Having a Sibling at Oberlin

Today I am interviewing my friends Mackenzie and Caleigh, who are sisters that got to spend two years on campus together! I’ll be doing a deep dive into if, and how, that made their time at Oberlin special and unique in any way. I hope you enjoy! 

First off, would you guys mind introducing yourselves? 

M: Hi my name’s Mackenzie, I’m a third-year Psychology and Neuroscience major. I work as a Peer Tutor on campus and am an Education Programs America Counts tutor at Oberlin Elementary School. I’ve written for The Synapse on campus. I’m currently studying abroad this semester at DIS in Copenhagen. 

C: Hi my name is Caleigh, and I graduated last year (2025). I majored in English, and Cinema & Media Studies, and minored in Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies. I ran for the Oberlin College Cross Country and Track & Field teams all four years. I also had a radio show and worked at Oberlin College Lanes. Currently I am pursuing a masters in Public Humanities at Brown University. 

Mackenzie, did Caleigh have any influence on you ultimately choosing Oberlin?

M: Initially I actually didn’t want to go to Oberlin because my sister was here, and I wanted to do my own thing. But once acceptances came out, and I went to All Roads, I remember feeling the most comfortable and confident walking around Oberlin’s campus. Everyone seemed really welcoming and it felt like a campus I would be happy living and studying at. Having my sister there was definitely a plus, since going to school in Ohio was a plane ride away from home, so it would be nice having some family close by. My sister gave me space to make my decision, but I knew she loved being at Oberlin, so that helped me choose Oberlin in the end.

Caleigh, were you excited when you found out that Mackenzie chose Oberlin?

C: I was initially not super excited because I was worried that she would cramp my style that I had gotten used to after being at Oberlin for two years. But that quickly went away once she got here, and it was actually nice to have someone to talk to who was not a part of my close friend group at Oberlin. She did not end up cramping my style in any way! If anything, I ended up cramping hers. 

How do you guys think having a sibling on campus impacted your time at Oberlin? 

M: It was nice to be able to grab lunch or study with my sister once every week or so. It was also fun to be able to meet some of her friends on the track and cross country team and see her run in her events. But overall I don’t think it impacted my time too much, because we gave each other space to have our own college experiences, and we studied different subjects, so we didn’t have too much overlap academically. 

C: I agree with Mackenzie. It was nice to have someone to talk to who knew me before and outside of the Oberlin social scene. We gave each other space, so although we did not really spend too much time together, it ended up being the right amount of support for when life got hard. 

There is no ‘one Oberlin’; every single person has a different experience. How do you guys think you experienced Oberlin differently from one another? 

M: I think the biggest differences were that my sister did a sport and we majored in different subject areas. It was funny when we studied together sometimes because we were working on very different things, such as studying for neuroscience versus making a stop-motion film. But it definitely made me more interested in trying out different types of classes. 

C: Yes, I think the biggest difference was that I was an athlete and humanities person, while she is not a part of a team and is a science person. My friends were mostly teammates, and her friends were mostly classmates. I had papers to write, and she has lab work and tests to complete. These differing experiences at the same place really helped me realize how there are so many different opportunities at Oberlin.

Kind of in the same vein, what is one thing about Oberlin you might have learned from one another? 

M: I think it was probably mostly my sister telling me about good food places (we both love Slow Train), Saunders' Sunday night dinner, which dorms are the best, and other Oberlin traditions. But I did show my sister some study spots in the science center she didn’t know about which was fun. 

C: She helped me remember that I am only in Oberlin for a short time. Going to places that I had been to a few times before (Azzie's, Slow Train, Science Center, etc.) with her for the first time reminded me to not take these places for granted. I do not think I would have gotten that perspective if it weren’t for her. 

What is the best part about having a sister on campus?

M: The best part was knowing she was close by, in case I ever needed anything or just wanted to hang out. It was also fun to be able to see her do amazing at steeplechase and cross country meets, since I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I went to another school. And randomly running into each other on campus was always funny. 

C: Yes, having her as part of my “in-person” support system again was pretty great. We are pretty close, so it was great to be able to cheer each other on and pick each other up. Also, meeting her friends was a fun way to meet people I probably wouldn't have met otherwise. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to future students that might be attending Oberlin with a sibling? 

M: I would recommend giving each other space, especially freshman fall, to find your own way and navigate college life. But it is super fun to be able to see your sibling on campus and hang out with them, so definitely figure out what balance works for you.

C: Yes, try to step back and let each other have “fresh starts” at Oberlin, but also take advantage of your built-in support system if you need it. Oberlin is a big enough space that you and your sibling can have your own social circles if you want. 

I hope you all enjoyed this blog! It was fun to break outside of my usual blog style and get to interview my friends. It's clear that there are so many ways to make the most out of your time at Oberlin, but having a sibling on campus is just the cherry on top on what is bound to be some of the very best years of your life.