Oberlin College

Oberlin

According to the school, as one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges, Oberlin is committed to rigorous academics, artistic excellence, and social justice. Oberlin College was the first in America to adopt a policy to admit students of color (1835) and the first to educate women alongside men (1837) in a baccalaureate program. Oberlin’s distinct history of challenging intellectual and social conventions shapes the student experience today. Individuality is prized at Oberlin, which fosters strong bonds among a diverse community of bright and talented students from around the world. Students actively participate in 122 student groups; 70 percent engage in service projects that deepen learning and help define career choices. At Oberlin, an emphasis on rigorous academics is balanced with a strong interest in the arts and a commitment to society. Oberlin is an intellectual community where students explore ideas because they are inspired to learn, not simply to pass a test. Students frequently undertake double majors or lab research in close collaboration with faculty mentors. Since 1920, more Oberlin graduates have earned Ph.D.s than have graduates of any other four-year institution. While Oberlin professors make important contributions to their disciplines through writing and research, their primary focus is teaching undergraduates. The combination of a leading College of Arts and Sciences and a world-class Conservatory of Music creates an unparalleled learning environment at Oberlin. Students in both programs share residence and dining halls as part of one campus community. \r\n\r\nConservatory students also broaden their education with classes in the liberal arts. In addition, the Allen Memorial Art Museum houses collections ranking among the top five of any college or university museum in the country. In January 2007, 94 students performed at Carnegie Hall’s famous Isaac Stern Auditorium as part of the Oberlin Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. Oberlin students and faculty also share their talents on campus, giving about 400 solo and ensemble concerts annually; the majority are free. The Conservatory attracts many international students. Oberlin’s atmosphere of artistic expression includes numerous student-produced performances in theater, dance, poetry, popular music, and improvisational comedy. In addition, the Artist Recital Series brings some of the world’s best classical musicians to Oberlin. Recent concerts include the American Brass Quintet, Juan Diego Florez, and Marilyn Horne. Oberlin’s architecture is also distinct: stately 19th-century buildings, made of sandstone blocks carved from nearby quarries, stand alongside more recent buildings by such noted architects as Cass Gilbert, Minoru Yamasaki, and Robert Venturi. Completed in 2002, the 230,000-square-foot Science Center is designed to promote collaboration across disciplines. The Environmental Studies Center features the largest photovoltaic array in Ohio; it is believed to be the largest solar-powered academic building in the country. A national model for green architecture, the center has a real-time feedback display that engages visitors in learning how building systems utilize renewable resources to provide heat, electricity, and clean water. About 88 percent of Oberlin students live on campus. There are no fraternities or sororities at Oberlin; however, students may opt to live in one of nine houses, each emphasizing a different culture. The 600-plus-member cooperative housing organization is the largest on any campus in America in terms of the percentage of students who participate. Run by students, nine residential coops and four dining coops (including Kosher and vegan) provide experiences in shared responsibility and decision-making.