November break and friendsgiving mean reconnecting with old friends and debriefing the similarities and differences in our social, academic, and day-to-day lives. For incoming Obies and high school students considering big state schools, small liberal arts schools, and everything in between, it’s important to acknowledge and break down the different lifestyles that school environments can bring. After hearing the ins and outs of Greek life, eating clubs, and athletic houses, here is how Oberlin social life compares.
Big Greek Life Schools
For many people, party culture and Greek life are an important part of college life. A big draw to Oberlin for me was the absence of Greek life, which, for me, assisted with meaningful connections and individuality. At the end of the day, Oberlin's party culture is wonderful, just very different from bigger schools. Instead of the frat parties which my friends are attending, notably with themes such as whiteout, neon, apres-ski, and foam, some of my favorite Oberlin party themes have been The Last Supper, Lynchian, and Speakeasy. While slightly pretentious, one is not inherently better than the other; I know that I’m at the right place because our party scene centers around creativity and intimate get-togethers over large seas of students.
Other Liberal Arts Schools
Within Liberal Arts schools, there is a lot of variation in cultures both socially and academically. Where my coop is the center point of my social life, my friends at other East Coast liberal arts schools tend to join eating clubs and sports houses. A lot of these groups have similar communities, with movie nights, outings, and are centered on community meals together. One of my favorite things about dining in a coop is cooking for my friends and knowing that the food I eat was also made by the people eating it. That’s not necessarily for everyone, and it’s important to assess how involved one wants to be in their social community.
Cities, Coasts, Countries, and Climate
Within the United States, there is so much variation in what it looks like to attend an American school. As someone considering mainly East Coast Liberal Arts schools and California schools, I noticed a lot of variation in lifestyle. As a New Yorker, I admittedly don’t know how to drive, which makes the East Coast feel a lot more accessible. Some friends of mine even ended up abroad in Europe, immersing themselves in completely new cultures. The decision I came to was that Oberlin, Ohio, while still American culture, is a new American culture. Suppose you are someone from a big city who wants to experience a small midwestern town and get a better sense of your country's culture. In that case, I highly recommend getting out there and seeing all of the nature and community that middle America has to offer. I know what it’s like to experience the seasons come and go in NYC. Colorful bike rides in fall followed by snowy winters, huddled with friends over warm coop food, is exactly the climate I want to experience.
