I had made up my mind when I visited my brother at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities: I wanted to go to a city school. It was perfect for me. I was from a small city in Wisconsin—well, technically not even a city, a township—and I’d had enough of rural life. I was sick of the gas station being the last place to hang out, and nothing being open past 8:00 p.m. except Kwik Trip.
I wanted skyscrapers, or at the very least some mild traffic. Fine, maybe I didn’t really know what it was like to live in a city, but I knew I wanted it—for my college experience, at least. Unfortunately, I realized all of this after I’d already applied for college and decided I was going to Oberlin. Sure, it was going to be a bummer to end up in rural Ohio, but I thought maybe I’d learn to like it.
What I didn’t know then was that I’d fall in love with this small, 8,000-person town called Oberlin. Here’s what I love most about living in a small-town school—and why my friends from big cities might even be a little jealous.
Most Oberlin students are from L.A., New York, or Chicago. As a small-town girlie, it can be hard to find others who grew up like me. I don’t know what it is about Oberlin that attracts so many city people, but it’s always such a joy watching them fall in love with something they usually bemoan.
Whenever I tell people I’m from Wisconsin, I always have to mention cornfields, churches, cheese, and beer. Without fail, they ask, “Oh, are you from Madison? Or Milwaukee?” And I have to say, “Try two hours away from either of those.” I get it. Small towns don’t sound glamorous. But there are perks to living in small-town America.
For starters, the coffee shops. Few places have as much character and charm as a small-town coffee shop. At Oberlin, we have The Local and Slow Train Café, as well as another café for those on the meal plan. These are the best places to have a morning coffee. Sure, Slow Train is called “slow” for a reason, but I walk in and see at least three friends every time—a kind of experience I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have in a big city.
Then there’s the sheer character of the Midwest, which you discover just by spending time here. The more people invest in their communities, the more they uncover how amazing they are, how close they can get to others, and how much beauty surrounds them. For example, we have a train crash site near Oberlin that’s a stunning place for old-style photos, not to mention Cherry Knoll Natural Spring Water—practically a bucket-list item for Oberlin students. And the creek, just a 20-minute drive away.
We have Vermillion River, Plum Creek, Chance Creek, and even Cuyahoga National Park. If you’re up for a 20- to 30-minute drive, you can reach Lake Erie—a stunning expanse of blue water that makes you feel like you’re standing on the edge of something incredible.
If those feel too far, simply take a walk through the Arboretum, a magical and enchanting place where you can discover hidden, colorful bridges in the forest, skip stones across creeks, or just soak in the serenity.
Head north to watch sheep grazing near the solar fields, marvel at sunsets beneath the water tower, or stroll to IGA with your friends. In a small town, you just have to get creative.
These nature spots and late-night walks are our hidden gems. Sure, they’re not the skyscrapers of New York or the bustling restaurants of Chicago, but they’re beautiful in their own way. It’s about discovering your favorite places and returning to them until you befriend the workers. It’s about running into your friends in unlikely spots because there are so few places to go.
It’s also about finding the best boba tea in Cleveland. (For the record, it’s at Fat Bee Cafe.) It’s about discovering your favorite order at Thi Ni Thai or knowing when to go to Kim’s before the line grows too long. It’s about walking to class a block or two away every morning. And it’s about going home for a break and—somehow—missing a small corner of Ohio that’s become your own.
Ask any Oberlin student if they miss the city, and they’ll probably say yes. But there’s also so much beauty and wonder here. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
There’s nothing like driving through Oberlin in the winter, with the streets lit up and the Christmas tree standing tall in Tappan Square. Or walking through Tappan in the fall, when students collect sap from the trees to make maple syrup. Or stopping by our knit shop or one of our few antique/thrift shops, or catching up with friends at The Local on a Saturday morning while professors sip their coffee.
The other day, I walked past one of my computer science professors. Some professors just nod, but others wave. Once, I was heading out on a date when I bumped into my professor at the park. We struck up a conversation while my date awkwardly waited nearby.
There’s something so beautiful about life being contained in a small, charming town. So yes, maybe I would’ve been happy at a city school. But I’m so grateful my journey brought me here. I hope that you have the privilege of falling in love with Oberlin too.
