Cora K. Hasegawa ’19

Hi friends! I’m Cora Hasegawa, one of Oberlin’s admissions counselors and a 2019 Oberlin grad. I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I fell in love with the beautiful Oklahoma sky and the dancers of Tulsa Ballet. 

I committed to Oberlin early decision and majored in Cinema Studies with a double minor in East Asian studies and Art History. I love everything and anything about film (you might have guessed that from my major); just a few of my favorites are Pan’s Labyrinth, The Goonies, Spirited Away, and Divine Intervention. At Oberlin, I discovered a love for animation and now spend much of my free time making and planning small animated shorts and collaborating with other local filmmakers on projects — I find it’s the perfect way to combine my love of stories and art. In my free time I love to read (especially Jane Austen, Harry Potter, and Rebecca Solnit), bake, watch any TV show created by Mike Shur, knit, and wander around art museums. 

While in college, I also learned how to play taiko (traditional Japanese drumming), which inspired a deep passion for this art form that perfectly combines my love of dance and music while allowing me to connect to Japanese American history and culture. Additionally, I spent three years living and dining in co-ops, first at Old Barrows and then two years at Keep.

As an admissions counselor I hope to help students find the right college for them by sharing my knowledge and experience, both as an admissions counselor and Oberlin alum. I love talking about Oberlin and I hope to share that love and appreciation with as many students as possible. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or if there are any topics you want me to cover in my blogs!