Why Choose Oberlin College?
Why We Chose Oberlin
We walked around campus and asked students why they chose Oberlin. Here’s what they had to say.
Virtual Events
Select from a variety of events designed to help you explore life at Oberlin and picture yourself here. Join a class, tour the campus, ask questions at a webinar, and engage with current students. Check back often for additions to the schedule.
Why Will You Choose Oberlin?
You’ll probably come up with your own reasons without our help. But if you’d like some inspiration, here are a few ideas.
Winter Term
Where you pick the project and Oberlin gives you the entire month of January to pursue it.
Winter Term 2020 Photo StoryMusic Opportunities
You don't have to be enrolled in the Conservatory to take advantage of our incredible music resources—including 500+ performances a year.
Music Opportunities FAQPaid Internships
Oberlin’s Career Development Center offers the programming and resources throughout your time at Oberlin to help launch your career.
Career Programs and ResourcesResearch Opportunities
Have you seen what our students are working on with their faculty mentors?
Featured Student ResearchersOur Local Community
With restaurants, shops, a “Big Parade,” and a kitten shelter, our little town has a lot going for it.
Emma’s Guide to Downtown OberlinThe Living Machine
Our environmental studies building has a “living machine” that treats and recycles wastewater on-site.
Living Machine SpecsThe Student Experience
By now you’ve probably read a few posts by Oberlin’s bloggers. Here’s their take on what makes Oberlin such a special place.
Campus from the Inside
An emotional geography of Oberlin.
Minerva Macarrulla ’23
Brooklyn, New York
What I Learned From Graduating Seniors
On resume-building and summer internships.
Tim Martin ’22
Broward County, Florida
A Major Decision
Some people come to college knowing exactly what they want to major in. I was not one of those people.
Janelle Ickes ’22
Nashville, Tennessee
Sounds and Sights of the Oberlin Experience
Obie Pride
Get some digital swag to celebrate your admission to Oberlin!
Download GIFs, add social media lenses and filters, and hear playlists put together for you by a number of Obies—including President Ambar.
After Oberlin
What lies ahead for Oberlin graduates? They’ve risen to the challenge of rigorous academics, they’ve pursued their passions and taken advantage of real-world experience, and now they’re ready to forge their own paths.
A Career in the Creative Side of Journalism
March 4, 2021
Justine Goode ’16 has always wanted to work at a print magazine in either a design or an editorial capacity. Today, the former editor of the Grape, Oberlin's alternative student newspaper, is fulfilling both career goals at Vanity Fair.
The Transition From Student Senate to Washington, D.C.
December 8, 2020
When he was growing up, Machmud Makhmudov ’15 noticed how communities from different parts of the world created lives that struggled, grew, and thrived alongside one another. That insight served him well as a policy advisor for the presidential campaign and stands to be an impression in his new role with the incoming Biden Administration.
Persistence, Practice, and Determination
February 2, 2021
After graduating from Oberlin’s Double Degree Program with majors in jazz bass performance and Africana Studies, Caylen Bryant ’17 went on to perfect her own sound and head a music program handed down to her by author and musician James McBride ’79.
Internships
In recent years, Oberlin students have worked with BBC America, Columbia Pictures, Environmental Defense Fund, IBM, Japan Airlines, National Science Foundation, NPR, Project on Middle East Democracy, Texas Legal Services, U.S. Congress, and the World Bank.
Graduate School
92% of new Oberlin grads who applied to graduate school received two or more acceptances; 81% are at their top choice. Popular grad schools include Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Juilliard, Rice, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Yale.
Employment
First employers of recent graduates include national leaders in health care, finance, science, tech, and the arts, including Facebook, Google, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, MSNBC, the National Institutes of Health, Netflix, NPR, the Smithsonian Institution, Spotify, Teach For America, and Twitter.
How to Utilize the Virtual Experience Program
When you’re about to make a big decision, it’s always best to be as informed as you can. Here are a few ways to take advantage of the events and resources provided by Oberlin’s Virtual Experience.
- Check your email daily. We're going to send you a weekly overview of what’s happening, and we’ll also send reminders about things you’ve registered for.
- Attend at least one class virtually—seeing Oberlin students and faculty in action is the best way to preview your experience here. We have an extensive list of classes you can take, so you’re sure to find something that piques your interest.
- Come to a virtual Academic Department Fair to meet faculty and learn about the programs that interest you.
- Whenever possible (and certainly when required), register in advance for events. This will help us provide a better experience for you.
Next Steps
Engage With Us
Our students, faculty, and staff have put together a full lineup of online events and programs to help you get to know us.
Explore Oberlin’s Virtual Experience
Ready to Enroll?
Confirm your enrollment
Next Steps: Enrollment Checklist