We have collected hundreds of personal narratives from students, alumni, faculty, and staff that explain the merits and strengths of Oberlin through the eyes of those who have experienced it firsthand.
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On the Asia House dragon
Bill Heinrich ’81
“It would have been tedious work except that it was ambitious, self-directed, and had nothing to do with classes or credits. What made it something to look forward to was the enjoyment of working...
On organizing a Bassoon Quartet tour of China
Joycelyn Eby ’09
“As someone who was reluctant to go to college “in the middle of a bunch of cornfields,” I now can’t imagine having gone anywhere else for school ... no other institution would be so supportive of my...
On the improv scene at Oberlin
Corina Bardoff ’07
“[It] is so accepting and completely full of fantastically talented and inventive people who want nothing more than to “yes” what you give them.”
On creating Yafo Harmony
Zach Resnick ’16
“I proposed a program that combined all my passions—social justice, music, and language learning—and with a generous CIGSIE grant, I was able to bring it to life in Yafo.”
On Oberlin’s composition students
Prof. Lewis Nielson
“It’s routine for me to be told by our guests that our students are the best they encounter anywhere in the world, not just for the quality of the works they display but also for the incisiveness of...
On opportunity
Lauren Choban ’16
“At Oberlin, there is something—a club, a research lab, a play—for everyone to take part in, succeed in, and, best of all, enjoy.”
On a second home
Eint Kyi ’16
“In addition to the rewarding experiences I’ve gotten from my service sites, over the past two years, the little house known as the Bonner Center became my go-to place.”
On the Oberlin Journalism Workshop
Alicia Smith ’10
“Meeting and working with some of the best in American journalism, many of them Oberlin alumni, was truly inspiring.”
On finding an alumni mentor
Robert Palacios ’13
“What will always remain the most important aspect of the relationship are the stories we have shared, the lessons I have learned, and the friendship we have formed across the generations.”
On her passion for photography
Ma'ayan Plaut ’10
“Being at Oberlin and loving the arts go hand in hand, and luckily I get to translate my love of people, music, theater, and dance to a medium that serves both as a reminder and an inspiration to...
On overcoming physical injuries with community support
Gabe Brown ’16
“Being on the cross-country team has been the glue that has held my Oberlin experience together.”
On her first-year dorm
Anna Ernst ’10
“I hope that incoming Obies who decide to live in Barrows or Dascomb will experience the same feeling I felt often my first year... It was simple, but I felt like I was home. I think that’s good...