and feel comfortable approaching your PAL about it, feel free to do so — PALs are trained to handle such concerns on a case-by-case basis. If you don’t feel comfortable with this, or have a problem with your PAL, please contact Sara Gaines, Director of Academic Advising Programs, at pal@oberlin.edu.

The short answer is: Yes! Transfer students are automatically added to PAL cohorts and are able to fully participate in meetings throughout orientation and the fall semester. Students with specific questions about the transfer student experience as it pertains to PAL can reach out to pal@oberlin.edu.

An important element of the PAL program is preparing students with the tools they need to make the most of their academic advising experience. To support this goal, academic advisors and First-Year Seminar instructors meet with each cohort at key points throughout orientation and the fall semester, helping students map out their academic goals and prepare for key experiences like course registration.