How to Get the Most Out of Your Oberlin Visit

My younger sister is a junior in high school, and is currently going on college tours all over the country. Hearing about the college decision and application process first-hand again has really got me thinking about when I was touring colleges back in high school. I remember the nervousness and excitement of visiting a college for the first time.

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, in addition to being a blogger here at Oberlin I am also a tour guide! Because of this, I thought that a blog about how to get the most out of your college visitation would be helpful. Without further ado, here’s an Oberlin-specific list of how to make the most out of visiting campus and taking a tour! 

1.  Ask questions! This one might seem obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how many students I have on my tours that just stare at me the whole time. I certainly remember feeling nervous the first time I visited Oberlin (first impressions can be a bit stressful!) but it was insanely helpful to ask questions. Not only does it make you stand out as an engaged and curious student, but it also really helps you get a good sense of whether or not the college you are visiting is right for you! Some good opportunities to ask questions are: 
   1.  During an info session! Come prepared with a few questions that you have after doing some preliminary research, although it is almost certain you will have some more questions after your info session. 
   2. During a tour! Tour guides love questions! We thrive off of students who are excited and curious to be at Oberlin. Some great questions to ask us are about our classes, what we do in our free time at Oberlin, our favorite place to study on campus, etc. 
   3. With an admissions counselor! Your regional admission representative (or really anyone in admissions) would love to chat with you. This is a great place to ask any questions about your application, financial aid, or anything related to your decision process.
2. View a Student Bulletin Board. Oberlin has student bulletin and poster boards in nearly every building. If you visit during the week I highly recommend popping your head into one of the academic buildings; my personal favorite is the one in the Science Center. Skimming over flyers detailing events, activities, trips, lectures, and student groups is a fantastic way to get a sense of what being a student at Oberlin is like. What student groups can you be a part of? What might a typical Saturday look like for you? There’s so much to do here, and a bulletin is a great way to discover the many activities, events, trips, and opportunities on campus. 
3. Walk around! By getting a sense of the campus and the town on foot you are truly getting the best sense of how students see campus every day. A lot of visiting families will tell me they’re planning to drive around campus to check out some of our buildings, and while that’s great for rainy or cold weather, it’s not ideal for really feeling immersed on campus. Oberlin is about a 15-minute walk from South to North campus, and I couldn’t recommend enough to dedicate a portion of your time in Oberlin to simply walking around. You’re welcome to check out academic buildings, grab lunch at a dining hall, understand the campus layout better (we have maps in the admissions office), and just get a sense of the student vibe. If you’ve got any extra time, checking out Allen Memorial Art Museum, Tappan Square, and any performances happening while you’re on campus would also be not only fun, but a cool way to further immerse yourself into what being a student here is like!
4. Pick up a student magazine. We have a number of student magazines on campus! The one that’s easiest to find on campus is The Oberlin Review. Established in 1874, the Oberlin Review is a weekly student newspaper that covers Oberlin, the town, Ohio, and beyond. There are stands all over campus so feel free to grab one! Another one of my favorite magazines is The Grape. It is self-described as an “alternative student news and culture magazine” that releases bi-weekly. These are my two favorite student papers on campus, but we have a plethora of them. Checking out one of Oberlin's many newspapers or magazines is a great way to get a sense of what’s going on at Oberlin and the nearby area, as well as the issues students care about. 

Overall, these are just a couple of ways I recommend engaging with Oberlin. Whether you’re able to visit for a few hours or for a weekend, I hope these recommendations help you explore Oberlin at a deeper level than most people might. Although, regardless of whether you remember to ask certain questions or do any of the activities listed above, your simply making the effort to learn about, and visit, Oberlin is amazing and we are so glad to have you here!